Lucky Strike (10 page)

“What am I looking at right now?” Brooke joins me by the slider door in the kitchen and we both look out at the backyard, where a pile of passed out men are lying cuddled together on the grass under a tablecloth, surrounded by empty blue solo cups.

“They look like a pile of sleeping kittens.” Brooke giggles.

“It kind of looks like a failed orgy.” We both laugh before taking a sip of our coffee.

“Can you believe those drunken idiots have to be up in an hour to go protect the streets of Seattle?”

“People of Seattle, sleep peaceful tonight, Seattle’s finest are keeping the streets safe.” Opening the sliding door, I let out the dogs to go wake up the boys. I secretly of hope one of the dogs pees on them, assuming they haven’t already peed on themselves.

When Brooke and I got back from Lucy’s, we found the boys drunk off their asses and engaged in an intense game of beer pong. No amount of me tempting Ryder with sex could get his ass to come upstairs with me. So after Brooke put Ella to bed, I joined her and the dogs in her room, where the two of us ended up falling asleep in her bed while watching a marathon of
Grey’s Anatomy
. It was not the night I was expecting, but it was good none the less.

Lucy and I are on a path to mending our friendship. I know I’ll have to work my ass off more than ever with Lucy to convince her I won’t run again. Not an easy thing for me since running is all I know how to do, but this time around I have to make it work. I can’t lose everyone I love. I won’t survive the pain again.

“This also means Ryder will be completely worthless with helping me move my crap from storage into his apartment.” I wish we could just live with Brooke and Brian forever, but they need their space now more than ever with baby number two on the way, and Ryder and I need to start our lives together. As scary as that is going to be.

“I’m happy to see you two are going to give this a shot.”

“I’m glad one of us is. I, on the other hand, am completely scared shitless right now. Ryder knows parts of me but now he’s going to get to see the stuff I’ve kept hidden even from him.” A heavy sigh escapes my lips. Sure Ryder’s seen my vulnerable side, seen me at my worst, but he hasn’t seen the Lucky, who erratically paints until three in the morning. The Lucky that occasionally sits in her bra and yoga pants, with an avocado mask on and eats red velvet cupcakes while watching cheesy
Lifetime
movies. The Lucky that’s a complete slob that can’t cook a meal to save her life. That was all stuff I was able to hide from Jackson because he was gone most of the time and he wasn’t the most perceptive of guys. Now Ryder is going to get it all head on.

Brooke slides her arm around my shoulder, giving me a side hug. “Ryder loves you and nothing will ever change that. No matter what weird shit you do behind closed doors.” She softly giggles. “If you need some help moving my brother, Hunter will be flying in later today. I’m sure he’d be happy to help.”

“That’s sweet of you to offer, but I don’t want to take Hunter away from his time with you and Ella. I’m sure he’s anxious to spend time with his niece. I’ll just get what I can on my own, then Ryder can help with the big stuff after he gets off his shift.”

“If you change your mind you know where to find me.”

“Thank you, Brooke. We better go pour some coffee down these boys.”

Lugging the last of my heavy boxes up the six flights of stairs to Ryder’s apartment, I pause at the top of the landing on the fifth floor breathless wishing I did more cardio. This makes for my fourth trip up these stupid stairs and I’m feeling like a fucking dumbass for not taking Brooke up on her offer to let Hunter help me. I take a few deep breaths then continue up the last flight of stairs. I stumble through the apartment door dropping the boxes on the dark wood floors, kicking the door closed behind me. Stepping over to the kitchen to grab a glass of water and catch my breath before I start unpacking.

Taking a few sips of the cool liquid I look around my new home. I’ve spent a lot of time inside these walls, but for some reason this time, it feels foreign to me. I have so many memories here. I can remember the day Ryder bought the place, he was so excited to finally have a home of his own. It was cute to see him jumping around the big empty space. I even helped him convert the upstairs loft apartment he bought two years later into his main living area so he could transform the downstairs into a gym, with a full sized boxing ring. I’ve spent countless nights here sleeping in his bed, eating his food and talking his ear off all night when I was trying to figure out where to go with my fucked up life. But now it all feels new and strange again.

Downing the last of my water I then head upstairs to start unpacking. Walking into Ryder’s bedroom, I stop at the foot of his massive king sized bed. This was once a place I would crash when I was too tired to drive home from late nights at the club, and where I would fall asleep while watching movies with Ryder. I never once imagined I would ever be in this bed with him as his girlfriend. Gazing upon the perfectly made bed, I try not to think about the women Ryder has brought in here. To me, this bed will still be our sanctuary where we’ll watch movies and fuck until the sun comes up.

Stepping inside Ryder’s closet, I find his clothes neatly hanging on the racks. His T-shirts lining the shelves in order by color. Ryder’s been a neat freak for as long as I can remember. Even when we were kids, his pencils and crayons were all neatly laid out on his desk. I always found it strange, but I guess I should count myself lucky that I have a boyfriend who likes to keep a clean home and knows how to do the cleaning.

Just as I start to unzip my suitcase, Spike comes trotting through the closet door. He takes a seat in front of me and begins to eye my legs.

“Don’t you even think about it,” I scold. “The only man allowed to hump any part of this body is your daddy.”

Spike groans and lays down on the floor, resting his paws over his eyes. He’s such a big sweet goofball of a dog, kinda like Ryder, which is why I’m kind of falling in love with him. I reach over and scratch him behind the ears. “Don’t worry, buddy, I’ll still pet you and let you lay on my lap anytime you want. Just don’t hump my legs or keep me from getting laid. If you can manage that, I’ll sneak you over to see your girlfriend, Lola.”

Spike’s head pops back up and he proceeds to lick my face in appreciation. “Why don’t we go downstairs and get you a treat.”

A warm pair lips trailing down my back stirs me awake from my nap. A smile sliding across my lips when I realize Ryder is home from work.

I managed to get my clothes somewhat organized in Ryder’s closet and set up my drawing table and art supplies in the corner of the bedroom that faces the bay of windows that overlook Elliot Bay. After all of that, I was completely exhausted, I forgot how tiring unpacking can be. After taking a shower, I passed out on Ryder’s insanely comfortable bed—it seriously feels like sleeping on a cloud.

Ryder’s fingers slip under my blue cotton panties and he slowly slides them down off my hips. I see someone is ready for a pre-dinner fuck session.

“Well, hello there,” I moan as he kisses along the curve of my ass. It’s nice to know that now I will be the one who enjoys the pleasures of Ryder being an ass man.

He whispers a hello between kisses. Damn, it feels good to be touched like this. I’ve spent most of my time during sex dictating every move that would get me off the fastest, I never actually took the time to enjoy the lead-up. To feel the rush of anticipation, the buildup before falling over the edge into pure pleasure. It’s going to take time for me to fully release control over to Ryder in this department, but if he keeps up with this kind of stuff it might be easier than I thought.

Ryder rolls me over onto my back and I finally meet his dark gaze. His blue eyes looking like the ocean after a storm as they devour me. He eyes me up and down like he’s trying to decide what he wants to do to me first. I hope whatever he decides it’s nice and dirty. Just then I catch him pulling something blue from behind his back. As it comes into view, I see that it’s one of my scarves.

“Hands above your head,” he demands in a dark gruff tone.

I nervously reach my hands above my head. My heart beginning to race as he ties the soft silk around my wrists then to the bedpost. Now this is the ultimate test for me. I’ve never let anyone tie me up before because that would mean giving up complete control. I wouldn’t be able to push them or pull them to where I want them. Not being able to do that scares the shit out of me. As much as I am doing this for Ryder, I’m doing it for me too. If I can let go in the bedroom then maybe I can finally let go of control in other aspects of my life that have been holding me back from being completely happy.

Ryder moves off the bed and I notice he’s completely naked. He has the most incredible body I’ve ever seen. Every inch of him is perfectly sculpted muscle. From his broad muscular shoulders down to his perfect ass. That ass of his could make an angel weep.

He walks over to my easel and picks up one of my new paint brushes.
What the hell does he have planned for that?
I wonder as he walks back to the bed with a mischievous grin on his lips. I knew he had these crazy fantasies of what he wanted to do to me, but I didn’t think they would include my brushes. Sure sex toys I’m all for those, but what the hell was he going to do with my brush?

“What are you doing with my paint brush?” My voice cracking with every syllable.

He doesn’t say a word, just brings the brush up to my chest and slowly trails the soft bristles down the delicate skin between my breasts. A giggle escapes my lips as he runs the brush under my left breast. Damn me for being so ticklish. My hands strain against my scarf as I try to keep from laughing. My giggles turn to moans when I feel the brush flick over my nipple.