Page 8 of Ryker

Chapter 8: Ryker

She looks so perfect sitting at my kitchen table that I can see her there every night for the rest of our lives. I feel like a sappy, lovesick romantic just thinking this. Leo rubs against her legs, trying to convince her to share her dinner, and I shake my head at him. He knows better than to try and love up against me for food, but clearly, this new person is fair game.

"Your mom's lasagna was better, but this is a very good close second. Do you make it for all the ladies?" Although her tone is innocent, I can hear the implication.

And there goes the moment. I thought we were making progress. "You really know how to push a man's buttons."

A smile plays on her cute little lips and I know that she was doing this just to rile me up, just like everything else she's been doing this evening and, probably, the rest of our lives. "You know what it was like growing up with Nathan as a brother. I had to learn to be tough. Eat or be eaten, so to speak."

I'd like to eat her, so to speak. "I'm not Nathan, I'm better looking. But how about we play a little game?" I'd like to make things interesting. And if she's going to keep playing these games, I want to get something out of them as well.

She perks up at this because Corinne is the competitive type. She won't come right out and say it, but just try winning a game against her and see what happens. Or better yet, see what doesn't. "What did you have in mind?"

"I'm itching to follow through on my promise to punish you for your little indiscretion yesterday and your continual quips tell me that you're looking to push me over the edge," I set the scene between bites of cheesy goodness. "So all it's going to take to win is this: for the rest of the night, you keep your sass to yourself and I'll keep my itchy palms under control. But the second your smart mouth pops off, your bottom gets a taste of what these rough hands can do."

Even though the lights are dimmed and the candlelight bounces around the room, I can see her cheeks pinken. I wonder if it's from lust or embarrassment. I stuff another fork full of noodles into my mouth to stop myself from asking and give her a chance to process the challenge. This situation has to be finessed. I've wanted to get my hands on her sweet bottom for years. Helping her into the truck earlier only cemented how badly I wanted to touch her all over.

"You've got yourself a deal, Special K," she says after a couple of minutes.

My lips twitch as I consider whether or not that's breaking the rules. "No name-calling, either," I specify because she'll spend the rest of the night undermining the rules if I let her start now.

A pout forms on her lips that makes me want to lean forward and grab it between my teeth. I can only imagine what kissing her would be like. I got a taste at prom all those years ago, but what about now? We've both matured in our experience. I'm sure there's a thing or three I could show her...

"You're quite the rule master, Ryker. You should really relax more before that vein in your forehead pops."

If you'd have told me a week ago that I'd be spending my night playing a dangerously sexy game with my best friend's little sister, I'd have laughed in your face. But now I take a bite of garlic bread with a smirk on my face, knowing that somewhere along the line, Corinne's going to slip up and my hands are going to be on her ass later tonight. And I can't wait.

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