Page 23 of Forbidden Pawn

He opened the door, but it looks like I’m the one who will have to make both of us go through it. I already rattled him a bit tonight. I’m sure I can achieve a lot more than that.

I can get him to kiss me again, and maybe more. My core flutters with excitement at the thought, but I tell myself that it’s nothing but my hope for revenge.

I shake my head, shaking off my forbidden thoughts as I go into the bathroom to get ready for bed. As I step inside, my eyes fall on the supply of upscale beauty products he left for me, and I can’t help but smile. Ryker has a soft spot for me, despite what he said about the kiss. And if he cares, even just a little, I could use that to my advantage.

Chapter 16

June

He’s kissing me again, just like last night, but this time we aren’t standing in his hallway. We are in water—hot, steaming water, like a hot tub. His shirt is gone, revealing the hard, tattooed muscles of his chest. And his hands are everywhere, exploring my body with a possessive hunger. His lips trace a path from my neck down to my breasts, and I can feel the heat of his breath, the roughness of his stubble against my skin. My core is throbbing with need, expecting his touch any moment now, as his hand travels down to my…

I wake up with a start, my body trembling, my heart racing—and wetness pooling between my legs. Confusion and shame wash over me, but so does something darker, something forbidden. What the hell was that? I can’t possibly want him that much.

But the ache between my legs is undeniable, and before I can stop myself, my hand slips under the blanket. My fingers brush against my wetness, and a soft gasp escapes my lips. I try to push away the guilt, the shame, and focus on the sensations. On him.

In my mind, it’s Ryker touching me. It’s him making me feel like this, just like in the dream. I bite my lip to keep from making any noise as my fingers work faster. His name hovers on the edge of my tongue, and I have to choke it back as I spiral closer to the edge.

My orgasm hits me like a wave crashing over me, and I have to clamp a hand over my mouth to keep from crying out his name. My body shudders, pleasure rippling through me, and for a moment, all I can feel is the intensity of the release. Just pure, ecstatic relief.

But as soon as it’s over, shame floods in. What have I done? How could I let myself think of him like that?

Disgusted with myself, I fling the blanket off and rush to the bathroom. The cold water of the shower does little to wash away the shame, but at least it numbs the heat that’s still lingering in my body.

When I’m done, I step back into the bedroom and put on some underwear and a light dress. It looks like today will be warm and sunny. I walk to the window, needing the fresh air and sunlight to clear my head. Judging by the position of the sun, it’s not early morning anymore. I wonder why he hasn’t come to get me yet?

I can feel my cheeks blush as I turn away from the window and walk over to the door. To my surprise, I realize that it’s not locked. He must have unlocked it while I was still sleeping—or maybe while I was in the shower.

My cheeks burn with fresh embarrassment as I think about what I was doing this morning. Oh God, I hope he wasn’t outside the door. Is there any chance he could have heard anything? The thought of him knowing what I was doing, of him hearing me, makes my stomach twist in knots.

I leave the room, stepping into the hallway with a cautious glance around. The house is quiet—too quiet. I glance toward the end of the hall where Ryker’s office is, and find the door closed as always. He told me to stay away from there, and for now, I’ll listen. I need to be on his good side today, after what happened last night.

Pushing the thought aside, I head downstairs. The smell of fresh coffee greets me, and I spot a plate of buttered toast laid out on the kitchen counter. But no Ryker. There’s no note, nothing to tell me where he might be. The silence feels unsettling, and I can’t shake the feeling that I’m being watched. But when I look around, there’s no sign of him.

I grab a piece of toast, taking a bite as I walk toward the back door. The heat of the day surprises me as I step outside. It’s much warmer than it’s been the past few days. The sun is already high in the sky. How long did I sleep? I don’t have a watch to check, but it feels like it might be close to noon already.

I remember the pool around the right side of the house and decide to head that way. The clear blue water glistens under the sunlight. The air feels heavy, and the cold water looks inviting. I dip a toe in, relishing the icy shock that shoots through my body.

I look around again, but there’s still no sign of Ryker. Where the hell is he? He mentioned cameras all over the property—could he be watching me right now? The thought sends a shiver down my spine, but it also sparks an idea.

Maybe I can lure him out.

Without giving it too much thought, I pull my dress over my head, letting it fall to the ground beside me. I’m left in just my underwear, and a small thrill runs through me at the idea of Ryker watching me strip down. But I don’t linger on the thought. Instead, I take a deep breath and dive into the pool.

The cold water sends a jolt through my system. It’s even colder than I expected, but it’s exactly what I need. The water washes away the lingering shame and the forbidden thoughts of Ryker that have haunted me since this morning.

I tread water for a moment, letting the coldness seep into my bones while I hold my face up to the sun. Despite my attempts to push it away, I hear that gnawing voice again, warning me not to forget myself, not to indulge when I’m here on a dangerous mission. But nothing prepared me for this man and this beautiful home out in the countryside. I’ve always dreamed of living in a home like this, and I can’t silence the part within me that wants to make the best of the situation by indulging in this dream for a bit, despite the circumstances.

“What the hell are you doing?” His sharp voice breaks into my musings.

A smile tugs at the corner of my mouth before I open my eyes and turn to find him standing at the edge of the pool. He’s not shirtless, but dressed more casually today in a white t-shirt, stretching around the muscles of his arms, and a pair of dashing shorts. He crosses his muscular arms in front of his chest and glares at me with an indignant frown while my smile widens.

I knew it.

Chapter 17

Ryker

I’m standing at the edge of the pool, seething as I look down at Grace. She casts me a cheeky smile, her eyes glinting with defiance, and it only makes my anger burn hotter. She’s treading water, her hair slick against her skin, wearing nothing but her underwear. She knows exactly what she’s doing, and it’s driving me insane.

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