He stepped close and touched his lips to hers, heat blazing back at him with a fiery sweetness. “Same.”
He stepped back slowly and drank in her expression, filing it away, and finally eased the door open.
Zoe tucked in behind him and slid her hand into his. It was enough. More than. He laced his fingers with hers and held tight, her confidence and sweetness completely turning him on end, fire sizzling and knocking him on his ass.
They subtly dashed back to the kitchen toward the back steps.
A wide doorway separated them from the kitchen, and Zoe slowed her walk and kept close to him. The safest route, as the other stairway would be visible and on display for anyone filtering in the foyer while the bride and groom began their exit.
One of the Halseth’s servers froze mid-drying, a towel and platter in hand, and spun around. Her long ponytail swished with the motion, and her jaw dropped at catching Zoe. The gape lifted into a knowing, teasing smile, and she nodded with approval.
Index finger over her mouth, Zoe shook her head and snorted a throaty laugh.
“You’re a crappy shield,” she hissed as they crossed the inevitable sliver of light, Zoe uselessly hiding behind him.
“Sorry I’m not six-five,” he mumbled, and flashed her a teasing look.
“I don’t date football players.” With her free hand, she pushed her hair back, an unshakable grin that was rich with self-assurance.
As soon as they rounded the landing, home free, Zoe took off running up the last stretch of steps. Ryder sprinted after her, a shock of a laugh radiating from his belly and rising through his entire body.
At the top of the stairs, she turned and wrapped her arms around his middle, diving in for a deliciously ravenous kiss.
Holy hell, he was floored. Unsteady on his feet, he pulled away long enough to open the door to the blue room. Lights from the party outside glowed in the window, the moon radiant against the dark sky, leaving the room draped in long shadows.
Zoe leaned against the door, clicking it closed, and tugged him close. Her soft moan hit him hard, her knee sliding between his legs, her hands around his shoulders, as she wrapped around him.
Not leaving room to second guess himself, knowing this was one of those once-in-a-lifetime moments he’d never forgive himself for passing on, he kissed her with nothing held back.
She slid her hands down and started working on his buttons.
He kissed down her neck, her shoulders, and—
“Shit.”
Teeth gritted tight, he froze.
“Condom,” he hissed.
Ryder’s shoulders dropped, his forehead tense, and he blinked long and hard to meet her look.
Surprise met him instead of a mirror of his aching disappointment. A laugh ready on her lush lips, the corners turned up and a gleam in her gooey brown eyes, Zoe tapped her head back against the door and looked up at the ceiling. “Dammit. I don’t suppose your mother stocks the guest rooms with… supplies?”
“No,” he grumbled, his mood quickly lightening to match her humor. “I, um… You don’t happen to have one of those Mary Poppins purses, do you?” he asked hopefully, captured in her look.
Gooey brown eyes studied him, searched his look, and she tilted her head subtly in a curious smile. “No,” she said with a laugh vibrating her voice. “Even if I did, I left my wallet in Evan’s Jeep.”
A flickering lightbulb hovered over his brain and threatened to burst if it didn’t pan out. “Hang on.” He reached into his back pocket and drew out his wallet, cringing as he lifted the leather bifold. “This may be a bust.” He didn’t even want to look. Luck hadn’t been on his side lately. Between the emergency credit card and his health insurance card, a puffy square package contained his only hope of his luck turning.
“Ooo. Emergency stash, huh? Do this often?”
“I wish.” As he drew it out, fingering it between his forefinger and middle finger, he chewed the edge of his tongue and almost laughed at the absurdity. “Trick I learned in college.” Miracle of miracles, the package wasn’t damaged, aside from worn corners from being stored so long. He squinted to read the faded expiration date. “Still good… expires next month. Thank fucking hell.”
Zoe laughed and plucked it from his fingers. “We’ve got one shot at this. Let’s make it count.”
Relief flooded through him. He grinned as he wrapped his arms around her and kissed her matching smile. “It’s been a while, and you are so damn hot, I will do my utmost to make it last… or at least make it good.”
She nipped his bottom lip and led him toward the bed.
