Take the Bride (The Knight Brothers 1.5)

He laughed. “I’m glad I just have an older brother. No sisters to worry about.”

“How is Andrew?” she asked.

“Still a workaholic. Still looking for a woman able to tolerate him.”

His lips lifted in a grin and she knew he was kidding. He’d always been able to joke about his stuffy older sibling. But they both knew it was thanks to Andrew that Ryder hadn’t just stayed home to work at his father’s business but had gotten his degrees.

“And your dad?” she asked.

“Retirement is good for him. Good for his heart. So is Elsa, his next-door neighbor in Florida, where he moved. They’re together without living together.”

She smiled. “Cute. I’m glad everyone is well in your family.”

“What about you?” he asked. “I know how your brothers are, of course, but how are you? How’s work? Are you happy?”

Her job as the head of the Social Media Division for Knight Time Technology made her happy. “I love the work. I appreciate being able to contribute to the family business by doing something I not only love but I’m good at. It’s fulfilling. And I have a good staff and friends. So my work life is great. Personally, family-wise, it’s been tough.”

“Ethan,” he said and she nodded.

“It was hard, him losing his wife that way. And when Sebastian and Ashley went to San Francisco to figure out some company issues, they ended up asking me to do some digging—and I’m the one who found out Mandy had been cheating on Ethan.” Her heart squeezed hard in her chest.

She hated that her brother was so unhappy. As the unofficial head of the family, he took care of everyone else, and he deserved more from life than he’d gotten so far.

Ryder squeezed her bare shoulder in support. “Ethan’s tough. He’ll come out on the other side.”

“Eventually, I hope,” she murmured, as she relaxed into his lap.

Ryder reached over and picked up a strawberry, its bottom covered in chocolate. “Hungry?” he asked.

“For chocolate? Always.”

He grinned and held the small piece of fruit over her mouth so she could take a bite. “Mmm,” she said as the mixed sweet and sour flavor exploded on her tongue.

“Does it taste good?”

“Mmm-hmm.”

He dipped his finger into the wineglass and ran it over her lips. She slid her tongue out and licked her mouth, catching his fingertip, too. She sucked the liquid off him, watching above her as his gaze darkened with unmistakable need. And beneath her head, his erection swelled and thickened. She felt the arousal in her own body, her breasts suddenly heavy, a slick pulsing between her thighs.

She wasn’t surprised when he tossed his hat and leaned his head down, his lips pressing hard against hers.

Chapter Four

Ryder kissed her, not caring about their awkward angle, taking in her sweet taste and wanting more. He needed to touch her, so he cupped his hand around her neck, then glided his fingers over her collarbone, feeling her delicate body beneath his hands. With a groan, he continued his exploration, dipping his fingers along the neckline of her bathing suit top, the pads grazing the swell of her breasts.

She shivered and her nipples puckered into tight buds, making his mouth water. He shifted her so she was lying on her side instead of straight out in front of him, giving him easier access to slide his hand where he wanted. And what he wanted was to touch every inch of her he could on his path down to her pussy.

He moved his hand, ignoring her breasts, another destination in mind. He splayed his hand across her stomach and she moaned, obviously enjoying it.

Mine, he thought.

Not wanting to freak her out completely, he kept the feeling to himself. When he’d gone to the church yesterday, he’d had no idea he’d be here with her today, trying to cement his place in her life. But with his hand possessively on her belly, he had a vision of her pregnant with his child. He swayed, suddenly dizzy, in shock at the course his thoughts had taken. But with everything inside him, it felt right.

She felt right, not just to the touch but to the emotions swirling inside him.

“Ryder?” she murmured. “Is everything okay?”

He glanced down at her, taking in the freckles on her nose, and grinned. “Couldn’t be better. I just like the feel of you beneath my hand.”

“Mmm,” she said, closing her eyes. “I like it, too.”

He shifted his stare to his tanned hand against her paler stomach and swallowed back a groan.

With her pleasure as his sole focus, he slipped his fingers beneath her bathing suit and she jumped in surprise.

“Shh. Let me play.” Her sex was bare, which turned him the fuck on. He ran his fingers over her pubic bone and lower still, finding her pussy wet for him.

Her eyes flew open, her gaze coming to his, a hazy sheen covering the blue, as desire took hold. “We’re outside,” she said in a husky voice.