Page 128 of Ryker

“Sounds like a good life.”

Ryker huffs a laugh and looks up. “They like being in clusters.”

Well, what do you know, there they are. A bunch flutter their wings slowly on the top of a tree. “They’re a family.”

He shakes his head, as if my answer is adorable. Resting my head against his shoulder, I close my eyes and let the warm, muggy air sink into my system. Ryker keeps quiet and runs his fingers along my arm.

I’ve never felt so peaceful before. So safe and content.

That this is only hitting me now has me wanting to say a million things, but I’m not about to ruin this moment with the hauntings of my past. Besides, it doesn’t matter anymore.

Ryker kisses the top of my head. “What are you thinking?”

“Nothing.”

“Liar.”

“I don’t want to say.”

“This place has heard a lot of secrets, Tara. It’s a judgement free zone.”

I can only imagine how many things a younger Ryker has said in this space when no one was around. He’s baring his soul, bringing me here, showing me exactly why he named his club the Monarch. It’s because life is beautiful and short. And the place where you can show your true nature should be safe and lovely. Judgement free.

Or maybe I’m overthinking it.

“You don’t have to share if you really don’t want to.”

I know. “I was just thinking that this is the first time I’ve felt peace before.”

Ryker’s head lifts off mine, and he looks down at me with hard eyes. He clenches his molars.

“My mom had two other husbands before William. They were awful. It always starts out sweet and ends with them screaming at each other. Her boyfriends in between were worse. So much screaming and violence.”

“Did…” He stops and takes in a breath. “Did any of them…”

“None of them ever raised a hand to me, if that’s what you’re worried about.” He relaxes considerably. “All but Garret.” He tenses again. “Honestly, I don’t know if I blame him for hating me.”

“He should have never laid a hand on you, Tara.”

“Yeah, but I was a bitch to him.” I sound like my mother excusing Garret’s bad behavior. “Our parents got married when we were fifteen. He hated my mom because she looks a lot like his mother, who passed away a year prior to William dating my mom. I think my mom knew that because she dyed her hair dark when she started dating William and my mother’s a natural dirty blonde like me. She never dyed her hair that color before.”

“That’s…”

“Speculation,” I say, quickly. “Also a little unhinged.”

“Why does Garret take his hate for her out on you?”

“Oh, I earned it. I slept with his best friend in high school. In his bed. During a party he was throwing.”

“Damn.”

“I didn’t do it to piss him off. I was just curious and reckless and wanted to have fun. It was the first time I got spanked.”

Ryker’s brow lifts to his hairline. “How was it?”

“It was great. Too great. The harder he spanked, the louder I screamed. That caught Garret’s attention, and he barged in just as his friend came all over my face.”

He whistles.