“Let me guess,” she sassed. Tatum filled a bowl full of chicken and dumplings, handing it to Ryder. He nodded his thanks and smiled. “One night stands with barflies around Savage Hell is more your speed,” she said. She sounded like she was accusing him of something and hell, maybe she was, but the idea of Ryder working his way through the women who hung out at the bar, hoping to land a biker, made her a little jealous. She had no right to be. Tatum had no ties to Ryder besides the hot kiss they shared in his bedroom earlier. But, thinking about him with another woman made her angry.
He didn’t act like he was going to answer her and she slashed her hands through the air. “You know what—just forget I said anything,” she said. “I overstepped and who you’re with, and for how long, isn’t my business.”
“I don’t mind really,” he said around a mouthful of food. “This is good, by the way. I was the one who started all this by asking questions about you and your brother. To answer your question, I do usually hang out with women from Savage Hell,” he admitted.
They sat and ate in silence for most of their meal and Tatum worried that she had done or said something wrong. She suddenly wasn’t hungry anymore and stood to clear her dishes and he grabbed her hand and pulled her down to his lap, not giving her time to react or protest. “Thanks for dinner,” he whispered. She watched him and felt like she was holding her breath waiting for him to make the next move. He seemed to be trying to make up his mind about what to do next with her and she almost wanted to giggle at him, but then thought better of it.
“You going to kiss me or not, Ryder?” she asked.
“Hush,” he ordered. Tatum stifled her giggle and when he shot her a look, she covered her mouth with her hands, hiding her smile.
“Sorry,” she lied.
“I’m trying to decide,” he said.
“You’re trying to decide if you want to kiss me or not?” she asked.
“No,” he breathed, “I’m trying to decide if the ass-kicking Hart’s going to give me will be worth it.”
“Oh,” Tatum breathed. She almost felt defeated. If he didn’t kiss her now, she’d have her answer to what he thought of her. He’d deem her unworthy, un-kissable, and this might be her only chance to prove to him that she was neither of those things.
“It is,” he said, sealing his mouth over hers. Tatum gasped in surprise and wrapped her arms around his neck. God, he felt so good up against her body. No man had ever kissed her the way Ryder did and she was pretty sure no man would ever measure up to him in the future. Yeah—she was good and screwed from just one kiss.