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"God, Ryder," Jayden whispers, her body still quivering from the aftershocks. "That was... incredible."
"Nothing less than what you deserve," I reply, pressing a tender kiss to her temple.
We sit there for a moment, allowing ourselves to come down from the high.
"Wow," she murmurs, turning to look at me as the credits begin to roll. "I never thought I'd be doing something like this."
"Life is full of surprises," I say with a grin. "Sometimes, those surprises turn out to be the best experiences of all."
As the credits roll on the movie screen, casting their flickering light over us, I reach down to grab Jayden's panties from the floor. The black lace fabric feels delicate in my fingers. "Here," I say softly, handing them to her.
"Thanks," she replies and takes them with a teasing smirk as she starts to put them back on. Her eyes hold a wicked gleam that speaks of our shared secret that we now have.
We both take a moment to straighten our clothes, ensuring that we look presentable to the unsuspecting crowd around us. I like the rush of excitement of what we've just done, and the thrill of getting away with it.
"Ready to go?" I ask, who has now pulled her dress back into place.
"Absolutely," she grins. We rise from our seats in sync.
"Did you enjoy the movie?" I ask playfully, trying to maintain an air of normalcy as we walk out of the theater with the rest of the crowd.
"Best one I've seen in a while," she quips with a wink. She laughs, and I realize that I’m completely addicted to her vivacious spirit.
My thoughts race as we exit the theater. The lingering taste of popcorn on my lips can't compare to the memory of her touch, still fresh in my mind. Did what happened between us blur the line between fake girlfriend and real relationship? I don't give a damn; all I know is that I want to be around her.
"Hey, Ryder." Jayden tugs at my arm playfully as we walk. "Why don't we grab a drink at the Sand Dunes? It's just down the street."
"Sure," I agree, cracking my knuckles absentmindedly. The idea of spending more time with her has me feeling excited.
We approach the lively sports bar and find a cozy corner booth and slide in. Jayden orders something fruity for herself, and I get a cold beer. She looks at me with those striking green eyes, and I know it's time to let her in.
"Jayden, I've been thinking," I begin. "I'm done with those matchmaking service parties for the Bunny Service. They're not what I'm looking for."
Her eyebrows raise in surprise. "What made you change your mind?"
"Being with you," I admit, letting my gaze lock onto hers. "You make me feel alive in a way no one else ever has. I only want to be with you."
"Ryder, that’s so sweet of you to say. I’m feeling the same way about you."
"I guess since honesty is the theme of the night, there's something else you should know about me. I don’t talk about it much, but if you’re going to still go to the Christmas ball then you need to know," I admit. " I didn't have the best childhood."
"Tell me about it," she encourages gently, her green eyes soft with understanding.
"My parents were... complicated. My dad, Sebastian Raines, was married multiple times. My mom, Charity, was his fourth wife. They never really cared about me or my siblings much." I crack my knuckles. "Growing up, I felt pretty lonely most of the time."
"Ryder, I had no idea," Jayden murmurs, reaching for my hand across the table. Her touch is like a lifeline, and I suddenly feel like I can share anything with her. "You don't have to be alone anymore. You have me."
"I can tell," I admit. "And my teammates, too. Asher, Kaleb, and Dakota – they've become my family in a way that my real family never was."
"Good," she replies, giving my hand a reassuring squeeze. "Everyone deserves to have people who care about them."
As the night wears on and the bar starts to empty, I realize that this connection with Jayden isn't just physical – it's emotional, too. I never thought I could feel this way about someone, but she's proven me wrong.
Chapter 9
Jayden
I'm perched on a barstool at the Sand Dunes, laughing more genuinely than I have in ages. Ryder's just shared another one of his outrageous stories from the road with the Renegades, complete with wild gestures that are so unlike him.
