Ryder
As a rule, I hate watching my own movies. It’s awkward to see myself up there, doing things that most people would never do for entertainment.
The screening room is built for comfort and has a recently upgraded surround system. The furniture inside is oversized, like we’re in a land of giants. I got the inspiration after staying at the Ritz one time in Thailand. Everything in that place looks like it was designed for elephants.
Paige hesitates, but takes the center couch, the one where we shared a pizza and made love, whispering our fantasies to each other. My blood sizzles at the memory, but I do my best to hide my reaction. Paige is skittish. I don’t have to be particularly sensitive to know that. And I want her to relax and laugh like she did in the sunroom. Her laugh is the reason why I agreed to watch the movie in the first place.
I sit next to her on the same couch. It’s so big that six more people could fit in as well. But my sister takes another one to our right. She gives me a “you owe me” look, and I answer that with a “how big of a check do you want?” look.
The movie is all slick action, with some sizzle thrown in with a hot new actress from Portugal. It’ll never get me nominated for an Oscar, but it’s great for sheer escapist fun, and I liked making it.
As the movie goes on, Paige relaxes. She gasps and laughs and yells, “No way!” when the bad guy escapes about halfway into the story despite my most valiant on-screen efforts.
I roll her hair around my finger and breathe in her sweet scent. As much as I like Mira, I want to kill her for showing up when she did and ruining the moment in the office.
Paige leans closer, and soon enough she’s cuddling by my side, her legs folded under her in that double-jointed way women have. I put my arm around her back. Her soft curves fit me perfectly, and I start wanting more than a cuddle. I skim my hand over her bare arm. She shivers, but doesn’t move away. Desire simmers in my blood, and I want to hold her and make her come the way she did before in this room. I want her legs spread, her pussy glistening, and I want to hear her scream my name and rake her nails down my back as she falls apart over and over again. I want to remind her of the kind of sharp pleasure I can give her, how much she belongs with me so she won’t ever shut me out again.
Up on screen, I get shot. A crimson blossom appears on my shirt, and the visual reminds me of Paige’s bleeding.
A small jolt runs through me. We can’t do anything more than cuddle right now. We still don’t know what caused the bleeding, and the last thing I want is to jeopardize her pregnancy. She’s already suffered so much because of me. Those memes…I’ve seen my share of ugliness, but they still stunned me.
But the counter-attack has started. I already called the editor-in-chief at Lifestyle and told him in no uncertain terms that the attacks against Paige, even if left by the users of the site, will be taken personally and I will never allow their magazine near me or my family again. I don’t have enough influence to keep my family away from Lifestyle to be honest, but the threat was enough to make the guy jump. He swore to me that what they did was against the site’s terms of service and that all their accounts will be banned immediately and the hateful comments scrubbed.
I make a mental note to talk to my team about how best to deal with the problem. I’m not having her cry again because of the assholes of the world.
Chapter Fifteen
Paige
I get up late. I don’t know if it’s the emotional exhaustion from yesterday or staying up later than I would’ve liked, but I don’t hear the alarm go off.
When my eyes finally open, it’s already nine thirty. But for some reason the room’s still really dark. Frowning, I pull the curtain back and see flat, gray clouds and sheets of rain coming down hard.
I shower and put on a conservative navy blue top and a pink skirt. Since it’s going to be wet, I put on boots. I need to hurry if I’m to make my appointment with Dr. Silverman.
“Damn. Look at that,” Ryder mutters, shaking his head, watching the weather out the window. He lowers his hand into a small bowl of shelled walnuts. A t-shirt that says I Heart My Life wraps around his big, muscular torso, and he’s in dark jeans and boots.
“Just a little rain,” I say, grabbing a green smoothie from the chef, who offers it with a smile.
“A little my ass. It’s like Noah and a bunch of animals are going to be floating by any minute.” He actually looks worried. “Maybe we should reschedule,” he says. “Or ask Dr. Silverman to stop by.”
I take a sip of the smoothie. It’s amazingly good, with a hint of mint giving it a refreshing aftertaste. “Ryder, didn’t you ever learn to drive in the rain?”
He shakes his head. “I’m a man of many talents, but not that one.”
“I see. Well, then, I’ll do it. I’m not bothered by a little water.” I start drinking the smoothie faster.
He growls. “But do we trust the idiots on the road?”
“Don’t be mean,” I tease. “I got mad skills.”
He snorts, then chuckles. “Maybe you do.”
“Come on. We’re going to be late.” I put the empty cup on the counter and start toward the foyer.
The housekeeper has already set out umbrellas. I take a bright pink one, while Ryder chooses black.
We take the Mercedes. It’s the one Ryder insisted that I drive during my shopping spree with Josephine. The pricey car was there to ensure that people didn’t gossip about me. Back then I thought he was being overly image conscious, but now I appreciate it, especially with Bethany having to take my car. It’s also a very solid vehicle, more protection against wet-weather LA drivers.