7. Berkley

After my nap, okay, fine, it wasn't a nap, more like a three-hour snooze fest. Between the high emotions, the two shots of coconut rum, and then my overdue orgasm, it knocked me the hell out. Now I'm up and starving. "I could really go for a cheeseburger, French fries, and a mint chocolate chip milkshake."

I pull my phone out, knowing I'm going to order this to be delivered. Thank you, Grubhub, for me not having to leave my house, which means I can call my girl gang. I no sooner place my order on my phone and put it down before it starts ringing.

"Who the hell," I breathe out, recognizing the number that's displayed on the screen to be from a certain handsome man who stormed into my life earlier today. I only wish I had time to talk to the girls before he called.

"Hello." I put the phone on speaker, waiting to see what he'll say.

"Sugar." It's one word, something that shouldn't cause my whole body to shiver, yet it does. His voice sounds like he's been smoking, deep and with a huskiness to it, except I didn't smell any signs of cigarettes on him.

"Ryder. Sugar? Really?" I'm shocked he's called, and so early. It throws me for a loop. I know he and Sienna had plans. I assumed if Ryder called, it would be later this evening, if not tomorrow.

"The way you smell, Berkley, like spun sugar. Can't wait to taste you and see just how sweet you are." My legs clench together without a thought.

"Ryder," I moan out his name this time.

"I'm already addicted to hearing my name coming from your lips." The desire in my body builds, and I moan my response.

"Fuck, I knew when I had you in my sights again, you'd be perfect for me, and now that I do, there's a damn phone between us," Ryder states.

"You could always come over?" I question, but more like offer to see what he'll say. I'm sure if the girls were here, they'd either say ‘Hell yes' or ‘Fuck no'. Rowen and Aspen would be on the ‘Get it, girl' side, while Peyton, God love her, she would be like ‘Are you crazy? He could be this, he could do that.'

"If you want me there, I'm there. Don't think this is just some passing bullshit either. I set my eyes on you the moment you weren't almost dying in front of me. Having my hands on your body, it felt like coming home, Berkley. You're exactly what I want."

"But we barely know each other," I question even though I know exactly what he means. I felt it that first time we met, and there's no doubt about feeling it today.

"We'll get to know each other, and as much as it pains me to say this, I'm not coming over tonight," he states. As much as it sucks, he's right. Even if it kills me not to let myself have wandering thoughts, and of course, like a crazy person, I know I'll never stop.

"You're right, ugh. It sucks to even say that out loud. Are you sure we can't see each other tomorrow?" I probably sound like a forward type of woman.

"Something tells me I won't be hearing those words out of your mouth too often. I have to work tomorrow night, but if you want, you can come and join me on my dinner break. I'll cook us dinner. It won't be much, but it's what we've got." His voice is deep and gravelly.

"You have to quit talking," I blabber.

"What, why?" He laughs.

"My scent might do something to you, but dear God, your voice, Ryder…" I am who I am. Sure, I'm calm and collected at school, I have to be, especially for the children, who I love, no matter what. But when I'm done with school for the day, I turn that part of myself off and let the real me shine. The me that is wild, crazy, loves to have fun, and live carefree comes out.

"Yeah? What does it do?" I'm so screwed, literally and figuratively.

"You're seriously trying to kill me, aren't you?" I try to redirect.

"Maybe. We'll come back to that later." As soon as he says that, there's a knock on my door.

"Hold on, Ryder, I'm going to grab my food from the delivery guy." I'm at the front door within a few steps, giving the teenage boy a tip, grabbing my food, and returning to where I placed my phone on the counter.

"Okay, I'm back." I set the food out on the counter, diving into it.

"Remind me not to get in the way of your food." He's definitely making fun of me, but I don't care at all.

"I haven't eaten since lunch, and your niece wasn't wrong when she said the school lunch was garbage. It really is. If I hadn't slept through my alarm this morning, I would have packed my own lunch." The ruffling of noise can surely be heard, not to mention me slurping down my shake and shoving a fry in my mouth.

"Go eat, sugar. I'll text you tomorrow and let you know what time I take my break." I guess I probably should have gotten off the phone with him before I started eating, but I wasn't kidding when I said I was starving.

"Let me know. I don't have any plans. Well, except maybe a FaceTime call with my cousins, but we do that whenever all of our schedules mesh." I take another bite of a fry, my eyes roaming over to my cheeseburger every few seconds.

"Later, sugar. Enjoy your food, and we'll chat soon."

"Oh, I will, don't you worry about that." This time, it's me who lets out a moan, and he mutters, "Christ, I can't wait for that to be me in your mouth or my hands on you while you make that noise."

"Bye, Ryder." I have a smile on my face because I know exactly how he feels. I know B.O.B. will be getting a lot of use tonight.

I hear the click of the line, hit end, and devour my food before I make the phone call to my girl gang.