Chapter Ten

"T his felt like a date," Ryker said after Marshal pulled into the garage and parked.

Marshal shot him an irritated look. "It wasn't a date."

"My ass, it wasn't." Ryker ticked off his fingers. "Dinner, the Ridge, ice cream, jewelry." The slice of silver slipped down his wrist when he lifted his hand.

"That wasn't dinner," Marshal mumbled as if afraid to mention the bracelet.

"Then what was it?"

"Fast food."

Ryker snorted and climbed over the seat; he didn't stop until he had parked his ass on Marshal's lap. It was a tight fit, but the way the man had put the seat all the way back to drive helped.

Ryker knew he was taking a chance here, but he'd seen the flash of desire in Marshal's eyes up on the Ridge and again in the ice cream shop, and he wanted to test a theory he had—something was keeping Marshal from giving in to his desires and if he could figure out what it was, then just maybe he could break through the man's iron control.

"Ryker."

The low, growly tone sent a shiver up his spine and when the man's hands gripped at each side of his hips, Ryker felt the fingers flex as if Marshal was unable to help himself.

That was exactly what he wanted. He wanted Marshal unable to resist this thing between them.

"We've been heading down this road for a long time." He steadily held Marshal's eyes and nothing seemed to be able to break their locked gazes until he flicked his tongue out to wet his dry lips.

Those steely blue eyes dropped to lock with laser focus on his mouth.

"Don't you want to at least have a taste?" He breathed the words out with a whisper and cleaved his teeth into his bottom lip.

With a groan, Marshal's hand suddenly cupped the back of his head and their parted lips were hotly fused together.

Taking advantage of the man's momentary weakness, Ryker bit at Marshal's mouth hungrily, fully expecting him to break away.

Only Marshal did not. The kiss deepened when the man's tongue swept between his lips, stealing his breath away. Marshal's hand tightened on the back of his head, keeping him still as his mouth was taken. The kiss was possessive and he felt branded and relished beneath the onslaught.

Marshal could have all of him.

Moaning into the kiss, Ryker caressed his tongue against Marshal's and cleaved his fingers into the man's thick hair.

Knuckles rapped on the window and Ryker almost had a heart attack, scrambling off of Marshal's lap. He toppled into the passenger seat and gasped for breath. Marshal shoved the driver's door open and stepped out.

Closing the car door, Ryker was engulfed in silence for a few seconds before he heard Tanner asking about the incident of Chad losing his tail.

He laughed and pressed a hand to his chest to calm his breathing. It wasn't like anyone could see through the tinted windows into his sports car.

So, nobody really would know that they'd kissed, but he would. He would remember this moment for the rest of his life. He'd finally kissed Marshal Thomas.

And he wanted more.

Sliding out the passenger side door, he found Marshal standing with his back to the car. Tanner had returned inside. Ryker approached Marshal from behind and laid a gentle hand on the man's back.

Marshal abruptly stepped away.

"Don't do that again."

The man's growling tone sent his heart plunging and he squeezed his hands into fists at his sides.

"Why not?"

"Because I don't think of you…like that."

The words stung, but he responded quickly. "Your mouth sure the hell felt like you do."

"Don't overthink it. It was just a kiss and not a very good one."

Ryker could help the offended gasp from escaping and when he tried to get around Marshal to get a look at the guy's face, the bodyguard blocked him.

When a firm hand clamped around his arm, Ryker was marched through the back door. It was snapped closed, but Marshal hadn't joined him.

"Fine!" he snarled, stalking through the house.

If that was the way Marshal wanted it, then so be it. He could ignore the kiss—that supposedly wasn't all that good— and ignore Marshal too.

The jerk.

His eyes burned, but he refused to let the asshole's words affect him to the point of crying. He hadn't shed real tears since he was little.

"This is war, you prick." He felt better calling Marshal names and continued doing so all the way to his rooms.

Thunking his head against the wall in the garage, Marshal released the breath he was holding.

He hadn't meant one single word of the hurtful words he'd said to Ryker, but if they got the man to forget about the kiss, then so be it.

He just had to stay focused and then he'd be out of there. Find the threat on Ryker and then he could walk away, just like he had last time.

Things had been okay after he'd left. He'd made a point of checking on the Langstons often and from what he could tell, Ryker had been keeping out of his father's business.

And that was a very good thing.

As long as Ryker continued being in the dark, Marshal could find some peace when he walked away.

This time, though, he would sell his property and leave the country. Perhaps going abroad would save him from temptation.

Those thoughts were born out of desperation and would never come to fruition because as much as he wanted to escape, he would never part with his home.

He rubbed his fingers on his lips, remembering the feel of Ryker's mouth beneath his and if things had been different, then he would have taken Ryker up on his offer a long time ago.

Only, things weren't different and there was nothing he could do to change that.