Chapter 60 This is forever now
CHAPTER SIXTY
This is forever now
Ruby
By the time Ryker rolled into the hotel room later that night, he looked exhausted – happy, but exhausted. He’d been tied up with obligations after the Draft ended, so we’d been celebrating in his suite while we waited.
He’d been put up in a fancy penthouse – the type you imagine when thinking about Las Vegas. The living area was huge, and the floor to ceiling windows looked out across the Bellagio Water Show. I’d watched it more times than I could count while I’d been waiting. It never got old.
Ryker wasted no time taking off his jacket and loosening his tie. Setting them down, he walked to the ice bucket on the table, popping off the cap of a longneck.
Mum and Nancy had stocked the room with victory beer and champagne, and Tori and Brady had just slipped out with Brady’s parents to pick up some pizzas. Stefan had gone with them too – dying to escape Mum and Nancy’s champagne antics. I couldn’t blame him – they were already well beyond tipsy.
There were three empty champagne bottles on the table. Savannah had only had one glass before helping her husband put the twins to bed, and I’d stopped at two. I wanted to remember this day – no cloudy thoughts, thank you very much.
“There’s the latest Seattle quarterback,” Charles proudly beamed.
He hadn’t stopped smiling all day.
Nancy rested her hand over her chest. “Honey, I’m so proud of you, but let’s circle back to football in a second... there’s something far more important to discuss.” She motioned between Ryker and me. “What in The Real Housewives’ name is going on between you two?”
Mum set her glass down and levelled Ryker with what I assumed was meant to be an intimidating glare. “Yes, Ryker. What are your intentions with my daughter?”
I’d sensed Mum and Nancy itching to grill me all evening, but they’d shown a rare case of self-control and waited until Ryker was here. Now that he was, the interrogation had begun.
I rolled my eyes. “Ignore them, Wheels. They’re drunk.”
With a relaxed chuckle, Ryker confidently met my mother’s glare head on. “I’ll happily fill you in, Cherie. I’m in love with your daughter.”
Mum and Nancy spat out their champagnes in perfect sync, like a rehearsed scene from a movie. The shock on their faces was priceless. They hadn’t seen that coming, and it was extremely satisfying to be the ones to finally render them speechless.
Dad and Charles seemed equally as stunned. At least Ryker didn’t have to worry about my dad giving him the look after my daughter speech. Dad already knew how much Ryker cared about me.
With a surprised quirk of her eyebrows, Mum’s gaze flashed to me. “And is my daughter in love with you?”
Ryker and I hadn’t had the talk yet, and we sure weren’t about to have it in front of an audience.
“You two are relentless,” I grumbled. “And you wonder why we kept this a secret.”
Nancy jolted upright so abruptly her drink sloshed onto the expensive sofa. I’m sure there were worse stains than champagne on a Vegas penthouse sofa.
“A secret? How long has this been going on for?”
Damn. Now I’d gone and put my foot in it.
I stood, turning away from our parents and towards Ryker, who seemed to be getting a real kick out of this.
“Maybe we should go somewhere private and talk?” I suggested.
He nodded. “Sure. My room’s just off the–”
I shook my head. “That’s way too close to these gossip queens. Come with me.”
He didn’t argue as I took his hand and led him out of the fancy hotel suite, deliberately ignoring our mothers’ protests and rapid-fire questions that followed us out the door.
When? How long? What does it mean?
They could wait in suspense for a little while longer.
“Jesus, Wheels,” I breathed once we were alone in the quiet hallway. “You need to ease up on the L-bombs in front of our parents or you’ll give them an aneurysm.”
“Lucky there’s a nurse here.”
We managed to slip into an elevator just as someone stepped out of it. After swiping my keycard, I impatiently pressed the button for my floor over and over. This conversation with Ryker was long overdue. I was more than ready to have it so we could finally make up.
As the person exiting brushed past us, they did a double take at Ryker, still wearing what was left of his suit and Seattle hat. “Shit! Are you–”
The door slid shut.
I guess that was about to become Ryker’s – and my – new normal. His future was my future, so the changes, including all the new fans who’d soon recognise him, were something I’d need to get used to.
As the elevator descended to my floor, I leant against the handrail and drank him in. He looked ridiculously good in his white shirt, fitted trousers, and team cap, forcing me to dig deep for every semblance of willpower.
It’d been too long.
“Seattle’s colours suit you.”
Removing the hat from his head, he set it on mine. “They look better on you.”
He deliberately edged closer, backing me up until I was pressed against the mirrored wall. Seemed like he was ready to jump straight into making up.
If he planned on talking first, he needed to put some space between us. My self-control only stretched so far.
“Ryker,” I whispered, losing the final shreds as his lips brushed my throat. “We should–”
Saved by the bell.
The elevator doors slid open with a sharp ding, making me jump.
Barely composing myself, I took his hand again and led him the rest of the way.
My parents had offered to share a twin room with me, but I’d chosen to book my own.
They wouldn’t have splurged on the type of suite Ryker and his family had been put up in – for obvious reasons, since that place would cost thousands per night – and I had zero desire to spend the night in a bed next to Mum and Dad. Dad’s snoring was bad enough at home.
I’d somehow managed to score a balcony in my room, a rare feat for hotels on the Vegas Strip. I slid the door open and stepped out onto it, letting the much-needed breeze cool me down. While the views from here might not be as bougie as Ryker’s suite, at least I had fresh air.
Ryker wasted no time coming up behind me, wrapping his arms around my shoulders and pulling me against his chest. As I melted into him, there was no doubt in my mind how right this felt. My only regret was how long it had taken me to realise it.
Closing my eyes, I pinned his forearms in place, silently willing him to hold on forever.
“I’m sorry, Wheels.”
“About?”
“Freaking out the other night. I don’t want this to end either.”
His relieved exhale swept across my neck. “And to answer your mum’s question?”
I turned in his arms, facing him. Even though I’d already told him once today, fear lingered in his expression. I was the reason it was there, and it was my responsibility to erase it.
“I’m in love you too, Wheels. And I’m not just saying that because you’re a professional football player. I’d still want to be with you even if you were a washed-up college athlete.”
He chuckled. “As romantic as ever, Rubz.”
His lips hovered over mine, as if waiting for permission or something. I closed the gap without a shred of hesitation. I had none of it left. I was all in.
The kiss was achingly familiar, and somewhere inside me, I already knew his would be the last I’d ever have. And that didn’t scare me one bit.
Unfortunately it ended all too abruptly, thanks to his stupid Seattle cap getting in the way. Chuckling, Ryker slid it off, tossing it back inside through the open door.
“I can’t believe you were picked up by Seattle,” I grinned, still partly in shock. “Hopefully I land the graduate position.”
“You will, Rubz. Without a doubt.”
Pressing onto my toes, I looped my arms around his neck. “I’m coming with you anyway. You’re stuck with me now, Wheels.”
“Thank fuck.”
This time when we kissed, there was nothing to come between us. I melted against Ryker as his mouth moved over mine in a rhythm only he’d mastered. The giddiness I’d felt the first time he kissed me hadn’t faded.
I doubt it ever would.
Ryker lifted me effortlessly, wrapping my legs around his waist as he carried me inside and gently lowered us onto the bed. Even though he had a fancy suite and a room full of people waiting for him a few storeys up, something told me we wouldn’t be leaving my room for the rest of the night.
As his tongue moved against mine, wind swept through the open door, rustling my hair and sending a shiver down my spine. I felt paralysed – by anticipation, by happiness, by him.
Sometimes it felt like wasted time having waited this long to get together.
But no matter what, I couldn’t bring myself to regret my relationship with Noah.
Without that and the way it had ended, I couldn’t say for certain that Ryker and I would have found our way to each other – and I would forever be grateful that we had.
I broke off the kiss, running my hand along Ryker’s jaw. “Can I ask you something before you take my clothes off?”
“Always, Rubz.”
“Will we be living together in Seattle?”
When Ryker didn’t immediately answer – and by that I meant he hadn’t mumbled something before I blinked – I panicked.
“We don’t have to... obviously,” I backtracked. “It was just a thought.”
Ryker smiled, amused. “Do you want to?”
It didn’t matter if we were moving to a city where I didn’t know anybody, or back home where I knew everyone, my answer was yes.
After years of a long-distance friendship, followed by a few months as hookup buddies – or whatever you wanted to call it – I didn’t want space between us anymore. Even if it was only a few miles.
I wanted to say goodbye in the morning, knowing we’d be back together at night. I wanted to call him from the store, asking what he felt like for dinner. I wanted to message him saying I was on my way home, only for him to reply: Me too.
A vulnerable part of me went to deny it, worried I was coming on too strong. But then I reminded myself that Ryker and I had always been honest with each other, and whenever we strayed from that, nothing good ever came of it.
“I do. I know that’s kind of crazy, so I wouldn’t be offended if you didn’t want–”
Ryker cut off my insecure tangent with another kiss. “I want to.”
I grinned. “Wow. That was easy.”
“I’m a total pushover when it comes to you, if you haven’t already noticed.”
He began undoing my vest top slowly, one button at a time. He had more patience than I did. I was ready for him to rip it off entirely – buttons be damned.
When the top finally popped open, Ryker growled like a caveman – my caveman. I wasn’t wearing a bra, which he very much seemed to appreciate.
My nipples reacted, hardening at the look of appreciation on his face. That only stirred him on further.
My head fell back, a moan slipping free, as Ryker’s mouth toyed with my breast. He dragged his tongue along the line of my cleavage before lightly sinking his teeth into the soft tissue.
“Harder,” I breathed.
He obliged – no questions and no judgement.
His erection was pressing into my inner thigh, but it wasn’t the only solid thing that I could feel. His phone continuously buzzed in his pocket, as relentless as our mothers.
Ryker grumbled, leaning back just enough to slip it from his pocket. “This thing has been going off all day.”
I’d never seen so many notifications on someone’s phone – and that was saying a lot given I knew his unread DM count.
“Who are they all from?” I asked.
“Every person I’ve ever met apparently. Most of the social media notifications are from strangers though. Seattle had me accept a co-post or something like that, so I guess I’m getting all the fan notifications now.”
He opened his messages, quickly scrolling through them. I recognised most of the names – some from back home and others from Phil-U.
“Pat and Kyler are already pestering me in the group chat about getting them tickets.”
I laughed. “Of course they are.”
“And Evan just admitted he name dropped me to pick up.”
I laughed harder. “Of course he did.”
Ryker opened a message from Levi Holloway.
Levi: Hell yeah man! Great pick. But don’t let it go to your head... I was drafted second ;) Ps. Hughesy says congratulations!
The next message was from Grace.
Grace: I don’t trust Levi to pass on my congrats, so... CONGRATS RYKER! I’m so happy for you. Say hi to Ruby for me. And tell her that on-screen kiss was *Fire Emoji*
With a soft chuckle, Ryker locked his phone and threw it across the room, not paying attention to where it landed.
“I’ll read the rest later. Right now, I’m exactly where I want to be, with exactly who I want to be with.”
“Smooth talker.”
I wasn’t sure why I was partially still dressed, or why Ryker had no skin showing. It was time to rectify that.
I jumped off his lap and started ripping off my clothes as if they were on fire. There was nothing sexy about it – just raw, shameless desire.
Ryker picked up on the hint and began ditching his things too, kicking off his shoes and dropping his shirt and slacks at the foot of the bed.
In no time, we were both back where we’d started – minus all clothing. It was hard deciding who wanted – needed – this more.
I rose onto my knees, positioning myself above him, and deliberately rubbing my wetness against his hardness.
“I missed you and your dick, Wheels.”
Ryker laughed. “We both missed you too, Rubz.”
With a deep exhale, I lowered onto him, taking him slowly so that I could adjust. Relief flooded my core as he filled me – like I’d been incomplete until this very moment.
“Fuck,” I breathed.
“Fuck,” he agreed.
His palms settled on my ass as I steadily circled my hips, his own raising to meet mine.
“You always feel so good,” he growled.
“You always make me feel so good,” I moaned.
As much as I wanted to take this slow and make it last all night, I knew my first release wouldn’t be far off. A pulse was already thrumming beneath my skin, threatening to spill over.
Grinning against my lips, Ryker ran his thumb along my cheek. “Rubz, you do realise this is forever now, right?”
I smiled back. “Good.”