Soul Chance (10 page)

“Not yet.” Ryder reached out with his free hand and pushed the cup of her bra down, exposing her breast. “You owe me twenty.”

“Twenty what?” Ari cried out when he smacked her erect nipple, effectively tamping down her impeding climax. “
Fuck
, Ryder! That
hurt.
”

Ryder nodded while caressing the tender skin he’d just swatted. “I know. The good news is you only owe me nineteen more.”

“Nineteen more
smacks?
” She couldn’t keep the incredulity from her voice. Had he lost his mind?

“Yes.” Ryder gave her congenial smile as he pushed the other cup of her bra down. He brushed his palm over both of her breasts. “And I’m feeling generous, so I’ll let you decide where you want them.”

Ari gaped at him. “You’re feeling
generous
?”

“Yes. Decide, Ari, or I will.” Ryder tweaked her nipples and Ari hissed out a breath.

“This is crazy. Ryder, please.” Ari yelped when Ryder swatted her other nipple. “Ouch!”

“Eighteen left.” Ryder dipped his head to take her stinging breast into his mouth while still fucking her with his fingers.

The warm, wet contact sent a delicious shock through Ari. She bucked beneath Ryder’s questing tongue, losing herself in the erotic mix of sensations enveloping her. “Ryder.” Her throat felt raw and his name was all but a whisper from her lips.

Ryder slipped his fingers from her pussy, slapped her clit and Ari shrieked. “Seventeen.”

“Stop it!” Ari endeavored to close her legs. She swore when Ryder pushed her leg off his only to place his on top, preventing her from moving away from him. She squeezed her eyes shut, wanting to block out what was happening and the choice he wanted her to make. Ari braced herself for another smack to her clit. She felt Ryder move, tensed, then bellowed when he slapped her inner thigh. The sound of his action shocked her more than the pain, but tears still stung Ari’s eyes.

“Sixteen more.” Ryder’s voice was as husky as hers.

“No.” She met his gaze as she shook her head, hoping her tears would move him, stop him from continuing.

Ryder slapped her throbbing pussy twice. “
Yes.
”

Ari screeched, panting from the intense tingles reverberating through her. She never would have thought him capable of both arousing and punishing her. “Oh, God, Ryder.” A tear slid down her cheek as she held back a sob. “
Please.
Spank my ass for the rest.”

Chapter Seven

“Very well.” Ryder sampled Ari’s juices from his hand, his stiff cock getting harder as he stood. He moved behind the chaise and loosened the knot he’d created. “You can now stand and turn over.”

Ari sniffled and rose in her stilettos. Ryder watched her move into position, graceful and sexy as hell with her lingerie framing her pussy and hard nipples. Ryder steeled himself as he listened to her ragged breaths, pushing back the need to comfort her.

“Take hold of the chaise.”

Ari complied, and Ryder tightened his knot, securing her to the recliner once more. He walked around the chaise, pleased by the view. Ari was beautiful, strapped down with her derrière and breasts exposed for his pleasure. Ryder didn’t think he’d ever seen a more erotic sight. He ran his fingers over her hip then pushed her thong down over her delectable ass. “No more gambling while you’re mine, Ari—not even the penny slots. Understood?”

“Yes.”

Her soft voice struck a chord within Ryder as he crouched to help her step out of her thong. He kissed the side leg before rising. “Fourteen more, Ari.”

Ari trembled but didn’t respond as Ryder smoothed his hand over her bottom. He delivered two swats to each cheek then slipped his finger into her. Her wetness thrilled him, assured him she was still turned on despite the spanking. “Do you like this, Ari?”

“I
hate
it.”

Ryder laughed as he stroked her. “Your pussy betrays you.” He removed his finger, swatted her ass four more times in quick succession and Ari wailed. “Admit it. You
do
like this.”

“I hate it and I hate
you
.”

“Now, I
know
you’re lying.” Ryder gave her four more licks across her bottom, undaunted by her furious declaration. He paused to rub his stinging hand, surprised by Ari’s silence. Her harried breathing was the only indication she was under any duress.

“Four more.”

“Bring it.”

Ryder smiled. His sassy girl until the end.

He gave her three more smacks, taking care not to swat the same area. He admired Ari’s grit when she grunted but didn’t cry out. He caressed her bottom, enjoying the contrast of their skin tones and the blooming rosy hue he’d created. “Last one, Ari.” Ryder delivered it and Ari whimpered.

He moved to untie Ari’s hands as she straightened and faced him. Something twisted in his heart when he saw her lowered face awash with her tears. “Ari, look at me.”

Ari leveled her gaze with his and Ryder swore when another tear slid down her cheek. The need to comfort her overrode everything else. He cupped her face, wiped away her tears with his thumbs then leaned down and kissed her. Ari kissed him back, dialing up his hunger for her.

Ryder reached into his pocket for the condom he’d grabbed earlier. He unbuttoned then unzipped his trousers and his pants slipped to the floor. Ryder shucked his underwear as he removed his shirt. He came over to Ari with his cock in hand. “On your knees.”

Ari stared at him for a moment then complied.

Ryder brushed his cockhead against her lips. “Open your mouth, Ari.” He could see the conflict his words caused as desire and rebellion flashed in Ari’s eyes before she obeyed his command. Ryder drew in a tight breath as he slid his cock between her lips. He worked his rigid length in and out at a slow pace, savoring the warm, wet suction of her mouth.

He inched his cock deeper then tightened his jaw when Ari moaned against his dick. “Keep your eyes on me.” Ryder felt his cock get harder as he held Ari’s gaze and continued to give her more of him. He groaned as he entered her throat, loving the wicked sensations threatening his control. “Oh, yes. You’re taking me deeper.” Ryder looked down at Ari, saw the tears on her cheeks, and groaned again. He pulled his dick from Ari’s mouth, sucking in a breath at the same time she did.

Ryder led Ari back to the chaise, sat down and beckoned her to straddle him as he quickly donned the condom. Ari moved over him, spread her thighs wide over his lap and hovered above his cock. Ryder guided his cock to the entrance of her pussy as she placed her hands on his shoulders. He gritted his teeth as Ari lowered herself onto him. Her low moan of pleasure was the perfect expression of the ecstasy he was experiencing too.

Ryder cupped Ari’s ass, relishing her tight, wet heat. He loosened his grip when Ari winced and she seated herself fully on his dick. Ryder groaned again when Ari remained still and tightened her walls around his cock. He opened his mouth to tell her to move then held back from speaking when he saw her blissful expression. He let Ari take her time, wanting her to get what she needed from him.

Giving Ari the reins was erotic torture for Ryder. He smoothed Ari’s twists back as she began to rock on his lap. Ryder watched her start slowly, testing his resolve to remain still as she found the right angle to maximize her enjoyment. The sweet friction of her movements threatened to send Ryder into sensory overload way before he was ready to come.

Ryder concentrated on helping Ari bounce instead of the heavenly sensations coursing through his body. He slid one hand from under her bottom to strum her clit and Ari gasped. Ryder kept teasing her, savoring her breathy moans and tiny cries as she fucked him. He rubbed her clit faster when she grew quiet, harnessing the climax he knew was close.

Ryder rocked his hips when Ari cried out. He grunted as her pussy milked his cock, feeling each orgasmic flutter that tore through Ari. Ryder wrapped his arms around her as he eased her back onto the chaise. He pumped her hard and fast. Ari’s moans and the look of total surrender was Ryder’s undoing. He held nothing back, slamming into Ari with abandon as he came with a low, guttural groan.

Ryder pulled his cock from Ari with regret a few moments later, conscious of his weight on her. He looked at her, seeing her eyes were closed. Ryder touched Ari’s cheek. “Delicious.”

“Mmm.”

Ryder grinned when Ari sighed but didn’t make an effort to move or look at him. He got up and went into the bathroom. Ryder disposed of the condom and washed his hands. After grabbing a towel for Ari, he walked into the living room, expecting to still find her on the chaise. He lifted an eyebrow when he saw her standing by the window in only her bra. “Ari?”

Ryder grabbed his underwear off the floor and put the boxers on. He frowned when she took her time turning to him. The melancholy glint in Ari’s eyes bothered him as his gaze briefly dipped to her lingerie. She’d fixed her bra to cover her glorious nipples. “Come here.”

Ari took a step, faltered, and Ryder rushed forward to catch her rigid body in his arms.

“L— Let me go.”

“Never.” Ryder held her close, disliking the sadness he’d heard in her wavering request. He brushed his lips against her temple and Ari began to tremble. She let loose a sob, followed by another and another. Ryder picked her up and carried her to the couch. He sat down, cradling Ari in his arms, prepared to wait until the storm of her pent-up emotions passed.

* * * *

With her eyes still closed, Ari stretched. She smiled sleepily beneath the warm covers then winced at the aches in pains in places she didn’t realize could be sore. Ari sought out Ryder’s body heat then opened her eyes to find herself alone in his bed.

Ari sat up and glanced around the room. “Ryder?” She waited for a response from the bathroom then sighed when she didn’t get one.

Did the man ever take a day to rest?

Ari glanced at the clock on the nightstand and saw a note with Ryder’s bold script scrawled on it. She sat up, grabbed the letter and read it.

Good morning, Songbird.

Don’t forget to do your yoga. Hold each position for at least a minute.

I have to go to California. I’ll be back by next weekend. Be good.

Ari grinned despite her disappointment as she flopped back on her pillow. Ryder had no intentions of letting her be anything but fully committed to their deal. Everything that had happened last night had cemented that fact in her brain. Ari turned her body toward Ryder’s pillow. She snatched it up, hugged it and inhaled his familiar scent. Her pulse quickened as flashes of their evening together popped into her mind.

She still couldn’t believe he’d tied her up and spanked her. Ari couldn’t think of one former lover that would’ve been bold enough to do either. Ryder had brought her to tears and an incredible orgasm she’d not soon forget. A small grin curved Ari’s lips as she recalled how closely he’d held her all night. She had wanted to curse him in one breath and cling to him with the next. The myriad of emotions and arousal she’d experienced beneath his hand had changed her forever… Ryder had changed her forever.

Ari sighed. She didn’t know what to make of the night—or of her whirlwind feelings where Ryder was concerned. Her cell chiming in the other room prompted Ari to release the pillow and get out of bed. She snatched up Ryder’s shirt, yanked it on then raced into the living room. She grabbed her purse off the coffee table and retrieved her cell, hoping it was Ryder calling. “Hello?”

“Hey, what’s up?”

“Jay?” Ari sagged her shoulders as she rubbed her eyes.

Her brother chuckled. “Don’t sound so disappointed. How are you? Haven’t heard from you in a couple days.”

“I’m good. You know, just working.”

“All work and no play?”

Ari glanced at her lime dress in a heap on the floor, her stilettos on the rug and Ryder’s tie still knotted to the top of the chaise. Evidence of play where everywhere. “Well, I’ve got a job to do.”

“All right, who is this? Please put my little sister on the phone.”

“Ha ha. Very funny.” Ari fastened the first button of Ryder’s shirt. “Don’t you work on Sundays?”

“I changed my days so I can spend my weekends with Shannon. Quality time together is tough between her crazy schedule and mine.”

“You two have a lot going on, especially with a wedding in the works.” Ari walked over to the window. She gazed at a hummingbird flitting in and out of flowers near the terrace. “I’m glad you’re finding a way to spend more time with your fiancée.”

“Yeah. Me too.”

Ari frowned when her brother remained silent a beat too long. “Jay? What’s wrong?”

Her brother blew out a breath. “It’s Red… I mean, Shannon. She’s getting antsy as her six month mammogram check-up approaches. I want to reassure her but she’s got valid reasons to be scared. Hell, I am too.”

“Oh, Jay.” Ari placed her hand on the glass as a colorful butterfly fluttered against the window pane. “I think you’re doing exactly what you’re supposed to be doing…being there for her. I know you don’t want to spout false hope in the face of the unknown.”

“That’s exactly it. Even though things have been going really well for Shannon, I can’t tell her everything is going to be all right when I’m not sure it will be.”

“I know.”

“It’s tough, but we’ll get through it.”

Ari smiled. “You will, together, as you two have been throughout this whole ordeal. You’re amazing, you know that?”

“Thanks. That’s the nicest thing you’ve said to me since I suggested you take the job at The Cove.”

“Suggested? You practically threw me on the plane.”

Jay laughed. “I don’t remember it that way.”

“Uh huh. Well, I do.” Ari fiddled with the edge of Ryder’s shirt. “It’s all good though.”

“Is it? Are you admitting that Florida’s been good for you?”

Ari briefly closed her eyes, picturing Ryder kissing and spanking her. “Maybe.”

“I’ll take it.” Jay chuckled. “Say, rumor has it Ryder might be one of the celebrity judges for that music competition show that comes on Thursday nights. Did he tell you he was thinking of taking that gig?”