Soul Chance (8 page)

Sex with Ryder had always been good, but it had never been rough or unpredictable. Yesterday, he’d stunned her with his dark commands and relentless thrusts. She wasn’t accustomed to a man taking her in that manner. She usually set the pace and gave the instructions. Taking control in the bedroom had been easy with past lovers, even those who had thought themselves in the driver’s seat. The way Ryder had taken her last night had been a new experience.

“This next one is called the warrior one pose. Watch me.”

Ari brought her arms down and turned to Ryder as he got into position. The gentle wind swirling around them riffled his hair. Ari tamped down the urge to go over and smooth the sandy blond locks down. It was challenge staying focused with him as her instructor. He looked fantastic as he got into his pose. Ari stared at his physique, trying to decide if he was more gorgeous in his designer suits or stripped down to shorts like he was now. She decided it really was a shame he had to wear clothes most of the time.

“See how I have my arms?”

Arms. Sweet mercy, look at his arms.
Ari broke out into a sweat as she and blinked.

“Ari, are you paying attention?” Ryder raised an eyebrow in her direction. “I can help you get into position if you need me to.”

“No. I’ve got it.” Ari quickly scrambled into the pose, not wanting anymore physical contact than was needed between them. She exhaled, realizing how ridiculous that notion was when for the next six months she had all but volunteered to be his sex slave.

“Nice. You’re a natural.”

Ari smiled, pleased by his compliment despite how exasperated she was by his unannounced early morning wake-up. She felt awkward in her stance but as seconds ticked by, Ari found herself focusing less on her discomfort and more on her posture. Balancing and breathing took more effort than she’d expected.

“Switch legs.”

Ari did as instructed, casting a quick glance at Ryder. She was impressed by his agility. He made yoga look easy
—and sexy.

“All right, the last pose I’m going to show you is probably the most familiar one when one thinks of yoga.”

“Is it this?” Ari lifted one leg, placed the sole of her right foot inside her left thigh and brought her hands up into a prayer position. She struggled not to fall as Ryder stepped in front of her.

“Yes. Do you know what this position is called?”

Ari shook her head, wanting to put her foot back down.

“It’s called the tree pose.” Ryder’s handsome face was alight with amusement. “Now let’s see how long you can hold it.”

Ari concentrated with all of her might then wobbled. She looked up at Ryder when he reached out to steady her. “How long was that?”

“Not long enough. Try again.”

Ari huffed but got back into the pose. She locked eyes with Ryder as she held it, willing herself not to fall before he said something. Her muscles burned and her heart pounded, and Ari wasn’t sure if that was because of what she was doing or the intensity of his gaze. A bead of sweat slid between her breasts as her thigh muscles began to quiver.

“Excellent.” Ryder went back over to his mat. “Switch sides.”

Ari reversed her pose and closed her eyes. She found her balance easier this time around. After a moment of holding the position, Ari attempted to tune out her screaming muscles. She focused instead on the lulling sound of the waves and the tinkling wind chime hanging from the rafter overhead.

“Last pose of the morning is called the downward facing dog. Know it?”

“No.” Ari observed Ryder get into the position. It looked almost obscene from her fabulous point of view. “And just what is this pose supposed to do?”
Except incite lust over your tight ass?

Ryder chuckled as he got up from the mat. “It gets the blood pumping throughout your entire body. It’s also a great for your calves and heels. Try it.”

Ari hesitated a moment before getting down on her mat. If the pose looked explicit, it felt even more so.

“Almost, Ari. Straighten your knees and face your fingers forward.”

Ari implemented Ryder’s suggestions, trying not to be self-conscious with him standing so close.

“Do you feel the difference in the pose now?”

“Y-yes.” She felt the difference all right, in her damp panties. The position, although challenging, set off a flurry of erotic scenarios in Ari’s mind. She was so hot, getting hotter as Ryder moved behind her.

“Good. Very, very good.”

Ari held her breath, anticipating his touch, wanting it.

“You can relax. That’s enough for today.”

Disappointed he hadn’t been compelled to caress her ass, Ari dropped to her knees on the mat. She stared at Ryder, her frustration turning to indignation as he rolled up his mat. How had he
not
been tempted to touch her?

“We’ll do these again tomorrow. You’ll be amazed at how much easier it will be.”

“Tomorrow is Sunday and I
don’t
work.” Her tone was bitchier than she’d intended, but Ari didn’t care. Who did he think he was, monopolizing her time every day of the week? Ari ignored the hard look now glittering in Ryder’s gray eyes. “Sundays are mine.”

Ari’s pulse quickened when Ryder left his rolled up mat and came over to her. She gasped when he took hold of her chin and lifted it so she could meet his gaze.

“You’re mine, remember? You
will
exercise on Sundays and practice your music. Are we clear?”

“
Yes.
” Uttering that one word without screaming took more effort than all of the poses Ryder had shown her. Ari wrenched her face from his hold, biting back the sharp retort on the tip of her tongue.

“Ah, Ari, don’t look so mad. You do get a reward for all exemplary efforts this morning.”

Ari raised her head as Ryder lowered his shorts, revealing his thick erection. Her eyes widened in surprise. They’d slept together more than once but she’d never put her mouth on him. Ari stared at Ryder’s cock, momentarily transfixed by the veins running up the length of it. “
This
is my reward?” Ari wished she’d thought better of asking her biting question when Ryder’s gaze narrowed. She gasped again when he took hold of her ponytail and yanked her hair, forcing her to look up at him.

“Has anyone ever told you that you talk too damn much?” Ryder tapped his cockhead on her lips. “Not to worry. I have the solution for your sassy mouth. Suck it.”

Ari balked, struggling to scan the perimeter of the terrace. There was no one around to hear his outrageous request but her. “
Right here?
”

“Right here.” Ryder stroked his cock, boredom laced in his deep voice.

“What if somebody comes down the beach?”

“That’s not your concern, songbird.”

Ryder jerked her twists and Ari yelped. She whimpered when he seized the opportunity to push his cock deep into her mouth. Ari became wetter from the taste of him on her tongue, much to her indignation. She mewled against Ryder’s skin as he set the pace. She couldn’t escape with his grip in her hair. She focused on breathing and adjusting to the rapid rhythm of his thrusts. Her eyes watered as she brought her hands between her and Ryder. She pushed back against him with an angry grunt, a little surprised when he relinquished his hold on her tresses and pulled back from her.

“Dammit, slow down!”

“Ask me nicely.” Ryder’s tone was as cool as his steady gaze on her.

Panting, Ari licked her lips, still tasting him. She glanced around the veranda again for wayward resort guests.

“Keep your eyes on me, Ari.”

Ari shifted her attention back to Ryder, dazed by her surreal circumstances. Her gaze dropped to his stiff cock.

“I guess you don’t want to ask.” Ryder slid his fingers back into her hair and tugged.

“W-wait. I do. I do.” Ari balled her hands into a fist at her side. Tears burned her eyes as she looked up at Ryder. “
Please
let me suck your cock slowly.” Her words sounded stilted.

“You may.” He shook his head when Ari reached up to take hold of him. “No hands. In fact, put them behind your back where they belong.”

Ari clasped her fingers behind her at Ryder’s command. His request both infuriated and further aroused her.

“Ready?”

Ari responded by leaning forward and kissing the tip of his cock. She swirled her tongue around the head then parted her mouth and took him in, setting a slower, more even pace.

“Mmm. That’s nice but I need you to take me deeper.”

Deeper?

She’d already taken him in farther than she’d wanted. There was nowhere else for him to go but in her throat. Ari doubled her efforts, hoping to get him off before he choked her. Her jaw and lips ached from her efforts not to scrape him with her teeth. Ryder’s groan encouraged her, stirring her desire to please him as she concentrated on what she was doing.

“Deeper, Ari.”

Ari took him in a half inch more, fighting the urge to move back when Ryder pulled his cock from her mouth. Confused, Ari looked up at him.

“You’re
not
listening.” Ryder lifted his shorts over his hard-on. “Do you know what deeper means? Never mind.” He winked at her. “We’ll work on that later too. Enjoy the rest of your day.”

Breathing hard, Ari watched him as he went back into the beach house. She touched her throbbing mouth, despising how much she craved Ryder’s kiss. He’d teased her with just a taste of him. She’d assumed he was going to give her what she wanted.

Ari groaned as she pressed her thighs together. Once again, Ryder had left her in a state of need and with conflicting emotions. She missed the tenderness she’d felt in his touch in Vegas, despite how her body responded to him now. She missed the conversations and laughs they used to share about music, life, and the little things she’d never really talked about with anyone else. The intimacies they were sharing now were unlike anything else she’d experienced, but emotionally, Ryder felt further away from her than he had before arriving at the resort.

Ari shifted off her knees on the mat and lay on it. She watched the wind chime spinning in the breeze above, her thoughts spiraling around in the same fashion. This is what she’d asked for, what she wanted. Wasn’t it?

Chapter Six

Ryder placed the blooming cactus his team had presented to him on the corner of his desk. He glanced around his office, pleased by the progress he’d made. All of the resort’s invoices were up to date. The bar ledger had been balanced and contractor appointments for Monday had been confirmed. He had just one more drawer left to declutter and the remainder of his father’s belongings would be gone.

Ryder pulled open the bottom drawer, glad to see only a few items to go through. He took out the three manila folders on top, scanning old invoices and receipts. After placing the folders in his pile to file, he riffled through a box of company check receipts. One for ten thousand dollars caught his eye. Ryder frowned as he lifted the blue company check and saw it had been made out to Cassie Bryer.

“What the hell?”

His dad had acted as if he and Cassie had no business dealings between them but clearly there was
something
going on. The check receipt was only a few months old. Ryder went through the rest of the check receipts and found another one written out to Cassie for the same amount. Dumbfounded, Ryder shook his head.
Twenty thousand dollars?

Ryder stared off into space, contemplating the possible reasons for his father to give Cassie so much money. None of them made sense. He considered calling his dad to get the answers he wanted then thought better of it. His father would evade the subject over the phone. No, he’d wait until they were face to face. Ryder gathered up the old receipts to take with him, thinking of Cassie. He stood and put on his suit jacket, wondering if her number was the same.

He acknowledged that whatever had transpired between Cassie and his father was none of his business, but that wouldn’t stop him from bringing the subject up. Ryder exited his office and locked the door, distracted by his discovery as he headed to his private elevator. Ryder pushed the button and the doors opened. He stepped inside, his thought shifting from Cassie to Ari. His cock stiffened as he recalled her on her knees, breathless and pleading for him to slow down. He had wanted to ravage her mouth despite her polite, albeit, begrudging request. Ari might have hated begging but he’d never been harder or wanted a woman more than he had this morning.

It had taken considerable restraint to walk away from her, to shower and not go into her room and finish what he’d started. She had been aroused, even though she’d been angry about her public predicament. Ryder shifted his semi hard-on in his pants. Having Ari suck him off outdoors had been a spur of the moment idea. He’d expected her to refuse, at which point he would’ve implemented some sort of sensual punishment. Ryder grinned as the elevator doors opened. The erotic possibilities with Ari were endless.

Ryder stepped out into the lobby. He paused for a moment, admiring the freshly painted walls that had transformed the space. He’d paid extra to have the contractor work late on a Saturday but it had been worth it.

“It’s lookin’ good, boss.”

Ryder turned away from the wall to see Liza. “The color livens it up in here, doesn’t it?”

“Oh, yes”—Liza nodded appreciatively—“I love the accent hue you picked out too. It suits The Cove. It’s warm, inviting and elegant.”

“Thanks, Liza.” Ryder glanced at his watch. “Dinner crowd gone?”

“Just about.”

“I thought you had Sundays off. What are you still doing here?”

Liza sighed. “I switched nights with Manuel. He wanted to go out tonight. I told him he’d better have his ass in gear bright and early in the morning. He and Ari were both off their game the last time they went to the casino to party.”

The last time?

Ryder kept his expression neutral at the mention of Ari’s name as he nodded. “It was so nice of you to give him the night. Let’s hope he shows his appreciation by getting here on time tomorrow.”

“Manuel wouldn’t let me down.” Liza grinned. “He may be a little hungover but he’ll be here.”