Rough Ryder Read online

  “Thanks.” Ryder tossed the pen to McCrae. “Start with your name.”

  McCrae wrote his full name.

  “After having stolen the lyrics and music to Lasting Goodbye from my sister Brooke Davidson…” Ryder stared at McCrae until the boy started writing. “I will repay the full amount I received from Ryder Landry…” Ryder named a dollar amount, with many zeros and a comma.

  Brooke’s mouth dropped open. Holy crap, she’d never been paid that much for a song.

  Ryder continued. “…within six months to Brooke Davidson—”

  “No.” She waved her hand at her stepbrother. “Not to me. The money needs to go to the breast cancer research foundation.”

  Ryder’s face turned pale, his eyes shining.

  Schmiddy let out a sound, like a sigh and a groan mixed together.

  “Brooke.” Ryder swallowed, his brows furrowing as he studied her. “You have to repay Hope.”

  She shook her head. “Let me worry about that.” She pointed to the notepad. “Do it, McCrae. Write the name of the foundation in there.”

  Her brother frowned at her, shook his head and mumbled something, then wrote. He sat back. “Six months, though. I don’t think I can get that much money in that short of a time.”

  She hitched her thumb over her shoulder. “That fancy-ass sports car you have out in the parking lot is worth twice that amount. Especially if you sell it out here in California.”

  “But then how will I get home?” His voice came out a sad whine.

  “Take a bus.” Ryder pointed to the paper. “Now sign it.”

  McCrae did as instructed, Ryder tore the page out of the notebook, folded it, and stuck it in his wallet. “See this guy in the corner?” Ryder looked at McCrae as he gestured toward Schmiddy. “If this doesn’t happen in six months, I’m going to let him loose on you.”

  McCrae swallowed, his gaze fixed on the big man.

  Schmiddy growled.

  Ryder stood, handing Brooke her notebook, then helped her out of her chair.

  Schmiddy opened the door and the three of them walked out into the parking lot. The morning sun warmed the air, filling it with scents of new growth and flowers.

  Ryder turned to his bodyguard. “Thanks for being here, man. I appreciate it.”

  “Me, too.” Brooke bit her lip as she looked at Schmiddy. “I’d give you a hug if I didn’t think I’d get tossed into that swimming pool over there.”

  Schmiddy just nodded, then reached inside his coat and pulled out an eight-by-five photo of Ryder. He handed it to his boss. “For her mother.” He turned and walked away.

  Ryder and Brooke grinned at each other.

  Schmiddy folded himself into a small blue sports car and roared out of the lot. She’d forgotten to ask him for her taser, but the big guy probably wouldn’t risk his employer’s life by giving it to her.

  “That’s a surprise.” Brooke watched the bodyguard’s car head south.

  “Yeah, I guess the big black SUVs aren’t his personal style.” Ryder clicked open the pen Schmiddy had given him earlier. “What’s your mother’s name?”

  Brooke hoped Ryder’s memory wasn’t all that good. “Greta.”

  He lifted a brow. “Uh huh. Greta Hutchinson? So that’s how you finagled your way into the meet-and-greet.”

  She shrugged. “I’m a resourceful person.”

  “You are. And brave, to come out here alone, even with a taser.” He gave her the signed picture. “Are you booked on a flight home?”

  “No. I didn’t know how long this would take. Are you heading to the airport?”

  Ryder took her hand, running his thumb over her knuckles. “Wanna fly with me?”

  The look in his eyes heated her blood to near boiling, centering soft, sexy contractions in her core. She should be mad at him for not phoning her, should call him on it and make him talk it out, but she wouldn’t pass up this opportunity to be with him again just so she could appease her pride. This was Ryder’s way, and no shouting fit by her was going to change him. “Yeah, I wanna fly with you.”

  He tugged her close and kissed her quickly, then looked around. “Let’s get out of here.” He led her to a small, pantyhose-colored mini-van.

  “Seriously?” She crinkled her nose.

  “It was all they had.” He opened her door for her and helped her in, frowning at her. “Don’t you ever tell anyone about this van.” He laughed as he closed her door and jogged around to the driver’s door.

  The man was so hard to pin down. One minute ready to punch McCrae, the next flirting long-distance with her mother, then driving himself around northern California in a soccer-mom van. Would she ever be able to understand him?

  Chapter Fourteen

  After his jet reached cruising altitude, Ryder got out of his seat and sat on his heels in front of Brooke. His body had stayed tense and itchy since the moment they’d left her stepbrother’s hotel room. Ryder wanted her, no doubt, but he couldn’t reconcile the level of need he was feeling, both physically and emotionally.

  Physical first.

  “Cutie, I haven’t slept in about six months, and I’ve got a couch in the back that folds out into a bed. Join me?”

  She held out her hand and he stood, pulling her to her feet. “I’d love to.” Her words floated low and sexy through the cabin.

  They walked to the back of the jet and he closed the door, sealing them off from the rest of the plane. He turned and found her right there, looking just as hungry as he was. Reaching behind him, he flipped a switch and the window shades closed, then flipped another switch and the couch turned into a bed.

  “Oh wow, that’s handy.” She looked up at him. “Do you have to be a member of the mile-high club to get one of those?”

  He tugged her toward him, grasped her sweet, tight ass, and pulled her up off her feet, pressing her against his body, his hard erection nestled into her soft belly. “I don’t know. It came with the plane, but we can sure give it a mile-high test run.”

  She wrapped her arms around his neck. “And, if I remember, we left something undone that last time at the hotel.” Pressing her lips to his, she kissed him, running her tongue along his lower lip.

  He took control of the kiss, sucking her tongue into his mouth, tasting and tickling her as she moaned and wriggled her hips against him. He slowed the kiss. “Now, what were you saying? What did we leave undone?” He prayed that she remembered the last sexual position they talked about.

  With a smile, she glided her palm down his arm to his hand, and pressed his fingers in the crack between her butt cheeks. “If I’m going to join the mile-high club, may as well make it a wild initiation.”

  Ryder’s body jerked, his hips shifting forward as his fingers found the warm cleft at her bottom. “May as well.” His mind had already shifted to logistics, his shaft had already started pulsing with excitement. “Let’s get you undressed.” He set Brooke on her feet and knelt.

  She ran her fingers through his hair as he unbuttoned and unzipped her jeans, then she jumped back, crossing her hands over her zipper.

  “What is it?” He reached for her, but she took another step away.

  “This is so embarrassing. I grabbed a pair of underwear out of my drawer last night when I was rushing to catch the plane. They’re really old and unsexy.”

  He gave her a sexy look. “I promise, I won’t be looking at your underwear.” He crooked his finger at her. “Come here.”

  She pressed her lips tight, but took two steps to stand in front of him.

  He tugged down her jeans and had to stop for a second. The white cotton belly-button-high panties were right out of granny’s laundry basket. “Okay, I’ve changed my mind.” He pulled her jeans up a couple inches. “Those babies could cool any man’s lust.”

  With a laugh, she grabbed his hands and made him lower her jeans, then she pulled her underwear down herself, helping Ryder drag them and her jeans, socks, and running shoes off.

  She straightened, look
ing down at him with the naughtiest look he’d ever witnessed on a woman’s face. “Um, while you’re down there…”

  He loved that she wasn’t shy about asking for what she wanted. He tugged her closer and buried his face in her sweet, bare pussy. Her taste flooded his mouth, her scent filled his nose, turning him ravenous for her. He licked and sucked, sliding a finger inside her tight opening, feeling her slick walls contracting around his digit. “Cutie.”

  “Oh, Ryder.” She clutched his shoulders and threw back her head.

  He needed to catch up to her. Clasping his lips around her clit, he sucked while flicking his tongue, and she went ballistic. She screamed and bucked so hard he had to remove his hand from between her legs and hold her hips, pressing her to his face. Damn, the woman was a wild mare, free and uninhibited.

  When her climax eased, her legs shook and all her muscles seemed to turn to jelly, collapsing her into his arms.

  He stood and laid her back on the bed, looking at her open lips as they panted out the breaths he’d made fast and crazy, the blush on her cheeks that he’d put there, the unfocused look in her eyes that he’d caused. Pride and another emotion raced through him, something he couldn’t put a name to, but that made him want to hold her and share in her pleasure.

  He turned away, reminding himself to keep things simple, not to overthink anything. After stripping himself bare, Ryder grabbed a condom and a tube of lubricant.

  On her back on the bed, she struggled to get her T-shirt off.

  He kissed his way from her cute mound up her belly and lay on top of her, tugging her shirt up and wrapping it around her hands. “Is this okay?” He held her bound hands over her head.

  She wriggled her hips against his turgid cock. “Yes, it’s very much okay.”

  “Cutie.” He could play with her this way for hours, days, longer maybe. He shook away the thought. “You’re still good with my taking you in the back door?”

  “That’s very much okay, too.” She licked her lips. “Just tell me what you like, and I’ll let you take it.”

  He loved her enthusiasm. “I’m gonna turn you over, have you up on your knees.”

  “Mmmm.” She panted a few times. “Perfect. Then what?”

  She wanted to hear the plan? “Then I’m going to lube you up back there, slowly, before I slide one finger inside your little rosebud.”

  Her skin pebbled with goosebumps. “Then what?”

  Ryder grasped the base of his cock.

  Her eyes followed his hand.

  “Then I’ll push this big boy inside you, slow and steady, until you’re squirming for more.”

  Brooke licked her lips. “I’m already squirming for more.”

  Just the pressure of his hand threatened to make him shoot off. “Turn over, let’s get your club membership approved.”

  She laughed as he helped her turn over, her cheek resting on the sheets, her arms and bound hands stretched out in front of her, and her pretty, round ass sticking up in the air, just waiting for him to take what he wanted. And give her what she wanted.

  He stood next to the bed, watching her arrange herself into a comfortable position, wiggling and breathing fast. Her sweet pussy looked swollen and slick, her juices calling to him for another taste. But what he was really hungry for was her cute anal bud. Cupping her ass cheeks in his hands, he leaned down for a lick.

  She squealed and her whole body shuddered.

  “Delicious.” He squeezed her butt as he ran his tongue in circles around her rosebud, pressing gently at the middle, then raining fast licks over the whole sexy area, flicking his tongue in the center.

  She moaned quick little bursts of pleasure as she pressed back against his tongue.

  Ryder dripped lube on Brooke’s sexy anal opening then used his finger to circle it, pressing into the middle, encouraging her to relax for him. When her body shifted, he pushed just the tip of his index finger into her and wiggled it.

  “Yeah, that’s nice.”

  Her whisper filled his ears, filled his head with hot lust that sent blood coursing to his groin. With a groan, he sheathed himself and pressed the head of his cock to her rosy little hole.

  She sucked in a quick breath. “Do it, Ryder. Push it in.” She arched her back, placing her beautiful ass at the perfect position for him.

  He splashed a little more lubricant, then slowly eased the blunt tip of his shaft into her opening.

  Her growl sounded feral, primal.

  Waiting for her to ease her muscles open for him, he grasped her butt cheeks and squeezed, wanting to possess all of her, keep her for his own. When her sphincter relaxed around him, he pressed forward again, just until the head popped into her, the ridge of his cap just inside her. “How does that feel, cutie?”

  She jittered and sighed. “Good. So good. I love the burn, the stretch.”

  He moved his hips infinitesimally, sliding in and out a few times, waiting for the excruciatingly perfect tightness around his cock to ease up a bit. When she pushed herself back toward him again, he felt her muscles relax, and he eased himself inside her an inch.

  “Mmmm.” A little smile curved her lips.

  Her beautiful face, the feel of her tightness around his shaft, sent rockets of pleasure blasting through his groin. His pleasure became secondary to making sure she enjoyed this, she got what she needed. With a jerk of his hips, he moved another inch inside her.

  “More.” She wiggled her ass. “Faster. I like it, Ryder. Please.”

  Her words nearly turned his control into a spontaneous ejaculation, but he forced himself back from the edge. “Damn, cutie. You’re making me crazy.”

  “Crazier, you mean?” She circled her hips, sending his cock deeper inside her.

  “Yeah, that’s me. Already plumb loco.” And getting himself in deeper every time he bent his rules and let loose with Brooke. Leaning forward, he seated himself completely inside her. “Take it all, Brooke. All for you.” He stared at the amazing sight of his heavy staff deep inside her. In his head, things turned hazy, his brain telling him to move, to pump into her, find his release.

  Moving slowly out of her, he experienced each centimeter of her hot, slick hole, each of her tiny contractions along his oversensitized cock.

  “Hard, Ryder. Please.” She purred the words.

  He couldn’t resist her request, and thrust himself back into her until his balls slapped against her hot pussy. “Yeah.” He loved how adventurous she was, her sexual drive easily matching his. Pulling out, he held her hips in a firm grasp and started to pump, in as deep as he could go, out to the spot where her sphincter caught at the edge of his helmet.

  “Uh huh. Yes. That’s what I like.” Beneath his hands, he felt her body tense and move opposite him, impaling herself on him.

  Ricochets of heat rattled from his belly up to his brain, turning his thoughts to red-hot need, urging him to let go, to explode. Ryder moved one hand to her hip, the other around her belly to sneak his middle finger down into her slick pussy. Finding her clit, he rubbed, slowly at first, matching his thrusts into her, matching his breathing to hers, and finding a rhythm so basic and ancient, he didn’t know how much control he had over his own body.

  “Yes. Now, Ryder. I’m there, cowboy.” Her words grew louder and faster. “Ride me!”

  Her shout sent him racing madly around a spinning track, his hips pumping, his finger tweaking her clit faster and faster, his balls tightening until the perfect euphoria of release had him shooting his cum deep into her. “Fuck!” The word escaped him on a shout as his mind revolved and rattled with the intense climax.

  Brooke laughed as her body shook beneath him, her insides clenching and tightening around him in waves that rallied his orgasm into one last victory lap.

  When she went all jelly-muscled beneath him, he withdrew from her and rolled her onto her back, releasing her hands from the T-shirt, and leaning over her, propping his hands on the bed to get closer.

  Her face was a perfect peach col
or, her eyes shiny and dark hazel with her pupils dilated. She stared up at him, still breathing fast. “That was good, Ryder. I’m still sailing through the galaxy.”

  Ryder smiled. “Yeah, me too.” He wanted to hold her, lay in her arms and talk for hours, talk about…hell, what was it about her that made him soft? Made him needy and unfulfilled when she left? Made him want to toss out all his rules for interacting with women?

  He turned her the long way on the bed and tugged the sheet out from under her, covering her to her chin. Reaching into the cabinet set into the wall, he pulled out two pillows and a blanket. She set the pillows on the bed while he unfurled the blanket and laid it over her. Gesturing toward the bathroom, he asked, “You need to…?”

  She shook her head. “I’m good for the moment.” She laughed as her eyes closed. “I don’t think I can walk right now.”

  He stepped into the small room, closing the door. After cleaning up, he looked into his eyes in the mirror. What was happening here? Why did this feel different than all the other times? All the other women? Maybe it was the way circumstances kept throwing them together. Maybe time away from her would let everything slip back where it was supposed to be.

  Opening the door, he noticed she’d dimmed the light. She’d rolled to the far side of the bed and had his side ready for him, the covers turned down welcomingly. This wouldn’t help his plan to put some distance between them. But, what the hell. He’d take what he could get for now, worry about the consequences to his willpower later.

  He lay next to her and pulled her halfway over the top of him. “You feeling okay?” He stroked her hair from her face, smoothing it down her back in a long, silky ribbon.

  “Better than okay, Ryder.” Her fingers played in the few chest hairs on his pecs. “I have to say that was the best anal sex ever.”

  A frown hit his face before he could stop it. He didn’t like to hear that she’d done this with anyone else. Which was a new thing for him. “Glad I shot to number one on the list.” It came out more sarcastic than breezy, but he punctuated it with a kiss to her forehead. “It was the best I’ve had, too.” He shouldn’t have admitted that little truth to her, but he wanted to return her compliment.