Chapter Twenty-Six
Ryker Ryker was so nervous, he wanted to puke. Or maybe that was the motion of the boat. Either way, he couldn’t wait until Wes got here.
Everything was set for the evening. Now he just needed his man.
Ryker watched from the small galley as Wes entered the lounge, his blond hair ruffled by the wind, his face tired but beautiful. He looked like he hadn’t shaved for a few days, and there were dark circles under his eyes. Ryker felt a pang of regret that he may have caused Wes sleepless nights. He took in Wes’s slim dark jeans and white button-down shirt with the sleeves casually rolled up, his strong forearms on display. Ryker was once again blown away by the powerful feelings this man evoked, all of his senses lighting up again in his presence. It was time to let Wes know how much he loved him and hope for the best.
Ryker saw Wes’s look of confusion as he peered at the dining table, then pivoted to head back out to the deck. Before Wes made it to the door, Ryker entered the room.
“Hey, Prince Charming,” he greeted Wes. A nod to the night at Mac’s when they’d stood together on the rooftop patio under the stars. Back to where it all began.
Wes turned slowly, his hands tucked into his jean pockets, his hazel eyes warm and glowing. Ryker felt his heart expand and his body flush with heat.
“It’s about time you woke up, Sleeping Beauty,” Wes said, smiling.
Ryker rushed over and cupped Wes’s face, leaning in and sealing their lips in a kiss that was urgent and sweet and so fierce that they both trembled. The kiss went on and on, their lips and tongues tangling together in their need to get as close as physically possible, to claim each other in the most primal way. Wes ran his hands up Ryker’s back, across his neck, and over Ryker’s hands, joining them and gripping tightly. Ryker took a deep breath. The familiar scents of salt and citrus hit him, and he pulled back slightly, looking deep into Wes’s eyes and seeing the undeniable love mirrored back at him.
“I love you,” Ryker said for the first time as he took Wes’s lips again, nipping gently, then pouring everything he had into the kiss. “I’m sorry I had a freak-out moment. I love you and want to be with you, and I promise I’m all in,” he murmured, his eyes filling up with the surge of emotion he could not control.
Wes smiled even wider as his eyes roamed Ryker’s face. “I love you, too. So much, Ry. Fuck, we’ve only been apart a short period of time and it feels like years. Don’t shut me out again. Please, love.” Ry whispered his reply: “No, never.” They stood together tightly, shaking and crying and kissing. Ryker was ready and so was his heart.
****
Wes His man was here, and Wes was never letting him go.
When Ryker walked out of the galley and called to him, Wes felt his heart stop. And then he turned around, and the impact of Ryker’s presence was just as powerful as the first time they’d met. Ryker was wearing his usual black outfit, this time with a leather jacket. His long hair was loose, tumbling over his shoulders in dark, silky waves that were begging for Wes’s touch. But it was those big blue eyes, the ones that had called to him from the very beginning, that were Wes’s undoing. He could see the love shining in them before Ryker uttered the words.
And when they kissed, fuck, what a kiss.
Ryker’s rough beard sparked the sensitive nerves around Wes’s mouth, and his spicy flavor was warm and sensuous. He tasted like the only kiss Wes craved, and he would never get enough.
After their mutual declarations of love, Ryker motioned to the couch. Ryker poured two glasses of champagne and handed one to Wes.
“I know we have a lot to talk about, but first, a toast. To our amazing, unexpected partnership—the best gift I never saw coming. To us, love,” Ryker murmured and leaned forward to kiss him.
“To us, sweetheart,” Wes repeated as they clinked their glasses together.
“As you probably guessed by know, Luca had a hand in planning this surprise,” Ryker said as he settled on the couch beside Wes, draping his arm over the back of the sofa and around Wes’s shoulders. “The boat ride was my idea, but Luca made it happen. That man is scary organized.” Ryker laughed as he sipped the champagne.
“Yes, he is. Remind me to give him a bonus,” Wes said.
Ryker paused and took a deep breath. “I’m sorry for pulling back on you. I got overwhelmed for a while.
First, the phone call with your ex, and then reporters hounded me after you left, and I just needed some time to myself.” “I’m sorry, Ry. I can’t say for sure that the press won’t be an issue. I don’t want to spend my life in a fishbowl anymore, but there will still be events and public appearances.” “I know. After I calmed down, I was able to see that our relationship will mean big changes for both of us.
Some may be difficult to navigate, but many of them will be great.
And I want them all. I’m ready for them.” Ryker leaned in and rubbed his nose into Wes’s hair.
“I’m ready for them, too. I still can’t believe you’re here.” “Believe it, love. So, the one question that remains is, did you manage to get rid of your nasty ex? I don’t want to spoil the mood, but we should probably talk about it,” Ryker said.
“I got rid of him. For now. But his lawyer bailed him out. I filed a restraining order yesterday. Kieran is a manipulative asshole, so there’s no telling what he might do.” “Tell me about that night in Portland. What happened?” “Keiran showed up at the dinner I was attending. I kicked him out, but he followed me back to my hotel.
He bribed an employee to let him into my room. He just needs money.
Once he finds a new sugar daddy, he’ll go away, but fuck, what a crazy mess.” Ryker massaged Wes’s shoulders, releasing the tension there. “I’m sorry you had to go through that. He sounds like a piece of work. Do you mind if I ask how you met and what happened between you?” “We met three and a half years ago. I was attending a restaurant opening, and he was working as a waiter. He was young and hot, and latched on to my every word, so of course I was flattered. And he told me he wanted to be a writer and asked if I could help him. Stupid me, I believed him.” He shook his head.
“One month later, he moved in with me, and then the real Kieran Moore appeared. He quit his job but didn’t look for another one, and there was always some excuse why he couldn’t find work. He ran up huge credit card debts, which I’d pay off. We’d be at parties and he would disappear, and then I’d find out he was fucking one person or another. But I thought I loved him, so I forgave him.
“Anyway, the final straw came when I noticed some of my personal journals missing a few months later. He’d contacted the tabloids to sell select content in return for a tidy sum. I heard him on the phone when I came home early one day, so I threw him out of the house. Because of our very busy social life, he was quick to find another rich man to sucker. That’s his MO.” Wes sighed.
“And then you swore off relationships,” Ryker murmured, moving his hands up to Wes’s neck and scalp, rubbing and touching softly as Wes moaned his appreciation.
“Yup. Until I met this hot, moody author who rocked my world.” Wes turned and was met with the beauty of Ryker’s biggest smile, so potent it made Wes’s breath catch. Would it always have that effect on him?
Ryker leaned forward and kissed him again, obliterating all thoughts, worries, and fears. Wes didn’t want to think, or talk about, Kieran anymore. The past was over. It was time to focus on the future.
“Before I forget,” Ryker said as he pulled a small, black velvet bag from his jacket. “I have a gift for you.” He placed the bag in Wes’s hand.
Wes slowly opened the drawstring bag and removed a bracelet similar to the one Ryker wore, except this one had brown beads with golden striations.
“These beads are tiger’s eye. The color reminded me of your eyes,” Ryker said quietly and slipped the bracelet onto Wes’s wrist. “They’re supposed to encourage feelings of empowerment and offer protection.” Wes rubbed the bracelet and slowly reached up to cup Ryker’s face. “It’s perfect. I love it,” he said. “Come on. Let’s head up on deck and watch the sunset. We have a night on the water to enjoy,” Wes murmured against Ryker’s lips. “Then I want to show you my home.” They made their way to the upper deck and greeted the charter captain, who was readying the boat launch for the lake tour. Wes pulled Ryker in close as they leaned against the deck railing, enjoying the view of the cityscape set in full relief against the pink-hued sky. They waved at nearby sailboats and water taxis as they left the marina.
“Let’s grab dinner and eat out here,” Wes suggested.
They did just that and enjoyed more champagne with their dinner, which included ribeye steaks with salad and a rich chocolate cheesecake for dessert. When neither of them could eat any more, they sat close together and chatted, enjoying the uninterrupted time together. Several hours passed and the sky darkened, the full moon high above reflected in the water.
The lack of clouds and their distance from the city lights allowed for stargazing. Sitting together on a lounger, the sparkling vision above them reminded Wes of the tattoo on Ryker’s back.
“The tattoo between your shoulder blades—with the moon and the blazing comet—is there a special meaning behind it? I meant to ask weeks ago, but I guess I got distracted by the rest of your body.” Wes smirked and hugged Ryker closer, kissing the top of his head.
“I’ve always been fascinated with astronomy and space. Mom took us to the Hayden Planetarium when we were kids, and I was hooked. I guess that’s why when I turned to creative writing, I focused on science fiction. I sometimes have a hard time dealing with people in real life, but in the worlds I create, everything makes sense to me. I’m free from limitations. I got the tattoo a year after the assault incident. It was important to me to have a reminder that no matter what happens in my life, I’ll persevere with passion and purpose.” He paused. “Hey, did you know comets can spend thousands of years in the solar system before they return to the sun? But they always return,” Ryker murmured, staring up at Wes with eyes as dark as the sky.
“Are you saying you’ll always come back to me?” Wes asked.
“Always.” No more words were needed after that.