Page 51 of Ryder

The meeting goes pretty smoothly. We encourage people to air their grievances, and Claire takes notes for us. We do our best to answer everyone’s questions. We don’t have all the answers, but we assure them we’re working with Thomas McAndrews to iron out our options.

It turns out Thomas is a well-respected member of the community, which is extremely helpful. The people are skeptical, but they believe Thomas will get the much-needed financial support rolling. I pray we can get repairs underway as soon as possible. It seems everyone in town has homes and businesses in disrepair from years of neglect. Some of the roads need to be replaced before tourism can really pick up, too.

I’m exhausted, and it’s quite late when we finally get back to the mansion. It’s especially late for Claire. She needs more sleep than she’s getting. I try to get us into bed by eight, but some nights, that’s hard, and adjusting to going to bed that early is challenging. I’ve been more of a night owl for many years.

After the first morning I took her to work, I’ve been bringing my computer. The Kennetts have graciously let me use their living room upstairs as an office for several hours a day so I can work on keeping up with my regular clients as well as updating the various town websites.

By the time Claire’s parents came for dinner last night, there was no tension among us. I’ve totally won them over. I know they’re pleased with how attentive I am to their daughter and how concerned I am about her safety.

Most days, they don’t actually need a fourth set of hands in the bakery. It’s not that busy. But I don’t like to leave Claire at the shop without me, and I sure as hell don’t want her to drive into town or return to the estate alone. The idea makes me grit my teeth.

Luckily, Tiago took Claire’s car two towns away to get it looked at. The repair wasn’t extensive, and now we have a reliable vehicle that isn’t nearly as old as my grandfather’s Cadillac.

As executor of the will, Thomas has been tasked with doling out money from our respective inheritances to us. As soon as I get my bearings, I will invest in a far more reliable SUV, something I will feel better about driving around town with my girl in tow.

I guide Claire directly to our pink room and into the bathroom, where we brush our teeth side-by-side like an old married couple. I like how we’ve quickly fallen into a routine. For the first time in my life, I feel at peace.

Yes, I’ll be glad when we start actually having sex, but I love keeping her flustered. I love how I feel when I’m with her and hate being separated from her. It’s a new feeling for me that I’ve never experienced.

I worry about her ability to be certain about me. She’s so young. Tonight, I’m about to inform her of something she doesn’t know yet, and I suspect she is going to balk. Her eyes will bug out. I’m looking forward to it.

But first, we need to discuss the most dreaded subject in our lives. Smith Winston. I pull Claire into my arms and back her into the bedroom, where I sit on the edge of the pink bed and angle her between my legs so we’re face-to-face.

“Smith wasn’t there, was he?”

“No,” she murmurs as she wraps her arms loosely around my neck. “His father was. I heard people murmuring that Smith was outside but didn’t come in. I didn’t see him.”

I frown as I slide my hands up and down her back. “I don’t like it. It’s like he’s hiding and waiting.”

“Maybe he’s given up. I’m sure everyone in town knows I’m with you.” She leans closer to me and sets her forehead against mine. “I’d like to be a bit morewithyou, too, Ryder.”

And this is my segue. I kiss her briefly before pulling her shirt over her head and tossing it onto the floor. I unbutton her jeans while she kicks off her shoes. I’m giving her the wrong impression, but I can’t stop myself from undressing her. I undress her every night because I’m greedy, and I like her naked in my arms.

Claire grabs my shirt and pulls it over my head while I unfasten her bra. She’s breathing heavily.

I rise, grab her around the waist, and turn to drop her on the bed.

She giggles as I remove her panties. I haven’t allowed myself direct contact with her pussy like this because she’s too much of a temptation. However, I can’t resist tonight.

Without giving her a moment to think, I spread her legs and bend over to suck her pussy.

She grabs my shoulders and cries out, trying to buck her hips off the bed.

I hold her firmly and drag my tongue through her folds and up over her clit.

“Ryder,” she shouts. She’s gotten less inhibited to the point that she has stopped worrying about whether or not Tiago can hear her.

Tiago smirks knowingly when he sees her, teasing her without words, but she holds her head high and shrugs. If she had the nerve, I think she would brag about how wonderful things are in the pink room.

I capture her swollen nub with my teeth and flick my tongue over it rapidly until she’s writhing so hard I can barely hold on to her. I don’t let go, but I do release the little bundle of nerves to tease the entrance to her pussy.

“Ryder…” she groans when I let my tongue dip in about an inch. That’s all I’m going to give her. I’m preparing her for what I’m going to say next as I switch my attention back and forth between her clit and the entrance to her tight channel.

Claire arches her chest off the bed, offering up her fantastic breasts while she moans loudly.

When I’m pretty sure she’s seconds from orgasm, I release her pussy, plant my hands on either side of her head, and stare down into her gorgeous green eyes. “Marry me, Claire.”

She blinks a few times and then freezes, eyes bugging out. “What?”

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