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My heart beat picks up at the realization that I did, in fact, hear something. I glance at my bedroom door, debating if I should get Halli. It’ll probably be something stupid like a tree branch hitting the glass and would only make me look silly. Instead, I scoot off the bed and slowly put one foot in front of the other, and then drop to the right of the window so I’m not in plain sight.
Tap. I startle and cover my yelp with my hand. This is ridiculous, I’m on the second floor. No one can get up here. Peeking around the drapes, I peek down at the lit yard and relief fills my lungs. A grin spreads across my face when I see Ryker waving his hands in the air. Butterflies flood the fear in my belly, staring at the gorgeous man wearing dark jeans, a gray sweatshirt and a backward ball cap with his signature sexy crooked smile.
I can’t believe he’s here. Another tap snaps me out of my dreamy state. He points to the window and puts his palms up. Oh, yeah, he might want to talk instead of staring at me, like I am him. I slide open the window and I’m met with a cool breeze. The sheer curtains dance to my sides. I stretch my head outside when he disappears and my eyes widen when I see him climb a ladder leaning against the house.
“I’d tell you to drop your hair, but wrong princess,” he jokes, coming into view. I roll my eyes, he’s been hanging around Donnie too much. I’m not a princess, more like a secret no one wants to deal with. Our faces are inches apart, my unknown world falls into an abyss of darkness as I focus on his face. For a moment, everything seems right. “You going to invite me in?”
“Oh, sorry. Yes,” I say, stepping to the side to allow him space to crawl through the window. “How did you get past Secret Service? And where did that ladder come from?”
He slides in and stands tall, hovering over me. Would I seem too eager if I dive into his arms? “I know people.” He wags his eyebrows and I laugh at his typical arrogance, taking a step backward so I don’t act on impulse and attack him out of desperation.
“Then why did you just sneak into my room?” Not that I’m complaining.
He shuts the window and turns toward me with a mischievous grin. “Your people trump my people and I was afraid they wouldn’t let me in.”
“I’m glad you’re here.” My voice is soft.
He pulls in a ragged breath as his eyes roam over my body. Heat flickers in his eyes, lighting my entire body up with just one look. He takes two quick, long strides and pulls me into his chest. His lips fuse to mine and I melt in his arms, not even caring how desperate I seem. I am desperate.
He moans into my mouth and breaks the kiss. “Sugared whiskey. My favorite flavor.” My heart hammers looking at his eyes gleam like I’m truly his taste of choice. “You’ve been baking.” I nod, smiling, but then it falters when his expression morphs to regret. “I’m so sorry, Aspen.”
“It’s not your fault.”
He jerks backward and steps around me. I can feel the tension as he brushes by and it rocks me at my core.
“How can it not be? I put all this in motion. I brought you here.”
The pain in his voice makes my stomach coil. I swivel on my heel, angry that this is putting a wedge between us. Even if we don’t work out, I can’t have him thinking he ruined my life. He didn’t. He’s made me feel more alive in four weeks than my entire life. “No. Richard Devereux put all this in motion.” Ryker drops his chin, gripping his neck. “I don’t blame you at all.” I plead with him to understand, to drown out the concern filling his thoughts.
“Is it true? Are you President Malone’s daughter?”
The words have yet to come out of my mouth. Vocalizing it, confirming it to be true gives me serious anxiety.
He twists his body, so it’s flush with mine, towering over my petite frame. My eyes flutter shut as his fingers brush through my hair. “Hey, stay with me.” A tear escapes down my cheek. The pad of his thumb wipes it away. “Open your eyes, babe.”
I draw in a shaky breath. “Yes,” I whisper, never having spoken a word that holds so much weight. It’s hard to breathe. He softly smiles, touching his forehead to mine. His touch soothes my anxiety.
“I’m here if you need to talk.”
I roll my head against his. “I can’t. Not yet.” Admitting it is one thing, talking about it would bring on a full-blown panic attack. Like Halli said, one day at a time. Today is not that day.
“I get it.”
“How about we pretend we’re at the treehouse. Just you and me,” I sigh. He rubs his jawline as his lips quirk to the side.
“You’re a little too loud for that.” My mouth gapes and my cheeks warm with memories of how he can make me scream. Arousal pulses between my thighs. “But I’m up to the challenge.”
Ryker’s eyes bulge and he dives behind the bed at the sound of a soft knock on the door. I cover my mouth to stop from laughing as I can see his feet sticking out the end. “Your feet,” I half-whisper, half-laugh. He tucks them under the bed.
I open the door, Halli stands there in bright pink silk pajama bottoms and a matching button-up shirt. She must have a rainbow of colors in the same pajamas. “Orana, Halli.”
Stupid, stupid, habit.
Her lips pull up in a grin. “I was just checking on you before I went to bed. I thought I heard something.”
“Sorry. I opened my window to let some fresh air in, but it was colder than I thought.” I try not to sound rushed, but I can’t help it. “Have a good night.”
I keep hold of the door so she can’t walk in. “Okay,” she says, her eyes looking past me for a quick second. “You have a good night too.” As I’m shutting the door she adds, “You too, Ryker Dallas.”
