6 - DARK HALLWAY

I walked out of the massive dining room with Damien's black credit card tucked securely into the front pocket of my jeans. My fingers traced the raised numbers on the plastic through the denim fabric. My mind raced as I thought about the tense dinner conversation.

Vanessa had glared at me the whole time I ate my dessert. I knew she would corner me later tonight to yell about the card. She hated losing control over my life, and Damien had just handed me my financial freedom on a silver platter.

Damien was a strange man, because he did not act the way I expected a billionaire to act. He watched me with a heavy stare, and he seemed to know things about me without asking. I felt a weird sense of respect for him, although his intense focus made me very uncomfortable.

I shook my head to clear my thoughts.

I felt incredibly thirsty. My throat was dry from all the nervous talking, so I needed a glass of cold water before I went up to bed.

There was a sleek intercom system mounted on the wall near the grand staircase. Vanessa told me I could use it to order anything I wanted at any hour. I refused to press the button. I did not want to summon a staff member just to fetch me a drink. I wanted to do things for myself, even if I lived in a giant mansion now.

I turned down a long corridor that I thought led back to the main kitchen.

I walked past several sitting rooms and a massive library. The house was quiet, and the silence felt very isolating. The staff had turned off most of the lights in this part of the estate for the night. Only a few dim wall sconces illuminated the path ahead. They cast long shadows across the polished hardwood floor.

My sneakers squeaked softly against the wood.

I wrapped my arms around my chest because the air conditioning was running high. The cold air gave me goosebumps, yet I kept walking deeper into the east wing.

I passed a row of heavy wooden doors that were all shut tight. I assumed they were private offices or extra guest suites. There were no signs of a kitchen anywhere.

I started to realize I was lost.

I stopped walking and looked around. I hoped to spot a familiar landmark, but nothing looked familiar. The dark wood paneling and the tall windows all blurred together in the gloom.

"Great job, Jaslyn," I muttered to myself. "You have been here for one day, and you are already wandering around in the dark."

I debated turning around. I could just go back to my bedroom and drink tap water from the bathroom sink. It would save me the trouble of exploring this creepy wing of the house.

I took a step backward, and a floorboard creaked loudly under my shoe.

The noise echoed down the empty hall.

I opened my mouth to let out a frustrated sigh. Before any sound could escape my lips, a massive hand reached out from the deep shadows to my left.

The palm clamped firmly over my mouth.

I let out a muffled shriek. A strong arm wrapped around my waist, and the person yanked me backward with a terrifying amount of force.

I stumbled on my feet. He dragged me into a dark, narrow alcove between two tall wooden bookshelves.

Pure panic surged through my veins.

I thrashed in his grip. I kicked my legs back to strike his shins, and I threw my elbow backward to hit his stomach. My elbow hit solid muscle, but the person did not flinch. My strikes did absolutely nothing to free me.

He held me tight against his broad chest to stop my frantic movements.

I sucked in a deep breath through my nose because I could not open my mouth. The scent of dark earth, pine, and fresh rain hit my senses right away.

My struggles ceased.

I knew exactly who was holding me in the dark.

It was Ryder.

I froze in place. My heart beat against my ribs so fast I thought it might break through my chest.

Ryder breathed very heavily. His chest rose and fell against my back in a fast, ragged rhythm. I felt his rapid heartbeat drumming right against my spine.

He was burning hot.

The unnatural heat radiating off his body soaked right through my sweater. He felt like a walking furnace in the cold, air-conditioned hallway. The static electricity I experienced on the front steps returned in full force. Hot sparks danced along my skin wherever his arm pressed against my waist.

The physical sensation was overwhelming, and it left me paralyzed.

I wanted to run away from him. I wanted to scream and demand he let me go. Yet a very strange, deep part of my brain wanted to lean back against his chest. I hated the confusing reaction my body had to his touch.

He did not try to hurt me, nor did he say a single word.

We stood there in the pitch black for several long seconds. I waited for him to explain why he grabbed me, but he just held me in the dark. His grip on my waist tightened just a fraction. His thumb brushed against the hem of my shirt.

The small movement sent a fresh wave of heat rushing through my blood.

Ryder finally loosened his grip on my mouth. He moved his hand away just enough so I could part my lips and take a real breath. He kept his hand hovering near my face, ensuring I would not scream for help.

I swallowed hard. My throat felt tighter than before.

He leaned down from behind me.

His face moved incredibly close to the side of my neck. I gasped when his nose brushed against the sensitive skin just under my jawline.

He inhaled a long, deep breath.

He was smelling me.

The action was terrifying. It felt invasive and deeply personal. I shivered, and my knees grew weak under his touch. I could not understand why he acted this way. He had shoved me away in absolute disgust just a few hours ago, but now he pulled me into the shadows to breathe in my scent.

He shifted his head so his lips hovered right next to my ear.

The hot air from his mouth ghosted over my skin.

"If you know what's good for you, you'll lock your fucking bedroom door at night."