Page 16 of Ryder

“Three,” she mutters, though I don’t think she would have so readily responded if she weren’t dizzy.

I like her this way, so I flatten my palms on her back and kiss her again, enjoying the way she melts against my chest and sighs into my mouth. She tastes like sugar and cinnamon and coffee. She tastes like Claire. She tastes like my future.

When I release her lips this time, I immediately bring my mouth to her ear and ask, “How many men have you slept with?”

Her breath hitches. This time, she has the wherewithal not to respond.

I grin against her neck, suspecting the answer. “Tell me, baby. How many cocks have you taken into your body, Claire?” I slide one hand down to her fantastic ass and squeeze her firmly, my fingers parting her cheeks.

Claire rises onto her toes and moans as her forehead comes to my shoulder.

I bite her earlobe just hard enough to get her attention. “Answer my question, baby.” I let my hand slide slightly lower, precariously close to her pussy. When I grip again, she gasps. I’m sure my attention isn’t going unnoticed. I’d give anything to touch her pussy, but I’ll wait. It’s too soon for that. She’s not ready.

She whimpers.

“Claire…” I warn before I grip her neck and angle her so I can kiss her again. I hold her gaze this time, burning the image of my face into her memory so the only thing she’ll ever see when she kisses for the rest of her life will be my eyes.

I’m still holding her ass, and I press my fingers inches from her pussy as I suck her tongue gently and release it. “Who’s been inside this tight pussy, Claire?”

“No one,” she whispers.

I’m a smug bastard. A mental fist pump fills my mind. Maybe I could drag this perfect woman to my bedroom and never let her go. Is there a justice of the peace in this town? If there is, it’s probably Thomas McAndrews.

I want my ring on her finger. I want my sperm in her uterus. These are not thoughts I’ve ever entertained with a woman, and I have no idea why this is happening today. It’s Claire. She’smine.

I growl possessively, unable to stop myself. After giving her one more quick kiss, I release my tight grip and steady her with my hands on her hips. “Shall we explore?”

She stares at me with wide eyes.

I smirk because it’s what I do with her. It’s what she expects from me. It makes her hot under the collar and feisty. I love it.

Making sure she’s not too wobbly but not giving her much time to contemplate the fact that I’m manipulating her, I take her hand and turn to lead her from the kitchen.

When I step into the hallway, I look both ways. I don’t have the foggiest idea where anything is in this strange estate. “Shall we go left or right?” I ask her.

“Ryder…”

I twist my head around and kiss her mouth again. “Left or right, baby?”

She sighs, her shoulders dropping in defeat. “Left?”

I turn in that direction.

“You’re impossible.”

“I’ve heard that before.” I look in the first room. It seems to be a music room. There’s a piano and a harp. I step inside, not releasing Claire’s fingers. In fact, I thread our fingers together, locking her down with more conviction.

When I glance at her just inside the door, her eyes are wide, and her jaw is dropped. “Sheesh. A harp?” She steps in farther and tries to let go of me, but I’m not having it.

I have no idea where this possessive side of me has come from. I’ve never been so obsessed with a woman in my life. I’ve never had my heart racing and my cock permanently hard in the presence of any woman. I’ve certainly never felt the need to keep my cock contained like I do around Claire. In the past, if a woman came on to me, I wouldn’t hesitate to have sex with her. But this woman is my life. I won’t be fucking her the first time we’re together. I’ll be showing her what it means to be mine. Slowly and passionately, and not today.

“Ryder…” She gives her hand another tug. “We can’t explore if you don’t let me go. I want to look around.”

I pull her closer to me instead. “Maybe exploring is overrated,” I murmur.

She rolls her eyes. “It was your idea, and I need some space. You’re scrambling my brain.” She tries to pull her hand free again.

I bring our interlocked fingers to my mouth and kiss her knuckles. I don’t like the idea of releasing her. I don’t want to give her space. I’d rather remove some of the space between us. Our clothes are in my way.

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