Page 79 of Selfless

I shrug as I walk over to the big bay windows. I yank the dark blue curtains open to let the sun in through the huge windows. “I will buy anything as long as I can make a profit off it.”

“So what ... you buy this house, fix it up, and then sell it?” she asks as she walks over to me and looks at the ocean through the window.

“That’s the plan,” I lie.

“May I?” she asks as she grabs the doorknob to the glass door.

“Of course.”

She opens it up to walk outside, and I follow her. The house is built in a U shape. When you walk out onto the back patio, there’s a swing, overly large couch, and a fireplace with a full-size outdoor kitchen to the right. An Olympic-size swimming pool sits in the middle with lounge chairs and tables with gray umbrellas. I look at Ashlyn, and she’s already halfway to the ocean. I run after her.

She kicks off her flip-flops and runs until her feet are in the water. The waves gently roll in one after another. I come up behind her and watch her. She has her arms out wide, and her head thrown back as she looks up at the sky. She spins around and faces me, her blond hair whipping her in the face. “How could you sell this place?” she asks in wonder. “I mean, just look at it.”

“The house is nice,” I say.

She shakes her head. “Who cares about the house! It could be a shack for all I care.” She turns, giving me her back again. “This …” She kicks her feet around in the water. “This is what I would want. The sun, the ocean. This view,” she says in awe as she looks at the blue water that seems to be endless. It makes me feel small, and for once, I don’t mind that feeling.

I kick off my shoes and remove my socks before I step into the cool water, not caring that my jeans are getting wet. I come up behind her and wrap my arms around her waist. She sighs as she leans her back into my chest. “Some things money just can’t buy, Ryder,” she says in a whisper.

That’s not the first time someone has told me that, but it’s the first time I believe it. I lean down and kiss her neck. She moans as she lifts her right hand and wraps it around the back of my neck. “Ryder …”

“Shhh,” I tell her. I bite down on her skin, and she squeals as she yanks away from me. I reach out and grab her wrist. Pulling her to me, I bend down, throwing her over my shoulder.

“Ryder.” She screams my name as she spanks my ass. I bend my knees as I pretend to drop her, and she squeals. “Ryder, you’d better not …”

This time when I bend my knees, I let myself fall into the water. I close my eyes as the saltwater splashes my face, knocking off my hat and sunglasses. She lies next to me, breathing heavy and laughing. She shoves my chest, and I roll onto my back. The water maybe a couple of inches deep. She straddles me, placing her hands on my chest, and growls. “I can’t believe you did that.”

I laugh as I reach up and push her wet blond hair back. My laughter calms as I look up at her beautiful face; the sun makes her blue eyes shine just like they did when I met her in Panama. And my heart beats faster as a soft smile spreads across her gorgeous face. “You’re so beautiful,” I say, feeling breathless. She knocks the wind out of me. That smile, those eyes, and her voice—they make me weak in the knees and make me feel invincible all at once. She’s the perfect storm, and she’s all mine.

She narrows her eyes at me. “You’re still in trouble,” she tells me.

“Promise me something,” I say as I search her face.

“What?” she asks skeptically.

“Promise me that you’ll never leave me. No matter what happens, you’ll never leave.”

She frowns. “I’m not going anywhere.”

I could never hear those words enough.

ASHLYN

I wanted to have sex in the ocean. After the way he looked up at me, I was totally ready to take the chance of getting sand in my pussy and let him take me right then and there, but we didn’t have the time. We had to get back to the house and shower and get ready for the wedding.

I find it odd that his cousin’s wedding is on a Friday night, but I guess that was the only available date for the venue they wanted. Ryder informed me that she would have got married at noon on a Monday if that was her only option. I understood the translation. The venue was very popular, and it is July fourth.

I stand in the bathroom of the mansion that reminds me more of a luxurious resort than a house. It has over twelve bedrooms, and I don’t even know how many bathrooms.

The cabinets and drawers are a dark wood with gold knobs. The countertop is a cream marble. The tile white. An old clawfoot tub sits in front of a window overlooking the ocean. I could stand here and look at it all day, but time won’t allow it.

I run my hands down the dress that I bought while Becca and I were out shopping earlier this week.

It’s dark blue. The back is longer than my front, almost reaching my ankles, and the front stops right above my knees. It has a nude color thin belt high on my waist with thick shoulder straps. It’s pretty yet comfortable. It’s the slinky material so it moves really well.

I bend down, slipping on a pair of nude wedges, and pull my blond hair over my right shoulder. I put a few bobby pins in the back to keep it there.

I walk out of the bathroom to see that Ryder isn’t in the bedroom. “Ryder?” I call out as I walk out of the bedroom and into the hallway. I call his name out a few more times as I try to find him in this maze. Ryder said it needed some work, but I don’t see where it needs anything done. It’s a beautiful home. It is fully furnished, but all the furniture is covered with plastic with the exception of the bedroom where we are staying.

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