Chapter 173

Chapter 173:

“Oh, I’m serious,” she shot back, her voice dripping with challenge. “You’re the one just standing there p>

My restraint snapped.

One second, I was staring her down, and the next, I had her pinned against the wall, my hands braced on either side of her head. Her breath came out in a sharp gasp, and her pupils blew wide, but she didn’t pull away. If anything, she leaned into me, the wicked curve of her smile daring me to take what I’d been holding back.

“You want to play games?” I growled, my lips hovering so close to her ear I could feel her shiver. “Fine. But don’t blame me when you lose p>

Her reply was a whisper, a breathless tease that sent fire shooting straight through me. “You talk a big game, Ryder. Show me what you’ve got p>

That was it.

I grabbed her hips, pulling her flush against me, and the low sound she made was like pouring gasoline on an already roaring fire. My lips crashed into hers, hard and hungry—all teeth and heat and pure, unrestrained want. She tasted like fucking heaven, sweet and sinful, and it only made me want more.

My hands slipped down to her thighs, gripping tight as I hoisted her up. Her legs wrapped around me like it was the most natural thing in the world, and the soft little gasp she let out when I ground against her sent a shudder through my whole body.

“Ryder,” she breathed, her nails digging into my shoulders.

I tore my lips from hers, panting, my voice hoarse. “Say it again p>

Her eyes met mine, dark with desire. “Ryder p>

Fuck. If she kept saying my name like that, there wouldn’t be a damn thing left of me by the time we were done. And I was perfectly fine with that.

Layla’s voice echoed in my head, sultry and unhinged.

“Damn it, Jasmine. I need him. Now p>

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I groaned, feeling the flush spread through me. Leave it to Layla to turn a perfectly intense moment into something filthy.

“Cool it, Layla,” I muttered under my breath. “We’re not desperate p>

“Speak for yourself. Have you seen him? Goddess, I could climb that man like a tree p>

I bit back a laugh, though my pulse was racing. Ryder’s gaze was locked onto mine, sharp and unrelenting. By the goddess, the tension in the room was suffocating. This wasn’t our first time, but something about this felt… final. Complete. Ryder and I, Ace and Layla.

He stalked closer, his movements slow, deliberate, until he was close enough that I could feel the heat radiating off him. His lips curled into a smirk that was equal parts smug and dangerous.

“Ryder?” I managed, my voice coming out weaker than I intended.

He tilted his head, mocking me with a slow, deliberate drawl. “That’s how you call your husband p>

Husband? My brain short-circuited. The word hit like a slap, leaving me scrambling for something—anything—to say.

“Uh…” My mouth moved, but nothing coherent came out.

And because I’m the queen of bad decisions, I waved a hand in his face like I could swat away the tension.

“Last I checked, there’s no ring, big guy p>

For a moment, I thought I’d won. His smirk faltered, and his jaw ticked. But Ryder was nothing if not relentless.

He stepped closer, the space between us vanishing. His voice dropped, low and icy. “You think a piece of metal defines us p>