He pulled back just in time for my lips to crash into his. He didn’t hesitate, gripping under my butt and lifting me up so I could straddle him. Our kiss deepened as he walked us back to my bedroom. I wrenched myself from him long enough to peel off my shirt, exposing my red lace bra. His hooded stare, as his gaze devoured my body, nearly sent me over the edge. Thank God Jayden had picked out my clothes today. Yep, even my underwear.
Ryder carefully laid me down on the bed, before kneeling between my legs. Pulling his shirt over his head, the entire time I was mentally chanting slower, slower, slower. Okay, I actually couldn’t wait to see him naked, but the show was so freaking good that I also wanted to draw it out. When he was finally naked from the waist up, I reached out a hand and dragged it across his hard abdomen. It was perfect again now, no marks or scarring from his surgery.
And holy lord of all things sexy, Ryder was a piece of work. Tan tight skin wrapped around rock hard muscle, swirling silvery eyes and twenty-four hours of stubble—he was so fine that my insides were constricting in pure need. Ryder seemed to be enjoying my perusal, but eventually our gravity grew too strong to ignore. Our lips met again, and the taste of him was like a shot of orgasm right to my girly parts. Somehow we got naked, magically, because I don’t even remember that part happening, but I sure as hell was glad that it did.
Ryder’s lips left mine as he started to kiss down my cheek and along the ridge of my jaw. My eyes rolled back in my head as he made his way along my neck. “You are insanely beautiful,” he murmured between kisses.
Perfect. Of all the shitty relationships I’d had, and there were more than a few on that list, Ryder and I had started off the rockiest and ended up the most perfect. I never in a million years would have imagined that this scary, military, badass ash enforcer who had electrocuted me my first day at the Hive, would end up loving me like this, with just the right amount of tenderness and passion. You know what they say? Don’t judge a book by its cover? Well, I had Ryder all figured out now; all bark and the hottest bite ever. He was mine and I was keeping him.
There was no stopping us now. I had been dreaming about touching him like this for so long. As he kissed his way to my stomach he lifted his head and our eyes met.
“You okay, Charlie?” There was lust in those eyes, but also concern.
I reached out and linked my hand through his. “You treat me right, Ryder, so don’t worry. I’ll let you know if I need more time.”
A low, rumbly growl rocked his chest, and he shifted up so our faces were even again. His strong arms framed either side of my body as he lowered himself down to me. “I will never hurt you. My every need is to protect you from whatever storm is coming. Just know you are always safe with me.”
I never realized love was strong enough to actually cripple an organ, but right then it felt as if my heart was going to explode. I laced my hands behind his neck and yanked hard enough to pull his weight onto me. Our kisses were frantic as we moved past any doubts or fears. Now was time for loving. Tomorrow we would worry about the storm.
The next morning, I rolled over to see Ryder asleep on his back, one arm behind his head, sheet pulled down to his waist. I took the second to stare, because he was yum. Holy yum. Last night had brought the relief we both needed, uh twice, and hopefully moved our relationship out of the hot and cold weird zone and into the solid steady zone. Something told me I was going to be using the B-word more frequently now.
I found myself grinning like a loved-up idiot, and despite that I wanted nothing more than to go for round three, I slipped out of the bed to brush my teeth and get ready.
When I came out of the bathroom, Ryder was standing next to my bed, wearing just his unbuttoned enforcer cargo pants, looking sleepy and sexy as hell.
Uh, round three please.
“If you’re not in the bed, then I’m going to need coffee,” he grumbled.
I laughed. “Aww, are you not a morning person?”
Some of the tired faded from his eyes, and I almost blushed as he took a slow leisurely inspection of my body. “I can be if you want me to be.”
Well, hello man of my dreams. I grinned. “Go shower. I’ll make coffee with a shot of blood.”
He smiled, before prowling across to me. “Perfect,” he said as he captured my mouth in a devastatingly sexy kiss on his way into the bathroom.
I needed a few moments after that to pull myself together. And to walk without my legs collapsing. Finally able to move, I strode out into the kitchen and saw Jayden was already at the table. He was wearing a big-ass grin, coffee mug in his hands. When I got near him, he squealed before dropping his cup and flapping his overly-excited hands.
“Shh, Ryder is in the shower,” I said, snorting out my laughter at his manic expression.
Jayden leaned forward, eyes wide. “Oh my God, tell me everything.”
I rolled my eyes. “I don’t kiss and tell.”
Jayden’s face quickly turned deadly. His pointer finger came up in my face. “Bitch, I have been waiting months for this to happen. Like a soap opera, I’ve hung on every drama. You need to give me something.”
I chuckled again. He grabbed my hand and pulled me close, whispering, “Did you, ya know?”