Page 37 of Savage Loyalty

“Not yet,” he murmured, his grip tightening just enough to remind me who was in control. “Not until I’ve made myself clear.”

The words sent a rush of anger—and something far more dangerous—through me. I turned my head slightly, just enough to glare at him. “You’ve made yourself plenty clear, Ryder.”

“Oh, I don’t think I have,” he said, his voice dropping lower, darker. His hand splayed across my stomach, anchoring me to him as we swayed to the music. “You walked out of that alley thinking you could put distance between us, kitten? That’s not how this works.”

My skin burned where he touched me, the memory of his hands on me, his mouth on me, flashing through my mind like a match striking against flint. I hated that my body responded, hated that my resolve felt like it was crumbling under his dominance.

“Let go,” I repeated, my voice sharper now, though it still trembled.

He laughed softly, the sound dark and mocking. “You can tell me to let go all you want, but your body’s saying something else.” His lips brushed my ear, the heat of him almost too much. “It’s saying you’re mine.”

That word lit something inside me—a spark of fury that cut through the haze of his presence. I planted my heel into his foot, hard enough to make him grunt, though he didn’t release me.

“Keep telling yourself that,” I shot back, my voice venomous. “But I’ll never be yours, Ryder.”

His smirk didn’t falter, if anything, it grew darker, more dangerous. He leaned in one last time, his voice a low growl against my ear. “We’ll see, kitten.”

And then, as suddenly as he’d grabbed me, he let me go. The absence of his touch was jarring, leaving a cold void where his heat had been. I turned to face him, my chest heaving, but he was already stepping back, his smirk still firmly in place.

“Enjoy your night,” he said, his tone dripping with arrogance. And just like that, he disappeared into the crowd, leaving me standing there, the taste of his words lingering like poison.

Lucy appeared at my side a moment later, her eyes wide with curiosity. “What the hell was that?” she asked, her gaze darting toward the direction Ryder had gone.

“Nothing,” I said, my voice tight as I grabbed my drink and downed it in one go. “Just Ryder being Ryder.”

“Uh-huh,” Lucy said, her tone skeptical. “Well, whatever it was, it looked intense.”

I forced a laugh, but it came out hollow. “He’s all bark.”

Lucy raised an eyebrow but didn’t push further, instead grabbing my hand and dragging me toward the dance floor. “Come on. Let’s show him what he’s missing.”

The music surged around us as we moved, the crowd swallowing us whole. I let Lucy pull me into the rhythm, my body moving on autopilot as I tried to shake off the weight of Ryder’s presence.

But I knew better.

He was watching. I could feel it like a brand against my skin.

And maybe—just maybe—I wanted him to.

The music pulsed around us, the rhythm sinking into my bones as Lucy dragged me even deeper into the dance floor. Caleb followed, a lopsided grin on his face as he tried to keep up with her energy. I threw back the last of my drink, the burn of tequila settling warm in my stomach, and let myself get swept up in the moment.

Lucy twirled, her laughter loud and infectious, and I couldn’t help but join her. The tension from earlier—the frustration, the heat from Ryder—started to loosen its grip. Caleb leaned down to say something over the music, and I laughed even though I barely heard him. The night felt charged and electric, and for a fleeting moment, I let myself enjoy it.

The drinks kept flowing, Lucy ordering rounds like we had no responsibilities, and I let her. Caleb stayed clear of the alcohol, sipping soda as he watched over us like a big brother. The more I danced, the lighter I felt, even if it was an illusion. My movements grew bolder and sharper, and I caught more than one pair of eyes watching me from the sidelines.

But none of them burned like his.

I didn’t have to look to know Ryder’s gaze was still on me. I could feel it, a weight that settled over me even in the middle of the crowd. So I let the music take over, swaying my hips and tossing my hair like I didn’t have a care in the world. Lucy cheered me on, spinning in circles until she nearly tripped into Caleb, who caught her with a laugh.

“Keep her upright, will you?” I teased, my voice light but breathless.

“You’re not much better, Dee,” Caleb shot back, his grin widening. “You two are a handful.”

Lucy wrapped her arms around his neck, swaying dramatically. “You love us,” she declared, her words slurring slightly.

I shook my head, laughing, and let my gaze sweep the bar one more time. Ryder was gone. At least I didn’t see him. The weight of his presence had lifted, but it left something behind, like a shadow I couldn’t quite shake.

“Time to go,” Caleb said a little while later, gently prying Lucy’s arms off him as she giggled. “Before you both end up passed out on this floor.”

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