I cast my eyes down, having a hard time with the intensity of the moment. “I don’t feel alone either.”
“That’s because you’re not.” He used the crook of his finger to lift my chin so I would look at him. “And I’m going to do whatever needs to be done to make sure you always feel loved and never alone.” He leaned forward and kissed me.
“I’m still in shock that you want me. I’m not an easy woman to love.”
He shrugged. “It’s not so hard for me. But I see more than you let most people see of you.”
“That’s because I’m naked,” I joked.
He laughed. “You’re glorious when you’re naked.” He leaned in and sucked on one of my nipples, immediately sending sweet erotic sensations to my pussy. “But I see you too, Katrina. Your smarts. Your courage. Your ball-busting attitude.”
I rolled my eyes.
“Your heart and loyalty, and how you stand up for those you care for. I loved how you called Earl out tonight.”
“Yeah, well, he was being a jerk. It was time someone put him in his place.”
“My hero,” he said.
We lay quietly for a moment, and I found so much comfort in listening to his heartbeat where my head lay on his chest.
“Ryder?”
“Yes.” His fingers played with the strands of my hair.
“Did you ever imagine you’d be a father?”
“Yes.”
“With me?” I lifted my head to look at him.
“Yes.”
My eyes narrowed as I studied him to see the truth of his words.
“I told you I liked you in high school. Hell, I liked you in fourth grade. If I hadn’t stolen your poem in high school, we could be married with a whole brood of kids by now.”
Married? The panic button went off in my head. I wanted to be with him. I even wanted to be married to him, eventually. But just because I was ready to jump into the unknown with him, that didn’t mean I was ready for deep water.
“Don’t get nervous,” he said. “We’ve got time. As much time as you need.”
“How do you do that?”
“Do what?” he asked, quirking a brow.
“Know what I’m thinking and feeling?”
“I see the nuance in your expressions. There’s the fear face that is about going too far too fast, to which you start to close down a bit. Then there’s the fear that you respond with by lashing out. Sometimes you’re just straight off pissed though.”
“You see all that in my face?”
He smiled. “Yes.” He rolled me under him. “I can also see when you’re annoyed and when you’re turned on.” His hand slid between my thighs and gently rubbed between my pussy lips.
I closed my eyes and enjoyed the sensation. “Are you as easily readable?”
“I don’t know.” He took my hand and brought it to his dick. “You tell me.”