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One particular photo caught her eye of a twenty-something Ryder, shirtless with his tanned six-pack on display, his dog-tags shining in the desert sun. There was no grey yet in the short, cropped hair. Even through the photo his ice-blue eyes pierced her, as if he'd been looking at her as the photo had been shot many yearsbefore.
It unnervedher.
She almost missed the one picture of a teenaged Ryder. She picked up the smallest frame, pushed to the edge of the display. Its size wasn't the only remarkable attribute of this treasure. It was also the only candid shot that contained a woman. A beautiful woman... with piercing blue eyes exactly like the teenager she hugged as she smiled for the photographer. They both looked so happy that a feeling of regret came over her that she hadn't been there to share that moment withhim.
"That's my mom." His quiet voice behind her made her jump. She'd been so enthralled with unwrapping the hints of his past that she'd forgotten to keep tabs on his presence. He stepped close enough to brush against her. She glanced sideways to see a sadness in hiseyes.
Khloe had to ask, even though it wasn't really any of her business. "What happened to her?" shewhispered.
He stood frozen, and she was sure he wouldn't answer, but she waswrong.
"She died just over a year after that photo was taken." He sighed before adding, "Fuckingcancer."
"I'm sorry." And she meantit.
"Yeah, well it was a long timeago."
That may be true, but she felt a chink in her protective armor melt away as she watched a man she'd have sworn yesterday had a heart of nails grieve for a woman he clearly had loved. A drop of jealousy fell into her empty stomach, realizing he shared something with the dead woman in the photograph she'd longed to have with her own distant parent who still lived, but couldn't care less about her actress daughter'slife.
"I'm gonna make us a late dinner. We need to get some calories into you while you fill me in on theinvestigation."
Bossy Ryder was back. She didn't know what bothered her more; that he was gonna try to make her eat or that, short of the kiss they'd shared in the parking lot, the man in front of her was acting like they barely knew eachother.
We do barely know eachother.
The thought of eating nauseated her. "I'm exhausted and not hungry. All I want is to take a hot shower and sleep for a day or two. I don't suppose you picked up a change of clothes back when westopped."
The bastard had the nerve to grin. "Sorry, they were fresh out of designer casuals at Mac's. You'll have to settle for the robe on the back of the bathroom door. Go in, take a shower and change. I'll have food ready when you getout."
"I toldyou..."
His hand squeezed her bare bicep, cutting her off. "You're gonna eat tonight. And again in the morning, and every chance I get until you've put on ten pounds." The asshole dared bark at her as if he had theright.
"Fuck you," she said yanking away from his grasp. "You can't tell me what or when to eat. Ten pounds would be a death sentence to mycareer."
This time he latched onto both her arms and yanked her against his chest to lecture her. "Bullshit. You're too thin. Any director who can't see that is amoron."
Before she could find a proper retort, he was pulling her behind him in the direction of a hallway that shot off from the main living space. More pictures lined the walls, distracting her until they arrived in what had to be his master suite. More sheets were draped over most furniture, but the king-sized four-poster bed was the focal point of the masculine room. He didn't release her until they got into the connected master bath. With the flip of a switch, warm lighting illuminated the surprisingly modernbathroom.
She eyed the whirlpool tub,longingly.
He'd loosened his grip, caressing where he'd gripped moments before leaning closer, talking softer in her ear. "That's fine. Take a longsoak."
She caught a whiff of his cologne, the same scent on the handkerchief that she'd been masturbating to since Valentine's Day. It acted as a sexual trigger, and the temptation to kiss him was strong. She closed her eyes, trying to hide her conflicted attraction to him and getting angry at her disappointment when he released her and started rummaging through drawers and cabinets, coming out with the supplies she'd need for abath.
He was all the way to the door when she called out to him, "Ryder!" When he turned, he'd masked all emotion, leaving her more confused than ever. "Can you..." She hated to ask. "I need your help unzipping mydress."
A wolfish glee she hadn't seen since Black Light adorned his handsome face as her stomach flip-flopped with sexual tension. His long, slow strides back to her reminded her of a predator stalking his prey. The final gap was closed as he lunged at her, pouncing, roughly twirling her in a one-eighty to face the huge mirror that had been at herback.
Gone was the stranger. The blue-eyes that devoured her in the mirror as he yanked her back to his chest and held her immobile were as familiar to her as they were frightening. Her breath hitched as Ryder's right hand found her zipper, slowly opening the back of her gown as if he were opening a present. Their eyes never broke their connection as she felt hands on her shoulders, pulling the slinky fabric outward until the weight of the flowing gown and gravity pooled the bodice at her waist. Only then did Ryder's gaze drop lower, taking in the sexy strapless bra perfectly showcasing herbreasts.
Khloe trembled when Ryder's lips latched onto the crook of her neck–where her nape met her shoulder. What started as a soft kiss escalated to a nibble and finally she cried out in pain as the bastard dared biteher.
"Ouch," shecomplained.
Her complaint only made him wrap his left arm around her waist, squeezing her harder as he sucked his way up and down her shoulder until she was a jumbled ball of confusion. Her brain might be screaming for him to stop, but every other body part felt like it was just waking up from a long winter'srest.
His body tensed before yanking his lips from her skin. In the reflection, she could see him internally struggling for control just as shewas.
