Witness Protection (The Witness Series) (16 page)

We finish up and I help Lucy clear up. By eight pm I am shattered and Imogen is passed out cold on the couch. Ryder disappeared an hour ago and Nate is out having a deep and meaningful with his dad. I walk out and wish them goodnight, then make my way to my room. I pass Ryder’s on the way and see him sitting with his head in his hands. My heart clenches and I want so badly to go in and comfort h
im. I knock lightly on the door and he lifts his head, meeting my gaze.

“
Hey GI Joe.”
I say softly.

“Hey baby.”

I walk in and close the door behind m
e, locking it. I slide onto the bed beside him and we both stare down at our hands.

“I thought you could use a little company.”

“I don’t deserve it.” He
says,
his voice low.

“No, probably not.
Ryder what’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”

“Really?
You haven’t spoken two words to me and…”

He
turns and grips my cheek.

“Ok, you are rig
ht, I have been a jerk.
I have been hurt alright, badly…”

“Janelle?” I cut in.

“Yeah.”

“You love her still Ryder?”

“No.”

“You did though?”

“Yeah, she was
my everything
.”

“And she hurt you?”

“Broke my heart into a thousand pieces.”

“You want to tell me about it?”

“Not now, I want to tell you this though, seeing you two tonight made things connect together. Nate has been in love with me for years, I know that and I have tried to make it as easy as possible for him. I am not gay or bi and it’s hard. He is my best friend, he has been there through thick and thin
but I felt like we were always
un
connected in a sense.
Then you came along and he adores you, as much as
he adores me and when we are all
together it hit me hard, you are the connection…”

“Me?”

“You bring us together, without actually bringing us together. You are our even ground, you are the place we both go to feel good
.
You are the glue
Maya,
you just fit right in where you are supposed to. You bind us together in a way that makes us both happy. He get
s me and you, and I get to keep my best mate. He is happy, happiest I have seen him. He loves having you around and you two have bonded so deeply, it just makes it easier. I want you to know I have shit going on, but I am not trying to be a jerk.”

I snuggle into his side and he wraps his arm around me
. “
Apology
accepted.”

He snorts. “I didn’t get to sorry.”

“You didn’t have to.
God
Ryder, stop shuttin
g us out and just
let
me
care for you.”

“I am trying.”

“I know.”

“I missed touching you.”

“Did you now?” I murmur.

“
Hmmmm
.”

“I should probably go
Ryder,
you know I shouldn’t be in here.”

“Stay.”

“Stay?”

He turns
and presses his lips down to mine. “I need you, need a bit of comfort. Let me make love with you.”

“You want to make love to me?” I ask, shocked.

“Yeah, I do.”

“No bonds?”

“Nah.”

He presses his lips down to mine again, and this time t
he kiss gets deeper. He is shirtless and I feel his warm skin press to mine as he pushes me down onto the bed.
Slowly, he lifts my shirt over my head and tosses it onto the ground. I feel his mouth circle around my nipples and then draw them in, I moan quietly and run my hands up and down his soft, firm back.

He slides his hands down my body and lowers my panties, moving down with them. When he tosses them aside, he slowly moves back up my legs, dragging his lips over my skin until he reaches my hot flesh. He snakes his tongue out and slides it through my sex, I moan and grip a pillow, pressing it over my face.

H
e sucks my clit
into his mouth and tortures it with his lips and tongue. I whimper and force back the screams wanting to escape my throat.
God
damn.
He slides a finger inside me, then two and slowly pulls them in and out. Higher and higher, harder and faster, I am
building
to my release. I bite down onto the pillow when his tongue moves faster and his fingers follow.

“Come.” He hisses.

I open my mouth and moan deeply into the pillow as my body explodes and shakes. I hear his growl of pleasure as he drags every last shudder out of me. He slides back up my body and I feel him press against my entrance
, when did he get his pants off?
He shoves the pillow away from my face and kisses me long and hard.

“Don’t scream.”

“Kind of hard.”
I pant.

“Thin walls, don’t scream.”

He presses into me and I grip his shoulders, when he slides in further I moan lightly. Damn, he feels so amazing. With one powerful thrust, he fully sheaths him
self and lets out a feral hiss.
He pulls his hips back and thrusts back in, growling as he does. I grip his shoulders and spread my legs wider, lifting my hips to meet his thrusts. Our moans are silent, but pleasure tears through both of us. Pleasure filled with love and lust and for a brief moment I wonder if Imogen is right, I wonder if Ryder does love
me?

“I can’t…
God
, I am going to come.”
He growls, his jaw clenching with the urge to stop it.

“Come then, come.” I whisper urgently, kissing his lips.

“You haven’t.”

“Come Ryder.”

He slams his hips in once more and lets out a strangled sound, I feel him pulsing into me and the feeling is quite intense.
Emotion is pouring from him, heavy and deep. He has so much going
on,
I can feel it, sense it. He needed just to be inside me, to be with me and I didn’t care for my own release tonight because I needed him just as much.

“Sorry.” He whispers.

“Don’t be.”

“So much for making love, can’t even please you.”

“Ryder
stop
it. I thought that was amazing, it really was.”

“You are a sweetheart, and would say that even if it wasn’t.”

“No, I wouldn’t. I needed you tonight Ryder and you have given me that.”

He rolls off and pulls me into his arms. “I am real happy you
came
baby.”

“There we go,
” I smile into his sweaty shoulder. “Now you sound like yourself.”

He laughs weakly. “You make me complete Maya and it scares the shit out of me
.”

I snuggle closer. “Don’t think too much about it, just let happen what will.”

“Goodnight, my baby.” He whispers.

“Night GI.”

I
sleep soundly all night long and wake before Ryder. I look down at him sleeping peacefully and smile. I tuck a strand of his longish black hair away from his face and then
crawl out of his warm arms. He is in a de
ep sleep and doesn’t even flinch.
I tiptoe out and creep back into my room, to find Nate sitting on my bed. I let off a little scream and jump back.

“Nate, how long have you been there?”

He grins.
“An hour.”

“Sorry, I was with Ryder.”

“Yeah I heard.”

I flush.
“Really?”

He laughs. “No, I was guessing but your face was priceless.”

“Sorry, if I knew you wanted me I would have come back in.” I said, sitting beside him on the bed.

“It’s all good. Just wanted to see if you were up for a ride?”

“Well Nate, I thought we could date first.”

He laughs and hugs me. “You are a cracker.”

“Morning.”

We look up to see Ryder walking in, all ruffled and gorgeous.

“Morning.”

“Borrowing your shower.”
He grumbles, walking towards the bathroom.

Nate and I both tilt our heads to stare at the gorgeous backside walking into the shower. I shove Nate and he laughs.

“Can’t blame me.”

“That I can’t.”
I stifle a giggle.

When Ryder is done, he comes out smelling amazing.

“Less grumpy yet?”
I ask.

He gives me a look. “Not grumpy.”

“A little grumpy.”

“Anyone would t
hink you didn’t get any last
night
but we all know you did
.”
Nate
teases.

“How do you know?”

“I heard you.”

Ryder’s
face pales and we both burst out laughing.

“I got Maya with that one this morning too.”

“Bastard.”

A knock sounds on the door and both men jump a little.

“Um yes?”
I call out
.

“Just check
ing
you
were
up.” Lucy calls.

“I am up.”

“Breakfast is
up,
do you know where Ryder and Nate are?”

“Um, out riding?”
I say, hoping it sounded believable.

“Come on out when you are decent and tell those boys to do the same. Good morning boys.”

“Morning ma.”
They both yell.

I burst out with laughter and the two men join in.

“Well, guess we better get some breakfast. I am starved.” Ryder grunts, patting his flat stomach.

“You look it.” I say winking at him
.

“It’s hard to keep this hot body you know.” He grins, winking back at me.

I laugh and walk into the bathroom, I pull on some shorts and a singlet top,
then
together we all head out to the dining room. Everyone is up and surrounding a table full of bacon, eggs,
biscuits
and hash browns. My stomach grumbles.

“Hungry baby?”
Ryder
whispers
as we line up with plates.

“Oh yeah.”

“How are we all this morning?” John asks.

“I think they are just dand
y.” Lucy says and Nate snorts out
his coffee
and then roars with laughter.

“Ma!”

Lucy winks at Ryder
and I look down at my plate blushing. Part of me is a little embarrassed she knows but the bigger part is so
relieved
that
she doesn’t mind.

“Up for a ride
this morning?”
Nate asks me.

“Oh yeah!”
I grin.

“Ryder?” He asks.

“Yeah, that aint going to happen.
You couldn’t get me on a horse three years ago, you won’t now.”

“Aw, Ryder you fun spoiler. Think of the fun we would have.”

He gives me a look.

“Just me and you Nate, how romantic.”
I grin, shoving Nate.

“I would say so.”

We sit down and eat, chat and enjoy the morning. Before we get ready for our ride, I head back to the room and get changed. I pick up my phone and wiz through the messages.
Nothing.
I check my emails quickly, I haven’t in days and often Sandy sends me things. I see an email from an unknown person and click into it, my blood runs cold.

Hello Maya,

I bet you thought your little media stunt was going to draw me out?
Silly girl.
You dragged my name through the dirt and that just made me mad, that was a silly thing to do Maya. I am going get you back for that, and then I am going to get you.

I will get you Maya, I promise you,
I
will get you. Guess what I am going to do to you? Go on, guess? Can’t can you? Well let me give you a hint, roar roar. I bet that has yo
ur blood pumping?

I hope you are enjoying your time on the ranch Maya,
I am sure your little cop lover is
ta
king good care of you.
They can’t be around forever
Maya,
they have to move on with their lives sometime. They will get bored, and I will pounce. Why, I wonder what Ryder has been up to all those nights he has been gone? It will end Maya, I assure you and when it does, I will be there, I will always be there.