Free Frayed Rope by Harlow Stone

corner.
     
    “Who is it?”
     
    The whiskey voice from next door greets me.
     
    “Ryder.”
     
    The porch light illuminates him, like a halo on his body. He’s wearing dark jeans with a black t-shirt and flip-flops on his feet. His chest looks about three feet wide and he practically fills out the door with his hands resting on the frame, arms spread wide. I’m sure he could plow through with little effort.
     
    He doesn’t scare me, not really. His size is intimidating, but in a good way that makes me feel like he could toss me over his shoulder and carry me to safety if need be.
     
    Jesus Elle, focus.
     
    “What are you doing here?” I finally manage to ask after some well deserved ogling.
     
    His black eyes stare back at me through the screen as I wait for his answer. I stand stupidly with a birds nest piled on top of my head, my black and red silk kimono doing little for his imagination.
     
    He clears his throat before speaking.
     
    “Me and some of the guys from work are having a barbecue. You’re new, not sure if you’ve met anyone around here yet but you’re more than welcome to join us.”
     
    I have to give him credit; his eyes have remained mostly on mine throughout the conversation. Mostly.
     
    He’s not making this easy on me. I’m a thirty-year-old woman for shit’s sake and I feel like a damn teenager when he’s around. Time to get my shit together. I cross my arms over my chest and lean my hip against the wall.
     
    “Thanks, but I noticed the smoke earlier so I think I’ll pass.”
     
    A deep rumbling laugh greets my ears and I can’t believe how warm it makes me feel. The wind from the water blows his scent through my door. Damn he smells good.
     
    Jesus, now I sound like a romantic.
     
    Following his laughter he shakes his head.
     
    “Not what you’re thinking. I hadn’t used it in a while and there was a bee’s nest built under the grill lid. Apparently it was flammable.”
     
    He gives me a half-grin while his eyes wander down to my legs.
     
    “Well thank you for the offer, but I cooked a steak earlier and I planned on staying in tonight.”
     
    His eyes are still glued to my legs before they slowly make their way back up.
     
    I begin ogling the tattoos on his arms; I consider the tribal art on his body beautiful. The lines are clean, the detail in them are exceptional from what I can see at five feet away. I’d love to read what's written among the beautiful designs but I’m not willing to get that close to him yet.
     
    The silence has grown long so I glance up to his face and notice him staring at my chest.
     
    Typical man!
     
    Or maybe it’s my neck. Shit!
     
    I grab the top of my robe and pull it tighter around me before I speak.
     
    “Maybe some other time. Thanks though.”
     
    My voice is weak. Ryder seeing marks on my body makes me feel a kind of vulnerability I don’t like and am completely unfamiliar with.
     
    I reach over to close the main door, since he can see all of me through the screen one. Norma tries to push it open to head out to the porch.
     
    “Norm, inside. Now.”
     
    He holds the door for her while she mopes back into the house and I resume closing up.
     
    “Sure, Elle. Maybe some other time,” he says with an edge to his tone.
     
    Either he’s genuinely upset I said no, or he did get a good look at the marks on my body. Either way I breathe out a sigh of relief once I get the door shut.
     
     
     

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter Seven
     
    “SHIT!”
     
    I fall to the sand on my hands and knees and roll over onto my ass, grasping my leg. I’ve pushed myself too hard this morning and now I’m paying for it.
     
    I haven’t gotten much sleep the past few days. Ryder’s bonfire the other night seemed to turn into a whole weekend booze fest. Judging by the man hugs I witnessed from afar the next day, I’d say his friends are happy he’s home.
     
    The happiest of all would most likely be the trio of whores that