The Ritual

The lights flash, making it hard to focus on anything. So, I close my eyes and drop my hands, running them over my hips, moving my head from side to side, letting my hair slap my face. I can feel the bass thumping through my body. The bright lights are warming up my skin.

Someone comes up behind me, and rough denim pushes against the back of my thighs. Then a set of hands grabs my waist before falling to my hips. Instead of pushing them away, I hold them and pull them around to my front, knowing exactly who it is. Ryat doesn’t know how to stay away. I lean back on him, laying my head on his chest, eyes still closed.

His hand sprawls across my exposed stomach, his other trails up my body. He wraps it around my neck, and I whimper. My ass grinds on his hard cock in his jeans.

Bending down, he nibbles on my ear, and I groan. “Fuck, yes.”

My pulse is racing, and my head is spinning. I’ve already had so much to drink before we even got here. I just want to let go, feel the music, the vibrations, and the sweat that covers my body. It’s all so much.

His hand squeezes, taking away my air for a quick second, and my underwear grows wet. My lips part, unable to breathe. Maybe he’ll knock me out. When he loosens his grip, I feel an overwhelming rush of disappointment.

Lifting his hand just a bit, he moves from my neck to my chin. His free hand dips lower and up under my dress. “Yes.” I moan. “Please …”

“You’re in so much trouble,” he growls in my ear, making me shiver.

“Punish me,” I tell him, my hands coming up and reaching behind me to grip his hair. He hisses in my ear when I pull on it.

I don’t even care at this point. Matt can’t do shit right now. Ryat has made that very clear—no one will touch me. No one will hear me. He owns me for now. And I’m going to revel in it.

“Be careful what you ask for, little one.” He kisses down to my neck, where he bites it.

I gasp, my hips pushing forward, feeling his fingers very close to my pussy. I’m so wet that my thong is soaked. The song changes to “Sick Like Me” by In This Moment, and he spins me around, his hands on my hips stopping me from turning too far.

Moving his hand to cup my face, he pushes the hair out of my eyes and rubs his thumb over my parted lips while our hips grind. I stick my tongue out and wrap it around his finger, pulling it into my mouth.

His eyes darken under the flashing fluorescent lights, and I feel a growl from his chest vibrate mine. I close my eyes and suck on his finger as his other hand goes to the back of my neck. Gripping my hair, he yanks my head back, his thumb popping loose from my lips. He lowers his lips to my neck and kisses my skin.

“Ryat …” I whimper, digging my nails into his shirt. Is this my punishment? Dancing? Teasing? “I want you.” I moan, my lower stomach grinding on his hard dick. “Fuck.” My hands go to his belt, but he pulls back, grabbing my wrists to stop me.

He looks over my shoulder and nods once. I’m guessing to signal to Gunner. Then he grabs my hand and drags me off the dance floor. My drunken legs can’t keep up in my six-inch heels. He takes me to the coat check at the entrance and gets my purse, keys, and phone for me. Guess I didn’t have to text him a pic from the bathroom after all.

Grabbing my hand once again, he leads me out the back, and we walk toward his car. I’m stumbling, my vision blurry. I blink, but it doesn’t do any good. “Did you … did you drug me?” I ask as he brings me to the passenger door. He and Gunner had bought us drinks. I wouldn’t put it past them to slip something into them.

He pushes my back into the door, coming to stand between my legs. He grips my chin and forces me to look up at him. “No,” he answers, his green eyes searching my face. When they find mine, he gives me a devious smirk that lights up his gorgeous face even in the dim parking lot. “I want you to be awake and remember every little thing I do to you tonight.”

I whimper, my thighs tightening.

“Starting now.” He spins me around to face the passenger car door, pressing my exposed stomach to the cold metal, making me shiver. He yanks my hands behind my back, and my ears still ring from the loud music inside, so I don’t hear the handcuffs before they wrap around each wrist. And just like before, he secures them extra tight.