Chapter 20
Ryder
“There are a hell of a lot more people here than I expected,” Tiago mutters in my ear as we stand in front of a large crowd of locals two nights later. It’s a Saturday, and apparently, every person who is able-bodied has come out to hear what we have to say.
We’re holding this town meeting in the school gymnasium because it’s the largest gathering place in town.
Tiago leans in again. “I’m not sure if they care more about the town’s financial state of affairs or your relationship with Claire,” he jokes.
He’s right, and I have no idea whether that’s a good thing or a bad thing yet. What I do know is that I would never hide my relationship with Claire for any reason, so whatever the fallout is—good or bad—we’ll deal with it.
Claire and her parents are sitting in the front row. She keeps smiling at me encouragingly.
Tiago taps the mic to get everyone’s attention. “Good evening, folks.” He waits a moment for the murmuring to die down. “As I’m sure most of you are aware, I’m Tiago Wilde, and this is my brother Ryder. For those who have lived here a long time, our father is William Wilde, Amos’s oldest child.”
I’m kind of glad Tiago offered to get things started. I’m not afraid to speak, but the town has far less interest in Tiago since he’s not sleeping with one of their own.
I’m not technically doing more than sleeping with one of their own, either. I still haven’t taken Claire any further than I did the first night she was in my bed. I’m kind of smug that I make her come every day at the end of the day without penetrating her. The fact that I’ve managed to do so without even thrusting my tongue into her is a miracle.
Tiago takes a few minutes to explain the will and the fact that we have every intention of helping the economy get back on track. When he mentions the website, he passes the mic to me. I explain my background and my thoughts on helping the townsfolk lure tourists back to the area.
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 more with you, 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?”
“Marry me.”
She swallows. “You can’t be serious.”
“I’m totally serious.”
Her chest rises and falls. “Did you intentionally push me to the edge and leave me hanging so that you could ludicrously propose to me while I’m foggy with lust?”
“Yes.” I smirk.
She stares. “No, you did not.”
I smile. “I did, baby. I’m ruthless. Marry me.”
“Are you blackmailing me?” She narrows her sexy eyes. “Withholding sex until I agree to such an absurd notion?”
“Yes.” God, I love her. I haven’t said it to her yet, but I love her. I love how completely off-kilter she is right now and how she’s going to spar with me on this issue like I knew she would.
She groans dramatically, tips her head back to stare at the ceiling, closes her eyes, and reaches between her legs with one hand.
I have to admit, she has stunned me this time. This is not the reaction I was expecting.
I chuckle as I encircle her wrist and pull her hand away from her pussy. I haul it to my lips and kiss her fingertips. “Do you not remember the rule about touching yourself?”
She tries to yank her hand out of my grip, whimpering. The intense scent of her arousal fills the room. “So, spank me,” she taunts. “You can’t just suck my clit and leave me hanging.”
“Mmm.” I suck her middle finger into my mouth and hold on to it.
Her nostrils suck in with her inhale. “Ryder…” Her voice is breathy and so very sexy.
I release her finger with a pop. “Marry me.”
“Are you going to withhold orgasms until I do?” she murmurs.
“Mmm,” I respond noncommittally. I don’t think I could really withhold orgasms from my girl. That would punish me, too. I love watching her come. But I want her to understand how serious I am. I want her to be mine.
After tonight, I realize there aren’t many people in town who are going to balk at our relationship. With the exception of Smith, of course, and he can bite my ass and fuck off.
I plant her hand next to her head, do the same with her other hand, and hold her down while I bend to kiss her nipples. I switch back and forth until she’s arching and moaning. “Ryder…”
“Marry me,” I murmur against her fucking sexy breasts.
She arches higher and groans. “Ryder, you’re not playing fair.”
I kiss a path up to her lips. “I will never play fair. You know that already.”
“We just met,” she breathes out.
“And I told you I knew immediately.”
“That’s not realistic.”
“Mmm.” I pretend to think before giving her a cocky grin. “I know what you’re waiting for.”
She rolls her eyes. “A year of dating? Flowers on my birthday? A taste of your cock?”
I chuckle. Yes, I love her. “I’ll remember to get you flowers on your birthday, and you can taste my cock after it’s been inside you. But I’m not willing to wait a year to do so.”
She gasps. “You’re serious? You won’t have sex with me until I marry you?”
“I think it’s kind of sweet,” I tell her.
“Sweet?” Her voice rises two octaves. She tugs on her arms, but I don’t let go. “This is the twenty-first century. People don’t wait until they’re married to have sex.”
“I’m sure most don’t, but you’ve waited this long for me to show up. What’s another week?”
“Week?” she shouts.
I love her .
She shakes her head. “My parents would freak. People would think I’m pregnant.”
I chuckle. “Your dad told me he married your mom less than a month after they met, and she was younger than you.”
She groans. “My dad has a big mouth.”
“Also, how could you be pregnant? We just met.”
“Even so, that would be the rumor.” She narrows her gaze. “Wait, you said I was waiting for something. What were you talking about?”
“A spanking.”
Her eyes grow even wider. “A spanking?” She squirms and tries to draw her knees together, but I’m leaning against the edge of the mattress between her legs.
“Yes. Admit it. You’re curious. You want to know how it will feel when I spank you.”
“You say that like you intend to do it often.”
I shrug. “If you like it, I will.”
“Why would I like it?” Her voice is shrill.
“Baby, lots of people like to be spanked. It releases tension. You’re going to love it so much your pussy will pulse with need while I swat your perfect bottom.”
“That’s ridiculous.”
I lift a brow. “Is it? Let’s try it and find out.”
“And then you’ll take your pants off and fuck me already?”
“Tsk. Such a potty mouth.”
She gives me another eye roll.
“And, no. Then you’ll agree to marry me.”
“So, your plan is to spank me, and that’s going to make me so hot for you that I’ll marry you immediately, and you still won’t have sex with me?”
“Yes.” I love when she gives me sass and I give her one-word answers.
She draws in a slow breath. “What if we aren’t compatible, and you don’t even like having sex with me?”
I laugh, my body shaking. “Baby, we’re so fucking compatible in bed these pink sheets are going to catch on fire. The only thing I haven’t done to you is penetrate your sweet, tight pussy. You think that part is suddenly going to suck?”
She licks her pretty lips. “No. It’s going to be amazing. Let’s stop talking about it and do it now.”
“I like my way instead.” I release her hands, bend farther to grab a pillow, and pat her hip. “Roll over for me. I’m going to tuck this pillow under your hips.”