Total pages in book: 35
Estimated words: 31838 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 159(@200wpm)___ 127(@250wpm)___ 106(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 31838 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 159(@200wpm)___ 127(@250wpm)___ 106(@300wpm)
Slowly, my eyes drift shut and I must fall asleep because when I open them again, the gray light of dawn fills the room, and Ryder’s looming over me. He’s still dressed in the clothes he wore to Club Z, although you’d never know they were second-day attire seeing that he’s immaculate, handsome, and imposing as always. Those broad arms are crossed over his muscular chest, his brow furrowed and dark.
“Ellen, what’s going on?” he rasps. “Why are you sleeping on the sofa?”
“I'm sorry,” I start, sitting up.
“Don't apologize,” he interjects. “In your condition you need to be in a bed, that’s all. I don’t want you on the sofa like some bum, remember?” he adds. But this reference to a conversation that took place between us before that night, after which everything changed between us, gives me hope. As does the fact that he's standing here, looking me in the eye, for the first time in about a week.
“So, we’re talking now?” I ask in a small voice. “Where have you been, anyways?” Ryder sighs, but doesn’t try to deny that he’s been avoiding me.
“Nowhere. But you shouldn’t sleep on this thing because it’s not built for back support. Don’t do it again.”
The handsome man turns to leave, but I’m not letting this opportunity pass.
“Ryder,” I ask in a slow voice, standing up. “I know where you were last night, and I want to talk about it.” He freezes in his tracks, then turns to look at me, the blue in his eyes flashing. He says nothing and his expression is utterly bland, so I take a deep breath and continue. “Is that where you’ve been going every night this week? To that club, with all the women?”
His brow lowers once more, becoming fierce and downright angry.
“How do you know where I was?” he asks in a soft growl. “Have you been following me?”
I don’t even deny it.
“Yes,” I manage in a steady tone. “Because I wanted to know.” Ryder’s face turns thunderous then.
“You followed me?” he repeats through clenched teeth, staring a hole through my face. He’s managing to keep his anger under control, but I’m not sure how long this will last, or what will happen when he snaps.
“Yes,” I confirm again in an even tone, hoping to appear confident even though I’m not. “I followed you all the way downtown, and into the Hotel Royale, and up to Club Z,” I continue. At my words, Ryder’s entire body tenses with anger. And then I add, in an actual whisper, “I saw you with those women. I saw what you did.”
Ryder holds his breath for a moment, glaring at me, his eyes flashing. Then he lashes out with his right arm and knocks a nearby lamp off a side table, sending it crashing to the floor, startling me.
“You made a huge mistake by following me, Ellen,” he growls. “And now, you’re going to find out just how serious that mistake was.”
11
Ryder
Ellen stares defiantly into my eyes, her chin trembling. I can tell she’s afraid, and yet the beautiful woman is so brave and courageous too. There’s a sheen of tears on her eyes, but she sets her jaw and straightens her shoulders, determined not to let me get the upper hand. I admire her gumption, and my heart melts a bit.
“You could have been hurt,” I rasp angrily. “What were you thinking, going into a party like that on your own in the middle of the night?”
“I had to know where you were,” she protests. “It was driving me crazy, and it’s not like I could just ask. You’ve been avoiding me.”
“Still!” I retort, fuming. The thought that Ellen put herself in danger because I’ve been an ass and purposely avoided her because of a situation I caused, makes me loathe myself. “How did you even get to the hotel?”
“I took an Uber, then followed you on foot once you got downtown,” she confesses, her cheeks flushing red. “I know it was underhanded, but I had to do it.”
I shake my head with fury. Goddamn it. I don’t want Ellen anywhere near a Club Z party because what the fuck! She’s a sweet, innocent woman with a baby in her belly, and she doesn’t need the debauchery that goes down at Club Z. How could I let this happen?
But now it’s too late. “So you admit it?” Ellen asks, her voice hoarse. “You’ve been going to this club all this time? Every night, even?”
I bite my lip, ready to deny her accusation, but the truth is that the game’s up. She’s seen everything, and witnessed my despicable behavior. There’s no point in lying anymore because I need this woman. I crave Ellen desperately, yet I can’t have her, so I went to Club Z to fulfill those desires. I know it’s wrong, but I’m tired of denying the truth. All of it. I’m done.