Page 8 of Ryder

“I can’t believe she made us hand over our cellphones to check we’d installed it properly!”

“I can,” I said dryly, and we both laughed at that.

“Okay, Em.Time for some more dancing, but first, I’m going to grab some water” —she threw a look over her shoulder— “when Sandra and Lexi stop hogging the barman.”

“I’m going to find Jude.Drag him to the dance floor as well.”

“Good plan!I’ll come to find you both.”

Heading for the dance floor, I scanned the crowd, looking for Jude, and spotted him sandwiched between two alpha men.

Lucky Jude!I sipped my drink, finding a spot on the balcony overlooking the main club.The music was louder here, and the bass vibrated through my body.My hips swayed in time with the beat as I watched the strobe lights pan across the sea of bodies.His scent hit me before I turned—alpha, but not Ryder.How I knew this, I had no idea.I glanced up and found a handsome blond alpha, not much older than me.

“You look lonely,” he said.

“Just me and my cocktail,” I replied, holding up the drink.I could tell him that it was my birthday and I knew plenty of people here, and if I wanted to, I could easily find somebody to talk or dance with.While I was officially waiting for Jewels, what I was actually doing was hoping an alpha would come along.Only not this one, because the one I wanted had darker hair and stormy blue eyes.

The track transitioned into a dark, sensual thrum that made me itch from the effort of standing still.

“You want to go somewhere quieter?”the alpha asked, leaning in under the pretense of talking to me over the music.

I mentally rolled my eyes.Really?He was going straight for the kill, not even attempting a little getting to know you before getting down to it.I didn’t need to put on my drunk party girl act to know this one was an asshole, yet his scent still wafted over me.I swayed a little, but covered it up by taking a sip of my drink as though thinking his offer over.

I was about to politely decline when a big, broad hand cupped the back of his neck.I wouldn’t claim to be gifted in the art of lipreading, but I distinctly saw Ryder mouth, ‘Fuck off,' as he leaned in close to the younger man.

Which was all kinds of hot and brought an almost painful clench to my pussy.

And all kinds of confusing at the same time, because I’d never been into possessive men.I dated guys for fun, and if it wasn’t fun, I didn’t date them anymore.The minute one showed signs of getting clingy, it was over.

The blond alpha turned a sickly shade of gray, pivoted, and stalked off.

“I thought I told you not to get up to any mischief?”Ryder said, his eyes narrowing on my cocktail, which was almost gone.

“Thank you,” I said, gesturing toward him with the glass before draining it.

He took the empty glass and passed it, without looking, into the hands of Art, who was doing the rounds, collecting empties.

His subsequent stillness was a little unnerving.There was something about the way Ryder stared at me, the intensity in his stormy blue-gray eyes, that made the rest of the world fade away.It sounded cliché when you read about it in books.Yet there was only the two of us, a small, easily covered distance, and the thumping, sensual music making my hips sway.Surrounding us was a party, my friends, and among them Jude and Jewels, whom I loved dearly, but my eyes only saw the man before me.No, not a man, thealphawho’d locked gazes with me.

His eyes lowered to my swaying hips, and the air charged with an electric feel.

“My name is Emma.It’s my birthday,” I said.“And now, I’d like my present.”

He raised one brow before smirking, and that smile was enough to weaken my knees.“And what do you want for a present, Emma?”

His voice curled around my name, low, a little husky, and a lot sexy.No false expectations existed.No confusion, because I didn’t care if he thought my cat ears were stupid.He was interested, and so was I.

“You.”

He didn’t answer.I’d never been shy, but I felt insignificant before this towering male whom I’d boldly requested as my birthday present.

“What are you going to do with your present?”he asked, playing along.

“It’s more about what my present can do for me.”

He laughed, his whole face transforming, shoulders shaking.Even over the music, I could hear the timbre, and it was sexy as hell.Then his laughter faded.He threw a look over his shoulder and then back at me before holding out his hand.

I’d never felt anything more significant in my life than when I placed my hand in his, watching his larger one swallow my smaller one.His skin was warm and a little calloused.My skin tingled where we touched, and it flowed all the way up my arm.

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