Dear Ex, I'm Dating Your Rival Hockey Star

Surprise Surprise

VICTORIA'S POV

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"Did you see his face when you showed and held me?" I can't stop laughing, can't help but feel that satisfaction blossoming through me as I think about that moment, how his eyes hardened, how shocked Jax looked.

"It was pretty priceless," Ryder chuckles, hands tucked in his pockets, smiling as if he just won a game. Step for step, we climb the stairs, my entire body feeling light after that wine, but it's my eyes that feel heavy.

"I think it's the very first time that I've seen him look so bombarded and enraged," I scoff, still smiling. My cheeks hurt from smiling so much, so long-- but it's a feeling I welcome, one I've missed. I can't recall the last time that I laughed so much.

"Not an angry man at home them?" Ryder slowly nods, as if that were a good thing-- and perhaps it was a good thing that Jax had a place to take out all of his frustrations on the ice, but it always kind of felt like he took everything to the ice. "He wasn't much of anything at home," Also because he was rarely ever there when I was. Was it perhaps a sign? Did I just misread everything in our entire relationship?

"What do you mean?" Ryder asks, standing a little closer than before. His beautiful eyes are dim and so filled with emotion that it's overwhelming to try and read. He truly is a master piece. Why haven't I noticed it before? How come I've only seen it now?

"I don't know," I nervously laugh al though my chest feels a little too tight. I can't just blurt that my husband was emotionally unavailable and I've only realized it now. That would sound like I'm just stupid. I catch Ryder's curious glance, a look that makes me want to just look at the floor and nothing else ever again. I was stupid, and blind.

"How do you not know what you mean?" A question that puts me on the spot, highlighting me like a camera displaying on the big screens for the entire arena to see. I can feel my face burning with embarrassment, my tongue suddenly feeling a little tied up, as if my entire body was fighting the idea to give him the truthful answer. What really pisses me off is the fact that it feels like the buzz of the wine was slowly fading, soberness crawling closer on an unwanted line.

Shrugging, I quicken my steps, not noticeably, but enough to make a difference on when we're reaching the apartment. It's faster than expected, because we're at my door, but Ryder doesn't come near it. He lingers near the wall, smiling softly, just staring at me. Having little to no shame of the state of my empty apartment, I unlock the door, turning to face him, "Do you want to come in?" I ask, trying to search my brain for a clue if I have any wine in my apartment. Ryder remains wary from where he stands, head tilting as he contemplates whether or not to take me up on my offer.

"If I take up your offer, will you tell me one thing I'm good at?" A flush of nerves rip through me, attacking my chest with little kicks and stomps of protest.

"From what topic would you like to hear?" I can't help but grin at him when his lips press together in a firm, shy smile, his tongue wetting his bottom lip. "Perhaps we should wait for the bedroom topic, since you haven't experienced the entire show," He says, taking one small step towards me, but it's big enough to make me look up at him, to see his intentions, and it's like looking into a mirror.

I lightly kick open my door, still looking at him, "Then let me have a product inspection, right now." It's like the entire city became ablaze as his chest rose on a silent inhale of breath, because the next second, he's walking me into my apartment, closing the door as we walk nearly chest to chest. One wrong move and he'll step on my toes, one simple mishap and I'll go tumbling down, but staring into his eyes, I know that won't happen, because I trust him. I've always trusted him, from jumping into lakes and rivers off cliffs and bridges to helping me prepare for my finals when I struggled.

He's the guy who took me home and tucked me into bed when I was so drunk that I couldn't feel my face. Right about now, I just can't feel my feet, and that's enough to tell me that I am still fine, that I can make safe, sound choices-- and what is safer than Ryder Kane?

"What are you doing to me, Tori?" he groans, voice low and gruff, as if this little space between us will be the reason he's going to loose his damn mind. He pulls his tie loose while I kick off my heels, and I'm not sure where the hell I dropped my purse, but I'm too fixated on the way his suit jacket curls off his strong, muscular arms, revealing a soft fitted shirt with not even one wrinkle in it. The white material hugs the right places, sitting loose around the others, and my brain feels like it's having a seizure as I stare at him with awe.

"It depends what you're about to do to me, Kane." I purr, our dance never ending. I've never felt something like this for him before, and whether it be the alcohol or the right choices finally showing up in my life, I don't know. All I care about right now is this, the heat that has my panties soaked. "Lots of things, Devereaux," He grinds out. My retreat is cut off when the back of my knees hit the couch, but I barely have any time to even look at Ryder before he's upon me, grabbing my face with both hands.

"Teasing aside," He breathes heavily, "Tell me to stop right now and I go, Victoria." In all his seriousness, I can't seem to breathe right as his oh so blue eyes flit between mine, as if he were searching for that no, or perhaps he's trying to ward the word away from my thoughts.

With ease, and unknown confidence, I brush my hand up his forearm, my fingers curling around his wrist and I lead his arm down, my hand moving up his wrist until I have a comfy hold. Lifting my leg, I put my foot on the couch, bringing his hand right onto my thigh, "The door automatically locks," I tell him, indicating that he's not going anywhere. His hand that remained on my face moved to my neck, and back to my nape, fingers twining into my hair from below. My head tilts back with his lead, and he dips his face to my neck, nose brushing along my jaw.

"Say yes then," He urges, squeezing my thigh. The sensation of my thigh being squeezed and the warmth of his breath on my ear has my eyes fluttering shut.

"Yes," I moan, a coldness creeping over me when he lets go of my hair, but before a sound of protest could tumble from my lips, I feel his hands. He pushes my dress up to my waist, lowering onto his knees and he stares at me-- bare and smooth, he stares at my s*x, wide eyed and a little breathless.

Clicking his tongue, his gaze lifts to mine, heat swirling in his eyes, "Did you have plans all along, Tori?" He rasps, as if in surprise.

"Check your jacket pocket," I grin, and watch with satisfaction as his eyebrows draw together with curiosity. I drop my leg, my dress falling and I plop down onto the couch, crossing one knee over the other. "Go look," I grin, winking at him.

Ryder stares at me, lips sucking into his mouth, eyes lined with trouble as if he were doubting whether or not this would continue if he got up.

"I'll wait," I smile, and he glances back towards where his jacket is discarded, shoulders stiff. "The longer I wait, the longer it's gonna take, Kane," I tut, chiming each word tauntingly. Ryder sighs, "Don't you dare move," He points a finger at me, and his eyes are filled with undiluted joy. I nod, watching him warily walk over to his suit jacket, sticking his hand into one pocket, and then the other, and I can see the exact moment his fingers brush against the lace, because his eyebrows raise, and he stares at me surprised.

"How? When?" He asks flabbergasted, eyes shimmering. I bark out a laugh, one that rips from the inside of my stomach.

"In the car. News flash, I wasn't fixing my shoe," I shrug, and his tongue flicks over his bottom lip, eyes burning. Without a word, he drops his jacket and stalks towards me with precision of a hunter.

"You haughty little vixen," He purrs deeply.