My head dropped back as I reached for bliss.
“So fucking beautiful,” he said.
I’d never thought I was ugly, but I was no raving beauty either. Except with Ryder. He called me a goddess. He said I was beautiful. And he did it in a way that made me believe him. It was amazing how powerful and sexy that made me feel.
His thumb pressed between my thighs, rubbing over my clit.
“Oh God, Ryder,” I cried out as his touch sent a firestorm through me. I was so close to the edge. I needed to come so bad and at the same time, I wanted to stay like this longer. Maybe even forever.
“Come, Katrina.” He growled. “Fuck, I need to come.”
When he spoke like that, my own arousal shot up, and the next time I slammed down on him, my body broke open, and pleasure flooded to every nerve ending.
“Ryder!” I bounced on him, drawing out the sweet sensations.
“Yes, fuck yes!” His hips drove up, and his warmth spread inside me. Together we moved in the most perfect harmony until my thighs burned too much to keep going and I collapsed on him. His arms wrapped around me, and he kissed me with such raw emotion, it nearly brought tears to my eyes.
There was a time I believed in true love. I’d also believed in Santa Clause and unicorns. I knew that none of that truly existed in the real world. But in that moment, I desperately wished true love existed, and that I could have it with Ryder.
Later that night, when we arrived home, he took me to his bed and made love to me again. At least that’s what it felt like. Sated and happy, I settled against him as we fell asleep. I remembered back in high school, when I still believed in fairy tales, wishing for something like this with him. Ryder had been the epitome of coolness. He’d been popular, athletic and in a band. But he hadn’t been a cocky asshole. Until the incident with my poems, I’d thought he was perfect. Now, laying in his arms, all those teenage fantasies and feelings flooded back. It was silly, but in the darkness of night, I savored them. I allowed myself to enjoy this moment. When this bet was over, I’d be back to my usual, safe life. I’d be happy to be there because I knew it well, and I liked stability and a sameness in life. But I couldn’t deny that this little trek off the beaten bath with him was enjoyable.
But like all good things in life, it was going to come to an end. Most relationships did, I reminded myself. Only a handful of people ever made it the distance, like Sinclair and Wyatt. Sinclair and Ryder’s parents seemed to have a good relationship too. But most people I knew had short term relationships, and most of the long-term ones fizzled out, often because they were too different. That was me and Ryder. After a week, I’d gone from despising Ryder to sleeping in his bed. It was right up there with pigs flying and hell freezing over, and yet there I was.
We were a spectrum apart when it came to temperament and how we viewed life. I’d enjoy this little detour in my life while I could, but then I’d move on with sweet memories.
The next day, I was alone at my desk in the outer section of the mayor’s office. He was in his office with Brooke, of course. Sinclair was down in her office. I was going over vendor contracts for the upcoming Heritage Festival.
I heard the opening of the door from the hallway. Looking up, I saw Simon Stark walk in. I frowned. He didn’t have an appointment. And he wasn’t welcome, as far as I was concerned.
I plastered on a pleasant expression because that was my job. “Can I help you?”
Mr. Stark smiled in that way rich people did to act friendly even though they expected the world to bend at their whims. “I’m here to see the mayor.”
“And you are?” Yes, it was snarky, but men like Stark could use a bit of push back. It wasn’t right that they went through the world thinking they owned the place and everyone knew it.
His jaw clenched slightly, but he held onto the smile. “Simon Stark.”
I looked at the schedule I had for the mayor, even though I already knew he wasn’t on it. I lifted my gaze back to him, with my own fake smile. “I’m sorry. I don’t see you, Mr. Stark.”
“I was on the phone with him just over an hour ago. He is expecting me.”
I tried to keep my smile, even as my insides started to boil. Had the mayor really made an appointment and not told me? Or more likely his new infatuation had.
“Let me check with him.”
I expected a man like Stark to respond with something like, “You do that,” in a condescending tone. However, he simply nodded and said, “Thank you.”
I picked up my phone and called the mayor’s office. “Mr. Stark is here. He says he has an appointment with you.”
“Ah yes. I forgot to mention that to you. Send him in.”
Jerk, I thought. He’d made me look like an idiot to Stark. And I couldn’t help but feel disrespected by the mayor. This was something I should have known and yet he didn’t bother to tell me.
Making sure to smile again, I looked up at Mr. Stark. “The mayor says you can go in.”
He nodded and thanked me again. At least he had manners, I thought until I remembered he crashed Sinclair and Wyatt’s wedding to try and discredit her. Asshole, I said under my breath.
I worked a little bit longer, but then decided it was time for a break. It was petty and unprofessional, but I didn’t bother to let the mayor or Sinclair now. I went to the breakroom for the entire city
