Their Game, Her Ruin

Chapter 5

Autumn

“No,” I say immediately. “This is stupid.”

I turn for the door and yank on it, but it won’t open.

My stomach drops as I tug again. “Who locked it?”

Brielle jingles something behind me. I turn slowly to find her holding the key, dangling it between her fingers.

“Let me out,” I hiss.

Jaxon’s voice cuts through the tension like ice. “Just let her go, Brielle. I would rather not look at her anymore.”

A laugh bubbles out of Brielle’s throat. “Not until she fulfills her dare.”

“Brielle, I said let her—” Jaxon’s voice cut sharply through the circle, his tone laced with frustration, but he didn’t get the chance to finish.

“Don’t be such a buzzkill, Jaxon.” Brielle rolls her eyes dramatically, a sly grin tugging at her lips as she leans forward slightly. “It’s just a game. If she doesn’t want to kiss Ryker, I’ll spin it again. No big deal.” Her tone is light, but there is something hostile in her gaze as she stares at me for her boyfriend scolding her. The room seems to hang on her words, the tension crackling like static electricity in the air.

I can feel the heat of every gaze in the room boring into me. My chest tightens. My throat feels dry. “I—” My voice falters as I try to speak. “I don’t—” But before I can protest properly, movement across the room catches my eye.

Ryker growls abruptly, his chair scraping loudly against the wooden floor as he stands. The sound makes everyone flinch, silencing whispers and giggles in an instant. He moves toward me and my eyes widen in horror. His expression is unreadable, his jaw set in a hard line. My stomach twists with unease.

I instinctively take a step back as he closes the distance between us, my heartbeat thumping in my ears. Then another step back, my shoulders brushing against the cool plaster of the wall behind me. Nowhere left to go.

“Don’t,” I blurt shakily, my voice barely above a whisper. My hands came up in front of me as though that could stop him. But then his presence hits me when he unleashes his alpha aura—a suffocating force that pins me in place. He isn’t just standing close; it feels like he is everywhere at once, overwhelming every sense.

His hand moves fast, too fast for me to react. One strong arm snakes around my waist, yanking me against him. The other hand curls firmly around the back of my neck, his fingers tangling in my hair holding me in place. His grip is firm but not painful.

And then he kisses me.

The world tilts on its axis as his mouth crashes against mine with brutal force. The laughter and teasing whistles from the others fade into a dull hum. His lips are rough and demanding, moving against mine like he has something to prove. My hands press against his firm chest instinctively, trying to push him away, but it is like shoving against a brick wall.

The wall behind me bites coldly into my back as he pins me there, his body crowding mine until there is no space left between us. A growl escapes him, his teeth biting the soft flesh of my lips making me whimper. I struggle against him, hot tears burning my eyes when his grip shifts. His hand moves from my waist to my jawline, tilting my face more upward. His thumb presses firmly against my chin, coaxing my lips apart even as I try to keep them tightly shut. A gasp escapes before I can stop it—a small sound of surprise and Ryker seizes the moment.

His tongue sweeps into my mouth without hesitation, claiming territory that isn’t freely given. It brushes against mine with bold confidence as though daring me to respond. When I remain frozen in shock, he bites down on my lower lip—not hard enough to break skin but sharp enough to make me jump.

A jolt of pain shoots through me, snapping me out of the haze for just a moment. “Stop,” I try again breathlessly, though it comes out more like a plea than an order as I squirm against him.