Page 60 of Locked Down

Instead, he said,“I followed Davis today to his meeting. He’s getting money from Cal Wallingford. Wallingford is part of the group that is trying to put your uncle in the VP slot.”

Vic stared at him.“But… That makes no sense. He helped you get into my uncle’s circle. He has to know you’re spying on him.”

Ryker shook his head.“I can’t figure it out either. None of us can. They are on opposites of the ideology spectrum. It…defies logic.”He inched his hand higher on the blanket, just nudging her knee.

She didn’t draw away, nor did she stop frowning.“Obviously there’s something we’re missing. I wish this was all over. I just want to be done with Washington. There’s nothing here for me. Not one thing I like about it. It’s time to get the hell out of Dodge.”

Ryker’s heart lurched at her cold words.Notone thingshe liked about it…Shit. It was time to go. Time to get out before it was too late. He pulled his hand back to his own knee. Who was he kidding, it was already too late. He had feelings for Vic. A lot of them and she obviously did not feel the same. Time to step back and regain his equilibrium.

He stood.“I’ll let you get some sleep. Don’t take public transport. I’ll have one of the guys pick you up.”

Vic hopped up,“Wait, Ryker, I didn’t mean…that is I was referring to?—”

“It’s okay Vic. I got the message. Loud and clear. I’ll leave you be.”He headed to the door.

Vic threw the blanket aside, then leaped off the couch, flew across the room, and grabbed his arm.

“Don’t go, Ryker. I feel better when you’re here. I don’t want you to go. I want…”she bit her lip.

Ryker waited. He needed her to say it. She’d already stated her thought about what was here for her in D.C., and it wasn’t him. He wasn’t going to make the first move this time.

She stayed silent, watching him.

He reached for the door.

“You,”she blurted out.“I want you.”

He turned back to her.“Are you sure about that? It seemed to take you a while to make up your mind.”

“Yes, I’m sure,”she said as she moved closer. She put her hands on his chest.“Stay with me, Ryker. Stay the night.”

He stared into her big hazel eyes and knew the right thing to do was to walk out the door but he also knew if he only had her for another couple of weeks, then he was going to enjoy every minute of it. He swung her around and put her back against the door, then claimed her mouth in a fierce kiss.

TWENTY-FIVE

Without releasing her mouth, Ryker locked the door. He ran his hands over her curvy bottom and pulled her against the hard-on that had sprung to life in his jeans.

She wound her arms around his neck and pressed herself against him as she deepened the kiss. She ground her hips and rubbed her nipples against his chest. Jesus, she wasn’t wearing a bra under her t-shirt. He picked her up and she wrapped her legs around his waist as he carried her over into the bedroom. He dropped her on the bed and lowered himself down to her body. The taste of her drove him wild. He needed this. Needed her. Needed time in her arms to let the world fall away. He’d never needed that before, never felt that he could lose himself in another person that way, but Vic was special and he was going to make damn sure she knew it.

She ran her hands over the flat planes of his chest, and he felt the touch in his cock. He was hard as a rock and desperate to be inside of her. He moved his hand under her t-shirt and pulled it up over her breast. He lowered his mouth to her nipple and started to suck. She felt so damn good, he was lost.

“Tell me again, Vic. Tell me you want this.”He needed to be sure.

“Ryker, I want you. I’ve wanted you since the morning you first walked into my apartment.”

Music to his ears.

But then she continued,“Don’t panic though. I don’t want a commitment or anything. I just want you to screw my brains out., make me forget all this intrigue, and my uncle, and all of it. I feel safe in your arms, and more than anything, right now, I want to feel safe, and I need a release. Maybe more than one.”She lifted her chin and cocked an eyebrow.“Are you up to the challenge?”

She was killing him. He wanted her so badly his whole body ached with need, but his heart lurched at the rest of her statement. She wasn’t looking for commitment. It was a good thing, he reminded himself, because he couldn’t commit. Not with his lifestyle, his job. Plus, she was leaving. This was all fun, right? Then why did it feel less like fun and more like an addiction? He should go right now before he fell any deeper into her. She bit her lip as he stared at her, and all rational thought left his head.

“You bet I am. I always exceed my goals.”He glanced at her parted lips then he swooped down and claimed her mouth.

She opened her own wider to let him in, and their tongues rolled over one another. She tasted sweet, like scotch and woman. He moved one hand up to hold her head while he deepened the kiss. He wanted to touch and taste every single inch of this woman.

She wrapped her arms around his neck and brought her body in full contact with his. He cupped her bottom and pulled her hips against his rock-hard erection. His nerves were jumping all over the place, knowing where this kiss was leading.

He dragged his lips down her neck. She let out a moan and tugged on his shirt. He pressed up on one hand and pulled it off over his head with the other. He dropped it on the floor and immediately pulled her in and reclaimed her mouth.

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