Witness Protection (The Witness Series) (6 page)

“You could have said no.” I whisper.

“I am a cop, it is my job to protect people,
I
don’t mind you being in my house.”

“You just mind me.”

“I never said I had a problem with you Ari, stop.”

“So it’s just because I didn’t agree with your sexual needs?”

He sighs. “It’s hard for me, you have to understand. Nate is different, he is quiet and gentle, he
is affectionate and people
adore
him. I am not. I am hard, roug
h and I have interests, I like to be dominant and I like women to want me and fall to my feet.
”

“Why?”

“It’s just me.
”

“I know I went off Ryder, but…I get it. I don’t think what you do is wrong, I just haven’t experienced anything so out there before.”

“People think it is wrong, a lot of people judge.”

“That is a matter of opinion. People have different sexual tastes Ryder, it doesn’t make them wrong.”

He lifts his gla
sses and I do the same, his aqua
gaze meets mine and my heart flutters.

“It really does
n’t bother you?”

“
Not now it doesn’t, I don’t understand it so it makes it very hard to judge
and I know I did but that’s just because giving up control scares me
.”

“Want to tell me why?”

“It’s a long story ok, I have had to grow up very quick and I didn’t have a good experience with sex so…I have to protect myself, I don’t have a family to do it.”

“My family would kill me,
you know? If they knew what I was like.
Nate’s don’t care. They have always known
he is gay
and they don’t care. We grew up
together,
Nate and I have always been best friends. He told his fami
ly about his feelings and they love him all the same. If my parents found out that I like to whip women…”

“You shouldn’t have to hide what you are.”

He smiles
. “I am a cop, a tough
, rugged cop. I am the eyes of the law, it doesn’t look good.”

I laugh. “What should it
matter, it is your business
?”

“Religion
.”

“Are you religious?”

“No.”

“Your family?”

“No.”

“Then it shouldn’t matter.”

“No, I guess it shouldn’
t. What about you, any
fantasies
?”

“
I told you
, I didn’t have a good time of it so it is really hard for me to feel anything when thinking about sex, but…I want to know, I want to find someone to show me that it isn’t so bad.”

He falls silent and I turn to stare at him. His fists are tight on the chains and I wonder what is going through his mind.

“Ryder?”

“I want
you.” He says, not looking at me.

“You do
?”

“
More than any fucking thing I have wanted in a long time. You defy me, you are innocent and you are so damn
ed gorgeous, I find it so damned hard to be around you and think clearly. It is easier for me to be harsh, then to accept I want you
.”

“Why would you want me?” I whisper.

“You are a fiery little woman who tugs every bit of patience I have. It should piss me off and
God
knows
it does but at the same time, I want you more than I am happy to admit.”

“Is that why you are so snappy?”

“Partly.
I go out because I know getting involved with you will cause problems, but I can’t help what I want.”

“I
imagine you want many women
.”

“I have my fair share of wo
men, I won’t lie but you…you are different.”

I smile at him.
He gives me a half smile
back
.

“Wh
at d
id you think when you saw Stacey that night
?”
He suddenly asks.

His words shock me and I flush. “I…I…”

“Did it turn you on?”

I blink stupidly at him. “What?”

“Did.It.Turn.You.On?
”
He bites off each word
impatiently
.

“I don’t know
,
it scared me because of what I saw but if I put that aside then yes, a little
.” I admit
.

He nods, grinning.
“Thought so.
Do you
think it is something you would like to try?”

“What, no, I am not here to play Ryder.”

“Not even a bit curious?”

“I hear you fucking a different woman
every few nights, and I see how many you go through
. I am curious, I won’t lie but I really do
n’t intend my next experience
to be with a man who has had so many partners it is clear he doesn’t respect women.”

He glares at me. “You think I
don’t respect women?”

“No, you don’t
. You fuck them and they leave or you keep them a few days and make them think you want them,
then
you leave.
If you do happen to keep one, she is treated like a slave.
”

“You ever thought ma
ybe it was them disrespecting me
?”

I gape and stand, he does too.

“You can’t be serious?”

“Well, why do you inst
antly assume I am the asshole? Those women are using me
as much as
I am
using them.”

“No…what?”

“You are a
naive
little shit. Those women pick me
up ninety percent of the
tim
e,
they throw themselves onto me
, wra
p their little mouths around my cock
and beg for me to fuck them
. What do you
think I
am
going to do? Say no? They want it, they know
about as much about me as I
do about
them but they still want in my bed
. Don’t be so
judgmental
.”

“Oh…you…” I stammer.

He grips my head and before I know it, he is slanting his mouth over mine. Oh, oh. He tastes like mint and Ryder. His mouth is soft, but his kiss is hard. He pulls my body close until I am pressed so hard against him, I can feel every inch of his hard, muscled flesh. He kisses me until my mouth opens and a moan escapes, he takes the chance and plunges his tongue in. Oh sweet lord. I pull back, panting.

“What
the hell!
” I gasp.

He shrugs and tosses the bike helmet at me. “You wanted it as much as I did.”

“Get over yourself!” I snap.

“Get over yourself, you sexist.”

“Take me home!” I cry.

“
I will fuck you Ariana, mark my words. I will fuck you and make you scream until you can’t think. I will become
your everything
, and you will want nothing once
you taste what I can give you and your little issues will be no more than a faded
memory
.
You can deny me all you want but you and I both know the sexual tension is there, you will give in to it.
”

“HOME!”
I scream, stamping my foot.

We zoom home quickly and when we pull up, I storm upstairs. Nate is in the kitchen and glances at me as I storm past.

“Hey what happened?” He yells.

“She has the shits up because I kissed her, took her little mouth and kissed it. She also has the shits because she doesn’t want to believe t
hat the women I
fuck might want it too and might not be being used.”

I turn and glare.
“Up your ass Ryder!”

“Later baby.”
He snaps.

I slam the door to my room and lock it. Wanker!
I brood for a good hour, when a knock sounds out. I walk over and open it, to find Nate. He hands me a beer.

“He has gone to work.”

“Thank
God
.”

We sit on the couch and Nate stares at his beer.

“Nate?”

“You kissed him.”

I stare stupidly at him. “He kissed me, is that a problem?”

“Nah.”
He grinds out.

“Nate…”

“I don’t want to see you hurt sweetheart.”

I take his hand and sigh.
“Oh Nate.
That is so sweet, but it isn’t the only reason you are hurting, you care for him a lot, don’t you?”

“You know, I have wanted Ryder for a long time and I have always known it will never ever happen. I have moved on and am seeing someone great, I might even love him. Ryder is always there though, in my head. I get a little jealous, but not so much when it is random women. You though, I like you a lot, I don’t want you to get hurt Ari. He will hurt you.”

“I won’t be giving in to him Nate, no matter how hard he pushes. He can dominate all he
wants
and demand sex, he won’t get it.”

Nate laughs. “He will chase you until you can’t think about anything else, he will drive you wild but he will break your heart. Ryder has had a tough go at life and at love. Be careful, please.”

“I will Nate, I will.”

CHAPTER 4

I see it so clearly, the way the
blood spurts from her neck as he drags the knife over her skin. I sit up screaming, screaming to the roof. The door swings open and two half
asleep
men bust in, guns drawn. I am panting and a small trickle of sweat slides down my skin. Nate blinks rapidly, he is butt naked. I scream again.

“Fuck Nate, where the fuck are your clothes?” Ryder yells, lowering his gun.

Nate quickly pulls the towel off the door and covers himself.

“What is going on? Why did you scream?” He asks, looking around.

“Nightmare.”
I whisper.

“Aw, and now you are crying.” Nate says, walking over and sliding into the bed.

“Harden up Nate, don’t go babying her.” Ryder snaps.

“You soften up, bully.” Nate snaps at him.

I snuggle into Nate when he pulls me close and
am
grateful for the comfort.

“We got you, safe and
sound remember
?” Nate soothes.

“I know it was just a dream.”

“Want to get your mind off it?”

“I thought you were gay.” I say with a weak smile.

Nate roars with laughter. “You might change that.”

“
Unlikely
.” Ryder snorts.

“Leave her alone, she is gorgeous.”

“Don’t I fucking know
it.
” Ryder mutters to himself.

“
Mr.
D
ominant over there can’t handle affection, let him brood.” I say and give Ryder a grin.

He shoots me a glare, but I can see a ghost of a smile playing around his lips.

“Tell us a little something about
yourself,
help get your mind off it.”
Nate offers.

“I don’t have much to talk about.”

“Tell me about that one bad time.”

“No, that isn’t a good story.”

“Talk,
” Ryder demands
suddenly interested
. “Or go back to nightmares.”

“How kind you are.”

“Talk…you have five seconds.”

“I am ashamed of it.”

Nate takes my hand. “Don’t be, we don’t judge.”

I hesitate for a long, long moment. Then sigh and begin talking. “
Ok, I was seventeen and he was the biggest crush I had ever had. I wanted
him,
from junior year to senior I wanted him. He knew it too, made me beg,
made
me see him with other women. I got desperate you know? I was young and wanted to do
anything he asked. When he asked me to a school dance, I jumped at the chance. That was his name, Chance. Go figure.”

“Go on.” Nate encourages.

“Please don’t think I am easy or…cheap. I was young…”

“Go on baby.” Ryder says, t
ucking a pillow behind his head and laying on the couch. His words surprise me so much I go still for a long
momen
t,
did he just call me baby
in an affectionate way
? I
shake my head and continue with the story.