Ryker (Kings of Korruption MC Book 1) (28 page)

Slowly, he releases me and I take a step back.
 
He winks as I turn towards the building – and then it makes sense.
 
He was staring at Jeremy.
 
Jeremy stands by the entrance, face pale, a bouquet of flowers clenched in his fist.

I whip back around and glare at Ryker.
 
“You –“

 
“Now he knows.”
 
The matter of fact way that he states it causes anger to burn low in my belly.
 

 
“Why don’t you just pee all over me?
 
Mark your territory.”

He chuckles.
 
“Not into that shit babe, but I’m willing to try it if you are.”

I narrow my eyes at him causing him to burst out laughing.
 
He is so infuriating sometimes
.
 

“He needed to know, Charlie.
 
Now he knows.”
 
I roll my eyes, making his smile wider.
 
“Have a good night, baby girl.
 
I’ll be here at eleven to take you home.”

Forgetting my anger, my belly flip flops when he reminds me of “home”.
 
Our home – together.
 
I can’t hide my smile.
 
“See you tonight.”

I turn again, noting that Jeremy is gone, and without a backward glance, hurry into work.

Epilogue

Charlotte

Accepting a beer from the prospect behind the bar, I turn and let my eyes sweep over the clubhouse.
 
There are a few old ladies and several club whores, who like me, are all waiting for the guys to get finished with their meeting.
 

They’re all here for the same reason I am.
 
Tonight is a celebration.
 
Tease is finally getting his patch.
 
I’m beyond happy for him.
 
He may not be the friendliest person I know, but I’d seen a small glimpse of the man he really is, buried beneath his scary exterior.
 
I know he doesn’t seem to have anyone in his life but the club, and he had done a lot for them with absolute loyalty.
 
If anyone deserves a patch, it’s Tease.

Lucy’s here too.
 
Ryker had told me he’d “dealt with her.”
 
Since then, anytime I was around, she stayed far away from me.
 
She still gifted me with dirty looks on occasion, and I saw her watching Ryker and I when we were together, but she never spoke to me.
 
Ryker had said the guys liked her, and as long as she left me alone, we shouldn’t have any more problems from her.
 
I wasn’t so sure.

Just then, the guys come filing into the room.
 
Tease is in the center of it all, looking uncomfortable with the attention, but wearing his new patch proudly.
 
I catch his eye and shoot him a small smile.
 
He gives me a small chin lift in return.
 
It’s better than nothing.

Ryker approaches me, bright blue eyes burning into mine.
 
He leans into me, pressing against my side before whispering in my ear.
 
“Hey, baby girl.”

His breath blows across my cheek and down my neck, causing me to shiver.
 
I can’t help but smile when I look at him.
 
It just comes naturally now.
 
“Hey.”

He glances over at Lucy.
 
Her eyes dart away instantly, face flushed from being caught watching us.
 
“Any problems while I was gone?”

I smirk.
 
“Nope.”

He scowls, then nods.
 
“Good.”
 
Grabbing my left hand, he brings it to his lips, and rubs his thumb over the sparkling new engagement ring and wedding band that sit on my ring finger.
 

Last weekend, Ryker and I had taken living to the next level.
 
With Jase tagging along, we rode to Montreal and picked up Anna.
 
The four of us then went on to Quebec City, where Ryker and I were married at a Justice of the Peace in a private ceremony.
 
I hadn’t wanted a big wedding and I knew without a doubt that I’d never get Ryker into a tux even if I did.
 
Anna was my only family, and though not related, Jase was Ryker’s family.
 
The whole thing had been perfect.

Ryker grabs a fresh beer from the prospect, then turns to watch the party with me.
 
One of the brothers, who I’d learned was Mouse, is across the room, comically instructing a couple of the whores how to do a proper strip tease.
 
Everyone else is watching and laughing, a couple of the brothers cheering him on.
 

“Crazy fuckers.”
 
Ryker smirks at me and shakes his head.

I just laugh, continuing to watch them all for a minute before it dawns on me.
 
“You know, a while ago, you told me that you didn’t have a family.”

He turns towards me again, eyebrow raised, holding my gaze but saying nothing.

“Looks to me like you have a pretty big one.”

His eyes widen in surprise.
 
“Who?
 
This bunch of jokers?”

I laugh at the look on his face.
 
“Well … yeah.
 
You grew up with most of these guys, right?
 
You have a relationship with almost all of them.
 
They take your back when you need it, and you return the favor.
 
They’re all loyal to the club and it’s members.
 
You all get together to celebrate and unwind.
 
Those are things you do with your family.
 
Seems to me like you have a pretty great one.”

His smile kept growing wider as I spoke.
 
When I finish, he dives in and takes my mouth in a hard, swift kiss.
 
“Fuck, you’re sexy when you get all wise on me.”

I manage to keep a straight face.
 
“I’m always wise.”

He nods and buries his face in the crook of my neck, placing soft kisses all along the side.
 
“And you’re always sexy.”
 
He pulls his face free, looking me in the eye, suddenly serious.
 
“You’re right.
 
They are my family, but you are my most
important
family.
 
And if I’m stuck with these assholes, then so are you.”

We stare at each other, his grin mirroring my own.
 
“I can live with that.”

He growls and pulls me off the stool, putting his shoulder to my belly to lift me up.
 
I squeal in surprise.
 
“Ryker!
 
Put me down!”

He brings his palm down on my ass in a sharp slap.
 
“Not happenin’, baby girl.
 
I’m gonna show you just how sexy you are.”

Oh!
 
I like the sound of that!
 
I stop squirming and grin.
 
Looking up just before Ryker turns from the room, I see Reaper smirking at us from under his beer bottle.
 
He sends me a wink and shakes his head.
 
Tease is watching too, lips twitching slightly.
 
He raises his bottle in the universal “cheers” motion, then moves to take a sip, but his cell phone rings before he can.

Down the hall, Ryker turns into his room.
 
It’s much cleaner now that I’m the only one cleaning it.
 
It doesn’t hurt that Ryker has no use for it anymore.
 
He lowers me to the ground, my front rubbing along his as I go down.

 
“Alright, Mrs. Cole.”
 
He runs his hands along the sides of my body, then takes a step back.
 
“Take off your clothes.”

I hold his stare as I slowly undo the buttons on my shirt and peel it off.
 
Standing before my husband in nothing but a pair of tight jeans and a demi cup bra makes my heart flutter and my breaths to come out in hot, shallow pants.

I reach for the button on my jeans but his hand stops me.
 
“No.
 
Not yet.”
 
His gaze is moving along my body, his eyes dark and hungry.
 
“Fuck.
 
You’re gorgeous.”

My skin grows hot as he watches me but I stand still, waiting for his next instruction.

 
“Take off those jeans, baby girl; panties too.
 
I need to taste you.”

My hands shake as I unbutton my jeans and pull them, along with my panties, down over my hips.
 
Ryker lowers me to the bed, and then my husband tastes me.

Tease

I pull out my cell phone, looking at the screen.
 
Who the fuck is calling me?
 
Everyone I care to know is right here, in this fucking room.

The screen shows an unknown number, but it’s local.

I lift the phone to my ear, pressing the accept button.
 
“Yeah?”

A feminine giggle fills my ear.
 
“Yeah?
 
That’s how you answer your phone?”

I freeze, instantly recognizing that voice.
 
“Laynie?”

 
“Uh – hunh.”
 
She giggles again.
 
She sounds strange.

“Are you drunk?”

 
“Yeppers.
 
Wasted.”
 
Her words are slurred, and she giggles at her own declaration.

 
“Where are you?”
 
The thought of her out, alone and drunk puts me immediately on edge.

“At home.
 
Me and Dexter are cuddled up on the couch, drinking a few bottles of wine.”
 
I relax.
 
If she’s at home and her dog is with her, she’s safe.
 
“Well, Dexter’s not drinking wine.
 
I am.”

I smirk.
 
This woman’s crazy.
 
“How is Dexter anyways?”

She sighs.
 
“He’s ok.
 
Just needs a couple days of rest.”
 
I hear her pause and take another gulp of wine.
 

“I nearly killed that fuckin’ kid that hit him.”
 
And I had.
 
When that kid had come flying down the sidewalk, he’d paid no attention to what was going on around him.
 
I’d seen him coming, and seen the dog shuffle Laynie out of the way, but he’d taken the bike on himself in the process.
 
Good fucking dog.

“I remember.
 
It was kind of hot.”
 
My eyes widen in shock as she giggles again.
 
“Anyways, I was thinking, as a thank you, do you maybe want to – “
 
I hear a crash in the background and what sounds like glass breaking, followed by a thump.
 
“Ow!
 
Shit!”
 
Her voice sounds distant now.

“Laynie?
 
What the fuck was that?”

“Hello?
 
Travis?”
 
I hear movement in the background.
 
“Shit!
 
I dropped the phone,” she calls out.
 
“Dexter!
 
Get your drunk ass over here and help Mommy find her phone.”

“Laynie?”
 

I hear more movement.
 
“That’s it, baby.
 
Find Mommy’s phone.”
 
There’s more movement in the background before the phone fills with the sound of breathing.
 
I hear, “That’s my good boy.
 
Thank you, baby.”
 
Her voice fills the receiver again.
 
“Ugh!
 
Gross!
 
Now there’s slobber all over it.”
 
I shake my head.
 
Again, crazy.
 
“Travis?
 
You there?”

“I’m here.”

“Sorry.
 
I dropped my phone.”
 
Another girly giggle follows a small hiccup.

“What was that crash?”

“Just the table.”
 
She hiccups again.

“What broke?”

“Something on the table?”

“You don’t know what that something was?”
 

“Travis, I’m blind.
 
I’ve got no clue what the hell it was.”

I can’t help the chuckle that escapes me.
 
Such a smartass.

“Fuck me.
 
Did Tease just fuckin’ chuckle?”
 
My eyes cut to Jase, remembering instantly where I am.
 
Everyone is staring at me, wide eyed.
 
Jase continues, ignoring my glare.
 
He elbows Reaper.
 
“Did you know he could do that?”