The Christmas Vow (Hallelujah Crossing)

Chapter 7

U nease churned in her gut, bile rushed up her throat and she desperately swallowed it back. Her legs weren’t cooperating either as she made her wobbly way through the main of the cabin, down the short hall to the single bedroom.

Rubbing her chest, Rayla tried to calm down. It wasn’t an easy feat, not with what she’d just overheard.

He knew.

Ryker knew who she was and was like everyone else, using her to get information.

Cold leeched into her, making her limbs stiff and uncoordinated as she stumbled to the bed. Despite it being summer in Tennessee, she couldn’t get warm. Shivers racked her body and she couldn’t stop them. Even her teeth clacked together.

How could I have been so dumb? I should have known a man like him, who could have any damn woman he set his mind to, wouldn’t want me unless there was something in it for him.

Tears burned the corners of her eyes and she willed them not to fall. Moot, but hey, she’d tried.

A tiny part of her brain piped up and suggested maybe, just maybe, she should give him a chance to explain and it wasn’t something as she was assuming it to be.

Rayla didn’t want to, nor did she, listen to that part. Shutting it down, she burrowed her way beneath the lovely blue, silver, and white quilt boasting both snowflakes and presents. Her exhaustion such, that she didn’t even bother taking off her outfit. Merely climbed in bed with it on.

A few moments and she would wrap herself up in the armor she lived with for so long and carry on.

At least my parents haven’t shown up yet. Or sent their people after me.

Small favors.

When she woke, she no longer had the mind-numbing cold surrounding her or within her. Quite the opposite. Heat spiraled up from her core and spread out. Allowing herself the few moments to figure out why, her breath hitched when the knowledge came.

Ryker.

He’d crawled under the covers with her, spooning her his large strong body cradling her from behind. Her head rested on one bicep and his other arm he’d curled around her, hand splayed across her less than flat abdomen.

Deep, even breathing reached her. The rhythmic rise and fall of his chest soothed her even though part of her wanted to shove him away. Wanted to put barriers up, do what was necessary to protect her heart.

She did neither.

Fingers on his hand scrunched and flattened reminding her that not only was his hand over her belly but it was also under her shirt. And her pants were gone.

What the fuck? How’d he managed to do that without waking her?

I must have been exhausted.

His calluses rough in the most tender way, heightened her need that never seem to go away when it came to him.

Logically, none of this made any sense to her. He was virtually a stranger. Someone she should be able to walk away from the out hesitation, second glance, or any regrets.

It wasn’t that way. Not even close. Since the first moment her eyes laid upon him there been a pull to him, one she’d been unable to ignore then and still. Was it lust? Yes she couldn’t deny that that was high on the list there was something more, something deeper. More tangible.

His idyllic strokes soothed the raw edges his words had given her. Heat spiraled up from her core slowly unfurling to spread throughout her body.

Ryker shifted putting his leg on the outside of hers and sliding it back creating space between her thighs. She dragged her tongue along her lower lip trying told still.

“No need to pretend, baby. I know you’re awake. The pulse in your neck is giving you away.”

Up and down he stroked each downward swipe brought him closer and closer to the waistband of her panties. She nearly held her breath when he reached them, expecting him to go below the soft cotton material.

He didn’t. Ryker continued his smooth touches right over her most private of areas. A low growl slid from his throat as he continued petting her.

“So wet for me baby.” Another brush of his fingers threatened to yank a begging groan from her lips. “I love how responsive you are. I barely touched you and this sweet pussy is soaking my fingers.”

She couldn’t help it but this time the moan escaped as her hips shifted seeking more contact only to be denied with a rough chuckle.

“My speed baby. Earlier today was all about getting the edge off but now, I plan on taking my time. Licking every inch of your skin. Biting, sucking, marking you see you never forget who you belong to. So anyone who looks at you knows who you belong to. Once I’ve satisfied that part of me, I’m going to settle myself between your thighs and eat you until you are hoarse.”

Rayla whimpered rocking her hips back into him emboldened by the feel of his length long and hard pressing into her.

“Guess what happens after that?”

She couldn’t form any words the whimpers coming from her mouth could have been anything. He tapped two fingers against her clit and she trembled.

“Answer me. I want to hear you say what happens next.”

“I get on my knees for you.” Her words were rough with a hunger she never felt before.

“Jesus! Fucking good girl. Yes, I want that.”

The words ‘good girl’ from him were pushing her further than before. She wanted more of it. Two more solid taps before he shoved the gusset to the side and touched her without any clothing between them. “The thought of you on your knees before me, head back, mouth open, those full bee-stung lips of yours parted wet from my kisses and waiting for my cock to slide through. It’s almost enough for me to fucking come in my pants.”

Her too.

Her whimper filled the air and his responding moan echoed through her, his chest warm and a solid presence behind her. Up and down the slit he moved his fingers, keeping the same, slow drugging pace which drove her insane.

He dipped the tip of one finger inside her, definitely not enough to assuage the need burning deep within her.

“So fucking wet for me, baby. I love it. I know you’re going to be hot, tight, and wet around my cock when I slide it inside you. You’re my good girl.”

She worried her lower lip in her teeth, trying not to beg him to do that now. Memories of their all to brief time together raced through her mind and she had the biggest urge to eighter squeeze her legs together tighter or spread them for easier access.

Three teasing pumps of his finger before he dragged more of her wetness to circle her clit.

“I’m going to take you from behind and watch your ass as I fuck you. I’m going to have you ride me as you chase that orgasm, your breasts jiggling as you bounce and take what you need.”

She screwed her eyes closed and desperately fought to slow her breathing.

“Then,” he murmured, his breath still puffing along the shell of her ear. “I’m going to put you on your back, stretch you out beneath me. Lace our fingers and stare in your incredible gaze as I slip back in you, cataloging a memorizing every fucking expression on your face as I ruin you for anyone else.”

She had no recourse to stop that mewl of want from escaping. Her hips chased his all to fleeting touch. The raw masculine chuckle from behind her let her know he was doing this on purpose. Driving her craving higher and higher.

“Ryker,” she gasped as he pinched her clit, throwing her toward the edge of the precipice but not letting her fall.

“That’s right baby, my good girl. I want you screaming my name.” Without another word, he shoved his fingers deep in her core and she splintered.

Rayla shook as the furious rush of the orgasm overtook her, her air leaving her in a rushed gasp. Even her legs began to shake as it rolled over her.

“God,” she moans.

“Not God, baby. Ryker. Get it right. I want to hear my name roll from your lips.”

He dragged his wet fingers up along her hip until he reached the elastic of her panties. One swift jerk and he snapped them before dipping back between her thighs to slowly drag the satin from her until it lay useless along one thigh.

His lips brushed her cheek as he brought his hand up to his mouth and he sucked her essence off his fingers. “Fucking soaked, baby. I want to hear you beg.”

Rayla out of pure instinct to people demanding things like that from her clamped her jaw tight. He nipped her cheek before taking his hand on a long trip back down, over her sensitive breasts where he plucked at her nipples until they ached for something she wasn’t quite sure what. He nibbled on her neck, sucking and pulling the skin between his teeth. Leaving marks.

When he cupped her pussy she signed in anticipation. He slid two fingers back inside her heat but curled them forward hitting that one spot that had her mouth to open and her plea careening out.

“Please Ryker. Fuck me!”

His lips curved up in a devilish smile before he bit down on her ear lobe. “Good girl.” Before she knew what happened, she found herself stripped naked and Ryker’s clothing having joined hers somewhere on the floor.

He dragged one large hand down the outside of her leg to her knee and lifted it until she rested her foot on him. As he held his position behind her, she sucked in a breath at the way the broad head of his cock pushed into her as he notched.

“Yes,” she hissed as he entered her.

“Fuck yes.” His growl setoff a small orgasm as it reverberated through his chest to her body and centering on her clit. Like he’d reached down between her legs and rubbed it himself.

αβ

Figuratively and literally exhausted, Ryker curved his body around the woman who’d wrung everything out of him. Granted, he’d done the same to her but damn, even now, he wished his body was recovered and he could do it once more. They were currently on the floor in a pile of blankets, when they’d gotten down there, he wasn’t entirely positive but he honestly didn’t give a fuck. So long as he was with her, he was happy to be wherever.

The unadulterated bliss of having this woman gripped around him, both her pussy and her, how she held him, like she longed to burrow deep inside him. An experience he’d never had before with another woman.

Not like previous ones meant a damn thing now as he didn’t care about them. Honestly couldn’t really remember any of them either. And hadn’t since he first laid eyes on her.

They’d not left the cabin, her cabin, since he’d snuck in and joined her in the bed. If he had his way, they wouldn’t leave again until they needed to head back to work. His phone, however, had other ideas and vibrated on the floor from where it was in the rear pocket of his jeans.

With great reluctance, he adjusted just enough he could fumble around with one hand to grab the leg of his pants and drag them closer, doing his best not to disturb the woman using his other arm as a pillow as she slept.

“Yeah?” he mumbled the word after he managed to get it answered.

“Your brother may be out of my reach at the moment but that fat bitch he is friends with isn’t. She’s put herself at risk by leaving her family’s protection.”

Rage thrummed through his veins. He didn’t bother looking at the caller ID knowing in his gut there would either be “Blocked” or “Anonymous” on the screen. His brain kicked into high gear as he began cataloging everything.

“Why are you calling me?” He forced himself to remain relaxed when every single inch of his body longed to tense up. His woman still slept against him and he wanted to keep it that way.

This person, male he would assume but perhaps not given it was done on a computerized voice, was a threat to the woman who had turned his world upside down from the moment he’d laid eyes on her across the crowded warehouse.

The laugh, mechanical and cold, waved over the line, coating him with ice.

“Like we both don’t know you’re curled up with her right now. As if you’re pretending that she wasn’t screaming your name as you fucked her bent over the couch, in the bed. Acting like you don’t care she’s fat.”

The growl rolled from him, he couldn’t contain it or control the urge to protect what’s his. “Mind your fucking tongue.”

He hated that someone had seen her in all her glory. This person could be fucking with you, trying to get you to lose your temper and not think quickly.

His brain made a point and he reined himself in to not give him that.

It tutted at him.

“You’re starting to think I’m grasping for straws, right? That I’m full of piss and vinegar but not really as serious as I’m claiming. Let me set your mind at ease.”

Glancing to the woman in his arms, he bent to brush his lips over her bare shoulder, before working his arm out from beneath her head. She barely stirred and he covered her as he crouched beside her before getting to his feet.

The curtains to the bedroom weren’t closed and as he stared out the window, he mentally mapped the floor plan of the cabin. Where the windows were in the living room and what it looked out over. Could someone have been out there?

Watching them? Watching as she fell apart under his touch? How she flushed and her lips parted, shiny with his kiss and swollen from the force of his touch. Did they see what no one else in the world should be privy to other than himself?

His lip curled as he imagined this pervert getting his jollies off to her pleasure.

Giving her a final lingering look, he padded out of the bedroom, stopping only to draw on his jeans, not bothering to fasten them.

“You just put your jeans on. You really have nothing to be ashamed of, built as you are.”

Ryker froze momentarily before continuing on to the kitchen where he opened the cupboard and withdrew a mug that had the town’s name on it. Hallelujah Crossing and below that it read: Christmas is in town, year ‘round.

I’m going to find this fucker and when I do…

“Obviously you’re after something. Why don’t you tell me what it is you want.”

“I want your brother and I’ll do what I have to in order to get him. Yes, that includes that dark-skinned vixen who seems to have a praise kink. At least when you call her a good girl. Imagine how it will look when the daughter of Senator Hunter’s sexual preferences for kink are blasted, her family will be ruined. She’ll never talk to you again.”

“You keep talking like I didn’t know who she was. I knew she was the Senator’s daughter, just like I know I’m going to find you and end you.”

He tutted. “Why are you making promises you can’t keep.”

“It’s a vow. And I don’t break those.” Lord help him, he wanted to keep this woman safe and protected.

“Tell your brother to come in and take his punishment or things will get frosty, despite it being the middle of summer.” The click in his ear had him closing his eyes in frustration.

“What the fuck have you gotten yourself into, Tyler? And why are involved with Rayla Hunter?”

Better question may be why it pissed him off with irrational jealousy to think of her with his brother. Even though she was with him now, had been with him, the simple idea his brother had touched, kissed, enjoyed any of her put a red haze around him he couldn’t get rid of.

After a quick glance over his shoulder, he pulled up the text Preston sent him of the number his brother had been in contact with, praying that his friend had made a mistake. Highly unlikely, but he held onto hope.

Pressing call on that number, his heart sank when the room filled with a distinct ring tone of a phone that wasn’t his. Ending the call, he walked through the cabin to the doorway of the bedroom. Rayla wasn’t on the floor where he left and he skated his gaze down the hall where the bathroom was to find the door closed.

Shit. Had he heard him.

“Yes, I heard you.”

She walked from the bathroom, leaving the door ajar behind her and his heart tripled in speed. Her thick curls had been gathered in a haphazard bun on the top of her head held there by a green and blue wrap. Unfortunately, she no longer remained naked but had hidden her curves by a black pair of yoga pants and paired it with an oversized gray and blue sweatshirt that read Howard University.

“Let me explain, baby.”

Her gaze swept over him. Ryker wasn’t sure what to make of it as it didn’t burn into him with anger. There wasn’t disappointment or hurt at his action. Looking at her eyes, which to his great disappointment, were the same color instead of the unique duality of hues, he swore he was staring at a cutout. Nothing was there.

“Nothing to explain, Mr. Owens. You lowered yourself to sleep with me in hopes to get something.” A deep breath as resignation flitted over her full features before vanishing once more leaving him with a shell of the woman he knew she was.

“No, baby. That’s not true.” He moved toward her only to freeze when she held up her hand and shook her head. “Rayla.”

“What is it you think I can do for you? Do I know your brother? Does he want an in into the political scene in DC? A meeting with the Senator?”

Shoving down the unease bubbling over in his gut, he moved two more steps toward her. Rayla lifted her chin not dropping his gaze but he could feel her pain and that stopped him. She wouldn’t back down, he knew that, but he wasn’t an idiot, she wasn’t wanting him near.

I want to be near her. I want to pull her close and kiss her. Tell her this was nothing more than a goddamn misunderstanding.

“Tyler is my brother and he and you shared some calls recently. I need to find him.” She narrowed her eyes ever so slightly. “You spoke with him yesterday.”

One eyebrow rose. “Grant? Grant is your brother?”

He nodded. “Yes. Tyler Grant Owens is my younger brother. He’s in danger. I need to get to him before whoever is after him does.”

“Grant was supposed to meet me here. I had a short call with him, and he didn’t sound good but I don’t know where he is. He’s not here, or so he said. He said he was late, and going to be later than he had been going to be.” She paced back and forth the short width of the hallway.

Ryker didn’t move, he wasn’t about to let her skate by him and get into the living room. He needed her closer and this hallway seemed to be the place to do that.

“How do you know him?”

She froze again and this time, her eyes hardened like there weren’t contacts hiding her true color. “Wow, your brother was right.” A self-deprecating laugh. “He said people wouldn’t understand why we were friends. How does he get involved with a senator’s fat daughter? Their shame? We went to the same dive bar and struck up a friendship because we’re both outcasts and didn’t want anything from the other besides a safe space. Why did you lower yourself to sleep with me if you feel such a way?”

His mind rolled with all this information. What the fuck? How the hell did she think he wasn’t attracted to her?

“Must have been horrible for you to lower yourself to fuck me in hopes I would tell you about your brother.”

Large pounding on the door kicked his worry to the back as protectiveness rushed forward, overtaking everything else. Turning so he was between her and the door, he held a hand behind him, keeping her back.

“I didn’t lower myself to do a fucking thing, baby. I wanted you then and still do. Stay back here until I make sure it’s safe. Whoever is after my brother has no problem putting you in harm’s way to get to him.”

He strode to the door and yanked it open. “What!”

Four intense men in black, sunglasses on, and ear pieces in stood there in a staggered position leading to a black town car. A thin black man walked toward him from the car, his brown gaze moving over him in an impassive look, both judging and dismissing him with out saying a word.

“Time to come home, Ms. Hunter.” The words were cold and announced around him like he wasn’t even there. “You’ve been summoned.”

“And if I refuse, Timmons?”

“Any means necessary, Ms. Hunter.” His voice came out resigned like this was a familiar action.

“What the fuck is going on here?” he demanded of the man before him. The man didn’t deign to give him any answer.

Rayla’s presence at his back had him slamming out his arm, blocking her from moving by him. The two men closest shifted their weight. He knew the move. While not physically moving nearer, he read easily they were ready to jump into action if it was needed.

“No baby, you’re not leaving without us having a discussion.”

“Step aside, Mr. Owens.” The skinny man before him tugged on the sleeve of his suitcoat.

Seriously? Who the fuck wears a full three-piece suit in the wilds of Tennessee early morning?

Besides these five men.

“Go to hell.”

Angling so he didn’t put his back to them but so he could at least lay eyes on her, he searched her face for something. There was nothing. No hope, fear, joy, sorrow. Not a goddamn thing. That fucking blank slate.

“Baby, look at me.” He waited half a beat until she finally lifted her gaze to his. “Good girl.”

The pulse jumped at her throat and she tugged her lower lip in her teeth before she pulled herself back together and affected that thousand yard stare he wanted to kiss off her face. Yeah, she loved hearing that from him.

“This isn’t what you think. Give me a chance to explain.”

Rayla ran her gaze over him, from the top of his head, down over his bare chest to where his jeans hung low on his hips, unbuttoned, to the tops of his feet. Then she brushed by him and walked past the five men waiting.

Ryker took a step off the porch when two moved closer to him. Beyond the car, Cole stood there.

“Everything okay, Rayla dear?”

“Of course, Cole. Heading home early.”

Ryker growled as the man neared his woman. While he couldn’t overhear their shared words but it killed him, something died inside him when she slid into the back of the shiny town car without a look back at him. The others loaded up and drove her out of his life.

Cole ran his icy and calculating gaze over him as the car moved away.

“We need to talk.”