Page 87

It’s been a week since Ryder got home from the hospital, and our stitches are healing nicely. Kyle loved that fucking knife, but at least we’re here,together, and he’s in prison, rotting.

“C’mere,” I murmur, holding out a hand as Ryder walks around the bed toward me, pausing to double-check that the curtains are closed tightly.

Today has been exhausting, and I know he feels it as much as I do. We spent half the day with my family again, and my parents made sure we both knew just how much we are loved, again. They want to spend every moment with us they possibly can after everything that happened, and I do think it’s been good for Ryder to be surrounded by so much love.

Once we’re both in bed, he scoots back against me, his body fitting against mine in a way that feels so natural. His ass presses against my dick, but I’m not hard and it’s not sexual.

I don’t want to make him feel pressured to do anything he’s not ready for. I’ll let him take our physical relationship atthe pace that works for him. So far, it’s been lots of snuggles, hugs, and kisses, and it’s been perfect.

Instead, I lean in and press a gentle kiss behind his ear before whispering, “I love you, baby. I had such a good day with you.”

He scoots back even closer and lets out a big sigh. “Mmm, I love you too.”

Something in my chest aches, but it isn’t pain—it’s love. Love so deep and consuming, that I don’t know how we were ever just friends. I smile against his skin, loving this moment with him.

“Who knew we’d be so mushy when we became boyfriends?” I tease.

Ryder flips over fast, his grin so big it’s almost ridiculous. “I knew,” he says, propping himself up on his elbow, smug as hell. “I’ve seen you cry over commercials, so this isn’t exactly shocking.”

I roll my eyes. “Once. I cried over one dog commercial,” I emphasize, even though I’m pretty sure he was also wiping his eyes.

He gives me an exaggerated look. “Mhm, okay, we can say that.”

“Okay, first of all,” I say defensively, even though it’s all in good fun, “you’ve cried over plenty of things so don’t give me shit.”

“Yeah, but I’m not the one pretending to be so surprised that we’re sappy together,” he shoots back, pulling me into his arms, and I wrap mine around him even tighter.

I bark out a laugh. “Well, I like us sappy, baby. Almost as much as I like you clinging to me like this.”

“Me too,” he laughs softly. “Especially since you’re physically restraining me from escaping your arms,” he teases, buthe isn’t moving away—he’s somehow shifting even closer, his fingers brushing low over my stomach.

His gaze locks onto mine, and in that moment, I feel completely done for. His caramel-brown eyes are dark with need, and the intensity of it sends a shudder rippling down my spine. He looks at me like I’m the only thing that exists. The only thing he’s ever wanted. It’s the kind of feeling that makes me weak while simultaneously lighting up every inch of my body in anticipation.

I still wait, though. If he wants more, I want him to be the one to take the lead—and as if he can read my mind, he moves. His lips crash against mine, and there’s nothing slow or hesitant about it. Just desire and need and urgency, like he’s starving and I’m the only thing that can satisfy him. I groan into his mouth, tilting my head, drinking in every perfect sound he makes. Our kiss is all tongue and teeth and passion, his hands are everywhere they can reach.

And god, I’m more than willing to lose myself in him completely.

I’m already hard, and I can feel his erection pressing against me, before he starts grinding his hips into mine. The friction has my whole body aching for more, but I don’t push. This is whatever he wants it to be, nothing more.

But I can tell he’s just as needy as he gasps into my mouth and snaps his hips forward, like he can’t hold back. He presses his thigh between mine, thrusting his hips forward as his hand trails lower, gripping my ass with a tight squeeze that makes me moan.

We haven’t explored any anal play yet, but fuck do I want to. I groan at the thought, tipping my head back, and he takes the opportunity to mouth at my throat—licking, biting, sucking like he’s trying to mark every inch of me, and I don’twant him to stop. I’ll proudly wear him on my skin every day for the rest of my life.

“Logan, fuck, I need you,” he breathes, voice desperate.

I love him like this, all wild and needy and uninhibited. I want all of it—his want, his urgency, his craving. However he wants me, whatever he gives me—it’s always enough.

“Tell me what you need, baby,” I whisper. “I’ll give you anything you want.”

“Logan, please,” he begs, and fuck if that isn’t the hottest thing I’ve ever heard, even if he didn’t answer my question. “I don’t care if you fuck me or if I fuck you—I just need you, need more.” The desperation is evident in his tone as he rolls his hips into mine, and I want more, too. “I need it, please,” he begs, fingers digging into my ass. “I don’t want any more space between us.”

I groan, heat flaring through my body at the way he’s begging for this. For me. I’d give him anything he wants, no questions asked, but I need to be sure this is what he truly needs.

I cup his jaw, brushing my thumb along his cheek, tilting his face until our eyes meet. “Baby, are you sure? I don’t want you to feel rushed or pressured if you’re not ready,” I murmur, brushing my lips over his slowly before pulling back. “We have time. We have forever.”

His gaze burns into mine, and he leans forward to kiss me deeply. His tongue slides into my mouth as he rolls me onto my back, climbing on top of me on the bed. His weight holds me down as he rocks his hips against me again, and fuck, the friction is everything. It’s so good, I feel like I can barely breathe as I try to resist bucking my hips into him. Ry breaks away to drag his tongue down the column of my throat, and I gasp, fingers digging into his back, arching into him as helicks over my pulse point, then bites down. The sensation is so intense, yet not enough.

“I love you for checking,” he pants against my skin, his lips brushing over the mark he made. “But I’m ready. I want this. I can’t think of anything but this, Lo.”