Page 72 of Wicked

He does the next best thing I like about “us.” Ryker curves his body into mine, and I’m safe. He has my back. Is my shield from the impending storm. The sheath for my blade. His warmth surrounds me like a fragile bubble, but he’s strong and adaptive.

When I need soft, he lets me be vulnerable. When I need strength, his softness hardens and cushions my fall. We’re practicing, he and I. That’s what we do through conversation and this . . . this spending time with one another.

Ryker will cushion my fall when I fail, and I will certainly lose in this war of wills and dark desires, but I’ll take any piece of him I can get.

In comfortable silence, I listen to him tell me of his childhood. I want to understand this gentle giant. Need to understand how he can turn out so right, and I turned out so wrong.Abnormal.

“My father fell in love with her the night she saved his life after a nasty car wreck. He didn’t know what she was. Didn’t give a shit. To win her over and win her heart, he became a very patient man. Became a saint too, if you know what I mean. My mom came with a shit ton of baggage. He earned her trust and her love with friendship, patience, and kindness. He didn’t judge. He . . .”

His sigh is warm on my ear. Whispers over my hair. I bring our laced fingers to my mouth. Drop gentle kisses over his knuckles, showing him what’s in my heart. I’m grateful he’s letting me into his. And into his life.

“He accepted all of her, Harper, the good and the bad.”

The respect given to me in school when the kids found out my father was an MMA fighter, the overwhelming support I received after my father murdered my mother, the social shunning after my kidnapping and rape . . .

“Did the other kids know?” I know the answer, and my heart aches for him.

“Yeah, they did. They weren’t quiet. They said godawful things. After too many fistfights and the threat of expulsion hanging over my head, I had to handle my anger differently.”

“Football.”

“Yes. My dad was all for it. My mom too.”

“What position do you play again? Full disclosure, I don’t understand the game.”

“Duly noted.”

He laughs, and I have a cheesy smile. I love making him laugh.

“I’m part of the offensive line. There’s a center, two tackles, and two guards. The center snaps the ball to the quarterback. Tackles and guards protect the QB, giving him time to make the pass. For the most part, I play left tackle, the QB’s blind side.”

“Like the movie.”

“Yes.”

“Why did you pick that position of all the positions?”

“Selfish reasons, really. I figured if I protected the king of the game, he’d have my back off the field. It worked. The kids left me alone. They stopped taking shots at me with their words and their fists.”

I untangle out of his hold and face him. “Have you seen you? You’re not small, big guy.”

“Hmm, I got something big for you.”

He swipes aside my hair and trails kisses along my temple and jawline. I tip up my face, giving him better access. His thumb caresses along my bottom lip and lingers on where my freckles are. Ryker confessed my freckles are the most perfect part of me.

“I left myself open for that, didn’t I?” I say, breathless.

“You sure did.” He nudges me on my back, and soon, I’m lost to his fervor kisses and demanding hands.

This guy, this man, I’ll never get enough of his touches and his kisses. Or his soft murmurs of how beautiful I am and of how much I mean to him.

We make love again. Afterward, I press my body into his warmth and his strength. I want to stay like this forever, safe in his big arms.

But nothing in life lasts forever. The only guarantee in life is . . . death.

26

Harper

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