Ryker (Hope City #6) - Kris Michaels Page 0,17

Duckworth or Deputy Commissioner Farrington?”

She snorted and picked up the takeout. “Yeah, sure. Potato-Potahto.”

“Not all of us are on a first-name basis with the hierarchy of the Hope City Police Department.” He watched her place the food onto separate plates.

“Don't think I didn't notice you didn't answer.” She pointed at him with a fork and then turned to set the timer on his microwave.

“Fine. Mavis.”

“Good, she's hell on wheels, according to Dad. Speaking of my dad...”

“Part of the conversation you had with your mother?” He chuckled when she dropped her head.

“I promised her when we have lunch next week that we could schedule a time for you to meet my family.” She glanced up at the ceiling. “The force was not strong with me, Obi-Wan.”

He laughed and took a drink of his wine. “This. This is why I'm falling for you.”

“Aww, My Star Wars references are winning you over, aren't they? Admit it.”

“No. Well, yes, I love the fact that you're as much as a movie nerd as I am, but it's the fact that you are a strong, independent woman who loves her mother enough to be the one with whom the force is not strong enough. Your heart is so big.” He sat his glass down and folded her into him. “Speaking of big hearts, did you corner the councilman today?”

“I did. He said that the motion is once again not on the agenda. I'm so mad that I’m about ready to sic Bekki on them.”

“Your sister is the threat you'd wield?” He fought the smile that wanted to spread across his face.

She narrowed her eyes and tilted her chin. “Bekki is a good investigative reporter.”

“I didn't say she wasn't, but you have much, much bigger guns in your arsenal.”

“I do?”

“A commissioner, homicide detective times two, a JDET Sergeant, a DEA agent, and a captain on the Hope City Police Force, and all of that is without bringing your neighbors into the mix. Why would you choose Bekki?”

The timer on the microwave sounded, and she stepped from his embrace. “You want an honest answer?” She glanced at him and his mood sobered. Those beautiful blue eyes were serious as they stared at him.

“Always.”

She removed one plate and put the other in the microwave before she set the timer and turned around to face him. “I don't mind using my dad to protect the people I love. Like telling him about Fenton. But when it comes to my business or even my life, having my family or my boyfriend's influence be the reason I succeed or not is a no-go.”

Ryker barely heard her. In fact, he'd stopped listening after he realized she admitted to loving him. “You love me?”

“What?” Her eyes widened, and she stared at him, completely freaked out. He saw the moment she realized what she'd said. “Oh, well... you know what I mean.” She turned away and grabbed silverware from the drawer.

He crossed the distance that divided them and placed his hands on her shoulders. “Don't hide from me, babe.” He moved her hair and dropped a kiss on the pounding pulse in her neck. “I love you, too.”

She twisted around in his arms. “You do?”

“How could you not know?” He dropped another feather-light kiss on her lips.

“Because you didn't tell me.” She spoke between kisses.

“I just did.”

“Yeah, you did.” She wrapped her arms around his neck. “Are you hungry?”

“Starving.” He slid his hands down to her ass and picked her up. She squealed and wrapped her long, luscious legs around him. It took seconds to carry her to the bedroom. He dropped them both onto the bed, but she scrambled to her knees and whipped off her shirt, flinging it across the room.

“Naked, now.” She shimmied from her jeans while he was shucking his clothes. She shot her bra past his shoulder and wiggled out of her matching panties before she knee-walked to the side of the bed. “Is this for me?” She took his cock in her hand and stroked him from root to tip.

“Only you.” He bent down and attacked her lips as his hands roved over her gloriously naked body.

She hopped off the bed and ducked his grab at her. “You, on your back, mister.”

“What if I don't want that?” He stalked toward her.

“What do you want?” She licked her lips and stared at his shaft in his hand.

Easiest question in the world. “Mmm... everything.”

She nodded as she answered, “Everything. I like that. Let's do that.”

She climbed onto the mattress and crawled