Free Redeemed: Bad Blooded Rebel Series #4 by Mellie George

knew I was really going to have a hard time getting through
the evening with all our clothes still on.
     

Chapter
6
     
     
     
    Everleigh
     
     
     
    As
soon as I saw Ryder’s expression as he took me in I knew that my plan to seduce
him tonight was off and running. It had been six weeks since the attack and
surprisingly as soon as we left New York I began to feel more like myself than
I had in a long time, despite the void I would always feel after losing Trish.
Everything that happened was still weighing on my mind and sometimes I had
nightmares, but they weren’t about killing Scott. They were about Ryder being either
dead or far away from me; I would wake up terrified that he wasn’t there. It
would always take a few seconds to remember that it was just a dream and that
Ryder was sleeping next to me, but those few seconds that I was forced to
relive my nightmare were pure torture.
    Ryder
had also been treating me with kid gloves since we came to Cincinnati, refusing
to let our physical relationship go any farther than just light kisses on the
lips and an occasional kiss on the neck. Even though Scott had violated me
during the attack it didn’t make me any less attracted to Ryder. I know it
probably wasn’t the healthiest way to deal with a trauma, but for me I was
craving Ryder’s touch so much and his hot, hard, naked body on mine was the
therapy I needed.
    After
Scott attacked me on New Year’s Day at 7-6-5 we’d made love that night in my
shower and all my fear and worry melted away. Ryder had to see that I needed
him to help me melt it all away again.
    I
stopped in front of him and did a little curtsy. “Do I look okay?” I asked. I
wore a plum-colored strapless asymmetrical dress, black suede stilettos, and I
had my hair up with a few curls falling down around my face. I kept my makeup
simple since Ryder loved to see as much of my bare face as possible, telling me
often how beautiful he thought I was without makeup.
    He
stood and walked over to me. As he pulled me into his arms I inhaled his
delicious musky scent. He looked gorgeous in his black suit and skinny tie and
it was like torture having him this close knowing he would just push me away
again. I know he was just being respectful for what I’d been through but I
needed things back to normal in a big bad way, including having his naked
perfection lying in our bed waiting to make love to me.
    “You
look absolutely perfect,” he said, his voice husky.
    “Thank
you,” I whispered against his neck and lightly pressing my lips to his pulse. I
heard a faint groan escape him and I was hopeful that we would never even make
it out the door.
    Unfortunately,
he kissed my forehead gently and said, “We should go or we’ll lose our
reservation.” He backed away from me and got my coat from the closet.
    I
bit back a pout and stowed my disappointment as I walked to him and let him
help me into my coat. As soon as his was on, we walked out of the house without
a word.
    We
didn’t really make much conversation through dinner either. The atmosphere of
the restaurant was romantic, the place was beautiful, and the food was
delicious, but I ate my food as quickly as possible. At this point I wasn’t
above begging Ryder to do whatever he wanted to me.
    After
we shared a piece of triple chocolate cake and he paid the check, he helped me
into my coat again and said, “Did you have a good time tonight, gorgeous?”
    I
nodded and put on my best smile. “Yes I did. This has been the best birthday
I’ve had in a long time,” I said. Even thought I was sexually starved, I was
being honest. My last twenty four birthdays before this were spent mostly alone
and last year at this time Dad was quickly getting sicker and sicker. Ryder’s
presence alone made this my happiest birthday so far.
    “Did
you like all of your presents? I didn’t get you too much, did I?” he asked,
smiling that damn crooked smile I loved so much.
    I
laughed. Ryder had gotten me way too