The grin widens. “Oh really? This is going to be even more fun than I thought.” He glides down my body, stroking my breasts tenderly. “Now I can eat you up like I’ve been thinking about,” he murmurs, “make you come over and over again.”
He spreads my thighs, his hands gentle but firm. He takes his time, licking my inner thighs, inch by torturous inch. His tongue must be magic because everywhere it touches, I feel nothing but searing desire. It’s as though he’s branding me as his.
When he finally takes my clit in his mouth, I’m so close that I clench my hands to keep from climaxing. “You can come again,” he whispers, uncurling my hands. “You can come as many times as you want.” Our hands link as he dips his head back down…
…and I let go.
He isn’t finished. His glorious, greedy mouth keeps sending thunderclaps of pleasure through my body. My spine bows until it feels like it’s going to break, but he is merciless. I no longer know the number of times I’ve screamed his name. After a while, I can’t even do that because my brain is fried.
When he finally untangles our hands, I’m a puddle of spent flesh. The mansion could collapse on us right now, and I wouldn’t care.
Ryder gets rid of the rest of his clothes with remarkable economy and returns to bed. His cock is thick and hard, its head almost touching his belly. He positions himself between my legs until the tip is pushing slightly into my dripping, swollen pussy.
&
nbsp; His mouth is back on mine, his kiss savage but no less sweet. “My god, I love—”
My heart stops for a moment. Is he…?
A quick pause, then he continues, “I love what you do to me. I love what I can do to you. I love the way you lose yourself with pleasure with me.” His whispered words fan against my ear.
A small thread of disappointment knots around my heart. Of course he wasn’t about to say, “I love you.”
But when he cradles my face between his big, strong hands and pushes into me, while looking into my eyes, disappointment is the furthest thing from my mind. Bone-deep pleasure begins to crest, each thrust pushing me closer and closer to the peak.
The connection I feel with him leaves me breathless. My heart swells with emotion, and tears leak from the corners of my eyes. But still, I don’t look away. I spread my legs wider and welcome him into me.
When the orgasms barrel through both of us, we cry out and hold on tight, as though afraid of losing each other in a tempest sea.
Chapter Eighteen
Ryder
I clasp Paige’s naked body tightly to mine. Having her like this feels so right. This, right here, is exactly how we should be.
Her beautiful lips curve into a satisfied smile. Euphoria surges through me, knowing I’m the one who put it on her face.
I press my forehead against hers and breathe in her scent. My heart is still drumming, and I’m relieved I didn’t slip up.
I love you.
Where did that came from? It just popped into my head, rolling out of my mouth as I kissed her.
It’s better that I say nothing. I doubt she would’ve gazed back into my eyes and told me, “I love you, too.” Paige is smart and practical. She would never do something as unproductive as falling in love with a guy she’ll ditch in a year. Being with me hasn’t been easy for her, and she wouldn’t be bothering if it weren’t for what I can offer for her baby.
As I let my hand wander over her curves, I remember the ugly things people said about her and how hurt she was. I never want to see her shed tears over a bunch of assholes’ comments again. After a beat of hesitation, I say, “Paige, do you want to go overseas?”
Sleep weighs her voice until it’s languid and mellow. “You mean for the honeymoon?”
“No. Until the wedding. It might be good for us to get away from all this…pressure.”
She shifts until she can look me in the eyes. “I thought you wanted to put on a good show for everyone?”
“We don’t have to be here for that. Besides, I’m tired of being hounded… Aren’t you?”
“Oh god, yes. But…I worry about Bethany.” Small lines form around her eyes and mouth. “I can’t leave town until I know she’s okay.”
“Of course.” Paige is too sweet to abandon her stepsister, even if leaving might give her some peace.