Total pages in book: 39
Estimated words: 36118 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 181(@200wpm)___ 144(@250wpm)___ 120(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 36118 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 181(@200wpm)___ 144(@250wpm)___ 120(@300wpm)
I need you to vary your route, baby. You’re damn predictable.
Which worked in his favor but it wasn’t keeping her as safe as she could be. She’d not even cleared the building space when the door flew open once more and a man in a suit hurried after her.
His heart clenched hard in his chest as she smiled up at the man. He’d not worn a jacket and from where Ryker sat, it was obvious she mentioned it to him when she tugged on his suitcoat sleeve. An awe shucks shoulder shrug from the handsome Black man in a navy blue suit had Ryker grinding his jaw.
Back off fucker. She’s taken.
The man pulled his phone from his pocket while she got hers from her coat. They both typed something in before the man held up a hand in farewell before he trotted back to the door. There he stopped and glanced back to where Rayla walked away, not a single look back.
Facing where Ryker sat tucked away at a table in the coffee shop across the street, he tipped his head, smirked, and adjusted his junk. The feral growl rolled from him and he’d partially risen from his seat when the man vanished back inside.
Did they know he was still there, watching her? And who was that fucker?
I don’t recognize him from the employee records we searched.
Ryker finished his black coffee and tossed some money on the table to cover before shrugging into his dark brown sheepskin coat and heading outside, sucking a breath at the chill slamming into him.
The guy hadn’t been kidding it was bitter out here. Serves him right for coming on to my woman. May his balls freeze off followed shortly by his dick.
Shaking his head, he struck off down the street, his long strides eating up the distance between him and Rayla. He knew where she was heading, it was Tuesday so that meant a short stop to pick up her order of chicken Pad Thai, with thin rice noodles instead of medium. Extra peanuts, and a side order of fresh salad rolls. How she took those varied, sometimes with chicken and sometimes with tofu.
He forced himself to stride by without slowing as she was inside picking up. Then he ducked inside an alley where he could keep an eye on her as she finished the trek to her home. As she moved by him, his heart seized and he had to lock his knees to remain in place.
Beautiful.
She had been to him since day one and would be until their last.
Going to be a long life if I can’t get her to speak to me once more.
Snow began to fall from the sky and he moved through the waning crowd trailing her as she finished heading home. She paused at a street corner, waiting for the light and tipped her head up like she wanted to open her mouth and let the snow fall onto her tongue. But after a moment, she thought better of it and sighed. The pink tipped fur collar made him smile.
His days were pretty much the same up until Christmas closed the office. It had killed him to see her out with a group of people on Christmas Eve, knowing he couldn’t be at her side. Couldn’t claim her as his woman in front of them all. No kissing, no tucking her close to his side. No seeing his coat over her shoulders to ensure she was staying warm.
He’d been right about Birmingham and snow. They’d gotten a bit over four inches and the city had come to a frozen halt. Everyone had been encouraged to stay home. And he was pleased she’d listened.
It was Christmas morning and he had come to the end of his rope. Time to get his woman.
Pulling open the door to her building, he stepped back and held it for a couple taking their dog out.
“Merry Christmas,” they said with a grateful smile.
“Same to you.” He waited until the door had latched behind him, not wanting to let out the warmth. Then he went to the stairs and took them up to the third floor.
It wasn’t a horrible building. Not secure enough for him to be happy she was there but it was clean and well maintained. On her floor, he looked up and down the hall, taking in the numerous holiday decorations including walls and doors.
He walked to her door and knocked. While waiting for her to answer, he reached up and held onto the frame, giving his hands something to do.
“Yes?”
The smell of breakfast wafted out to him but behind that was her scent. Honeysuckle and jasmine. His cock reacted instantly, leaping to attention, more than ready to be called upon.
“Go away.” Her heterochromatic eyes narrowed on him.
Gripping harder on the frame he felt it give beneath his hand. I’ll fix it later. “No can do, baby. I gave you space, I gave you time. I’m done.”