“Abso-fucking-lutely.” And to prove his point of there being many more next times, he sinks down into me, the feel of his weight on top of me as heady as his kisses, and takes my mouth with gentle abandon over and over until my lips are kiss-swollen. We snuggle down and spend another hour laying tangled up together on my sofa until sleep overtakes us. Before my mind drifts away into slumber another memory slips in.
All our next times, I hear Jayson’s voice whisper in my mind.
Chapter 16
Elizabeth
The piano music that is the alarm on my phone starts playing, waking me from a deep sleep. My eyes slowly blink open and I try to stretch out my arms and legs but am prevented from doing so as they are entangled with Ryder’s. We fell asleep on my couch last night. My body starts to tingle as I remember our hotter than hell make-out session. Ryder’s bicep flexes under my neck where my head is currently resting as he begins to stir and wake up, his face snuggled down in the crook of my shoulder. The first thing I feel is his smile against my skin.
“Good morning,” he sleepily mumbles and lightly bites into my neck. My body goes from light tingle to lit firecracker in an instant.
“If you’re taking me to my MRI, we need to get up and get dressed. And breakfast,” I add, suddenly very hungry. We never did eat last night before we passed out.
“Got it,” he says, and rolls over on top of me, pressing his morning erection against my middle and I melt into the sofa cushions. He places three delicate kisses on my face – a kiss on the shell of one ear, then my nose, and lastly, my other ear, before lifting himself up and off of me. I vocally whine at the loss of his body from mine.
“Let’s go take that shower,” he suggests, holding his hand out to me.
“Together?” I ask almost too excitedly, because hell yes, do I want to see him completely naked and wet.
I’m already planning on all the dirty things I’m going to do to him in my shower, but Ryder squashes those fantasies when he laughs, “I can see the wheels turning in your brain, Elizabeth. As much as I would love to slam you up against the shower wall and ravage you, we don’t have time. It’s going to take longer than a ten-minute shower for me to do all things I want to do to you.” Knowing he’s right still doesn’t stop me from pouting.
I take his hand and then jump on his back as he carries me piggy-back to my bathroom. As we strip our clothes off, my eyes land on his chest seeing the tattoo inked right above his heart for the first time.
“Ryder, is this—” I don’t finish. My eyes heat with wonder and arousal. “May I?”
He nods.
“It’s beautiful.” I lean closer to trace the outline of the letters that spell out my name, my breath fanning over his skin. His tattoo is of a princess crown with “Elizabeth” scripted under it. Four measures of musical notes sit at the base of the crown. My brain hums the tune and realization hits me.
“Ryder, this is the song you played for me in the music room.” The song he said I wrote just for him. A rush of emotion steamrolls its way into my heart and settles, refusing to leave. I’m so in love with this amazing man.
After several minutes, Ryder turns on the shower and lifts me. He carries me bodily under the spray until we’re both slick and wet. Our shower is quick, if a bit handsy, as we both have too much fun taking turns soaping each other up. Ryder’s body is like nothing else I’ve seen; all ripped muscles, tanned skin, and those sexy cut hips that form a V arrowing down toward what I consider heaven. Even though he said no fooling around, it doesn’t stop him from fingering me again to a glorious orgasm. He drops to his knees in the shower and makes love to my butterfly tattoos with his mouth, and in doing so, Ryder’s gentle kisses heal a broken part of me.
Again, my desire to return the favor is halted when he lifts me up and carries me out of the shower, much to my numerous protestations which Ryder laughs at before shutting me up with a deep, toe-curling kiss and another promise of next times.
Once we’re dry, I throw on some clean clothes, but Ryder has to put back on the clothes he was wearing last night. The only exception is that this morning, he’s going commando. I think I drool a little bit when I watch him pull his jeans up and button them closed. We eat a quick breakfast of cold cereal and I offer him use of my toothbrush.
Packed and ready to go to the hospital, I’m standing by the front door waiting for Ryder. I check my phone to see several texts from Julien, Jayson, and of course Daniel and Drew who are checking on me knowing today’s my MRI. I reply to the two of them first and then read Julien’s and Jayson’s.
Doppelganger: Missed running with you this morning. Hope the doctor visit goes well. Have practice this afternoon so will talk to you later.
ScaryGuy: Mornings aren’t the same without you here. Let me know how the visit goes.
ScaryGuy: Was going to ask you if you wanted to do something tomorrow night.
What do I say back? Tomorrow is my date with Ryder.
Me: Going out with a girl I met in class. There’s a party Saturday that I was invited to. Why don’t you guys come with me?
ScaryGuy: Would love to. Count me in. Want me to pick you up?
Me: Can we all ride together?
ScaryGuy: We can do that. My truck is big enough for all of us. Let me text Jules, Ry, and E and I’ll text you back.
Me: Perfect.
I see the three dots on my phone indicating Jayson’s typing something. They disappear and come back several times but no text ever comes. Ryder grabs his keys and wallet then takes me in a hug.
