I laughed as I gave Finn one last smooch before looking up at my sexy man. “Hi handsome.”
“Hi, my Lily girl.”
“I like the sound of that.” I slipped my arms around his neck.
“Me too.”
We kissed and kissed, with Finn spinning circles around our feet.
“C’mon, I’ll show you around,” Ryker said as he covered my hand with his and led me around his property. His backyard was the same as the front, gardens and potted plants galore, with a small vegetable patch off to the side. “Growing up, my mom loved to plant. She’d spend hours out here in the yard. Said it helped relieve her stress and bring her joy to watch something grow. When I was a kid, I didn’t appreciate it as much as I do now. When I no longer could take care of her, with her dementia rapidly declining, I felt like such a failure. She’d taken care of me and raised me my entire life. I couldn’t do the same for her? But after a lot of soul searching, I made the tough choice to do what was best for her. And with that came nurturing all of her gardens. I hope to raise my family here, surrounded by her love.”
I stared at the big, tall beast of a man, his soft insides on full display, and I admired him. I admired him so much. So strong and tough on the outside when, really, he was a gentle giant.
“Ryker…” I tugged on his arm until he turned to face me, his eyes wet. “You’re an amazing man, you know that?”
He said nothing but hugged me close, so much passing between us in unspoken words.
And as we feasted on a delicious dinner of beef stew and crusty bread, I somehow knew deep down in my gut, he was the man for me.
CHAPTER SIX
Ryker
One dinner turned into two,then three, and soon Lily spent most nights in my bed, the workdays a long enough time apart that by the time night rolls around, we’re desperate with need.
I couldn’t breathe as well, as easily, when we were apart, and after three weeks of her in and out of bed, I asked her to move in.
We sat on my back patio, a fire burning in the pit, the soft porch lights glowing among the dusty sky, as the stars slowly appeared. I cuddled her close into my side, with Finn at our feet, a blanket over our lap.
“It’s so peaceful out here.” Lily mused as she nuzzled closer.
“Move in with me.” I whispered the words, ignoring her own, unable to hold mine back any longer. All day I wanted to tell her.
Move in with me. Please.
I’m falling hopelessly in love with you.
Lily shifted on the seat, straightening her back and turning towards me. “What did you say?”
My arm fell away from around her shoulders and I took her hands in mine, my eyes locking onto hers. “I’m madly in love with you, Lily Roundtree. Please, move in with me. I want to wake up to your beautiful face every morning. I want to say goodnight to you every night. I want to do life with you, Lily. I’ve known it since the moment I met you.”
Tears slipped down her cheeks, and I brushed them away with my calloused thumb.
“Ryker, oh, Ryker, I love you, too. So much.”
We both leaned in at the same time, going right for each other, our lips colliding in the best way. She tasted so damn good, like she always did, and I kissed her deeply, sliding my tongue inside to dance with hers.
When we broke apart, panting and yearning, I asked her again. “Please move in with me?”
“Yes, I will. But what about Fluff? Will Finn hate her? I don’t want to disrupt anything or?—”
I cut her off with a kiss. “We’ll figure it out.”
Lily nodded and her face lit up. “I’ll get to live here. In this beautiful cabin. With you.”
Pulling her onto my lap, I brushed my hard cock against her, delighting in the shivers I caused. “Yes, baby, with me. And Finn. And Fluff. Our family.”
She smiled against my mouth. “Our family.”
