“I’ve never seen anything as beautiful as you coming apart like that,” he rasps, his fingers tracing lazy patterns on my back. “The way you…” He runs a hand down his face before pulling me tighter against him.
My cheeks get hot. “I’ve never... done that before. The squirting thing.”
His voice is smug. “I could tell.”
“Cocky much?”
“Whatever. You love it.”
Since I can’t deny it, I just huff and snuggle deeper into his arms. The sleeping bag is surprisingly comfortable, and Ryder’s body is like a furnace against the chill of the mountain air.
“Thank you for bringing me here,” I whisper. My brain fuzzes as sleep starts to take over. “For sharing this place with me.”
His breath catches. “I’ve never told anyone the whole story before. Not even Claire.”
“Why me?” I mumble.
“Because you’re different, Noia,” he says, voice dark and serious. “You have been since the moment I first laid eyes on you.”
I’m pulled from a deep,dreamless sleep by the sun filtering through the thin fabric of the tent bathing everything in a soft, golden glow. I’m still wrapped in Ryder’s arms, my head on his chest, his steady heartbeat in my ear.
I blink the sleep from my eyes.
“Morning, kitten,” Ryder murmurs, pressing a kiss to the top of my head.
“Mmm.” I stretch against him like a cat. “What time is it?”
He shifts slightly to check his watch. “Just after seven.”
“Too early,” I groan, burying my face in his neck and breathing in.
His low chuckle vibrates through my body. “Time waits for no one. Besides, we should probably head back soon.”
With a reluctant sigh, I untangle myself from his embrace and sit up with a wince.
“Sore?” he asks, a hint of smugness in his tone.
“What do you think?” I mutter. Unable to help myself, I grin.
We snack on granola bars as we pack up our gear. I’mimpressed with how efficient Ryder is, breaking down the tent and organizing everything with military precision.
The hike back to the truck is a lot easier walking downhill, though my thighs burn in a much different way than they did yesterday.
As we load the gear into the bed of the truck, I steal glances in his direction. His hair is still mussed from sleep and a day’s worth of stubble darkens his jaw, making him look rugged and impossibly handsome.
“What?” he asks, when he catches me staring.
I quickly look away. “Just... thank you for last night. For everything.”
His expression softens and he steps into me, tilting my chin up with a finger. “Trust me, the pleasure was all mine.”
We climb into the truck and head out, back down the bumpy dirt road.
“So, what’s the deal with your friend Jax?”
Ryder’s lips twitch. “You mean besides the fact he fucked Sasha in the alley behind The Brew?”
My jaw drops. “How did you know?”
