Page 10 of Ryder (Heart River Valley: Montana Protectors #3)

Ryder

She feels perfect in my arms, all soft curves and trust as I carry her to the bedroom. The morning sun paints golden streaks across her skin, and the little sounds she makes as I kiss her neck drive me crazy.

“You sure about this?” I set her down beside the bed, needing to hear her say it.

Her answer is to pull her shirt over her head in one smooth motion. My brain short-circuits at the sight of black lace against creamy skin.

“Does that answer your question?”

“God, you’re beautiful.” I can’t stop staring, can’t believe she’s really here, really mine.

She reaches for my shirt, tugging it free. “Your turn, cowboy.”

The first touch of her hands on my bare chest nearly brings me to my knees. She explores with a baker’s precision, learning every plane and ridge until I’m shaking with need.

“Dana…” I catch her wrists gently. “If you keep that up, this’ll be over too fast.”

“Can’t have that.” Her smile is wicked as she steps back, reaching for the clasp of her bra. “Not when I have plans for you.”

The black lace hits the floor and my restraint snaps. I pull her against me, both of us groaning at the feel of skin on skin. Her nipples are hard against my chest as I claim her mouth in a kiss that’s all heat and hunger.

“Need you,” I manage between kisses. “Been dreaming about this…”

“Show me.” She arches as my hands find her breasts. “Show me how you dreamed it.”

“Tell me what you want.” I back her toward the bed, drinking in every inch of exposed skin. “Tell me how to make you feel good.”

Her eyes are dark with desire as she reaches for my belt. “I want your hands on me. Want to feel you everywhere.”

A growl rumbles in my chest as I catch her hands. “Oh, you’ll feel me. But first…”

I lay her back on the bed, taking my time to look my fill. She’s a fantasy come true, all golden skin and perfect curves. Mine. Finally mine.

“You’re staring,” she whispers.

“Can’t help it.” I trace one finger down her stomach, watching her shiver. “Been wanting this for so long. Wanting you.”

Her breath hitches as I pop the button on her jeans. “How long?”

“Since the first time I saw you covered in flour.” I slide the denim down her legs, revealing matching black lace. “Looking all sweet and sexy in that little apron.”

“That was months ago.”

“Mmhmm.” I press a kiss to her inner thigh. “Wanted to take you right there on the bakery counter.”

She gasps as I kiss higher. “Ryder…”

“Wanted to taste you.” Another kiss, another inch higher. “See if you were as sweet here as everywhere else.”

The first taste of her has me groaning against her thigh. Sweet and perfect, just like I imagined. Her fingers thread through my hair as I work her with my tongue, learning every spot that makes her gasp my name.

“Please,” she whimpers, hips rising. “Need more…”

I slide two fingers inside her, drinking in her cry of pleasure. So tight, so wet for me. The thought makes me wild.

“That’s it, sugar.” I curl my fingers, finding that spot that makes her arch. “Let me hear you.”

She comes apart on my tongue, crying out my name like a prayer. I work her through it, greedy for every tremor, every sound.

“Mine,” I growl against her sensitive flesh. “Say it.”

“Yours,” she gasps, pulling me up for a desperate kiss. “God, Ryder, please…”

Her hands go to my belt again, and this time I let her. The feel of her fingers wrapping around me nearly ends things right there.

“Need you inside me,” she breathes against my mouth. “Now.”

I catch her wrists, pinning them above her head. “Patience, sugar. Been waiting too long to rush this.” But her legs wrap around my hips, drawing me closer to where she’s hot and ready. “Haven’t we waited long enough?”

The need in her voice breaks my control. I line up and push in slowly, watching her face as she stretches around me.

“Perfect,” I grind out, fighting for control. “So damn perfect.”

She moves under me, taking me deeper. “More.”

“More what?” I withdraw slowly, then push back in deep enough to make her gasp. “Tell me what you need.”

Her nails rake down my back. “Everything. You. Harder.”

I catch her mouth in a bruising kiss, setting a pace designed to drive us both crazy. She meets every thrust, perfect and eager and mine.

“Look at me,” I demand, needing to see her face. “I want to watch you come apart for me again.”

Her eyes lock with mine, dark with desire. The trust there, the need, makes my chest tight.

“Touch me,” she pleads. “Please, Ryder…”

I slide one hand between us, finding that sweet spot that makes her cry out. Her inner muscles clench around me as I work her higher.

“That’s it,” I encourage, fighting my own release. “So beautiful like this. So perfect.” She arches, gasping my name. “Close… so close…”

“Come for me, sugar.” I change the angle, hitting deeper. “I need to feel you.”

Her release triggers mine, her body pulling me deeper as she cries out. I bury my face in her neck, groaning her name as pleasure crashes over me in waves.

We lie tangled together afterward, skin cooling in the morning air. I trace patterns on her back, unwilling to let her go even an inch.

“That was…” She presses a kiss to my chest.

“Yeah.” I pull her closer, possessive. “And we’re not done yet.”

She lifts her head, eyes sparking with interest. “No?”

“Sugar, I’ve been dreaming about you for months.” I roll us so she’s under me again. “One round isn’t going to cut it.”

Her laugh turns to a gasp as I find that spot behind her ear. “Don’t you have ranch work?”

“It’ll wait.” I kiss my way down her throat, loving how she arches into me. “Right now, you’re all mine.”

“Ryder…” But her protest melts into a moan as my hands find her breasts.

“Want to take my time with you.” I kiss lower, tasting salt on her skin. “Learn every inch. Every sound you make.”

Her fingers thread through my hair as I move down her body. “We have all day?”

“All day.” I nip at her hip, making her jump. “All night. As long as it takes to satisfy this hunger for you.”

This time when I taste her, I go slower. I savor every gasp, every tremor. Use everything I’ve learned about her body to drive her wild.

“Please,” she begs, hips rising. “I want you inside me again.”

I growl against her flesh. “Need to hear you say it first.”

“Say what?”

“Who you belong to.”

Her eyes meet mine, dark and desperate. “You, Ryder. Only you.”

Those words. “Only you.” They snap something inside me. In one smooth motion, I flip her onto her stomach.

“Up on your knees.”

She complies with a shaky breath, looking back at me over her shoulder. The sight of her like this, waiting for me, nearly undoes me.

“God, look at you.” I run my hands down her back, gripping her hips. “Perfect.”

When I push inside this time, the angle has us both crying out. Deeper this way, more intense. I set a harder rhythm, claiming her completely.

“Mine,” I growl, one hand tangled in her hair. “Say it again.”

“Yours!” She pushes back against me, taking me deeper. “Oh god, Ryder…”

I reach around to touch her, feeling her tremble. “That’s it, sugar. That’s my good girl.”

The sounds she makes drive me wild. Her desperate little whimpers every time I hit that perfect spot. I tighten my grip on her hips, pulling her back to meet each thrust.

“So good,” I grind out. “So tight for me.”

She drops to her elbows, changing the angle and making us both groan. My control snaps at the sight of her like this, completely surrendered to pleasure.

“Touch yourself,” I command, voice rough. “Want to feel you come around me.”

Her hand slides between her legs as I pick up the pace, driving into her harder. The slap of skin on skin fills the room, mixed with our harsh breathing and her increasingly desperate moans.

“Close,” she gasps. “So close…”

“That’s it.” I lean over her back, biting gently at her shoulder. “Come for me. Show me who makes you feel this good.”

She comes hard, crying out my name as her body clenches around me. The feeling of her pulsing around me, combined with the sight of her coming undone, sends me over the edge. I drive in deep one last time, holding her tight against me as pleasure rocks through both of us.

“Dana,” I groan, pressing kisses along her spine. “So perfect. So damn perfect.”

We collapse together, both trembling and breathless. I gather her close, unwilling to let go even as we catch our breath.

“You okay?” I murmur against her hair, suddenly worried I’ve been too rough.

She turns in my arms, pressing a kiss to my chest. “More than okay.” Her smile is soft and satisfied. “Though I might need help walking later.”

Pride and possession surge through me. “Good.” I pull her closer. “Because we’re not leaving this bed anytime soon.”

“But the equipment…”

“Can wait.” I silence her with a deep, lazy kiss. “Right now, you’re all mine.”

Her answering smile warms something deep in my chest. “All yours.”