Meadow’s POV:
I didn’t know whether to consider it a coincidence that ric had my favorite flowers nted in a fucking garden in his home.
I didn’t know if I even wanted it to be a coincidence. I mean, I already knew that he’d stalked me before he ever met me. Or before I ever met him, rather.
He obviously knew I could touch him, which was why he went through all this trouble of getting a ring that was customized just for me and getting clothes in my size…
And surprisingly, it didn’t freak me out like it was supposed to. That was what fucking scared me.
“If you’re done watching me, could you go back inside and leave me alone?”
He’d been watching me for a while. At first, I hadn’t noticed, but then, I’d felt it. That prickly feeling that someone was watching your every move.
Only, it didn’t feel uneasy. Excitement hummed through my veins, and warmth pooled at the bottom of
my stomach.
I liked that he was watching.
I liked that he had been watching me even before I knew who he was.
I heard the sound of his heavy footsteps as they approached me, but I didn’t turn back. I just folded my
arms across my body. I was still wearing his t–shirt, and it was slightly chilly outside.
Or maybe it was just his presence that caused goosebumps to spread across my bare arms.
“You’re upset,” ric said, like he was only stating a fact.
“Okay, great,” I muttered. “Anything else you’re noticing today?”
I knew I didn’t have the right to be upset about the fact that he wanted to have a private conversation with his brother. That was why, even though I was curious, I could understand it.
So that wasn’t the reason I was upset.
It was the way he’d dismissed me without even looking at me. ‘Leave us. Now.‘
I had no problem with being spoken to like that when we were alone. In fact, I liked that he was assertive. But this was different. I’d been spoken to that way multiple times by my parents, so much so that I was
used to it.
But at the end of the day, it was still a bit traumatic. I didn’t want ric being dismissive with me.
His woody, musky scent flooded my nostrils as he stopped beside me, and I couldn’t help inhaling deeply.
God, he smelled so good.
ric didn’t say anything at first. He just stood there, breathing slowly and steadily like he was trying to
remain in control.
“I shouldn’t have dismissed you like that,” he finally said. His voice was low and deep, and it sent shivers down my spine.
That was it.
No: ‘Why are you so mad?‘ Or ‘I didn’t do anything, Meadow, I just don’t get why you’re upset.‘
Just… ‘I shouldn’t have dismissed you.‘
Then again, ric wasn’t Tyler. And Tyler? He wasn’t even up to a quarter of the man ric was.
“Is that all you did?” I murmured, biting my lip to keep from smiling. I still wasn’t looking at him.
Beside me, ric chuckled. “I should’vee back to bedst night, especially since I was the one who
asked you to sleep in my room.”
I swallowed.
“Will you look at me now?” he asked, and I could feel his gaze on me.
Shaking my head, I replied. “You still haven’t apologized.”
“Look at me and I will.”
My heart stuttered.
That was a dare. He didn’t think I could do it.
But I proved him wrong, even though I had to stop breathing to be able to muster the courage.
Slowly, I turned to face him. He still had on the t–shirt and shorts, his beautiful tattoos swirling around
his arm as it flexed. ric smirked at me and my gaze dropped to his lips.
He reached for me, hand going to the nape of my neck instantly as he pulled me close.
God, I loved it when he did that.
“I’m sorry,” he rasped, face inches from mine.
“Why didn’t youe backst night?”
“I don’t think you want to know the answer to that, Meadow.” Amusementced his voice.
I bit down on my bottom lip, feeling something throb inside me. “Try me.”
ric’s eyes darted to my mouth, and his other hand snaked around my waist, pulling me even closer against him while his tattooed hand remained on my neck.
Like he was staking his im, even though there was nobody here.
He scraped his teeth along his bottom lip, leaning in closer until his lips grazed my ear, breath fanning
across my skin.
And then-
“Seeing you bent over my desk like that was a disaster waiting to happen, Meadow,<i>” </i>he rasped. “You made me so fucking hard, I wanted to bury myself so deep inside you that you’d cry out loud enough for
the whole damn world to hear.”
A sound tore from my throat. One I didn’t even know existed, because fuck, that was hot.
“ric-“I gasped as he pulled me even harder against him, and then, I felt it.
The bulge of his erection pressing against my stomach.
He kissed my neck. “I wouldn’t have been able to control myself, Meadow. And you’re not ready for that.
You’re not ready for me to ruin you. Not yet.”
<b>I </b>frowned. “Why do you keep saying I’m not ready, ric? I was the one who asked you to take my virginity, remember-”
<b>“</b>Yes, because you see it as a burden,<i>” </i>he replied firmly.
I looked away, trying to lie through my teeth. “I don’t-”
“What did I say about lying to me, Meadow?” ric cut in. “Does your ass not hurt enough yet from the strokes I gave youst night, or do you need more?”
And then, as if he was driving his point home, he yanked the t–shirt up and spanked my ass so hard, I
yelped.
ric hummed. “That’s what I thought.”
Then he nodded toward the house. “Come on in. I’ll make you something before I head out for work. Mel’s
noting in today.”
I froze. “You’ll make me something?”
He smirked. “I’m not that bad a cook, Meadow. Don’t worry, you’re safe with me.”
A giggle escaped before I could stop it, but I cleared my throat to cover it. “Is your brother…”
“He already left,” ric provided, steering me toward the house. “But we’re going to see him again soon because we’re going out this weekend.”
Huh.
I guess we were going to his mother’s party, which meant-
“And you’re going to meet my mother for the first time.”
Oh, crap.