Page 29 of Locked Down

Ryker thrust deep inside herandshe saw the world through the kaleidoscope of the orgasm crashing over her. A few more hard thrusts and he joined her, slumping beside her on the bed.

The sound of a cell phone pierced the air. Ryker was on his feet in seconds."Sterling,"he growled into the phone."Yes. She's fine. Overslept."There was silence."I would advise she needs the day off. She'll be back at work tomorrow. Yes."He listened with a stony expression on his face."No. On the way."He clicked off the call andthengrabbed his underwear and jeans from the floor. His movements were stiff as he pulled them on.

Wait. What? What happened to fucking pillow talk. And afterglow, and holy shit! What had she just done?"Are you leaving?"Vic asked.

"Have to go back to your uncle's. He has a dinner meeting."

She stared at him, heat rising fast in her cheeks. He was leaving without a word. Likethey hadn't just had the best sex of her life.

He finally met her gazeand his eyes narrowedand then he gave a slight nod."You're doing better."

"What? What are you talking about?"Vic demanded.

"You were about to lose it."He gave a slight shrug."Some people need to cry. Some eat. Some need years of therapy. You needed sex. Nowthefrantic look is gone from your eyes. You'll be okay."With that, he was gone.

What the actual fuck?Vic flopped back on the bed, humiliation spreading through her as her orgasm had just done. She put her hands over her face.Screw him. She let out a long sighbutdamn if he wasn't right. Sheactuallyfelt much better.Grounded.The anger at what happened was still there, but it wasn't nearly as explosive as it had been. The sex had allowed her to release the pent-up rage and made her feel human again. At some point, likeas soon astomorrow, she would have to face Ryker again. It wasn't like she could fire him. She'd begged to bring him on board. Shewas going tohave to learn to be indifferent toward him, just like he'd been before he'd left. She could do that.Fat fucking chance. The next nineteen days were going to be miserable. That's all she had to manage. Nineteen days until freedom. She could do that, couldn't she?

FOURTEEN

This dinner was interminable. Ryker clenched his jaw as he stood by, waiting for Davis to finish chowing down and jawing with some Washington elites. Ryker couldn't decide if Davis's loud chewing or phony Texas drawl was more agonizing. He ran his gaze over the restaurant for the umpteenth time. It was as if Davis was deliberately taking his sweet time as a punishment to Ryker.

He'd demanded Ryker get Vic and bring her to the house this morning.There was no way in hell that wasgoing to happen. The woman needed some downtime. She'd just been through amajortrauma. Davis had insisted until Ryker finally told him in no uncertain terms that no one was allowed to bug Vic today. He pointed out that Davis would be seen as heartless to call his niece in on a Sunday after what happened.Ifthe story got leaked to the press, Davis would face a PR nightmare.Ryker didn't need to say the quiet part out loud; he'd personally delight in leaking the story. Davis had shut up, but now they were in a cold war.

The entire situation left Ryker between the rock of Davis and the hard place of Archer. If push came to shove, hewould pick Archer'sgoal.He just hoped things wouldn't escalate with Davis.

That thisdinner was particularly tortuous was his own fault. He hadn't had time to shower at the house and he only had clean dress pants, not a clean shirt, to change into so Vic's scent engulfed him.He couldn't move without smelling her shampoo or her natural scent. It was driving him crazy.

He closed his eyes and cursed silently. Then, opening his eyes again, he did another quicksurvey of the restaurant. He'd screwed up so badly today. He never should've taken Vic to bed. He was hard-pressed to remember any other time when he'd been so stupid and out of control. Something he prided himself on not being ever, but somehow Invicta just brought out the overprotective Neanderthal lurking within him.

He'd known she was hurting.Jeez, he'd have to be blindto notsee the panic in her eyes.He'd thought just holding her might be enoughbutwhen she was going to scream, he reacted instinctively. Stick a pitchfork in him, but once he tasted her lips,his fight against this attraction was done. He wanted her so badly that once they'd started, he couldn't stop. God, she was soincredibly beautiful. He'd wanted to stay with her. Hell, he wanted to spend the foreseeable future in bed with her. It had damn near killed him to leave. And being cold like that had crushed him. Being a cold-hearted so-and-so was one of the necessities of the job.

Vic was the last person he should be involved with. She was so much better off without him. And he'd been right. The sex had brought her back from the brink of panic. She would be okay now.

"Thank you so much, Donald. I truly appreciate the support. Please give my regards to your beautiful wife, and we'll chat soon,"Davis drawled as he got up from the table.

Ryker told Tony to bring the SUV to the front and made a final visual sweep of the restaurant. He went to the front door and surveyed the street. It was clear.

Tony pulled up out front,andRyker hustled Davis into the SUVandthey were away in seconds.

"Take me home, Tony,"Davis drawled from the back seat.

Tony said nothing but glanced at Ryker sitting beside him. Ryker gave him a small nod. Theyheaded to the house.

The silence didn't last long. Davis started,"Tomorrow, I'd like to go over your entire plan for my security for the next month. Eight a.m. in my office."

Son of a b…monkey.Ryker smiled to himself."Of course, sir."He knew as soon as he challenged Davis about Vic, the pain in the arse would exact somekind ofrevenge, so he'd had Rush and Cash working on the plan all day.He'd done the bare bones of it sitting outside Davis's office on the first day, but he had them fill in the blanks with a rotating schedule for all security personnel. He would be ready for Davis tomorrow morning, no question. It was tonight he was more worried about.

They pulled into the driveway and headed into the house."Will you be going out anymore this evening?"Ryker asked.

"No,"Davissaid,justas Armstrong came rushing in the front door.He frowned."What is it, Floyd?"

"Carson just announced his retirement, months earlier than expected. He'scoming backfor the next sessionbutthat will be his last. And he's flipped sides on the energy bill."

"Shit,"Davis growled. He pulled off his jacket and handed it to Tony."Take that to my room and have Martha prepare some food for later. Floyd and I will be in my office. I do not want to be disturbed unless it's an emergency."He and Floyd crossed the foyer andwent intothe office, closing the door with a bang.

Tony shook his head and started for the stairs. Ryker reached out and stopped him."While you'reaskingMartha to prepare a meal for the senator, see if she has any leftovers we can eat since we missed dinner.I'lltake that coat up, and then I have a few calls to make. Be sure to save me some food andsome of thosechocolate chip cookies."

Tony grinned."Better not take too long, or those will be gone, boss."He headed toward the kitchen.

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