He hums in approval, then kisses my clit before raising his head and licking his bloody lips. “I know.”
I sputter, sounding like an idiot as my mind tries to catch up with what’s happening. He doesn’t show any signs of disgust at being covered in my blood. My core spasms as he grinds his hips into the bed. If my period disgusts him, he has a weird way of showing it.
“My tampon?” I choke out.
He smirks and glances at the trash bin beside the bed, then turns his head back toward me. His grin widens; he’s pleased with himself.
“You took it out of me while I was asleep?” It’s a dumb question, I know, but I’m in shock.
Ryder releases my leg and sits up on his knees. His erection stands proud and tall in the air, leaking pre-cum from the pierced tip. “Don’t act so innocent, sis. You had no problem sucking my cock while you thought I was asleep.”
He grabs the washcloth from the bowl of water on his nightstand and cleans his face and hands. I squeak as he grabs my hips and drags me closer to him, then lines up the head of his cock outside of my opening.
My cheeks burn from embarrassment. “How long were you?—”
Ryder’s hungry gaze flicks to my face right as he plunges inside me. I yelp at the sudden fullness and discomfort. He whimpers and holds still for a moment, allowing me time to adjust.
Ryder really does look like a dark god, blessing me with his presence. He’s bathed in shadows, but moonlight filters through the window and highlights the sharp planes of his body.
I should stop him, but I can’t, not when my heart is in control right now.
Somehow sensing where my thoughts are headed, Ryder blankets my body with his and scoops me into his arms. We groan at the same time as he pulls out until only the head stretches my entrance. Then he slams forward, burying himself to the hilt. I wrap my legs around his narrow waist and dig my heels into his ass cheeks, loving how his muscles flex with every thrust.
“When you started undressing me,” he whispers into my ear. “I heard everything.”
I squeeze my eyes shut and dig my nails into his back. My clit pulses like a heartbeat as I drag my fingernails down his shoulders, leaving behind red marks.
Ryder trails kisses along my neck and finds the sensitive spot on my throat. My toes curl, and I whimper as he nips the tender skin, then soothes the pain with his tongue. His hips slap against mine, each stroke hard yet slow, as though he wants to take his time with me.
“You’re not leaving me, Madison.” He raises his head and looks down at me with determination and a glint of anger in his eyes. “Look at me.”
He heard everything I said, and now it feels like he’s trying to force me to understand what he’s incapable of saying as hebalances over me, his hands settling beside my shoulders on the mattress. He pounds into me with punishing strokes, our flesh clapping together and filling the bedroom with wet sounds. The longer I refuse to open my eyes, the harder the headboard slams against the wall.
“Eyes on me, little sister. I want you to look at me and see the truth on my face when I tell you how much you mean to me.”
Ryder’s hand slips around my throat. Out of habit, I suck in a breath right before he squeezes the sides of my neck, cutting the blood flow to my head. My eyes fly open and I arch my back, pushing my throat into his grip. Ryder glares down at me, his pierced lips curled back in a snarl, and he lets out little grunts with every smack of his hips against mine.
Ryder’s hand squeezes tighter. “I don’t give a fuck if someone is threatening my life. You’re not ending things and running from me.”
My nails dig into his shoulders, and I stare at him.
Ryder bares his teeth. “Yeah, I went through your phone while you were asleep. You think some piece of shit threatening to kill me is gonna scare me?Baby. You don’t know me well enough, but you will in time.”
Tears sting my eyes. All I can do is take every punishing stroke of his cock as he continues choking me while pouring his heart out to me.
Ryder’s grip on my throat loosens enough for me to suck in a breath before he cuts it off again. “I’m head over heels for you. I don’t want anyone else, because you’re the air I fucking breathe. I can’t go a second without thinking about you and how you make me feel so alive. Don’t you understand? You won. You have my heart, and I can’t stand the thought of you leaving me.”
I blink up at him, unable to process his loving words.
His grip loosens, and he kisses my face, licking every stray tear breaking free. “I love how you cared about me this wholetime and never gave up, even when I pushed you away. I love your smile. Your laugh. How you scrunch your nose when someone says something you don’t like. I love how you can’t look away from me, even when you don’t realize I’m watching you, too. I love you, Madison. Even if you’re my stepsister. Some nameless asshole isn’t going to stop us from being together. Let me protect you.”
I can’t hold back the sob bubbling out of me. I loop my arms around him and drag him closer so I can bury my face in the crook of his neck. Relief floods my system, and I hang onto his promise to take care of this. I don’t want him to die, but I don’t want to leave him either. We’re too deep in this to walk away.
“Shh.” He kisses the side of my head. “It’s okay, baby. Let me love you. Let me be with you, and I’ll make you so fucking happy for the rest of our lives. I’ll find this asshole and kill him for you.”
I cup his cheeks and sniffle. He swipes away the tears underneath my eyes with his thumbs, his expression soft and full of so much love and hope.
“I want you happy too,” I say. “But I don’t want to lose you.”
