My pulse was hammering and my hormones were hopping up and down when I climbed off the bike. I wanted nothing more than to straddle the bike again, only this time facing Ryker rather than sitting behind him.
Another notch in his belt, I reminded myself.
“Thanks again for dinner,” I said, handing him the helmet.
“I’ll walk you up,” he replied, swinging his leg off the bike. His tone didn’t invite argument.
Ryker was a palpable presence beside me as we rode the elevator to my floor and walked to my apartment. I was hyper-aware of him, every breath he took and every brush of his arm against mine. Knowing my resolve was taking a beating, I dug my keys out and had them in my hand by the time we were at my door. Unlocking the door took just a second; then I turned to face Ryker, who’d moved much closer into my space so he loomed over me.
“I’ll let you know if I find out anything,” I said, tipping my head back. Though how I’d do that, I didn’t know. I didn’t have his number and wasn’t about to go poking around the police station downtown looking for him.
Ryker’s eyes had a familiar glint in them as his gaze roamed over my face—desire and lust that I felt an answering flush to underneath my skin. In desperation to avoid what almost felt inevitable, I brought up the one person who’d throw ice water on the heat between Ryker and me.
“Parker’s not involved like you think he is,” I said. “I’m sure of it, and if I can help prove it, I will.”
As I’d expected, Parker’s name had an effect, although not what I’d intended. Rather than dousing the flames in Ryker’s eyes, it only seemed to fan them.
“You’re loyal,” he said, his voice a low rasp. “I like that. You’re just loyal to the wrong guy.”
Ryker’s head bent, and I knew what was coming, but there was nowhere to go. He had me pinned to the door, and if I was honest with myself, I probably wouldn’t have moved away even if I’d had the opportunity.
His lips met mine in a kiss that made my toes curl. Thoughts of Parker and everything else disintegrated, Ryker overwhelming them all.
The scent of his cologne and the leather of his jacket curled around me. His hand lifted to cradle my jaw, the soft brush of his lips giving way to the warm heat of his tongue as he deepened the kiss.
He tasted like darkness and sin wrapped in the soft notes of red wine, and I was immediately addicted. I felt the door give way at my back and realized he must’ve turned the knob. Backing me slowly inside, his mouth never left mine. Dimly, I heard the door close.
The brush of his thumb on my cheek was like a brand. His lips gently released mine, only to trail down my neck. My eyes were shut and my breath was shallow and fast as blood pounded in my ears.
A waft of cool air hit me and I realized he had undone the buttons on my shirt, pushing the fabric off my shoulder and down my arms. It hooked on my elbows, keeping me from reaching for him, but Ryker didn’t seem to mind. His mouth fastened to the sensitive skin above my breast, his tongue dipping into the cleavage enhanced by my push-up bra. The warmth of his calloused palms spanned my waist and bared abdomen, their rough texture accentuated by the smooth softness of my skin.
My panties were uncomfortably damp and thoughts of being just another notch in Ryker’s belt were a long ways off. At the moment, I didn’t care if I was the hundredth notch in that belt; I just wanted to be a notch. Speaking of belt…
I could reach the fastening of his jeans and couldn’t resist cupping the hard length of him through the denim. Oh yeah. This would definitely be worth the morning-after regrets.
Ryker’s lips moved to my shoulder and I tipped my head to the side as he brushed my hair back. I had his belt undone, but the fly was proving more difficult, so I didn’t notice that he’d gone still.
“What’s this?”
Opening eyes made heavy with desire, I glanced up at him, but he was looking at my arm, a frown on his face.
I felt my face get hot. “Oh that,” I said. “It’s just a bruise.” The imprints