Ryker rushed over and cupped Wes’s face,leaning in and sealing their lips in a kiss that was urgent andsweet and so fierce that they both trembled.The kiss went on andon, their lips and tongues tangling together in their need to getas close as physically possible, to claim each other in the mostprimal way.Wes ran his hands up Ryker’s back, across his neck, andover Ryker’s hands, joining them and gripping tightly.Ryker took adeep breath.The familiarscentsof saltand citrus hit him, and he pulled back slightly, looking deep intoWes’s eyes and seeing the undeniable love mirrored back at him.
“I love you,” Ryker said for the first timeas he took Wes’s lips again, nipping gently, then pouringeverything he had into the kiss.“I’m sorry I had a freak-outmoment.I love you and want to be with you, and I promise I’m allin,” he murmured, his eyes filling up with the surge of emotion hecould not control.
Wes smiled even wider as his eyes roamedRyker’s face.“I love you, too.So much, Ry.Fuck, we’ve only beenapart a short period of time and it feels like years.Don’t shut meout again.Please, love.”
Ry whispered his reply: “No, never.”
They stood together tightly, shaking andcrying and kissing.Ryker was ready and so was his heart.
****
Wes
His man was here, and Wes was never lettinghim go.
When Ryker walked out of the galley andcalled to him, Wes felt his heart stop.And then he turned around,and the impact of Ryker’s presence was just as powerful as thefirst time they’d met.Ryker was wearing his usual black outfit,this time with a leather jacket.His long hair was loose, tumblingover his shoulders in dark, silky waves that were begging for Wes’stouch.But it was those big blue eyes, the ones that had called tohim from the very beginning, that were Wes’s undoing.He could seethe love shining in them before Ryker uttered the words.
And when they kissed, fuck, what a kiss.Ryker’s rough beard sparked the sensitive nerves around Wes’smouth, and his spicy flavor was warm and sensuous.He tasted likethe only kiss Wes craved, and he would never get enough.
After their mutual declarations of love,Ryker motioned to the couch.Ryker poured two glasses of champagneand handed one to Wes.
“I know we have a lot to talk about, butfirst, a toast.To our amazing, unexpected partnership—the bestgift I never saw coming.To us, love,” Ryker murmured and leanedforward to kiss him.
“To us, sweetheart,” Wes repeated as theyclinked their glasses together.
“As you probably guessed by know, Luca had ahand in planning this surprise,” Ryker said as he settled on thecouch beside Wes, draping his arm over the back of the sofa andaround Wes’s shoulders.“The boat ride was my idea, but Luca madeit happen.That man is scary organized.”Ryker laughed as he sippedthe champagne.
“Yes, he is.Remind me to give him a bonus,”Wes said.
Ryker paused and took a deep breath.“I’msorry for pulling back on you.I got overwhelmed for a while.First, the phone call with your ex, and then reporters hounded meafter you left, and I just needed some time to myself.”
“I’m sorry, Ry.I can’t say for sure thatthe press won’t be an issue.I don’t want to spend my life in afishbowl anymore, but there will still be events and publicappearances.”
“I know.After I calmed down, I was able tosee that our relationship will mean big changes for both of us.Some may be difficult to navigate, but many of them will be great.And I want them all.I’m ready for them.”Ryker leaned in andrubbed his nose into Wes’s hair.
“I’m ready for them, too.I still can’tbelieve you’re here.”
“Believe it, love.So, the one question thatremains is, did you manage to get rid of your nasty ex?I don’twant to spoil the mood, but we should probably talk about it,”Ryker said.
“I got rid of him.For now.But his lawyerbailed him out.I filed a restraining order yesterday.Kieran is amanipulative asshole, so there’s no telling what he might do.”
“Tell me about that night in Portland.Whathappened?”
“Keiran showed up at the dinner I wasattending.I kicked him out, but he followed me back to my hotel.He bribed an employee to let him into my room.He just needs money.Once he finds a new sugar daddy, he’ll go away, but fuck, what acrazy mess.”
Ryker massaged Wes’s shoulders, releasingthe tension there.“I’m sorry you had to go through that.He soundslike a piece of work.Do you mind if I ask how you met and whathappened between you?”
“We met three and a half years ago.I wasattending a restaurant opening, and he was working as a waiter.Hewas young and hot, and latched on to my every word, so of course Iwas flattered.And he told me he wanted to be a writer and asked ifI could help him.Stupid me, I believed him.”He shook hishead.
“One month later, he moved in with me, andthen the real Kieran Moore appeared.He quit his job but didn’tlook for another one, and there was always some excuse why hecouldn’t find work.He ran up huge credit card debts, which I’d payoff.We’d be at parties and he would disappear, and then I’d findout he was fucking one person or another.But I thought I lovedhim, so I forgave him.
“Anyway, the final straw came when I noticedsome of my personal journals missing a few months later.He’dcontacted the tabloids to sell select content in return for a tidysum.I heard him on the phone when I came home early one day, so Ithrew him out of the house.Because of our very busy social life,he was quick to find another rich man to sucker.That’s his MO.”Wes sighed.
“And then you swore off relationships,”Ryker murmured, moving his hands up to Wes’s neck and scalp,rubbing and touching softly as Wes moaned his appreciation.
“Yup.Until I met this hot, moody author whorocked my world.”Wes turned and was met with the beauty of Ryker’sbiggest smile, so potent it made Wes’s breath catch.Would italways have that effect on him?
Ryker leaned forward and kissed him again,obliterating all thoughts, worries, and fears.Wes didn’t want tothink, or talk about, Kieran anymore.The past was over.It wastime to focus on the future.
