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Chapter 98
~Tempest’s POV~
"Rylan," I repeated, letting the name roll off my tongue as I tested the way it sounded. It was good, and fitting too. "I’ll call you Rylan. It suits you."
His brow arched in question, his curiosity piqued. "Why?"
"Because it feels personal, and that’s the only side you’ve shown me—intimately and privately," I replied, keeping my voice soft yet teasing. "Strong on the outside, but there’s a softness hidden there too. And I think I know it, even if just a little."
Flirting and keeping my emotions in check seemed nice and a good distraction but then, a thought crept into my mind.
I hope he knew it was just a fling and nothing more.
I watched his reaction, gauging his expression in the mirror, but his face remained neutral. A flicker of something crossed his eyes, though—a brief, reluctant smile that was gone in a heartbeat.
The rest of the drive was filled with silence again, but this time it felt less tense, almost comfortable in its own way.
The city lights eventually came into view, casting a warm glow over the skyline as we entered. Ryker navigated the streets with ease and relaxed in his seat as he padded his way through until we reached my apartment complex, pulling up smoothly by the curb.
He stepped out first, opened the door for me and then proceding to retrieve my luggage from the trunk before heading inside with me.
I unlocked the door, pushing it open, and was immediately met with the muffled sounds of laughter and soft voices.
Frowning, I stepped inside, catching a glimpse of my maid, Kaya, entwined in the arms of a man in the dining room, both oblivious to my entrance.
Her moans filled the room as he kneaded her breasts through her clothing, his lips clashing back on hers.
I cleared my throat loudly, watching them spring apart in a blur of blushing cheeks and stammered apologies.
"Oh my..."
Kaya’s eyes went wide with horror when she saw me, her face as red as a cherry.
"Lady Tempest! I-I’m so sorry, I thought..." Her words trailed off as she glanced between me and Ryker, flustered beyond measure.
I couldn’t help but laugh, the sound bubbling up and breaking the tension. "It’s fine, Kaya. Just... keep it down next time," I teased, winking as she stammered her thanks and practically dragged her boyfriend out the door.
Once they were gone, I tossed my handbag onto the couch, letting the laugh fade into a smirk as I turned to find Ryker standing by the entrance, his gaze already drifting toward the door.
"I should be going, Lady Tempest," he murmured, voice low. "It’s getting late, and you’ll be safe enough here."
"Will I?" I countered, my tone playful as I moved closer. "You wouldn’t want to leave me defenceless, would you, Rylan? Besides, it’s dark already. You can stay the night, just in case." I caught his gaze, holding it, daring him to argue.
He hesitated, clearly torn. "You don’t need my protection, Lady Tempest. And I really shouldn’t... it wouldn’t be proper."
Proper? Did he just give me the excuse of being proper after fucking me twice?
Smiles.
Well, he is a gentleman, I’ll give him that but I didn’t want gentle. I wanted him.
"Oh, come on," I replied with a sly smile, stepping close enough that our hands almost touched. "Since when did you care about being proper?"
His jaw tensed, the barest hint of frustration in his eyes as he looked away, clearly grappling with himself.
Before he could come up with another excuse, I closed the distance between us, tilting my head up to meet his gaze.
Then, without another word, I leaned in, pressing my lips to his.
He went still, surprised, but after a moment, his hands found my waist, his grip firm as he pulled me closer, deepening the kiss.
Heat surged through me, our connection electrifying and intense as if every nerve in my body had been set ablaze.
I felt it again. The irritation that he wasn’t my mate but then, after our last time, I had managed to shun those feelings down and enjoy myself.
His hands travelled up my back, and I felt myself melting against him, giving in to the pull that had been building between us since the first time we’d met.
He was strong and unyielding, yet there was a gentleness to his touch that made my heart race.
When we finally broke apart, he kept his forehead resting against mine, his breath warm against my lips. "You’re... something else, Lady Tempest," he murmured huskily.
I laughed softly, my hands still tangled in his shirt. "Good," I whispered back, daring him to close the distance again, which he did without hesitation, capturing my lips in another searing kiss.
All the pent-up tension, all the unspoken words, melted away in that moment, replaced by the raw, undeniable connection between us.
For the first time today, I felt free—unburdened by expectations, by the pain of what I couldn’t have, and instead consumed by the thrill of what was right in front of me.
Ryker’s lips trailed down my jaw, his hands tightening around my waist, and I felt a shiver run through me, anticipation thickening the air around us. He pulled back just enough to look into my eyes, a question lingering there.
"Are you sure about this?" he asked in the softest voice I had ever heard from him.
"Yes," I answered, no hesitation in my tone. "For once, I want this. I want... you."
His expression softened, and without another word, he scooped me up, carrying me toward my room.
The world outside faded away, leaving only us, and the thrill of finally letting myself follow my body without second-guessing, without fear.
We arrived in my room soonest and as my body pressed against the mattress, my thoughts sprung back to the hunk above me, his eyes gleaming with delight as his blonde fell straight over his face and obstructed a part of his cyan eyes.