“Yes. I want you two to be part of my life. You’re more important to me than I even thought possible, Heather. Both of you.”
“Ryker... wow, this is so surreal,” I whispered.
He frowned. “And you don’t want it?”
“I do. I do. I’ve just been so concerned with looking out for us... you know, just trying to protect us from being hurt, that I’m not even sure I know how to be truly happy without worrying about losing that happiness. Oh God, I’m not even making sense.” I buried my face in my hands. I wasn’t coherent. What was wrong with me?
I felt Ryker lean in, clasping his fingers around my wrists, lowering my hands.
“You are making sense, babe. And don’t worry, you’ll be so happy that you’ll just forget to be afraid. I’ll simply leave you no choice.”
He was beaming widely now. I laughed as some of that anxiety just melted away. I was so immensely happy. He wasn’t put off by my fears. He wanted to fight them alongside me.
“I know how Avery is feeling,” he said, pushing strands of my wet hair behind my ears. “My dad left when I was young. I don’t even remember him too much, honestly. But I do remember how shitty everything was for my family. How abandoned we all felt, like we were just afterthoughts. Leaving kids should be illegal.”
“Yeah, it should,” I whispered, wiggling my arms around his torso, wanting to be a little closer to him. I wanted to protect him. From what, I wasn’t sure. It wasn’t like he needed my protection anyway, but maybe I could take his mind off those unhappy memories. Yes, I could definitely do that.
“I don’t know if I can give you two something I didn’t have, or at least don’t remember. But I sure as hell want to.”
I couldn’t believe he actually doubted himself.
“I think you can do anything you want.” I looked up at him, kissing his jaw, feeling like my heart was about to explode.
“Oh, yeah?”
I nodded firmly, kissing down his neck.
“Didn’t know you held me in such high esteem.”
“I definitely do.”
“And you didn’t tell me before... why?” His teasing tone was back. Mission accomplished. I’d distracted him.
“Doesn’t quite pack the same punch if I say it repeatedly. I’ve been saving it for a special occasion.”
“I see.”
I smiled against his chest when he gripped my hips, pulling me flush against him. I continued kissing down his torso as if nothing had changed... even when he undid my towel, letting it fall to the floor. I’d discovered a new side to Ryker tonight, and honestly a new
side to me as well.
“You’re very important to me, Ryker,” I whispered against his skin, taking off his towel as well. He tilted my head up, drawing his thumb under my lower lip.
I was going to combust under his gaze. I just knew it. He pulled me back up until our lips were level.
“What are you doing to me, Heather?” he murmured. “Since I met you, I keep wanting things I never even thought about before. I imagine them down to every last detail.”
I couldn’t believe he wanted me and Avery to spend more time at his apartment, to be part of his life. I’d never felt so... precious. As if he was willing to do everything for me.
“I want you so much. All the time,” he went on. We moved to the bedroom, walking clumsily, too busy touching each other to pay much attention to our surroundings. Ryker tilted my head back, just holding me like that for a beat before sealing his lips over mine. I groaned at the primal way he claimed my mouth—passionate and demanding. He was pure fire. He skimmed his hands down my body, teasing the sides of my breasts with his thumbs before descending even lower.
Sliding his hands under my ass cheeks, he lifted me up. I groaned, digging my fingernails in his arms when my clit collided with his hard-on. He hoisted me up slowly, drawing the entire length of him across my opening, teasing my clit more and more until my legs were shaking before lowering me down so I was sitting on the edge of the bed.
***
Ryker
One taste was all it took for me to become insatiable. I just couldn’t get enough of her lips; I wanted to explore them every way imaginable. Gentle, and hard, then gentle again. I was in completely over my head. It hadn’t ever felt this intense. I pushed her hair to one side, gathering it in my fist, tilting her head so I could explore her neck all I wanted. I drew my mouth slowly over her skin, enjoying every time she caught her breath, the way the muscles in her entire body seemed to strum together as I went lower. When I reached her shoulder, I changed course, moving lower toward her breasts. I let go of her hair, looking up at her when my mouth hovered just over her nipple.