Chapter 38: Chapter Thirty-Eight

Ryder sat at his assigned table, surrounded by strangers, and watched as Madison participated in the obligatory first dance with one of Will’s groomsmen. The wedding ceremony had been nice, though he hadn’t really listened to much of the vows because he’d been too busy staring at Madison.

She wore a sleek, silky black dress with a slit clear up to her thigh and heels that accentuated her already long, slender legs. Her hair was up, a few loose tendrils framing her face, and her lips glistened with a touch of gloss. The silver wrap she wore did nothing to hide the curve of her neck, and his lips tingled with the need to kiss her there, to trail his mouth down the column of her neck and across her collarbone.

He shifted in his chair and forced his thoughts away from touching and kissing her so he didn’t end up sitting here all night with a raging erection. But he couldn’t deny that she was breathtaking. And if the way the groomsman was looking at her was any indication, Ryder wasn’t the only who’d noticed how beautiful she was.

Eyes narrowed, he watched as the groomsman’s hands inched lower, settling on the small of her back, much too close to her ass. Ryder gritted his teeth. He really didn’t want to have to cause a scene by punching the asshole in the face, but if he so much as twitched a finger anywhere he shouldn’t, Ryder wouldn’t hesitate to show him the error of his ways.

Finally, the song ended, and everyone clapped. The DJ announced an open dance floor, with dinner set to be served in less than thirty minutes. Ryder was out of his seat and extending his hand to Madison before she had the chance to escape back to the head table.

“Dance with me?” he asked.

A brilliant smile spread over her face, and she took his hand. He pulled her into his arms, and they swayed to the soft, slow music. “You look amazing in this dress,” he said, his voice low at her ear.

She trembled ever so slightly, and he held her tighter. “Thank you.”

“Every guy here has been staring at you,” he said, allowing his hand to course down her back. He flattened his palm against the small of her back and pressed her closer to him. “I thought I was going to have to break that groomsman’s hands.”

Madison laughed softly, the sound seeping into him. Branding him. “I threatened to do the same thing.”

He smiled.

“I overheard Heather’s bridesmaids whispering about you. They’re taking bets about who will sleep with you first.”

Ryder pulled back so he could see her face. “You didn’t tell them I was your fiancé?”

“No.” She grinned mischievously. “Are you kidding? I totally got in on that action.”

He laughed and shook his head. “I guess I’ll have to take one for the team then, huh?” He winked, and her cheeks flushed pink. Spinning her around, he tugged her back into his arms. “Breaking women’s hearts is a thankless job.”

Madison rolled her eyes. “I think you secretly like it.”

He shrugged. “I’d break every heart in this place if it meant I’d never have to break yours.”

Her breath hitched, and she stepped out of his embrace. She’d been pulling away from him ever since she’d met with her father yesterday, and he had no idea why. When he’d asked her how things went, all she said was, “It was the same old argument.” But Ryder couldn’t shake the feeling something more had happened, something that was causing her to suddenly keep him at a distance.

“What’s wrong?” he asked.

“Nothing.” She shook her head and forced a smile. Then she stepped back up to him and ran her hands down the front of his chest. “Guess I’m just on edge being here with all these people. Family and friends I haven’t seen in years. It’s a little weird.”

“We can leave whenever you want,” he said, resting his hands on her waist.

“I’m pretty sure Heather wouldn’t be too happy if I just took off without giving my speech or staying to see her toss the bouquet.” Madison chuckled.

“I could always use my porn star voice to convince her.”

She laughed harder and attempted to nudge him away, but he tightened his hold on her. “You’re terrible, you know that?” Her eyes twinkled from brown to green, amusement coloring her tone.

“You love it,” he said.

“I do.” She sighed, and all playfulness disappeared from her expression. “Comes with the territory of loving someone so full of himself.” Before he could say anything, she leaned forward and captured his lips in a sweet kiss. “And I do love you,” she whispered.

Everything inside of Ryder froze with dread. Why did that sound so much like a goodbye? Or a weak apology right before a goodbye?

“Tell me what’s going on,” he said, holding her close. “You’ve been distant since you left yesterday morning, and now you’re acting like you’re uncomfortable to be here with me.”

“Madison!” Heather rushed over, face flushed, and yanked Madison from his arms. “Hey, Ryder. I need to steal your fiancée for a minute.”

They were gone before he could object. Raking his fingers through his hair, he blew out an unsteady breath and headed back to his table. When he reclaimed his seat, the same elderly woman from earlier smiled at him. He smiled back.

“How do you know the bride and groom?” she asked, her voice clear despite her frail appearance.

“I’m engaged to the bride’s cousin,” he said.

“So much for my brilliant plan to set you up with my granddaughter.” She laughed and patted his hand. “You’re so handsome. She would’ve eaten you right up.”

Ryder half expected her to pinch his cheeks. He gave her another polite smile and searched the grand ballroom for Madison, but she was nowhere to be found.

Unease remained his constant companion throughout the evening, and when Madison wasn’t busy with her maid-of-honor duties, she did a hell of a job making sure they were around other people. He hadn’t had a moment alone with her all day. But she’d taken the opportunity to introduce him to everyone. They sold their story so convincingly, even Ryder was starting to believe it was true. Or maybe hoped was a better description.

“I need to use the restroom,” Madison said quietly near his ear. “I’ll be right back.” She kissed his cheek, then walked away.

From the corner of his eye, he noticed Madison’s father sitting alone at a table. Ryder strode over and nodded at an empty chair. “May I?”

Mark waved his hand as if he couldn’t care less what Ryder did.

Pulling out the chair, Ryder sat. “This is a beautiful wedding. You must be proud,” Ryder said.

Lifting one shoulder in a lazy shrug, Mark lifted a nearly empty glass and drained its contents. “I truly believed the day I watched Will get married, it would be to my daughter.”

Instant anger flared in Ryder’s chest. “Yes, well, I suppose you’ll need to take that up with Will. He was the one who let Madison walk away without a fight.”

Mark hesitated only a moment before settling his hard gaze on Ryder. “And I suppose you would’ve done things differently?”

“Absolutely. I’d never let Madison go like that. Not without trying everything in my power to convince her to stay.”

“I guess we have that in common then, don’t we?” With a tight smile, Mark stood.

Ryder tilted his head. What the hell did that mean? He stood, too, refusing to let Mark walk away before Ryder had the chance to say what he’d come over here to say. “With all due respect, sir, I asked you a question the other night, and you’ve yet to give me an answer.”

“I’m going to tell you the same thing I told my daughter. You’ve already asked her to marry you, and she said yes. My answer has no bearing anymore, does it?” He raised a brow and gripped the back of the chair he’d vacated.

Ryder clenched his jaw and forced himself to calm down. “No, I guess it doesn’t, but I know having your blessing means a lot to Madison, and therefore, it means a lot to me.”

“I’ll tell you what.” Mark straightened and crossed his arms. “I made my daughter an offer yesterday. She has until Monday to decide. If she chooses you, I’ll give you my blessing. Now, if you’ll excuse me.” With a curt nod, Mark walked away.

Ryder stared after him. What offer had Madison’s father made to her? And why hadn’t she told him about it? He’d been asking how things went, and she’d blown off his concerns. At least now he sort of knew why. One way or another, he was going to get to the bottom of this, because he had a sinking feeling that when push came to shove, she wouldn’t choose him. Why should she? Because he’d been nice to her? Because they had incredible sex and have said I love you? That didn’t exactly spell happily-ever-after, especially when they still really didn’t know each other all that well.

Hours later, after Heather and Will left, and after Madison said goodbye to everyone, they headed back up to their room. The silence between them was thick and uncomfortable. He hadn’t been able to stop thinking about what her father had said and what it would mean for him and Madison.

Ryder stepped off the elevator and headed down the hall to their room. Madison followed a few steps behind. He unlocked the door and stepped aside so she could go in first. As soon as she was inside, she kicked off her heels and groaned with relief. Closing the door, he loosened his tie and yawned.

“Thank you for going to the wedding with me,” she said.

“Of course.”

She gave him a grateful smile, then reached behind her to unzip her dress. Ryder closed the distance between them in a few long strides and placed his hand over hers, stilling her. She glanced at him over her shoulder, a clear question in her eyes.

“Let me,” he said and took hold of her zipper.

He planted heated kisses across the back of her neck and shoulder as he slowly unzipped her dress. Her sharp intake of breath was all the encouragement he needed to keep going. He nipped at her earlobe, and she rewarded him with a low, throaty moan.

Madison clutched the front of her dress to her body so that it couldn’t fall to the floor. That was certainly disappointing. But then she spun around to face him, her lips crashing against his, and he tugged the silky material from her grasp.

“You are so incredibly beautiful,” he said.

“Make love to me, Ryder,” she said, her gaze pleading. “Please.”

“Don’t you dare beg me, Madison.” He lifted her off her feet, and she wrapped her legs around him. “You never have to beg me for this.” He carried her to the bed and gently laid her in the center of the mattress.

Poised above her, he lowered his head to kiss her, and she tangled her fingers in his hair. God, he loved it when she did that. Moving from her lips, he nibbled at her jaw before kissing his way down her neck, his lips lingering on her throat, savoring the feel of her rapid pulse punching against his tongue.

Madison tilted her head, her body arching against him, and she moaned again. The sound had quickly become familiar to him, and he couldn’t imagine anything sweeter. He wanted to spend the rest of his life hearing her moan for him, knowing he was the only man lucky enough to touch her, kiss her, make love to her.

For how long, though? If she took whatever offer her father made, would this trip, this weekend, be all he ever had with her? He couldn’t stand the thought of losing her when he’d only just gotten her.