Page 25 of Ryder
“But the equipment…”
“Can wait.” I silence her with a deep, lazy kiss. “Right now, you’re all mine.”
Her answering smile warms something deep in my chest. “All yours.”
Chapter 11
Dana
Sunlight streams through unfamiliar curtains as I drift awake, deliciously sore in all the right places. The solid warmth of Ryder’s chest presses against my back, his arm draped possessively over my waist.
Last night flashes through my mind—how many times did we...? I lose count somewhere between the bedroom and the shower. And then the kitchen counter. And back to bed.
His lips brush my shoulder. “I can hear you thinking, sugar.”
“Just wondering if all that new equipment is still in boxes outside.”
His laugh rumbles against my back. “Probably. Though I like your priorities.”
I turn in his arms, breath catching at the sight of him all sleep-rumpled and sexy. Stubble darkens his jaw, and a mark I definitely left blooms on his neck.
“See something you like?” His voice is morning-rough in a way that makes heat pool low in my belly.
“Maybe.” I trace the mark with my finger. “Though we should probably get up. You must have ranch work...”
His hand slides down my back, pulling me closer. “Funny thing about being the boss. Sometimes you can delegate.”
“Ryder...” But my protest turns into a gasp as his mouth finds that spot behind my ear. “The equipment...”
“Will wait.” He rolls me under him, settling between my thighs. “This won’t.”
The first push of him inside me has us both groaning. Slower this time, sweeter, but no less intense.
“Perfect,” he murmurs against my lips. “So perfect for me.”
Morning sun paints his shoulders gold as he moves above me, and something in my chest goes tight. This feels different. Dangerous. Like more than just passion.
Like falling in love.
The thought should terrify me. Instead, it feels like coming home.
The afternoon sun warms the kitchen as I hum over my mixing bowl, unable to keep the smile off my face. All the new equipment has been unpacked and arranged perfectly—after Ryder finally lets me out of bed around noon.
My lips still tingle from his goodbye kiss. He had to check on the ranch eventually, though not before thoroughly... distracting me one more time against the kitchen counter.
“Someone’s in a good mood.” Elena’s voice makes me jump. She leans in the doorway with a knowing smirk. “Nice hickey, by the way.”
My hand flies to my neck, face flaming. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Mhmm.” She settles onto a barstool. “That’s why Ryder’s walking around the ranch looking like he won the lottery?”
I bite my lip, failing to suppress my smile. “We were busy unpacking equipment.”
“Is that what they’re calling it these days?”
“The equipment is unpacked!” I gesture at the pristine setup. “Eventually.”
“After how many rounds of ‘unpacking’?”
