Ryder set the phone down and placed his hand on his hip as the woman pulled his belt off. He looked at the ceiling. Alecia's smile must have been wide as they talked. He could picture her full ripe lips pulled tight. He should send her a dozen roses tomorrow. He looked back at the woman, cringing. He didn’t want her touching him. How could Alecia have ruined his enjoyment of women, when he didn’t even know what she looked like without clothes on? It was something that was bred into him.

Because he knew she would cry if she saw him now. He just couldn’t hurt her no matter...