Page 40 of Christmas Wish
The woman’s knee was pressed against Ryder’s. Her top was daringly low, exposing more than a fair amount of cleavage, and the hem stopped just above the waistband of a short denim skirt. Turning her attention away, Savannah looked at Ryder. “That’s fine. If you can give me Hawk’s number, I can call him back.”
“I’m Brandi,” the woman said, placing her hand on Ryder’s thigh.
“Savannah,” she mumbled. Her emotions were so conflicting that it felt like she was being twisted, bent, and torn on the inside. Brandi was pretty and younger than her by at least ten years.Of course, Ryder would have someone like her in his life.Her heart twinged and jealousy ran amok all over her body.
The young woman leaned over and whispered something in Ryder’s ear then laughed as her big breasts pressed against his arm. For one cold moment, seeing Brandi cozying up to Ryder while he gave her a lazy smile brought back the dreadful memory of Bret pulling his young lover to him and kissing her passionately in front of Savannah. Her heart hammered and Savannah willed herself to calm the hell down. Ryderwasn’tBret and, even more importantly, Ryder didn’t owe her anything. They weren’t involved, perhaps a tinge of flirting; a single kiss between two lonely people didn’t count.I can’t be that naïve to think that he didn’t have a woman in his life. I’m being ridiculous and letting the past dictate my present feelings.
Avoiding his stare, Savannah stood up. “I have some things to do,” she said and shuffled away toward her bedroom. Once inside, she closed the door and wiped the tears trailing down her face. The truth was that Savannah hated seeing the younger woman laugh and lean against Ryder. She was jealous, and as much as she tried to talk herself out of it, realized that she liked the rough biker more than she wanted to admit. The images of Brandi and Ryder kissing and touching freely on the couch, now that Savannah had left, raged inside her mind.
A knock on the door had her scrambling to find a tissue to wipe her face and blow her nose. The last thing she wanted was for Ryder to see her crying. She fluffed her hair with her fingers, took several deep breaths, and then opened the door. He filled the doorway, his dark eyes boring into hers. Without saying a word, he closed the door and yanked her toward him, then he shoved her back against it and crushed his mouth on hers. At first, Ryder’s lips were warm and soft, and a small moan slipped between them. His tongue invaded the recesses of her mouth, plunging and swirling, until she leaned into his embrace, realizing that she could never have enough of his kisses. Then he deepened their connection and kissed her harder with a fervid, possessive need she’d never known before. She knotted her fist in his shirt, pulling him against her.
“Fuck, Savannah,” he rasped on her lips.
Every square inch of her body dissolved into his. Savannah’s temples throbbed and her heart exploded while she gripped his hair and tugged hard. Never had she wanted a man like this. Ever. His hands slid down her body and then back up, and when one of them cupped her breast, a million sparks singed her nerves, sending delicious sensations from her nipple to the ache between her legs. All she wanted was Ryder—to feel him inside her, his mouth hot on her skin, and his tongue blazing a trail down to her needy sweet spot.
“Ryder,” she murmured, slipping her hand under his shirt. The feel of his muscles rippling under her fingertips threatened to make her come just like that. It’d been so long since she’d had feelings for a man or even had sex for that matter. Then Bret’s cruel smirk cut through her arousal, dousing it like a bucket of ice water. Savannah broke away slightly and stared at Ryder’s quizzical face, at his lips that glistened from their kiss.
“What’s going on?” he asked, stroking the side of her face with his finger.
“You have a guest waiting out there.” Not exactly the truth, but Brandiwaswaiting for him.
“Don’t worry about her. She just came by to see me. We’ve got nothing between us.”
“She doesn’t act like that.”
“Brandi just got all possessive when she saw you. Club girls do that shit. She’s just a good friend.” Ryder gently kissed her. “You’re the one who’s getting to me.” He leaned in closer and pressed his erection hard against her.
“You’re getting to me, too, but whatever Brandi is to you, it’s rude to leave her alone.”
Ryder slowly nodded then stepped back. “You’re right.”
“And I still have to call Hawk.”
“I’ll do it.” He opened the door and walked out.
For a long time, Savannah stood in the hall listening to Brandi and Ryder chat. Each time Brandi suggested that they could have some fun, Savannah’s stomach would clench then relax as Ryder repeatedly turned her down. From what she gathered, Brandi and Ryder had some sort of relationship that involved sex.Maybe a friends-with-benefits type of thing?She wasn’t sure, but there was definitely more between them than what he’d previously stated. Before she jumped into anything with Ryder, she had to be sure of what was going on between him and the pretty brunette.
Savannah went back into the bedroom, shut the door behind her, then sank down in the chair and looked out the window. The sky was a dove gray with thin wisps of sunlight filtering weakly through the clouds. The evergreens sparkled, their branches bejeweled with frost while the arms of the bare aspen trees hung low with the weight of the snow.
“It’s so beautiful here,” she said under her breath. “Ryder’s beautiful, in a rough way.” She smiled when his rugged face filled her mind.And hiskissesmake my fucking toes curl. He’s wonderful even though he doesn’t want anyone to tell him that. He has a kind heart. I can’t imagine him ever treating a woman the way Bret treated me.The irony was that Ryder acknowledged that he had issues, but Bret thought he was perfectly reasonable in his actions toward people, including her and their son.
She rubbed her temples. “I should’ve left you a long time ago.” But she’d decided to stay for two reasons: in hopes that Bret would come around and love his son, and for fear that she couldn’t make it as a single mom. Timmy had a charmed life, at least financially, and he’d go to the best schools and have the best opportunities his wealthy status would afford him. Savannah knew how hard it was to climb the societal ladder, and she wanted so much more for her son than her parents could ever have given her. So she stayed. Bret and she lived separate lives, but the unspoken rule between them was that they’d treat each other with respect and play the happy family to the outside world. Even though Savannah was lonely without the love and intimacy from her husband, she learned to live with it. For the most part, things were going all right until Bret had begun to yell at Timmy and say crude things to her. She’d gone to a divorce attorney after several months of that behavior, and had decided that she was ready to leave him, even though she knew it was going to be a nasty, spiteful divorce. She had no doubt that Bret would ask for sole custody of Timmy to hurt her and to please Corinne.Healwaysmade sure to please Corinne. She was the one who came first in his life.Savannah geared herself for the challenge, deciding she’d file for divorce after the first of the year, but her plans derailed in a big way.
She leaned her head back and closed her eyes, afraid of the memories but knowing she had to confront them.
Savannah had parked her BMW in front of their mansion, cursing herself for forgetting the clothes for the tailor. She’d walked up the spiral staircase, and when she approached the master bedroom, the sounds of moans and groans were coming from inside. Her stomach twisted and her head pounded. For a long time, Savannah suspected that Bret was cheating on her, but she never imagined he’d bring the woman to their home.
Pushing the door aside, she saw a woman who barely looked of legal age, bouncing up and down on his dick. Bret glanced over, and instead of being mortified at being caught, he smirked at her then grabbed the young woman’s breasts and tugged them. The girl craned her neck, and when she saw Savannah, she cried out and had the decency to scramble off of him. Savannah spun around and headed down the stairs, angry tears filling her eyes.
“Wait, Savannah,” Bret called out at the top of the stairs.
Ignoring him, Savannah continued her descent to the marbled foyer. She heard his footsteps behind her, then the clack of heels as the young lady rushed past, her eyes cast downward.
The solid cherry wood door shut, and Savannah whirled around.
“How dare you bring one of your women to my home!” He laughed and reached out to touch her, but she cringed and pulled away. “I can’t believe you!”
In two long strides, Bret grabbed her, his hands vices around her arms. “I pay the fucking bills around here, so I can do whatever the hell I want. And don’t act so goddamn sanctimonious. I’m pretty sure you’ve got some pathetic loser servicing you.”
