“Ryder, I need you.” I panted the words. “Now.”
He brought his mouth to mine and asked, “What do you need? Tell me what you want, Brinley.” He curled his finger inside me, finding some hidden spot that left me breathless.
“You. I want you.” My hips rolled with his hand and I gripped his shoulder. “Inside me. Now.”
With that, he tugged my panties off and reached into his nightstand. I yanked his boxers down as he fished out a condom. He tore it open and slipped it on, positioned himself over me and paused.
“Now, Ryder.”
He hesitated for a second, his eyes focused on mine.
I nodded.
He pressed his lips to mine in a gentle kiss and slid into me. A moan tore free from my mouth as he filled me.
Ryder watched my reaction then pulled out and glided back in. He rocked his hips forward as I rolled under him in perfect harmony. Flawlessly synced as one. His kisses were tender and he brushed my hair back.
His eyes were locked on mine, and when I tilted my head and allowed my eyelids to drift shut, he whispered my name.
They fluttered open.
His gaze never left mine as he eased himself in and out. The sensation was intense but the look in his eyes undid me.
“Beautiful,” he said.
My throat tightened and I bit my lip. Last night had been amazing, but this…this was beyond words.
His green eyes flicked over my face, studying my lips, nose, cheeks. Like an artist with a pencil he etched my image into his memory and I did the same with his. Everything about this moment was committed to that tiny part of my mind where I stored things I never wanted to forget. Until this point, I hadn’t had many, but this one alone filled the void. And right then, I said to hell with caution, fear, uncertainty…and let it fill my heart as well.
Chapter Fourteen
Early the next morning, Ryder’s bedroom door flung open with a bang.
A man barked, “What the hell are you doing here?”
Ryder and I bolted upright and stared at the tall man in khakis and a polo standing in the doorway.
“Fuck, Jeff, close the goddamn door,” Ryder hollered.
The man glanced at me, his gaze fixed on something.
Oh my God. I was in my bra. And Jeff was very aware of that.
Ryder threw the blanket over me and clenched his jaw. “Get the fuck out.”
“You don’t talk to me like that, son.”
“I’m not your son and I’ll talk however I damn well please. Now close the goddamn door and let us get some clothes on.”
Jeff glanced at the blanket knotted in my fist against my chest.
Ryder jumped up, wearing only his boxers, and positioned himself in front of me, shielding me from view.
Jeff said, “Meet me downstairs in ten minutes. That’s an order.”
Ryder clenched his fist. “I don’t take—”
The man stepped out and slammed the door.
“Fuck,” Ryder yelled.
Mortified, I picked up my shirt and pulled it over my head, then hung my legs over the side of the bed and reached for my jeans.
“I’m sorry.” He grabbed his jeans and stepped into them.
“Is that your stepdad?”
“Yeah.” He sank down next to me on the bed. “He wasn’t supposed to be home until tonight.” He scrubbed his hands over his face then ran them through his hair. “I’m really sorry about that. I feel like such an asshole.”
“It’s not your fault. You didn’t know he’d be home early.”
“Let me talk to him and then I’ll take you back to your dorm.”
I handed him his shirt and he pulled it on.
He left the room and I tugged my jeans on. My heart still pounded from the sudden wake-up call. Well, that combined with the way Jeff had stared at me. It stirred memories better forgotten. At least Ryder had been there to shield me. I hoped Jeff didn’t give him too much hell, or vice versa. I just wanted to leave. Talk about embarrassing.
I went to the bathroom and washed my face then attempted to smooth my hair. Back in Ryder’s room, I sat on his bed and waited. Muffled voices seeped in. They grew louder and I tiptoed to the door. Leaning against it, I listened.
Ryder said something I couldn’t quite make out, then Jeff yelled, “You don’t live here anymore, son. You can’t bring girls here to screw.”
“Oh, right, because that’s your job. In fact, looked like you were enjoying the view quite nicely in there.” Ryder’s tone was strained and filled with contempt.
“Just keep your late-night fucks out of my home.”
There was a loud banging and then Ryder said, “You talk about her like that again and I’ll finish breaking everything I missed the first time.” A pounding echoed down the hall as he raced upstairs.