Page 99 of Ryder’s Storm

“He doesn’t want to rebuild our home. He just told me that he sold it. He loved that house. It’s where we all lived when my mother was still alive. I can’t believe he turned his back on it…”

“Too many memories. Sometimes they can be crushing for the soul. Your father needs a new start. A clean slate. You have to respect that.”

“I know. I’m just worried about him…”

Scarlet noticed Ryder making his way through the crowd walking toward her.

“Don’t worry about him. He has all of Scanguards to watch out for him. It’s time for you to live your own life.” Maya leaned closer and whispered, “I hope Ryder is everything you want in a man.”

“Everything and more,” Scarlet said.

“That makes Gabriel and me very happy.” Maya pressed a kiss on Scarlet’s cheek before she walked away.

Ryder stopped in front of Scarlet, his eyes shimmering golden. “Have you had enough time to mingle?”

“Yes. Did you finish whatever your father wanted you to do?”

There was a flicker that suddenly flared up in Ryder’s eyes. “I have no more obligations for tonight. Would you be very upset if we left this party early?” His gaze dropped to her cleavage, and she noticed his fangs peek past his lips.

“Ryder, your fangs,” she whispered below her breath. “What will everybody think?”

He pulled her against his body, and dipped his mouth to her ear. “They will think that I’m a lucky bastard because I get to feast on the blood of the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen, while I have my cocks buried inside her, pleasuring her until she can’t take any more.”

Scarlet gasped for air as heat shot through her, scorching her from the inside. “I think we should leave.”

“I think so too.” He released her from his embrace, then took her hand. “Come, I have a surprise for you.”

“Does your surprise include lovemaking?”

Ryder chuckled, and the sound reverberated deep inside her body. “I think you haven’t quite grasped the concept of a surprise.”

45

Ryder had received a key from Samson. It unlocked a tiny cottage in Sausalito surrounded by a lush garden and mature trees. Its location on a hill afforded a stunning view over the bay and the skyline of San Francisco. Beyond the water, the lights of the city sparkled. Inside the cottage, lights of a different kind illuminated the cozy interior: dozens of candles gave the place a magical atmosphere.

In the fireplace where once wood fires had been burning, candles were arranged in the form of a heart. On the coffee table, the pattern was repeated. In another corner stood a king-size four poster bed with crisp white sheets and a canopy made of white lace.

“Ryder,” Scarlet murmured as she let her eyes roam. She turned to him, and he saw tears of joy brimming in her eyes. “When you said you had a surprise, I never expected this. It’s so romantic. Whose place is this?”

“It belongs to Scanguards. They let their employees use it for special occasions. Like tonight.”

Scarlet looked at him, her breath hitching. “What special occasion?”

With a pounding heart, Ryder stepped closer to her, never once taking his eyes off her. The short, red cocktail dress accentuated her beautiful curves perfectly. He’d noticed several of the unbonded vampires and hybrids in the V lounge casting second and third glances at Scarlet, and while he’d felt a fierce possessiveness grip him at the thought of other men looking at her, he pushed that feeling away. Everybody knew that Scarlet was his; every vampire in the room could smell that he’d made love to her only hours before the party, cementing his claim.

“I spoke to your father earlier,” Ryder said, his throat parched all of a sudden.

Scarlet nodded. “I saw you two shaking hands. He likes you, and not just because you and your father saved his life.”

“I’m happy we got him out in time, otherwise I wouldn’t have been able to get his permission to ask you this…”—Ryder dropped to one knee and pulled out a small jewelry box from the pocket of his blazer—“…Scarlet, will you blood-bond with me, and become my wife and my mate for eternity?”

“Ryder…” Scarlet choked up, pressing her hand to her lips, her chest rising, and filling with air.

With wide eyes she looked at the ring he’d selected for her, a sapphire that matched the blue color of her eyes, before locking eyes with him.

She dropped down to her knees opposite him and reached in the tiny handbag she held in her hand. When she opened her hand again, it revealed a simple platinum band.

“I wanted to ask you the same thing,” she said softly. “I’ve been carrying this ring with me for almost a week, trying to find the courage to ask you to make me yours in every sense of the word.”