Chapter 68 Picture Perfect
Ryker arrived at IronFangs with his erection still hard as rock and his thoughts in complete disarray.
He swung his leg off the bike the moment he crossed the territory line, boots hitting the ground harder than necessary.
The engine ticked as it cooled behind him, the sound too loud in the quiet evening. The ride home had been pure torture. Every mile had tested his restraint, his discipline, his sanity.
His body hadn’t helped.
He was painfully aware of how hard he was, how tightly he’d had to grip the handlebars just to keep his focus on the road.
The image of Lyra in the lake kept replaying in his head, her skin flushed, her breath ragged, her body trembling in his arms as she practically begged for him.
Goodness, how did he resist that?!
He could have taken her.
The truth made him hiss.
He could have pulled her closer, ignored every warning bell in his head, and ended her heat right there in the water. She’d wanted him, her body had begged, hell! She begged even.
His body had answered instantly but he knew it hadn’t been about him.
It had been about her.
About consent, about clarity, about not crossing a line she couldn’t walk back from once the fever faded.
As much as she wanted his body, he wasn't so sure she wanted his heart too. And he couldn't have another taste of her without going against his own resolve and taking her back as his wife.
And if he did, he'd have her locked in and never to be free again. And maybe, she'd hate him even more. And he didn't want that.
With a sharp breath, he yanked the key from the ignition and shoved it into his pocket. No more thinking about the lake. No more thinking about her mouth on his skin. He had work to do.
And distance to keep before he lost his mind while at it.
He crossed the front yard just as Rex was heading the opposite direction, a rope tucked under her arm.
“Hey,” he called. “Is Lyra in?”
Rex slowed, blinking at him. “I guess. She came in a while ago.” Then she frowned slightly. “Weren’t you two together?”
Ryker shrugged, forcing casual into his tone. “I was. Just a little slow behind her.”
Because I had to sit on my damn bike until I could think straight, he added silently.
Rex studied him, clearly sensing there was more, but she let it go. “We were wondering if you’d come down for patrol tonight.”
“No,” Ryker said immediately. “I need sleep. And time to think about the Titanium Pack.”
Rex sighed. “Alpha, you’re still on that?”
“Did I say anything to make you think I changed my mind?"
She shrugged. “I'm thinking a rethink wouldn't be bad. I mean, everyone thinks it's a terrible idea."
"I don't think so, and I make the rules,” he replied harshly and Rex raised her brow.
He sighed and rubbed his head. "I didn't mean it that way.”
She blinked. "It's fine. You don't need to apologize, I guess you've been through a few rough days.”
“Yes.” His voice softened. “And about the Titanium Pack, they can’t try to take Lyra and walk away without consequence. If we don’t make a statement, they’ll come again.”
“And we’ll be ready then.”
Ryker shook his head. “No. We’ll be cornered. They have the numbers and the resources. The sophistication we don’t have. Our only advantage is surprise and that can happen only if we strike first.”
Rex didn’t look convinced, but after a moment she nodded. “We trust you, Ryker. Whatever you decide, we’ll follow.”
“Thank you,” he said quietly. “I’m going to check on Lyra.”
“She’s not at the garage,” Rex replied. “So yeah. She must be inside.”
Ryker nodded once and headed toward the Royal quarters.
Every step closer made his instincts scream.
Lyra in heat was dangerous. Not because of her, but because of everyone else. Her scent alone could break even the most disciplined man. And Lyra had always been beautiful, even before everything else. Even before the vampire blood, even before death and rebirth into Irene’s body.
Now? Now she was lethal. Her skin was everything he dreamed of and her presence drove him to the brink of madness.
When he stepped inside the house, her scent hit him instantly.
His chest tightened.
The scent wasn’t subtle. It wasn’t faint. It was thick in the air, sweet and sharp all at once, wrapping around him like a physical thing. Ryker swore under his breath.
No male could walk in here and not feel it.
Moving quickly, he locked the front door and went from window to window, securing each one. He wasn’t taking chances. Not tonight.
Only then did he let out a breath and drag a hand down his face.
“I'm meeting the doctor tomorrow,” he decided. “There has to be another way.”
Sleeping with her was not an option. Not like this. Not when she was overwhelmed, confused, burning with something she didn’t fully understand. He wouldn’t take advantage of her vulnerability, even if every instinct in him demanded otherwise.
With that thought grounding him, Ryker headed toward the bathroom to shower and clear his head.
He tugged off his damp shirt as he walked, boots abandoned near the door. Steam curled out from beneath the bathroom door and he frowned slightly.
When he pushed the door open, the sight stopped him cold.
Lyra was in the tub.
The steam swirled all around her and her head was thrown back, lips parted, breath uneven. Her hands were submerged and her body tense in a way that left no doubt what she was doing.
For one long second, Ryker couldn’t move. He stared at her flush face and her wet legs trembling in the tub.
After a few long seconds, he felt guilty, standing there like a pervert.
He hadn’t meant to intrude. This wasn’t his moment to witness. He should have turned around, closed the door and given her privacy.
But the damage was done and now, he had to make her stop.
“That won’t help, Lyra,” he blurted before he could stop himself.
Her reaction was immediate.
She jerked violently, a sharp cry tearing from her throat as she climaxed and her body slipped to the bottom of the water.