It’s not clear when the kissing deepens, but at one point, it does. There’s less concern about being couth, our bodies gently rolling like we’re just trying to get closer. I want to be full of him. And I want to kiss him the whole time…
Is that what making love would feel like? Where an orgasm is the furthest thing from my mind?
Maybe because I don’t even want it for me. I just want to see him need me that badly, for him to say sweet things while no one else in the world exists. And then give him everything he needs in return.
He touches my neck, very gently gripping the front of it as he smoothly slides his tongue against mine. Ryder deeply inhales through his nose as his other hand slides upwards underneath my back, tangling his hand through my hair.
I slowly moan into his mouth, and it sounds different. It sounds enamored.
The grip on my neck tightens. My hands slide all over his skin—
We freeze when we hear the sound of the front door shutting. I laugh into the kiss, although I’m absolutely high on whatever infatuation I feel for this man.
We just look at each other, lightly panting with swollen lips. There’s something gentle in those eyes, the expression only for me. I hope he sees something similar reflecting in mine.
“We should probably get dressed,” he says with a roughened voice.
“Yeah, you distracted me,” I quip.
He laughs, and it’s so warm and genuine, crinkling his eyes, and he kisses me one more time before getting off of me. The hand around my neck slides down between my breasts as he pulls away. I sigh with satisfaction—I could watch that man all day.
He laughs and asks, “Admiring your view?”
“Was just thinking I’d probably never get tired of watching you walk around naked.”
“That definitely sounds like something I’d say,” he says, cleaning up in the bathroom before exiting.
I’m close behind and leave the door open when he goes to dress, cleaning the absolute mess of me. I consider that I’m perhaps a little crazy for being turned on at the thought of leakinghim. “Yeah, well, it’s what you get for”—I pause, not sure what we classify as— “being with someone who co-runs an MMA gym. Been around too many men. Now I talk like one.”
“Yeah, well, don’t fucking lose that. I like the shit out of it.”
I also begin to dress, and it’shisturn to admire me. We both become alert when a door on this floor shakes, but it seems like it’s just reverberating movements from the footsteps above.
Ryder snickers, shaking his head. “Got PTSD from Andrew always busting in.”
My heart sinks, just ever so, knowing I have a whole mountain to climb with him.
But it feels different now, my heart telling me to push back. Can I really back away from Ryder for six more months? I’ve basically just fallen in love with him.
“I look forward to whenever that drama is over,” I say, fastening my bra.
He looks me over like he’s going to say more, but drops whatever was there as he puts his jacket on. “Well, I really like you, Jules, so I’ll deal with whatever.”
My heart can’t expand any more than it already does as I watch him near me to kiss my forehead. Staring at his neck, I mutter, “Yeah… me too.”
For now, everything is good. Life is good. Ryder is basically mine, he’s moving forward in Warlord, and I’ve got a new home.
I’ll ignore all the added stress for this weekend, so I can finally live in the moment.
H E A T H E R
* * *
Shitty Philly cheesesteaksare the worst, but I power through it. I’m not one to back away from a challenge, no matter how big or small.
“So…” Dune Legends begins, taking a bite of his sandwich, the two of us sitting in my car. I told him I had some good gossip to share, and it was worth getting a sandwich to chat over. “You think Joey and Julie got a thing going on?”
“Oh, definitely,” I say, furrowing my brows as I nod, leaning an arm on the car door.
