20. Ryder
20
Ryder
I glance at my phone nervously and roll my shoulders in an effort to loosen up. Sporting one of my best suits, I’m feeling ridiculously fancy in my own home, and all around me the apartment is literally sparkling. I’ve had cleaners and touch up crews and laundry service and new plants installed, virtually every last-minute improvement I could think of in an effort to set the mood for tonight, including having the small replica waterfall just inside my foyer serviced and the pond at the bottom filled with new goldfish. It’s a copy of the larger fountain downstairs in the lobby and it gives the whole apartment an exotic feel.
I’ve known Everly for a long time, but the truth is that I’ve never had a romantic interest that I’d also consider a friend, and I’m feeling a little off my game. Thankfully, one thing I’ve got is charm. And I’m about to work some magic tonight.
The driver texts me when they arrive, so I do a last check of all the elements. Nothing has changed in the last fifteen minutes, so standing nervously at the door, I wait for the elevator to ding and deliver her to my penthouse.
When the doors finally slide open, all of time stops. There she is, lush and beautiful, and dolled up with smoky eyes, smooth skin, delicate frame, and curves that can make a man sing. Here she is… all for me. My shoulders relax as I take in the makeup, the hair, and the accessories. She’s perfect. She’s money, and I’m the only one she’s thinking of tonight.
At the sight of her, all of my confidence comes rushing back and I let me eyes sweep over her in obvious pleasure before nodding my head and reaching for her hand.
“Hey there, Curves. You sure know how to make an entrance.” I hold her gaze as I bend to press a kiss to the back of her hand and then straighten back up to my full height to step in even closer. “I like this, I sweep a finger down to her dress strap and then let it trail lightly down her side, grazing the side of her breast in the process. Her breath hitches, and her cheeks pinken in pleasure.
“Thank you.” Her words come out all breathy, and something inside of me screams to kiss her now. I think of the new sheets on my bed and try to imagine what she’d say if I threw her over my shoulder and carried her to my room this minute. But I promised her dinner, so I pull her past the fountain and further into the apartment where I take her coat and purse.
“Rachel assured me that you like pasta, so tonight’s menu is chicken alfredo.” I lead her to the dining table where I have the main course in a warming dish.
“Oh wow,” her voice is suitably impressed, and I can’t hold back a grin as she takes in the flowers, the candles, the napkins, goblets and chinaware. It’s literally the most formal meal I can imagine, and also the first of its kind to ever be had in my penthouse, because let’s face it. I’ve been living the bachelor’s life.
“Ryder, this is really beautiful. I don’t know what to say. I wasn’t expecting this.” She turns wide eyes at me, and I take full advantage of her wonder to step in closer and dip my head toward her just so I can breathe her in.
“I know you’re still making your mind up about me, Ev. But I’ve already made up my mind about you.” If anything, her eyes get even bigger before she gulps and turns back to the table. I step forward to pull out her chair at the head of the table and then seat myself adjacent to her. I’d thought about having caterers but had quickly dismissed that idea since my goal is to pretty much seal the deal and lock her into a relationship with me. So, instead I serve her and open each dish until our plates are laden with garlic bread, pasta, salad and a few assorted veggies.
When I offer wine, she opts for soda, so I follow suit and then wait a moment almost awkwardly.
“So, um… do you… like to say a prayer, or anything?”
For some reason, the question makes her laugh. She bows her head to say a simple grace before lifting her gaze back to me and pointedly saying, “Bon Appetit, Ryder.”
I smile, relaxing once again when I return the phrase and take up my silverware. We spend the meal chatting about food, movies, cooking, and all things related. I’m more than gratified when Everly approves the pasta.
“So, confession.” I hold a hand up as I speak. “I only cooked the chicken and pasta. The rest of it I had catered.” Everly evaluates the table with a raised brow and nods in appreciation.
“You know what? I don’t care. Hands down, this is the best meal I’ve had in months.” I smile smugly and watch as she takes seconds.
“Well, maybe we should do this more often,” I quip.
“I’ll be honest Ryder, I’m not one to turn down a good meal.”
I grin at that while piling thirds onto my plate. “My kind of woman,” I beam at her proudly before picking up my silverware and digging in again.
When we finish up, she offers to carry things to the kitchen, but I wave it off and take her by the hand. It’s a moment of secret delight as every cell in my body responds to her skin, and I force my hand to relax when all I want to do is pull her close. “Tonight is not for dishes,” say as I throw a wink at her over my shoulder and lead her toward the living area. It’s early February in Texas, so not the coldest weather but not the warmest, and being on the thirtieth floor with large windows means the living area can get a bit drafty. I settle her onto the couch in front of a gaslit fireplace before asking if she’d like anything to drink.
“Um, do you have any Three Spirits elixirs?” she asks, and I stare at her for a moment.
“Actually I do. Is that what you like?”
“That would be lovely.”
I’m a little surprised, but I grab our drinks and make my way back to the sitting area and plant myself as close as reasonably possible to her on the plush cushions. All through dinner I’ve been trying not to stare at her breasts because I’m in this for the long game, but at the same time, the woman is magnificently built and she is wearing that dress. My new position beside her gives me the perfect view of her cleavage, and everything beneath my waistband hardens in an instant.
I take a sip and then ask. “Everly, do you drink?”
She stares for a moment, her mouth in the shape of a surprised “O” and then seems to fumble her words for a moment as she answers.
“I do, it’s just…I mean, I preferred not to…tonight.”
I feel my brows furrowing and I lower my voice. “Everly, I’d never take advantage of you. You know that, right?”
“Oh, no it’s…it’s not that…it’s just um…I wanted to have something different. That’s all.” I can see her cheeks are red and regret that there’s anything I’ve done to make her feel like she needs to be on her guard with me. My stomach clenches, I relax my posture and lift my cup to hers with a lazy grin. “Salut.”
She smiles, and raises her glass as she responds, “And to what do we drink?”
“To second, second chances,” I answer.
“I’ll drink to that.” She smiles and clinks her glass to mine. A second later I lean in, staring hard at her lips. She licks them nervously and then asks.
“Do I have something on my mouth?”
Moving in even closer I whisper, “Yeah,” as I raise my thumb to her mouth and brush gently over the most perfect bottom lip I’ve ever had the pleasure to touch. I linger there, rubbing, playing until her eyes narrow in suspicion and she lightly bats my hand away.
“You scoundrel!” I tilt back laughing at her and then respond.
“What can I say? A man yearns, and you make me dream, Everly.” She sweeps her eyes up and down my body and when they come back to land on mine, I see longing there as well.
“What do you dream of Ryder?” Her words come out on a breathy whisper, quiet and intimate. I cock my head at her and lift a finger to trace over the side of her face, down her jawline and to her collar bone just above her dress. I swallow as my heart pounds inside. I want her desperately, and I watch as the pulse in her neck flutters in response to my touch. Her breath comes more quickly, and her perfume does something to me that I can’t describe.
“I dream of loving you, and you loving me.” I sweep my fingers over her shoulder and up to stroke over soft strands of hair as I continue. “I dream of knowing you, and letting you see all of me, of giving you everything and knowing you’ve got my back, because you’re steady and faithful.” I set down my drink and then move to take hers and place it on the coffee table so I can lift both hands to her face and hold her there gently, just inches from me when I whisper, “I dream of dating you, and someday, if you let me, I want more.”
She breathes a breathy sound, and I swear I hear her whimper when I lean forward and hover just above her lips, barely half an inch away.
“Let me love you, Everly.” My voice comes out in a husky whisper, and she hovers there with me, frozen for a moment while we breathe each other in. I can see the response in her eyes. Both of us are in the grip of a fierce tide of longing, but I wait.
Finally, at long last she bridges the gap, raising up to press her soft mouth to mine, and all the barriers fall away as we’re swept up in a moment of sheer passion. I bring my hands up to her hair, petting, caressing, trailing my fingers down her back and around her sides to grip her hard at her waist and on her arms, wanting to seize her like a caveman, and trying desperately to pace myself, to let her lead, or at minimum to just keep her with me.
Meanwhile, my coat jacket lays discarded across a chair, and Everly’s hands press against the button-down shirt covering my chest, sweeping up to my neck. She trails her fingers through my hair and then down to my biceps. The moment she grabs at my arms, I slide my hands beneath her thighs and lift her up and onto my lap. She straddles me, and I’m utterly delighted when her short dress pushes all the way up her hips to the V of her legs.
I can’t resist sliding one hand up her thigh and around to grip her behind. She stays there, embracing me, moaning and plastering her chest to mine for several seconds. I reach up to grasp her tightly at her nape, pressing my lips to her with a growing hunger. When she parts her lips my tongue rushes in, exploring, pillaging, and taking. I want everything. I want more, so much more.
After several moments of heaven, she pushes back, and we break the kiss on a gasp, both of us with chests heaving for air as we stare at each other. Her hair is in disarray, her lipstick slightly smudged, and it’s the sexiest look I’ve ever seen on a woman. My eyes rove over her in sheer delight before I reach up to pull her back into my embrace, but she puts up her hands to halt me.
“Ryder.” She speaks in breathy huffs, and I wait on bated breath.
“Take me home… Please?” I stare at her wondering if I understood her correctly, but a second later she slides herself off of my lap and stands, leaving no doubt. I don’t know what to think, but I know what I feel.
I drop my head and wonder what went wrong.