Playing Dirty (Risky Business, #2)(33)

I reached around to unhook my bra, but he stopped me.

“Let me.”

He undid the clasp and slipped the straps from my shoulders and down my arms, then drew my panties down my legs.

I felt very exposed and slightly awkward, especially with his head inches from my—

“I’ve never had a cop draw my bath before,” I joked, trying to ease my own discomfort. “Does the CPD do manis and pedis, too?”

“I’ll do whatever you want me to, babe,” he said, pressing his lips to my abdomen, just under my navel. Holy shit. Then he stood and I could breathe again.

“The hot water will help with the aches you’re going to have tomorrow,” he said, taking my hand as I tentatively put one foot in the water. Just this side of scalding … perfect.

I let out a long sigh as I sank down in the water. I winced a bit as the scrapes on my knees were submerged, but felt so much better already.

Ryker sat on the edge of the tub and reached for my soap and loofah. He lathered like a pro, then gently washed my hands and arms. Scooting down the side of the tub, he set my foot on his thigh as he soaped up my leg, mindful of the bruises.

It was super sweet of him and I enjoyed watching the play of muscles in his chest and arms as he worked. The water had steamed up the room so there was a light sheen on his skin.

Expecting him to join me in the tub when he was done, I was surprised when he stood, saying, “Soak as long as you want. I’ll wait outside.” Then he was out the door before I could say anything.

Okay, that was weird. Deciding to finish the bath, I drained the tub and got out, hurriedly taking off my makeup and shrugging into the robe hung on the back of the door.

I found him sitting in my bed, ankles crossed as he watched the television. He glanced up.

“That was quick,” he said. “Feeling better?”

“Yeah, but why’d you leave? I thought you’d join me.” Discarding the robe, I saw his gaze drop and the Adam’s apple in his throat moved as he swallowed.

“Thought you might want some time to relax,” he said.

Climbing onto the bed, I lay beside him.

“I didn’t get to thank you for coming to my rescue.” Ryker had cleaned the blood off his face, but he’d be sporting bruises of his own tomorrow. “And here you said you didn’t want to get into a bar fight tonight.”

His lips twitched. “I hate bar fights,” he said. “But for you, apparently it doesn’t matter. When I saw you go down, getting to you was all I could think about.”

“My hero,” I said with a soft smile. His dog tags glinted in the light from the television and I wrapped the chain around my finger, giving it a small tug.

Ryker leaned over me, pressing his lips to mine. I was just getting into the kiss when I felt him draw the covers up over me. I reached for the fastening to his jeans, but he stopped me.

“What’s wrong?” I asked.

He looked at me, his eyes serious and his hand cupping my jaw. “I want you to know, really know, that I’m in it for more than the sex. And if you can’t believe me when I say it, then I’ll show you.”

My heart turned over inside my chest and something I’d been holding back felt as though it had been loosened.

“You already have,” I said. “Showing up tonight like that, getting caught up in a bar fight, getting me out of there in one piece …” I love you hovered on the tip of my tongue but for some reason, I couldn’t say it.

This bothered me, but now wasn’t the time for a prolonged session of introspection, so I shoved the thought aside and kissed him again.

“But that doesn’t mean I can’t … relax … you,” he murmured against my lips.

“What do you—”

Before I could finish he was sliding down my body, his lips fastening around a nipple and robbing the words from my tongue. His mouth was hot against my chilled skin and my eyes slid shut.

Ryker was a very physical guy, and he put his whole body into sex. So while his mouth was busy at my breasts, his hands were roaming, brushing down my sides to my hips, caressing my thigh and the tender skin behind my knee. He still wore jeans, the denim causing a soft friction that made me acutely aware of the more sensitive areas of my body.

His tongue flicked out, teasing my nipple, his thumb gently rubbing the other, and the dual sensation made me send up a prayer of appreciation for Ryker’s ability to multitask.

He slid farther down, sending a shiver across my belly when his tongue dipped into my navel. Pressing openmouthed kisses to my hip, he nudged my legs farther apart, wide enough for his shoulders.

I made a noise and tried to squeeze my legs closed. I usually had to be a bit drunker for this. Ryker didn’t understand. He was an all-in kind of guy, oral activities included, and was really, really good. But again, alcohol helped.

“C’mon, babe,” he said, his voice a soft rasp. “Relax. I wanna taste you so bad.” He braced his hands inside my knees, forcing them apart with too much strength for me to resist. Not that I was putting up a full-on fight, but still. Absurdly, his aggressiveness turned me on even more when the logical part of my brain said I should be mad about it. But the body doesn’t lie and heat flooded my core.

Ryker groaned, his mouth fastened to my inner thigh as he sucked. Distantly, I realized I’d have a hickey there tomorrow, but it wasn’t like anyone would see.