Chapter 27: Chapter Twenty-Seven

Ryder lay on his back, one arm tucked behind his head, the other wrapped around Madison, who was curled up next to him, her head on his chest. He drew lazy circles on her lower back, his fingers creating a comfortable rhythm against her warm skin. He’d never felt so at peace before. Even when he’d been with Amy, it had never been this easy—and things with Madison weren’t exactly easy.

“Mmm, that feels good.” She snuggled closer and draped her arm across his stomach.

But, despite his physically relaxed state, his mind wouldn’t shut off. All he could think about was what would happen next. How would things go meeting her parents? They didn’t sound all that…great. What if things went horribly wrong? Would Madison blame him? Would that affect whatever relationship they were building?

What about when they eventually returned to campus? Would she still want to be with him? Or was she just using him until she no longer needed him? The questions ran on repeat until his head ached. The shit Amy pulled on him had left a mark, and he hadn’t realized it until now just how much he was still harboring all those feelings of doubt and inadequacy. Would any woman ever truly want him for him? Or was he destined to be the good guy who got taken advantage of?

“You realize you’re going to have to meet my ex, too, right?” she said, her arm tightening around him as if she were worried he’d get up and leave her alone.

“Considering he’s the groom, I assumed as much.” He continued stroking her back, and she let out a sigh of pure contentment.

“He’s a total ass,” she said.

Ryder laughed. “He can’t be that terrible if your cousin is marrying him.”

“I suppose it’s possible he’s changed, but I doubt it.” She trailed her fingertips across his stomach, and he groaned.

His cock twitched with interest, and he mentally kicked himself for not buying two boxes of condoms. “So, tell me about him,” he said, his throat suddenly dry. He was naked in bed with the most gorgeous woman he’d ever met, and he was asking about her ex. There was something seriously wrong with him.

“In Vegas, it’s all about appearances. And not just the casino, either. The owners, their families…there’s a certain way you’re expected to act, and I never fit in. But Will…” She shook her head. “He was born for that type of life. He loves it.”

He closed his eyes, pressing his lips to her forehead, keeping them there for a moment longer than necessary.

“William Frederick Wainwright the Third. Pretentious little prick.” Her tone had become bitter. “His father owns several casinos, too, and his father was like a mentor to my dad. Naturally, Will and I spent a lot of time together growing up, and our parents always joked about us getting married someday, uniting the businesses and building a casino empire.”

Ryder flinched at the idea of her marrying someone like Will. “No wonder your stepmother was so adamant that you try to get back together with him.”

“Exactly.” She folded her hands on his chest, rested her chin on them, and glanced up at him under her long lashes. “Now you see why I lied to her about being engaged?”

He brushed a strand of hair from her forehead and tucked it behind her ear. Her eyes fluttered closed when he caressed her cheek. “Yeah, I get it.” Everything about Madison and this trip was making a lot more sense now.

“When I told Will I wanted to leave Vegas to go to college, he got mad. Said I was being stupid and impulsive, that I had everything I could ever want, so there was no need to leave.” She adjusted so her head was once again resting comfortably on his chest. “For a while, I actually considered staying. I mean, we’d been together all our lives, and had been dating seriously for three years. I knew where things were headed, and that scared the shit out of me.”

“Why?”

“Because I knew exactly what my life would be. I’d marry Will. We’d merge our family’s businesses, and I’d become a casino mogul’s wife. I’d be alone more than with my husband because he’d be too busy with work, constantly expected to attend events and charity functions. I didn’t want to be his trophy wife,” she said, her tone dropping to a whisper. “Is that totally selfish of me?”

“No,” Ryder said, squeezing her tighter to his side.

“But,” she sighed, “I couldn’t seem to let go of Will. So, I begged him to leave with me. He wasn’t very open to the idea, and he went running straight to my father.”

“You’re shitting me,” he said, shocked.

“Nope. I got into a huge fight with my dad and stepmom. They threatened to cut me off if I left.”

Ryder’s eyes widened, and his hand froze mid-stroke on her back. She obviously left or else she wouldn’t be here with him right now. “You walked away from everything?” he whispered, trying to wrap his mind around that.

She’d walked away from her parents, her home, her friends, the man she loved…an entire fortune. All because she wanted more for herself. His mind reeled with this information. He didn’t know many people who would turn their backs on that much money or status.

“Yes. When I left for college, I walked away from my parents’ money and all the conditions that came with it. I haven’t looked back, and I don’t regret it.” She inched up until her lips were poised above his. “Stupid, right?”

“Maybe a little,” he said with a teasing smirk.

She laughed and brushed her lips over his, and his heart pounded in his chest. Would he ever get enough of her?

“So, that’s why you haven’t spoken to your parents in years? Because you walked out on the family business?” If anyone understood the pressures of living up to a father’s expectations, it was him.

“That’s a big part of it.” She moved lower and showered his stomach with tiny, heated kisses, causing his body to ignite with need.

“There’s more?”

“Mm-hmm.” She dragged her mouth up and teased his nipple with her tongue.

He groaned, and his cock stiffened even more.

Her ascent continued until her lips were on his again in a tender kiss. “Despite Will ratting me out to my parents, I tried one last time to get him to go with me. He said he’d think about it. The day I was set to leave, I waited for him for hours. He never showed up. Never answered my calls or texts. I finally realized he wasn’t coming, and I knew there wasn’t anything left for me in Vegas.”

“Remind me to thank him when I meet him.” Ryder hauled her over on top of him, and she straddled him, hands propped on either side of his head.

She peered down at him with a questioning look. “You want to thank him for breaking my heart?”

“No.” He gripped her hips and held her down on his aching cock, cursing the panties that barred his entry. “I want to thank him for letting you go. If he hadn’t, you wouldn’t be here with me.”

Rolling her eyes, she failed miserably at hiding her smile. “Okay, your turn,” she said. “I just told you the story of my biggest heartbreak. You must have a story, too.”

“Do you really want to hear about this right now?” He lifted his hips, pushing his cock against her now damp panties. The feel of her, hot and wet, skyrocketed his need to sink into her yet again.

She lifted her body, and he groaned at the sudden lack of contact. “Tell me, then you can have me.” She grinned.

“Her name was Amy,” he said reluctantly. “Met her while working at the law office. We hit it off immediately, spent every moment we could together. Things got serious pretty fast, and I asked her to go to Florida with me. She said yes, and we were making plans to move together. I knew I was going to ask her to marry me.”

Madison’s eyes narrowed, and a hint of jealousy flashed across her face. “So, what happened?”

“She found out I was loaded.” He tucked both of his hands behind his head, content to let Madison take the lead with whatever happened next. “Not exactly something I could hide from her if I wanted to have a future with her. Her entire attitude changed after that. Everything was about my money, about the gifts I could buy her, the places I could take her. I didn’t want to see it at first.” He grunted at how naïve he’d been back then. “I would’ve done anything for her, given her anything she wanted. But my brothers saw her for what she was.”

“A gold digging bitch?” Madison asked, her tone all sweet innocence despite the fire in her eyes.

“Yeah. Like I said, I didn’t want to believe it, but Tanner and Xander were constantly on my ass about it. We had some pretty nasty fights about it, and then they went behind my back. They paid Amy to leave. She took their money and ran.”

Madison gasped. “Shut up. Are you serious?”

He nodded. “I was pissed at them for so long. We didn’t talk for months after that, but I eventually realized they’d done me a huge favor. She would’ve taken me for everything then moved on to the next guy. I see that now.”

“Wow.” She lowered herself back down on him, and his stomach clenched at the feel of his cock settling snuggly between her legs. “Remind me to thank your brothers when I meet them.” She gave him a mischievous grin, and he laughed.

“Yeah, and why’s that?”

“Because if they hadn’t gotten rid of her, you wouldn’t be here with me right now.”

He wrapped his arms around her and rolled them over so she was pinned beneath him. “Sounds like we should take advantage of our good luck, huh?” He lowered his mouth to hers, and the friction of their lips meeting was all it took to consume him.