Owning Violet (The Fowler Sisters #1)(81)

“Last night? I know.” He pulls me to him and wraps me in his arms, his mouth at my forehead, his hand possessively resting on my backside. “I can’t stop thinking about it, what happened last night between us, Violet. I need you to know that. But I also need you to do this. It’ll be temporary. We just need to create a cover while I figure out exactly what Pilar’s doing.”

“Why do we need a-a cover?” My voice hitches when Ryder runs his hand slowly up and down my ass. His caress lights me up from within, makes my body yearn for what only he can give me. I should hate him for making these suggestions, but it’s as though he’s putting me in a trance with his touch while asking me to do something I normally would never do.

I almost feel … manipulated.

“I don’t want Pilar knowing that we suspect she’s with your father,” he says as he nuzzles my face with his. “Christ, you smell good.”

“Ryder …” I protest just as he cups my face and tilts my mouth up to his. He takes my lips in a savage kiss that has me turning more fully into him, my arms going around his neck, my tongue tangling with his.

“You are too much of a distraction.” He pushes me away, his hands gripping my shoulders, arms extended so there’s plenty of distance between us. “This afternoon I want you to go to Zachary’s office and tell him you miss him. That you regret you’re not spending his last days in New York with him. It won’t take much to convince that * you want him still.”

My skin crawls at the thought. “I don’t want to do this,” I admit softly.

“Baby.” He cups my cheeks, drifts his thumbs across my skin so gently I close my eyes, savoring his touch. Nerves ravage at my stomach. It almost feels like this will be the last time we’re together. Dramatic but true. “I know you don’t. But do this for me. For us. I promise it will all work out in the end.”

“And what will you be doing while I’m pretending to be with Zachary?” Disgust roils through me, upsetting my stomach. What if he goes back to Pilar? I can hardly stand the thought. Just the idea of Pilar having her hands all over him makes me want to hurt her.

And I never want to hurt anyone.

“Investigating. Questioning Pilar. Questioning your father.”

Of course, he mentions Pilar. I hate that. And what he wants us to do … it sounds risky. I don’t understand why we have to turn this into such a covert operation. “I won’t have sex with him, Ryder. He’ll want to, but I won’t do it.”

“The last f*cking thing I want you to do is have sex with him. If you did, I’d have to kill him.” He kisses me again, savagely sweet, his hands pressing into the bruised flesh of my backside so hard I cry out against his mouth. He immediately relaxes his hold, looking contrite. “Just tell him you’re considering giving him another chance but you want to go slow.”

I nod, taking in his words. I could do that. And Zachary would believe it, too. He’s so arrogant he probably believes he’s pushed me into a corner. He’ll be so excited that I’m willing to give him yet another chance, he’ll probably agree with my stipulations. He’ll also continue to do whatever he wants anyway.

Not that I care anymore.

“I understand, though, if you have to … let him touch you. Kiss you.” The flash of anger on his handsome face almost scares me. “Avoid it if you can.”

His words make my heart hurt, which is stupid. But I thought our relationship shifted since what happened last night. I don’t want to be just a game to Ryder McKay.

But what if this is some sort of game? What if he’s using me to get back at Zachary and Pilar somehow? For all I know, I could be walking into a trap.

“Exactly how long do you expect me to pretend?” I ask warily. No way do I want Zachary to kiss me. It would feel like I was cheating. I don’t want anyone’s hands or lips on me unless they’re Ryder’s.

“However long it takes. Hopefully before Zachary leaves for London,” Ryder answers. He withdraws from me, lost in thought, and I watch him pace, admiring his fine masculine form. He looks like he could have stepped right out of a magazine, he’s so immaculately dressed. Even his messy hair is artfully arranged and incredibly sexy. My panties dampen just looking at him.

Which makes me remember that I have to cancel our lunch date.

“My sister asked if I’d go to lunch with her,” I say hesitatingly.

He stops his pacing and turns to look at me. “You told her you had plans, right?”

I slowly shake my head, nervousness filling me when his eyes go dark with anger. “I told her I would meet her. She said she needed me.”

“Violet.” He sounds angry and I back up a step when he approaches me. That long-legged stride brings him to me in seconds and he slips his hand around my neck, his long fingers gripping my hair tight. “I need you, too. This might be our last chance to be together for a while.”

“I-I know.” I nod my head quickly, my entire body shaking when he tightens his fingers in my hair. It hurts. It feels good. Why do I like his show of aggression? Why do I want him to wield such power over me?

“You chose your sister over me,” he murmurs, his voice tight, his eyes lit with fire.

“She’s family,” I argue.

“Don’t I matter, too?” He pulls me so close his face is in mine and my legs wobble.