Page 16 of Ryker

I feel like he hates me. And maybe he has a right to, considering I put him on the line and made him bend his morals to put me in this position. I live in a dog-eat-dog world, and part of me assumed he did too.

No one knows anything about Ryker Hudson other than he started an elite sex club and has become extremely wealthy from it. But no one in the sex business is an overnight success.

Unless you’re the Butterfly.

I can’t help but want to scratch at this man’s hard exterior to see how the self-made millionaire has done so well, so fast. I’m guessing he’s about the same age as me and even with my family’s name, I don’t have his prestige.

Then again, I’m a woman. We always have to work harder to get less.

When he reaches the door, I suddenly feel awful for things that shouldn’t matter. “I’m sorry,” I say. “I should have never exploited your weakness for my gain.”

Mr. Hudson halts mid exit. Then he looks over his shoulder. “I have no weakness, Miss Reed. The only thing you’ve exploited is yourself with that stunt you just pulled.”

“I only wanted to be the Butterfly.” The rest of my confession dies on my tongue when he faces me again.

“So does every other woman in here, Tara. You had no right to demand special treatment.”

“And you had every opportunity to refuse me.” If he thinks he can make me feel shitty for what I’ve done, he doesn’t know who he’s dealing with. I’m kicked down daily by my family and peers and especially myself. Mr. Hudson will have to sharpen his tongue if he ever wants to cut me. “You also didn’t have to bid on me.”

I’d already won without him doing that and we both know it.

Ryker’s jaw clenches and I swear he’s going to crack his molars with how hard he’s chomping down on them. Without saying another word, he wrenches the door open and slams it shut behind him.

Chapter 6

Ryker

What have I done?

Being impulsive is not okay. Losing my cool is dangerous. Becoming a Butterfly’s Dom is strictly forbidden.

Even if it’s not in the club’s rule book.

“You’re all fucking fired,” I announce, entering my office. My men stand in a semi-circle, waiting for me like it’s a goddamn intervention.

“Whatever, Ryker,” Vault says. “You’d be fucked without us.”

I’m fucked no matter what.

Dropping onto the couch, I scrub my face with both hands and groan. “This is a disaster.”

“Not necessarily.” Dmitri sits next to me and squeezes my shoulder. “This might be what you need, man.”

What I need is to get these assholes away from me, soothe the busted egos of all my members, and give Tara a spanking severe enough that she can’t sit for a week. “Vault, Bull, can you make sure the penthouse guests are completely satisfied? And I do mean completely.”

“No problem,” Bull says as he leaves with Vault.

I can only imagine the tricks they’ll pull tonight to make Jessie and her party happy. No bump in pay would likely be big enough to make it worth it for Bull and Vault either. Fuck my life. “She’s cost me too much, and it’s only been ten minutes.”

I don’t know what came over me on that stage. I pushed this woman to be bold, and she delivered. Then I lost my composure and wanted to…

Wanted to what?

My answer makes my skin crawl.

I’ve just paid for sex. Took my power and aimed it at her. I don’t even know this woman and here I am, offering two-point-two million like its chump change, have accepted to be her Dom, and kicked out one of my best member’s wives from my club, all in one evening.

“I’ve lost my damn mind.”

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