Page 44 of Keeper of Secrets

Her tongue darted out, swirling over his tip, his entire body jerking at the feel of her warm, wet tongue on his most sensitive flesh.

And then she placed a soft kiss where her tongue had just been.Words began to fall from his lips.

“Chloe, please, more.”She obliged, tentatively at first, but his hand in her hair guided her movement until she understood the rhythm, her mouth taking him over and over, her breasts pressed to his thighs.

And Ryker just knew.He needed her in his bed.Needed to explore every inch of her.She’d won because he was going to marry her and then he was going to keep her in London where he could make love to her over and over.

All his other goals fell away as he touched her face, his body drawing closer and closer to the orgasm he’d needed for days.

And that’s when the words he never thought he’d say fell from his lips.“I love you.”

CHAPTERFOURTEEN

Chloe nearly bitinto his staff as he cried out his declaration of affection.Her heart answered,I love you too.

Her mouth, however, was a bit busy.

Because a moment later, a moan ripped from Ryker’s chest, his body spasming as hot liquid filled her mouth.

Slowly, she pulled away, looking up his body at his half open eyes.“Ryker?”

“Yes, love?”

Part of her wanted to ask if he’d meant the words.But now was not the moment to be insecure.It was the time for strength.“I feel the same.”

“How’s that?”He tossed an arm over his eyes not moving.

She was glad he’d not seen her grimace.Did he not remember?Not want to admit he’d said them too.

Was she about to be crushed?She drew in a deep breath.“I love you, too.”

He looked up then, his arm falling away, his head picking up from the table.“You shouldn’t.”

“Why?’

“Because I’m a selfish prick.”

Her brows lifted as her heart skipped a beat.Was this the part when he told her that he was too selfish to ever really love her?

“But I’m going to do better.”

She wasn’t certain what that specifically meant.Was he not going to send her away?Not marry her?But rather than ask, she lay her head down on his stomach.“Me too.”Because if she were honest, trying to make him jealous didn’t exactly seem loving or caring.Not that she’d gotten that far in her plot.But still, that was only because he’d outplayed her.

He shook his head, pushing up as he cradled her head in one hand.“Love.You don’t need to do better.You are practically a saint?—”

But a noise out in the hall cut off his words.She sat up, Ryker off the table in a second, pulling up his breeches.“I’ll be right back,” he whispered as he crossed to the door, silently opening the panel and looking out into the hall.She stood too, furiously attempting to stuff her hair back in its pins.

Who was in the hall?Just a servant?Another guest?

The door pushed open again.“Is everything all right?”she asked but then gasped when it wasn’t Ryker who filled the door but another man.Scars slashed across his cheeks, his teeth bared as he stalked toward her.

She let out the very start of a scream, but in a moment, the man was on her, a cloth over her mouth and nose, his other hand like a vise around the back of her neck.

She only fought for a moment or two before the world went dark…

* * *

Ryker madehis way down the dark hall, checking the shadows until he’d reached a dead end.

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