Taunting Destiny by Amelia Hutchins

shirt and pulled him close to my face. “You sure you don't want a taste?” I licked my lips and watched his eyes lower to my full mouth. “Just a little one?” I was teasing him, and he knew it.
    “ Tempting, Flower, but you won't find me losing my neck just for a kiss—it would have to be much more for me to take that leap.”
    I pushed him away , just in time to feel Ryder's eyes on my skin. I turned to catch him watching me with murder in his gaze. “Trying to catch flies with all that honey, Pet?”
    “ Just getting in some practice for when this brand comes off.”
    “ Is that so?” he challenged, stepping closer to Ristan, the threat visibly clear.
    I glared at him. “Blame me, Ryder, not the ones I’m trying to catch.”
    “ Make no mistake, Synthia, I will blame all the guilty parties involved,” he challenged me, crossing his arms over his chest.
    Ryder's amber eyes scanned my face as if to say this wasn’t over , and he was right. He didn't own me, and he damn well wasn’t going to tell me who I could fuck if he planned on going all caveman every time I didn’t swoon at his feet. I was adapting to the best of my abilities.
    I smirked at him, knowing he'd witnessed my display of teasing Ristan.
    “Fucking try me, little girl. Just fucking try me,” he growled, as the rattling noise started deep inside his chest. I blinked, seeing something shining from deep inside his eyes, as if something, besides the man, was staring back at me.
    “ Should I get on my knees and beg, Ryder? Would that please you?” I asked, feeling sweat bead on the back of my neck. I didn’t know why I was trying to antagonize him. Only that I was, and I couldn’t seem to stop myself.
    “ I promise to make you beg, later. In the meantime, try keeping that fucking snarky mouth to yourself, Pet,” he growled in warning.
    “ Make me,” I shot back.
    When Ryder got pissed , I could see something beneath his cool façade. He was always in control—except around me. And I wanted to know what it was he was hiding. He moved in closer, the rattle intensifying. “You don’t want to challenge me. I like to win. I like to play games, just so I can win.”
    I shivered and pulled away from him. “Promises, promises, Ryder.” I turned to meet his men's shocked faces.  “What?” I barked, fed up with the testosterone level in the mansion.
    “ We are gathering and meeting your Guild at the Darklands,” Ryder said, holding out his hand for me.
    “ I can sift by myself!” I snapped.
    What the hell was wrong with me? I was irritated , and my skin felt on fire.  I blinked and shook my head, and ended up throwing out my arms and holding onto Ryder for support as I lost my balance. He scanned my face and narrowed his eyes on me. “What's wrong, Syn?”
    “ I'm fine. Just a little dizzy. It’s probably from not eating today.”
    “ Sift then,” he said, stepping back, while everyone in the room watched us. I closed my eyes and imagined his club, but my mind latched onto Ryder and I didn’t move. I waited for the weightless feeling I'd experienced in his shower, when I'd sifted to him before. Nothing happened. I snorted and shook my head and tried again.
    This time the weightlessness came and I smiled , until I hit something hard and bounced off of it to the sounds of laughter and snorts. I opened my eyes and looked up from where I sat on the floor of the foyer—at his feet. “I sifted,” I said proud of myself, even if I had only sifted to Ryder.
    “ That's twice in one day you landed at my feet, Synthia. I think I preferred the first time in my shower,” Ryder replied wickedly, watching me as his words brought heat to my cheeks.
    Adrian gave an angry grumble next to Vlad, who was quick to check his attitude. “That’s enough, Adrian.”
    I swallowed past the pinch of regret and looked up to Ryder , who had held his hand out. I slapped it away and got to my feet, closing my eyes. I sifted again and, this time, the