Page 79

“In-inside me,” Ada stammered.

“Fuck,” I grunted. Ada’s eyes started to roll back, so I reached my hand around her and gripped her chin. “Eyes on me, Ada.” Her brown eyes snapped forward. “I want your eyes on me when I fill you up.”

Ada’s body went rigid, and I felt the walls of her pussy squeeze around me. Both of us were careening toward the edge, and I pounded into her recklessly. We were lost in a sea of sighs and moans.

Our bodies shook and went still as both of us hit our peak.

—

A little while later, Ada and I were wrapped up in each other on the couch. I had one of my hands in her hair and was massaging her scalp. Her eyelids were at half-mast.

“Mmmm,” Ada sighed. “Did you say something about dinner?”

I chuckled. “Glad to see your brain’s still working. I’ll get it.” I untangled myself from her and stood from the couch to grab the bag off the floor.

When I looked back at Ada, my heart did the wild horses thing again.

She looked warm and satisfied. I felt something primaland possessive in my chest knowing that I was the one who made her feel that way.

When I walked back to her, I set the bag next to her on the couch, knelt in front of her, and put my head in her lap. She stroked my hair.

“Ada…” I started. My heart was pounding, and my feelings were climbing up the base of my throat.

“What’s up, cowboy?” she asked.

“I’m going to tell you something.” My head was still on her lap. I knew if I didn’t say something, I’d regret it. Because I knew that I’d rather wait for Ada Hart than be with anyone else.

“Okay…” Ada’s voice sounded worried.

I took a deep breath and lifted my head so I could look at her dark and soulful eyes. “I’m not going to say what I want to say because I know you’re not here yet, but I want you to know that I’m here. And that I’m waiting.”

Her eyes searched my face, and I could see her fighting her impulse to run. That was a good sign—that she was fighting it.

I put my head back on her lap, giving her room to breathe. She started stroking my head again. “Okay,” she whispered. It was the best response I could’ve gotten, and it made my heart swell.

“Okay,” I responded.

Chapter 28

Ada

Today was the day. Baby Blue was going to make her debut, and I was trying—and failing—to be cool. I always got a little nervous when I showed a finished project, but this one felt different.

Itwasdifferent.

This project was important to me. It was my way out of California and a springboard into my career. But it was also much bigger than me.

Baby Blue was a part of a family. It was a dream come true for the man I…liked. A lot. The man who told me he felt something big for me and was willing to wait for me to get there too.

I couldn’t tell him that I was already there.

Because if I was there, that meant that I could stay here, and staying here scared the hell out of me.

I knew if I stayed here that I would never leave. I could almost see it. Wes and I would redo one of the little houses on his part of the property. We would listen to vinyl records on Sunday mornings, and he would draw while I foundsomething to do with my hands. I’d sit with Loretta while he played fetch with Waylon. On the second of June every year, we would go to the Big House and be a part of Ryder Day.

I would never have to wonder what it was like to be loved, because Weston Ryder would love me all the way.

I shook myself out of that train of thought. I could not spiral—not today. I splashed water from the bathroom sink on my face. I grabbed a washcloth from the cabinet to dry it.