Page 24 of Keeping What He Wants

“The lady wants a week off in the Bahamas sipping fruity drinks on the beach.”

He kissed her, cupping her head so that he had perfect access to her mouth. She loved the way he tasted. It’d been too long since he’d kissed her properly.

“Maybe next summer.”

She wrapped her arms around his neck. “I was afraid you’d say that.”

He kissed her cheek, resting his hands on her hips. “Let’s get some food and then we can go to the hospital. The quicker I get my shit done, the quicker I can come back and surround myself with you.”

She leaned back to look at him. “Is she going to be there?”

“They’re staying at the club.”

“Did you stay at the club?”

“Yes.”

She pulled away. “Do you at least see why that is a problem for me?”

He didn’t say anything immediately and she moved past him, heading down the hall to the kitchen. She decided to fix herself some oatmeal and heated it up in the microwave.

Ryker followed her and leaned against the kitchen counter. “I understand you don’t want me around her. But you also have to understand that she is part of the club as Rizzo’s girl.”

“I’m your fucking girl, right?” She turned toward him. “You’re the president of the Atlanta chapter. They are on your turf. Don’t I outrank her? You definitely outrank him.”

He chewed on his lower lip. When he didn’t say anything, she continued. “What are the rules here, Ryker? Do they only apply to people that are part of the club? Am I always going to be considered an outsider?”

“What do you want me to do?”

“Send her packing.”

“No.”

The microwave beeped, and she yanked the door open. “What’s it going to take to get you to treat me like I matter to you?”

“I do treat you like you matter.”

“Oh, yeah?” She threw her bowl onto the countertop. “If the tables were turned, Beth was your bitch, and I was wanting your affection, how the fuck would that end?”

“Not well. Beth marks her territory.”

She shook her head. “I’m not real. I’m just something to entertain you for a while.”

He pressed his fingers into his eyes. “I can’t deal with this right now.”

“Of course not.”

“Are you going to keep doing this? Picking fights? We made up last night.” He went to the fridge and bent to look in it.

Ella pushed the door closed and stared at him. “Don’t.”

He sighed. “There has to be some compromise.”

“Do whatever you what. You will anyway so why bother saying anything about it?” Ella moved around him. She had too much crap to do instead of messing with him. She went to get her purse and keys. “I’ve got to go. Find someone else to take you to the hospital.”

She needed to find a way to prove she was top dog. After visiting the store and doing laundry, she would work on that problem and hopefully come up with the perfect solution.

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