Page 40 of Ryder

I don’t give a fuck about my inheritance. I came here because I was intrigued; it seemed like my destiny was calling me to Wilde. All signs pointed to jumping ship in New York and driving across the country.

I was right. I was only here for thirty minutes when I walked out of Thomas’s office and found the most perfect woman I’ve ever met standing next to my truck, challenging me to a duel.

Claire is mine. From now on, I’m at her beck and call. I know I’ve spent the day tossing one thing after another at her, but she has all the power. She will for the rest of my life.

She groans and rolls her head back.

I slide my hand around her neck and bring her gaze to mine. “There are things I can’t change. One of them is that I need to be here in the mansion for a while because I was the first to arrive. Someone has to get the ball rolling in this town.”

Her shoulders slump, and she reaches for the front of my T-shirt to smooth her palms over my pecs. “I know,” she whispers.

“I want you by my side. I want you to help me. You’re my source of information, but you’re also my life partner. If you’re uncomfortable and you hate it here, we’ll move out and live somewhere else. I promise. Will you stay here with me for a while until things settle down?”

She wrinkles her nose. “You make it seem so simple.”

“It is simple.”

She shakes her head. “People will think I’m a gold digger.” She slaps a palm against her forehead. “I should’ve stayed with my parents.”

“No, baby. It wasn’t safe. And who cares what people think? All that matters is whatwethink, what we know. Let them talk. Eventually, when they realize we’re not separating for any reason, they’ll lose interest. Do you honestly care if gossiping citizens accuse you of things they know nothing about? Would you walk away from what you feel for me just because you don’t want anyone to think ill of you?”

“No, of course not. It’s just so fast. No one will believe it.”

“Eventually, they will. I could take the condoms off the delivery list, and we could really give them something to talk about in a few months when they see you round with my child,” I tease, palming her stomach. Ever since we discussed birth control, I haven’t been able to get this visual out of my mind.

Claire pregnant with my child. It makes my cock hard. I don’t know who I am. I’ve changed. I’ve met this perfect woman, and now I want everything with her. Including babies. A dozen of them.

I’ve never once had sex without a condom. I can’t believe I’m contemplating it. But I am. When I started the discussion about birth control earlier, I was merely gathering information, but as soon as the words came out of my mouth, I almost wished I hadn’t said anything at all.

I would never take my girl bare without her permission, but I find myself wanting to reopen this discussion and talk her into letting me fill her sweet cunt without protection.

She shoves my hand away and shudders. “Not a chance. Nice try.”

I kiss her neck. The idea of keeping my girl filled with my come day and night has embedded itself in my head now. It’s not going to let go. I slide my hand down to her flat tummy and press against it as I whisper in her ear, “I can already picture watching you grow. You’re going to be so fucking sexy when you’re pregnant.”

“Ryder…” Her voice is weak. I’m winning. She leans back and shoves at my hand. “We’re not discussing this.”

“I will table it for now.” I kiss her lips. “Officially tabled. And as for tomorrow, I will drive you to the bakery at whatever time you want to get there and pick you up after work. I’ll even bring your car back up here and see if I can figure out what’s wrong with it.”

She eyes me skeptically at the change of subject, and she should. “I have whiplash. Do you know anything about cars?”

I chuckle. “Nothing.”

Her face softens, and she giggles, warming my heart. “Then what are you going to do with it?”

“Tiago and I will open the hood, look inside, verify all the parts are in there, and then turn to Google.”

She giggles harder and sets her forehead against mine.

“I wouldn’t want your father to think I can’t take care of your car.”

“Except, you can’t. How will you explain that?”

“Mmm. I’ll ensure it makes it to another town, gets fixed, and then bring it back.”

“And then what? Tell my father you did the work just to impress him?”

“No. I’ll make up a lie and say it needed a part I didn’t have.”

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