Restrained Under His Duty (Dirty Little Secrets 3)

“That was Ryder, and he asked me to deliver you here after we left the hospital instead of taking you home.”

My heart flutters. “Oh. He did?” But that could mean anything, right?

In the land of Ryder Blackwood, no one could make assumptions. Because for the most part, I had no idea what he was thinking. I guess I kinda liked that about him. He did the unexpected, even if sometimes the unexpected wasn’t necessarily a good thing.

Mom unclips my seatbelt. “Now hurry up and go to him. I have to get back to your father.”

I lean over and kiss her cheek. “Thanks, Mom.”

“Love you,” she calls as I exit the car.

“Love you, too.” I slam the door shut.

I’m not quite sure what I’m feeling watching her drive away. In fact, ever since I woke up in the hospital, I seem calmer than I’d expect and well…a little numb, if I’m honest with myself.

Once the SUV fades away, I turn and find Ryder standing in the doorway of his house. I can’t move, barely able to breathe. He’s only wearing a pair of jeans. No socks, no shirt…God, he’s sexy as hell. Though it’s his eyes that get me, every damn time. They’re warm like usual and intense and captivating, but then there is something else there, too…determination, maybe?

Instead of standing there gawking at him, I approach and smile. “Hi.”

He gives me his drop-dead gorgeous smile and winks playfully. “I didn’t think you were ever going to get out of the SUV.”

I admit his change of mood is confusing. One second shut down and distant. Now playful and bright-eyed. Instead of focusing on what he’s said, and way too curious to find out the reason for the shift in his mood, I stop in front of him and push the conversation along. “Why am I here?”

“Because I want you to be,” he replies as he takes my hand, pulling me into his house.

The second I step inside, I find his home is a lot like him; simple, masculine, and warm. There are mostly stone walls, except for some gray-painted ones. Up top, I see a loft and imagine his bed is probably up there. But then when I look to the right, where his living room is, I find two kitchen chairs in the middle of the living room, facing each other.

They’re so out of place, I turn to Ryder and ask, “What are those for?”

He’s already walking forward, keeping his fingers tangled in mine. “Come. Sit.”

I exhale slowly and follow him to the chairs, wondering what’s up.

He gestures to a chair, and when I lower down, watching him do the same, a nervous laugh bubbles up. But in the same breath, I gasp when he spreads his legs and pulls my chair forward so my chair is right up against him.

“We’re going to talk,” he says next.

“Okay…” My heartbeat kicks up at the closeness of the conversation. There’s just nowhere else to look but right into his intense eyes as they strip me bare. “Is this how you usually talk to people?”

“With you. Yes. This is how we’ll talk from now on whenever something needs to be discussed. It’s clear. There can be no confusion, because it’s just us, sitting and talking until

we’ve talked out whatever we need to.”

It’s weird, I admit that to myself. But I guess with Ryder’s background in the military and his company, these face-to-face talks must be more normal than they are to me. I also admit they’re effective. He has my full attention. “What is it you want to discuss?”

“Tell me what you felt when you woke up to find yourself abducted.”

My lips part, and a harsh breath escapes. “Ah, I don’t know.”

Eyes intent on me, he repeats, voice hard, “Tell me what you felt when you woke up to find yourself abducted.”

I gulp. “I already said that I don’t know.”

He watches me closely a moment and then stands, taking something from his pocket. I realize it’s a black silk blindfold. I could question his motives, but for some reason that I don’t fully understand, I don’t. When he places it over my face, careful of my stitches, I stay silent. Because if there is anything between us, it’s trust, and I know I’m safe with him.

Darkness soon covers my eyes, and I hear him sit back down, my senses heightened. I hear my heartbeat and his breathing, when he asks, “Go back into your mind—what was the first thing you heard when you woke up?”

I heave a long sigh. “Ryder, why do you want me to do this?”