Ryder wasn’t just a snapshot in Lucas’s life. He was the way Luc wanted the story of his life to unfold. Lucas sucked in a deep breath and slipped his hand further around the muscular thigh, fingertips teasing along the inner seam. Mirroring Ryder’s quick smile, he turned back to the window. The night wasn’t over yet.
Chapter 22
Ryder
Ryder’s key turned in the lock just as Ritz woofed a low greeting from the inside of the apartment. The dog scampered to the door as they stepped in, his tail wagging wildly until Lucas bent to scratch him around the ears.
“Come on, Ritz. Backyard time,” Ryder said, kicking off his boots and crossing to the back door. He slid it open so Ritz would bound out into the cold night, nails tapping across the shoveled patio before he faded into the shadows.
The soft thunk of Lucas’s boots on the floor sounded a few seconds before he wrapped his arms around Ryder’s body. One hand slid over his chest to cover his heart, and the other settled low on the waistband of his jeans. His fingers dipped inside, sowarm after being tucked in gloves for the ride home, and spread even more heat down to his rapidly hardening cock.
Ryder leaned one hand against the doorframe and sucked in a deep breath. “Ritz!” he called out. “Get in here.” Even in the freezing late-night air, the dog would sniff around for half an hour if he let him. That night, he had no patience for it. As Lucas’s fingers crept lower, brushing over the thin cotton of his boxer briefs, he desperately wanted to hurry things along.
The dog trotted back inside, gave them a quick sniff, and stared up expectantly. “Time for bed, Ritzy,” Ryder said. He eased away from the embrace and turned enough to get his own arm around Luc’s body. Luckily, Ritz listened and headed for his cushy bed by the wall.
Hands roaming up Lucas’s chest, Ryder leaned in and claimed the sweet mouth he’d been thinking about all night. Their lips pressed and lifted, then opened to welcome more heat. Luc tasted like beer, but Ryder figured he did, too. Nothing was going to stop him from enjoying everything the man promised with his heated looks and teasing touches on the ride home.
Ryder kissed him with a mixture of hunger and relief as they stumbled to the bedroom. Luc’s sweater landed on the floor with a thump near the bathroom. Ry’s t-shirt disappeared somewhere behind him. Buttons loosened and zippers eased downward before they made it to the bedroom. He pushed the door closed with one foot to make sure they weren’t interrupted, and then crowded Lucas up against the wall.
The kisses came slower, deeper, only stopping for seconds to pull off Luc’s shirt and to catch their breath. Long fingers roamed through the hair on his belly and chest, and when they found Ryder’s nipple with a quick pinch and rub, he surged forward, his cock hard against Lucas’s hip. “Fuck,” he growled, pressing his mouth to Luc’s jawline. “Do that again.”
Luc caught his eye and smiled for a second before pushing back and bending to suck one of the tan peaks into his mouth. He nibbled and laved his tongue across it, sending more spikes of hot pleasure downward.
It was too much and not enough. Never enough with this man. Ryder grabbed Luc around the waist and nearly picked him up to cross the small room and press him down on the mattress. He slid his jeans and boxers off in one quick move before putting one knee on the bed and leaning over to get his man naked, too.
They’d done this before. Quick handjobs when Ryder was on call, blowjobs against the wall without even getting undressed when they couldn’t wait another moment, and more. Every time felt like perfection, every single touch like a snapshot that somehow showed everything between them.
“I need to be inside you, babe,” Ryder said, already digging lube and a condom out of the nightstand. “I want to feel you wrapped around me and make you mine.”Always.The word danced through his mind as he flipped the lid and poured some of the slick over his fingers.
Luc pulled his knees back, open and eager, his pretty lips panting as he reached for Ryder. He nodded. “Please, Ry. I need you.”
One finger slid in easily, eliciting a deep moan of satisfaction and hunger. He slid it in and out, knuckle deep, before adding a second. Lucas was so responsive, so vocal every time they came together. Hot and hard or soft and tender, this was more than sex. Ryder worked his hole, scissoring his fingers and stretching him so good. “You ready for me, babe?”
“Yes, please. I want to feel you deep.”
With a quick kiss and a fumble for the condom, Ryder lined up and eased forward. The head of his hard cock popped through the ring of muscle, and the surge of heat and pressure made it impossible to stop. One thick shoulder under Luc’s leg, he lethis body weight carry him forward and into the tight, hot, slick embrace of his lover’s body.
They moved together like magic, somehow finding the perfect rhythm without any trial and error. Ryder angled his hips, pushing back on Luc’s thighs more in order to find that special spot inside.
One more thrust, and Luc nearly jackknifed off the pillow. “There! Oh fuck, Ryder, right there.” His fingers scrabbled over Ryder’s chest to rub and pinch one hard nipple. The other hand wrapped his own dick with a tight squeeze and a long, slow pull.
Muscles surging and breath coming hot, Ryder sped up his thrusts, pounding against Lucas’s prostate again and again. His passion surged every time Luc cried out, and he teetered on the edge of coming far too quickly.
He had no will to slow down or hold back, however. There was no way to withstand what this man did to him bone deep. “Luc, I can’t hold on. I’m—”
“Come with me, Ryder. Now.” His neck arched as the hand on his cock sped up for a few more brutal strokes before he erupted. Long ribbons of white shot out over his abs.
Ryder lost his own rhythm at the sight, and he thrust deep as he let go, filling the condom, and gritting his teeth to stop the howl that threatened to escape. He grunted loudly, trembling against the firm press of Luc’s thighs against his shoulders, and then carefully eased back and out.
When they were finally sated, they lay tangled in the sheets, bodies warm and sticky. Ryder heaved himself out of bed to fetch a wet cloth to clean them up, tossed it toward the door, and rolled over. One thick arm stretched over Lucas and drew him closer to his chest. He pressed a kiss to his boyfriend’s shoulder, then buried his face against his neck. The only sound was their breath as it slowed as they drifted toward sleep.
Always. The word filled Ryder’s mind and heart. He wasn’t going to wait any longer.
***
Sunlight streaked across the ceiling of Ryder’s bedroom the way it always did at that time of year. Ritz nudged the bedroom door once, then let out a low woof, as if confused why he wasn’t allowed in to snuggle like usual. Ryder tipped his head to take in the beautiful sight of a sleeping Lucas next to him. One arm was tucked under the pillow, and the long line of his back lay exposed to the cool air. Ryder eased the blanket over him and got out of bed.
“Morning, Ritzy,” he muttered as he opened the door. Whatever quiet and calm he wanted to hold on to for Luc’s sake disappeared as the silly dog barged in and made a beeline for the bed. He jumped up, snuffled around Lucas’s head, and then burrowed under the blankets alongside his body. “You’re a menace,” Ryder said.
