Challenging Ryker (Kringle Security #2)

Chapter 12

CHAPTER TWELVE

Amelia was standing in Ryker's kitchen, one hand on her hip while the other rubbed her forehead. She stared down at the phone in front of her on the counter and contemplated screaming. Monica was on the other end of the call, and as much as she loved her boss, this conversation was giving her a headache. Something she wasn't happy about, considering she had woken up with Ryker's head between her legs. The man hadn't been joking when he said he wanted to eat her for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

He’d spent more time between her legs over the last few days than anyone ever had, in her entire life. A sad thought really.

"Monica, please," she begged.

"Don't Monica me. Take a few days and enjoy yourself."

She let out a frustrated sigh. "You know I can't do that. You need a receptionist and I need to be working."

"How do I say this nicely?" That didn't bode well for her. "HR sent up one of the interns to cover for you while you're gone. She's doing an amazing job and I've already decided she's perfect for the position." Amelia’s heart sank. She was being replaced so easily and at a time when she really needed a job. Her legs threatened to collapse from under her, but out of the blue, Ryker was there, holding her up.

"Trust her," he whispered in her ear.

Monica kept talking. "I already told you I planned on promoting you. Once you come back to the office, we can make it official, but in the meantime, I want you to take a few days. Think of it as mental health days to prepare for your new position because God knows I'm going to run you ragged."

Tears pooled in her eyes but she refused to let them fall. She had always known Monica was a great boss, much better than Niles could ever be, and she thanked her lucky stars daily that Monica had been the one looking for a receptionist, and not him. But that didn't mean she wanted favors.

"I haven't worked there long enough to deserve that kind of promotion."

Monica snorted, a full-on, unladylike snort that sounded more like a pissed-off pig than the dainty female Monica projected to the world.

"First of all, you've worked for me for two years. That's a long-ass time to deal with my shit, especially when that shit involved Carmichael being an ass to you more often than not. Second of all, who the hell gets a say in that besides me? You have the same degree I do. The only difference is that when you started, we didn't have a position open worthy of your degree. But you decided to take the job anyway, knowing you were going to be a receptionist. If that doesn't tell me that you put in the time, then I don't know what does. And third of all, I'm the boss and what I say goes."

Amelia could just see the face Monica made when she said that. Her boss could be the toughest hard-ass when she needed to be but she was a softy around those she cared about. It was nice to know she fit into the latter category.

"I appreciate you doing this for me."

"Oh, please." Monica pffted. "I didn't do anything. You earned it. Now go enjoy that mental health break because I plan to throw you straight into the deep end when you return."

Monica hung up without a goodbye.

"Sweetheart, you okay?"

"I got the job at Carmichael Financial Advisors just a few months before I met Gavin. It's been the only thing getting me through most days and now to get a promotion after the worst days of my life?" She let out a shaky breath. "No, I don't think I'm doing okay."

Ryker wrapped her up in his strong arms.

"Tell me what I can do for you."

"You're doing it already."

This was what she needed. To be in Ryker's arms with her head against his chest. Her ear was right above his heart and the steady beat of it matched her own. It reminded her that he was still alive despite someone trying to take him away.

"Are you sure there's nothing more I can do? I could take you back to the bedroom and show you more of my skills …"

A chuckle worked its way up her throat and snuck out before she could stop it. Of course that was probably Ryker's intention. The man knew how to bring light to a situation. She tilted her head back so he could see the smile on her face.

"As much as I would like that, I'm positive we've already pushed the limits on the strenuous activities for the day. You were the one doing all the work this morning."

"Oh, that wasn't work. That was me enjoying myself."

A blush crawled up her neck.

"I know you enjoyed yourself. You got off twice, once in my mouth and another inside me."

"See? I wasn't doing all the work. I lay back while you sucked my cock."

She shook her head. There was no such thing as Ryker just lying back. Not even last night when he let her be in control.

"Oh, so that wasn't you pumping your hips up to go deeper in my throat? And those weren’t your hands tangled in my hair as you kept me locked in place?" She cocked her brow at him.

"Wait, was that too much? Shit, Amelia, why didn't you tell me to stop?"

She held her hand up at his crestfallen face. "I loved every minute of it. I told you I wanted to feel sexy again and there's nothing sexier than knowing I'm the reason you lose control. I love what you do to me. I was just making a point that you're never just lying there. You're always an active participant."

He gave her a devilish smirk. "I can't help that you drive me crazy and I want to feast on you every chance I get."

She shook her head at him again. "Well, we need to take a break for a day or so." She rushed on when his lips turned down in a pout. "My vagina isn't used to all this action. It needs time to adjust."

Ryker's response was to loop his arm around her back and drag her so that their bodies were flush against one another. There was no mistaking the fact that he was turned on again. She bit her lip. As much as she loved that she did that to him, she wasn't lying when she said she needed a break.

"Have I told you how sexy it is when you talk dirty to me? Who knew that the shy woman I first met would have such a dirty mouth?"

She swatted his arm. "It's all your fault. Your vulgar mouth is rubbing off on me."

Ryker just laughed at her and she felt the sound all the way down to her toes. He didn't do it enough.

"I can think of another thing that wants to be rubbing on you."

This time she pushed him away as he continued to laugh. She needed to put some distance between them before she gave in. He wasn't the only one who was needy. If she let her body be in control, they would never leave the bed. And that thought scared her more than anything; she was pretty sure what they had was more than just sex, like they agreed.

It wasn't just about how Ryker made her feel. He was giving her back more than just the confidence Gavin had stripped from her. He was making her feel something.

Something that felt an awful lot like love.

She couldn't let that happen. Not just because she wasn't ready to give her heart away but because Ryker was dead set against it. He wouldn't be giving her his heart and it would kill her for this to be one-sided.

No, it was best that she put some space between them and remembered why she was here and what they were doing.

Mutually beneficial. That's what this was.

"Get your mind out of the gutter. We need to go to the grocery store anyway. The fridge is looking a little bare."

She knew she should be worried when he gave her a wicked smile.

"Why the hell did I bring you with me?"

Ryker was no better than a kid in a candy store. Not that she actually had a kid to test that theory on but she figured it would look a lot like Ryker right now.

The man didn't understand the concept of shopping on a budget or comparing prices. A lesson she hadn't known about either until she was forced to live on a tight budget, but still.

He tossed things into the cart without a care for what was already in there. There was more junk food than any one person should eat, but especially a man who looked like he did. Seriously how did he manage to keep his physique with a diet like this?

Life wasn't fair and men had it much easier.

"Do you plan to put anything in the cart that would constitute a real meal?" she asked when he threw a box of chocolate Teddy Grahams into the already overflowing cart.

"That's why you're here. To make sure we balance out."

That stopped her in her tracks.

"Excuse me?"

"Oh come on, sweetheart." He hooked her around the middle and dragged her into his side. "We both know out of the two of us, you eat healthier than me. I've watched the lunches Monica has delivered. Nothing but a balanced diet for you." He bopped her on the nose and she instantly deflated.

He wasn't wrong. She didn't consider herself a health nut but sugar went straight to her ass. She had to only look at the stuff and it got bigger. The way she ate was one of the only things Gavin never complained about.

"I guess it's a good thing I'm here. I don't know how the hell you don't have a mouth full of cavities and a gut the size of Texas with what you consider food."

"Good genetics." Ryker patted his flat stomach and she rolled her eyes.

Must be nice. It was a damn good thing though, because she happened to be a fan of using that body.

Maybe her vagina didn't need the break after all.