My Mind's Eye (Pub Fiction #1) (23 page)

With that text from Seth still trying to force its way into my mind, Jay may just be the perfect distraction. Besides, it has been an awfully long time since I had a sexy man between my legs, and Jay is definitely hot. With my mind made up, I put a little jump in my step, hurrying to get back to my friends to continue with my newly hatched plan.

Holy fuck, Ryker! I land at the bottom of the stairs with renewed excitement only to have it dissipate immediately.
You have got to be kidding me!
Karma really is a slut-ass bitch, which is most definitely out to get me. Standing with Jay, Matt, and Claire is motherfucking Ryker Eddison, who’s of course looking way beyond gorgeous and oh so edible. Who of course happens to have some blonde bimbo seemingly attached to his side.
Who the hell is she?

I can’t believe my eyes, I close them tight breathing rapidly. I count to five before opening them; shit, I open them to find he’s still standing mixed in there with
my
friends…the entity of my fantasies, the boy who creeps into my mind at night, bringing me to the brink of want and need. The very same man who plagues my days with thoughts of those eyes, stolen glances, the growl. Oh fuck! That damn growl. The majestic face behind my rabbit himself, the very same man who now owes me a shit ton of batteries—Ryker Eddison.

The very same man who I know I have a connection with, one that neither of us seems willing to admit or pursue. I haven’t seen or spoken to Ryker since Robin gave me the tour of the rec centre. Maybe I imagined this pull between us.

Of all the places and all the parties, of course he’s here at Matt’s. Ryker is the epitome of hotness, and I know he can be beyond sweet. His costume tonight, however, just solidifies why he is the star of my fantasies. Standing, laughing it up with my friends, he’s sporting the most appropriate drool-inducing costume known to women. Ryker is none other than a Chippendale! Lawd have mercy! One heck of a perfect Chippendale costume, which looks completely genuine, including a bowtie, cuff, and collar—all showcasing his perfect, naked chest and one hell of a sexy tatoo. Oh. My. God! I think I’m going to need to run home and change my panties. The effect this man has on me is dizzying. I haven’t seen him around much, just in passing here and there. But he always manages to leave a lasting impression on me. And for that matter, my panties.
Jay who?

FUCK.

Chapter 29

Ryker

A
nger and jealousy. Those are the two feelings that simultaneously take over my body, clouding my vision as well as my judgement at the sight in front of me. My shoulders tense immediately while my breathing hitches the moment I spot Kat dancing with Claire, Matt, and Jay. Fucking Jay. Asshole.

Remember that feeling of possession lying dormant, the one I’ve never really felt before? Well, the beast is awake.

The colour red darkens my vision immediately when my eyes fall to Jay trying to put the moves on
my
Kat, which in turn causes me to clench my jaw while my hands turn to fists without me realizing. I stand by the kitchen watching them, with my body wound tight, fists hanging balled along my side. Despite not really knowing her very well, I know enough.
I know I want her.
Seeing him all over her, whether she’s mine or not yet, doesn’t matter to the caveman within me. I knew the moment I tackled her in the staff room that she needed to be mine.

That she is mine.

Green is for the feelings of envy I am having toward the outfit Kat is wearing exquisitely around her body. Never in my life have I been jealous of an inanimate object as I am now, standing here seeing Kat in that sexy-as-sin angel costume. Never have I wanted so badly to be the material surrounding a titillating body, hugging it close and keeping it held in tight, as I want to be that for Kat.
Fuck me
.

Man, this girl is fucking me up. I need to make my move, make her choose: fuck me or be mine.
I’m hoping she’ll agree to the latter.
And I’ll be damned if some fucker beats me to it. It’s time for me to up my game. Who am I kidding? It’s time to let the game begin. Kat will be in my bed in no time; then this little hang-up I seem to have can finally be done and she can take up a permanent residency. Either way, I need to deal with her, get her on board with my plan, and if she doesn’t want me back? Well, I guess I’ll go back to my old self, back to having a new chick every couple of nights, back to having no feelings, no tightness, or these thoughts of wanting more. But I’m pretty sure she wants me too. Fuck, I need to figure out what the hell we are. What we’re going to be.

Yeah, this needs to end, and fast.

“Hey, hottie.”
Fuck me, Sarah.

“Hey there, Sarah. Wow, nice costume. You’re one hell of a naughty looking bunny.” I look her over to make her happy. She smiles and I feel myself getting annoyed; this chick is wasting my time.

“Dance with me, handsome.” She puts her hands around my neck, bringing her body closer. Sarah tries to move in close to me, but I’m quick to remove her arms from my neck. “Rain check. I need to find someone.” I leave her stunned at my brush off, I can tell by her face, but she follows behind me anyway. I’m starting to think I’m going to have to be an asshole soon and tell her the score. I. Am. Not. Interested. She’s chatting on and on about shit I don’t even care about. I tune her out.

I need to get to Kat.

I need to get to her before Jay. I’ve seen him trying, trying to take what’s mine.
I’m gonna break those fucking hands.
Thank God she left after that. I’m hoping she isn’t into him, that she left to break the moment.
She can’t be into him
. I thought I was gonna lose it when his hand reached her ass. Fuck me, I need to think of a way to make her agree to be mine. Stalking my way over to Matt, I think,
Fuck, I hate Halloween.

Chapter 30

Kat

I
stand rooted at the bottom of the stairs thinking of my next move. I notice Claire looking my way, a knowing smirk on her face. I can’t do this, not tonight, not with the way Ryker consumes my thoughts. I can’t pretend anymore. I can no longer pretend I don’t want him, pretend Jay would even remotely be what I want.

As a war rages on inside of me
—Go to him. Ignore him
—back and forth in my stupid mind, I don’t move an inch from my spot.
Who’s the girl with him? Is she with him?
I must look like an idiot, but I can’t help it. It’s like I’m making one of the most important decisions, it feels like it to me anyway. In the end, the chicken in me wins out…the uptight me always wins,
fucking dominant bitch
. She’s the rational me, the one who knows it won’t work, that I’ll get hurt, the same one who knows I want more than one night.

With my decision made, I look around the house, trying to figure out where the hell to go now. I can’t go over there. Being the chicken shit I am, I look to the stairs beside me. With that, I head back upstairs, back to the washroom for some solace, some time to think. Who am I kidding? I’m totally going to hide. I take the stairs fast, heading for my destination, hoping it’s unoccupied, praying Ryker will be gone by the time I re-emerge. I’m praying he didn’t even see me, that maybe he doesn’t even know I’m here. Ha, I’m sure Claire let it be known as soon as she saw him, the traitor.

I feel him before I hear him. “Hot girl, stop,” he says with the growl I’ve come to recognize. But this one is like none I’ve heard from him before. This growl does things to my insides. I pause in my stride, more to make sure he’s actually calling to me. The next thing I know, Ryker is flush to my back. His breath a hair’s whisper away from my ear, he’s taking in my scent, smelling me. I stand still as an immediate case of jelly legs takes over. He’s sliding his mouth and nose under my ear, burrowing into my neck. “You think I’m hot? Ryker, you haven’t talked to me since the rec centre, what, you want us to be friends?” I state, when in reality I should be asking, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”

I gasp because all of a sudden, I’m spun around, made to meet Ryker face-to-face. Eyes to eyes. Fuck me, he’s beautiful. I drink him in; I can’t not. Those muscles, strong arms, the same ones holding my sides. God, all those muscles glistening under the dim lights of the hall. I swear I let out a moan at the heat I see staring back at me.

“Kat,” he begins, “hot is nowhere near the right word to describe what I think when I look at you. Fuck, baby, hot is an understatement. You are exquisite, smart, sweet, so perfect. And no, I don’t want to just be fucking friends with you. I want so much more.”
Oh my! Did he just seriously say that to me?
I swear my panties are beyond wet at this point; I wouldn’t be surprised to see the wetness seeping down my legs.

He doesn’t say anything else, and I cannot seem to find my voice at all in this moment. A moment that I know I will forever be replaying over and over in my mind. This stuff doesn’t happen to me. Wordless now, we’re standing there face-to-face, staring at each other, seemingly waiting for the other to make the next move. I’m about to say something, but then Ryker clasps my wrists, sending prickles of heat running down my spine. “Come with me.” He begins pulling me forward toward a door a few feet away from where we’re standing.

I know it sounds strange, but I’m not nervous. My heart is beating wildly in my chest, but it’s all adrenaline. I’m curious, in a trance-like state, willing to follow this man wherever he guides me. Maybe I’m not the chicken shit I thought I was. Maybe this is my chance. The chance to share my feelings, the chance to tell him I want to get to know him.

“Here.” He guides me through the door; I quickly notice we’re in his room; spying trophies and pictures with him and his family. Fuck, of course he lives here, too. What are the chances? How did I not know this? I wonder if my sneaky little bestie knew this. I just might have to hurt the bitch.

I turn back around to face Ryker, who I find standing with his back to the door watching me. Silently, and ever so slyly, he steps toward me. His eyes trained on me intently, I feel his stare all the way down to my toes. He reaches me in no time. Bracing my hips, he turns me around until my back is toward the door. Gently, he begins to walk me forward. “You’re so pretty,” he rumbles, pushing me softly, while rocking me back ever so lightly until I’m up against his bedroom door. My mind is racing on overdrive, panic taking over. No, no, I can’t do this. I can’t just be his for one night. Not now that I know he lives here. How am I supposed to resist this—him—if he lives here, just down the street? How can I not want him all the time? How will we ever work together? How will this affect Claire and Matt? God, I need to get a grip. I tell myself to just keep it together, to breathe.
Nothing is going to happen. You can handle this.
Just ignore these feelings he’s evoking. I can do it. I stand, keeping watch, anticipating Ryker’s next move.

The moment he begins to speak, my resistance completely crumbles, as I register the words falling from his lips. The incredibly powerful and all-consuming words that are being uttered from the mouth belonging to this sexy man standing in front of me. Words I can’t believe are aimed at me. And
Wham!
Just like that, I’m a goner. I am completely willing to give him anything he wants, without question, without hesitation, without regret; my previous plight to resist him evaporates. Fuck it, I’ll take one night.

“Kat, Jesus, baby, you’re my mind’s eye. God, lately all I see is you. I dream of you when I sleep. I wake to thoughts of you. Then I see you and, fuck, if you’re not all I need to see.”

“This,” he motions between us, “whatever this thing is with us—this spark, this pull—whatever the fuck you wanna call it, is gonna happen. Us, we’re gonna happen, eventually,” he groans, continuing, “Not tonight, though. You deserve much more than to be fucked in a room with a house full of people. You, Kat Rollins, need and deserve attention…worshipping.” I can’t help but gasp at his words. “We will fuck, Kat. Be it one night, if that’s all you’ll give me, I’ll take it. Like a starved man I will take all you’re willing to give, Kat. You’re fucking me up, making me forget my rules, but for some strange reason, I like it. I think you’re the girl who might be the exception to my rules. So, yeah, baby, we
will
happen.”

“Ryker,” is all I seem to be able to get out.

“Kat, I’ve wanted to be close to you again, ever since the night of that storm. God, Kat, I just want you close, baby. I can’t deny it anymore. I don’t want to stay away.” He nuzzles his face into my neck. “Fuck, you always smell so sweet. I want to savour your delectable body, taste and touch every inch. You deserve the comfort of knowing there’s no need to try and be quiet. Because, sweetheart, mark my words, when I get inside you, you will be the one growling. Growling from the pleasure I plan on inflicting to your body, while you have no choice but to scream my name so loud that you’ll be heard for miles around.”

Holy fuck!

“Fuck, Kat, if I didn’t try to deny this. I tried to leave you alone. Dammit, baby, I did. But, I can’t. Seeing you tonight, dressed like the angel I see you as in my mind, God, you’re sexy as hell. I had to get to you, get to you before I ended my friendship with Jay with my fist pounding his face.”

I stand there in shock at this gorgeous man’s revelations. “Be ready, sweet girl, ’cause I will be coming for you. You will be mine.” With that, he takes my face in his hands and slams his mouth down onto mine in a soul-shattering kiss. A kiss that I feel all the way down to the tips of my toes. A kiss that steals not only my breath, but the last of my resolve.

I grant his tongue entrance. My legs nearly giving out, I groan into the kiss. But just as quickly as I’m ready to wrap my hands in Ryker’s hair to pull him closer into me, he pulls away from me. He growls one last time, “So fucking perfect, so goddamn sweet. Fuck, you make me weak,” then kisses my forehead.