Chapter 16
Chapter Sixteen
SAM
“She’s going to give me a heart attack one day,” I grumbled once we were safely back in our apartment where there were no little old ladies making obsceneinnuendos comparing me and her late husband.
My landlady being on the receiving end of her giving husband was not something I cared to picture.
Ryker chuckled and bent over to give Gray a good rub. I tried not to stare at the way his T-shirt stretched across his chest at the motion. The very same chest my face had been pressed against moments earlier. It was a very nice one too, firm but so soft I couldn’t be blamed for all those nights I’d shifted in my sleep to use him as my pillow.
“She’s a feisty one, she is. But I think it’s sweet, too. They were clearly in love,” Ryker commented, then straightened and stretched his arms over his head. A sliver of his sun-kissed skin teased me.
“Is that what you want? A love so loud you nauseate everyone around you?” I asked, thankfully managing to sound normal.
He wrinkled his nose. “When you put it like that…”
I laughed, and his dark eyes twinkled as he passed me to get to the kitchen.
“Lasagna sound good?” Ryker asked and opened the freezer to retrieve the already pre-portioned blocks of lasagna he made earlier this week. He was apparently the king of meal-prep from what I’d seen.
“You don’t have to feed me,” I said, coming up to stand beside him by the fridge. I contributed to the groceries, but I was embarrassed to say I’d accepted more than a few meals from him. It wasn’t my fault the place always smelled mouth-watering when he cooked.
“I know, but I like feeding you,” Ryker said simply. Another smile tugged the corner of his lips. “If you want to start the oven, though, that’d be great.”
I did as he asked, and we danced around the kitchen in a familiar motion. It was a bit terrifying how easy it was to fall into a routine with him. It was like both of us were synced up so perfectly that we didn’t need to check in with the other constantly.
Once the oven was preheated and Ryker had our blocks of pasta in an oven-safe container, we popped them in the oven, then retreated to the couch as we waited for them to heat. We each took one end—Ryker on his usual spot on the right, while I was on the left—and Gray immediately jumped up to join us in the middle.
My hand automatically reached out for Gray. He had to be the softest cat I’d ever met—and the clingiest as well. The little kitty had me wrapped around his paw. I just might have to convince his daddy to stay living with me so we didn’t have to separate.
And that was the only reason I wanted to continue living with Ryker…
“Can I ask what it is you’re looking for?” he suddenly asked, his dark eyes on me.
It reminded me of the way he looked at me the night we fell into bed together. All possessive and needy like I was his. Just the reminder sent a tingle down my spine.
I tilted my head, focusing back on his question. “If you’re talking about what kind of pet I want, then I should tell you I’m already in love with Gray. Be careful or I might steal him from right under your nose.”
Ryker chuckled. Boy, did I love hearing the man laugh. It always rumbled through him, like his entire body was experiencing the joy. The action was a lot like his fur baby, in fact.
“What?” Ryker asked.
I shook my head, unable to hold back my smile. “You and Gray both use your entire body to show your happiness. So, I just imagined you purring like he does, like you’re revving up a mean engine. Like father, like son,” I teased while I continued stroking Gray. He was proving my point with his loud purrs reverberating through the room.
Ryker shifted so he was completely facing me. His long legs leaned in my direction, and his thigh rubbed against Gray too, but the cat didn’t seem to mind.
“I can only hope you like me half as much as you do him.”
My heart caught in my throat as my hand froze above Gray’s butt. The cat lifted its ass for more pets, but probably seeing that I wasn’t moving, Ryker smiled and stroked him in my place.
His hand brushed mine with each movement. The shock of it had me instinctively trying to pull my hand back, but Ryker paused his petting to grab it.
His fingers softly played with mine for a moment before twining them together. His eyes tracked me as he pulled my hand toward him and placed the softest of kisses at the pulse point on my inner wrist.
If that action hadn’t already kicked up my heartbeat, then his gaze—fervent with unconcealed desire, desire for me —had made sure I would never have my cool around the man.
“I know you feel this, too,” he said, the statement leaving no room for argument.
Not that I was going to argue, because there was no denying his claim. I’d been attracted to him since the moment we met again outside this very apartment. And living with him only showed me he was a man worth falling for.
But what if his attraction toward me was all there was? My history with other men came to mind. All those ‘ straight ’ dudes who chased after me to experiment. Those who used me and then tossed me away with the excuse that ‘ liking to fuck ass doesn’t mean I’m gay. ’
I didn’t think Ryker was that kind of guy, but was I willing to risk the chance of more hurt for another shot in bed with him?
That singular night had been so stimulating that it starred in every quick shower jerk-off session I had this past week.
The answer was obvious.
I leaned in, careful not to crush Gray, and crashed my lips to Ryker’s. The first touch was electrifying. Ryker grabbed my bottom lip with his teeth, giving me a gentle nibble before pulling me into him.
The sudden movement caused an angry mreow as I caught a flash of gray fur bouncing off the couch. I couldn’t spare much attention to where the feline had scurried off to, not while I was being maneuvered onto sculpted legs.
Ryker’s large hands were on me; one was firmly placed on my lower back to press me against him, while the other was gentle as he cupped my cheek.
His thumb softly rubbed my chin. It was a stark contrast to the way his rough lips devoured mine. His tongue fought for entrance, and I was more than happy to grant it.
His tongue clashed with mine in a fury. The soft scratch of his short beard against my skin added another layer of depth to the kiss.
It was everything that I’d been missing. His forcefulness was evidence of how much he wanted me, but his gentle care told me he’d stop if I wasn’t into it. That made me melt into the kiss even more.
When the kiss broke, both of us were breathing heavily. A sexy-as-fuck look was plastered on Ryker’s face. His cheeks flushed like they often did, but this time, instead of giving him that shy appearance, he looked crazed. Like an animal in heat, ready to devour its prey.
It stirred me up so much that my arms hooked tighter around the back of his neck, ready to go in for another kiss.
But Ryker had other plans. A “ fuck ” left his lips as he pulled my body even more flush against his. His forehead plopped softly on my shoulder before he turned his face to plant a kiss on the throbbing pulse at the base of my neck.
“You taste as good as I imagined,” he said with another whisper of a kiss that I was sure had my pulse throbbing against his lips.
“Oh, yeah? And just how long have you been imagining kissing me?” I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.
I should have won an award for how evenly the words came out, despite how unsteady I felt while sitting in his lap.
“Since that night,” he said honestly. He mouthed the base of my neck and his breath almost burned me with how heated it was.
I didn’t need him to elaborate on which night he meant. It was clear as day to me; mostly because that night hadn’t been very far from my mind since it happened.
Knowing it was the same for Ryker made my already full dick even harder. And from my current position in Ryker’s lap, the hard thing poking my ass told me I wasn’t the only one worked up.
I let a hand slide from his neck, down his muscular pec to tease under the edge of his T-shirt.
Ryker’s breath hitched when my fingers slithered over his abs, following the dusting of hair on his treasure trail to…
“What are you doing?”
Ryker’s question came out airy as he stopped my hand on his pelvis, preventing me from moving down any further. He’d lifted his head from my shoulders, his concern apparent in the furrow of his eyebrows.
“I…didn’t kiss you because I wanted sex,” he muttered.
“Are you saying you don’t want to have sex with me, then?” I asked with a lifted brow.
“No! I do, but fuck… I’m doing this all wrong, aren’t I?” he said with a bitter laugh. “There’s no denying how attracted I am to you. You’re sitting on the proof.”
I chuckled and wiggled my hips so my ass rubbed teasingly over his erection. Ryker hissed out another “ fuck ” and shackled my hips in place with his hands.
“You’re going to be the death of me,” he murmured, and I couldn’t help but steal another kiss from those lips. He didn’t stop me this time and sank into the kiss, too.
Our mouths moved together, and even though the kiss was a lot more languid and slow this time, the air still felt like it’d escaped my lungs by the time it ended.
Ryker’s hand was back on my cheek, gentle as his thumb rubbed the lips he’d just kissed.
“I’m not like them,” he said plainly.
“Like who?” I asked, confused by the sudden change of topic.
“I’m not like the so-called straight men you’ve been with in the past. I’m not afraid to admit I have feelings for you—a man. This isn’t an experiment for me, and I’m not trying this out as a new experience. I like you, Sam, and while we’re doing this all backward, I’d really like the honor of dating you. Do you think that’d be something you want, too?”
Ryker said all of that with a completely straight face, looking so damn earnest that it left no room for doubt. He was firm in telling me what he wanted, but I also knew he wouldn’t force me if I told him I didn’t want the same thing.
I couldn’t believe I’d even had a hint of worry that he might hurt me. From the very start, Ryker showed me he was a gentle giant who cared about me.
A laugh escaped me, sounding as light as my heart was feeling.
“I do like the sound of that, but there’s just one issue…” I said, pretending to be conflicted.
“What is it? If it’s something I can change, I’ll do it,” he replied. He looked nervous, and I wondered if it was something his exes asked of him.
He’d briefly told me about his past relationships, saying how most of them ended because they got impatient with him. I couldn’t understand what his exes could’ve been impatient about.
“Don’t go changing yourself based on someone else’s whim, ’cause then you wouldn’t be you anymore, and that’d be a real damn shame,” I said and brought my hand up to his cheek. His short beard scratched my palm while my thumb stroked the bare skin below his eye.
The action caused Ryker’s lids to flutter closed for a slight moment. His head shifted as he placed a butterfly kiss on my palm before he opened his eyes again to land his dark gaze on me.
“And why’s that?” he asked.
“Because I like you an awful lot the way you are now.”
The corners of his lips hooked up and his eyes softened. The light brown flakes in them sparkled, reminding me of the crackling of a fire.
Fire matched the man well. They were both strong— dangerous —but the coziness and warmth they provided was so addicting you couldn’t help but get close.
“So, um.” Ryker cleared his throat. The color was back on his cheeks again, but I liked the firm way he held my gaze. “What’s the issue you mentioned earlier?”
“Oh, that?” I said with a grin.
His hands had loosened on my waist, allowing me to rock my hips again, and eliciting a surprised moan from Ryker’s lips.
I leaned in close to his ear and whispered, “I’m not one to hold myself back, especially when I’m already so horny for my boyfriend.”
The sound that came out of his chest came straight from a wet dream. Ryker moved, his large frame pushing me until my back was flat on the couch and he was looming over me.
I laughed and cupped the back of his neck. My finger played with the short hair there.
“Well? Are you going to keep your boyfriend waiting?” I teased as my fingers followed down the muscles on his back.
“You’re trouble, you know that?” he rumbled, and I laughed again. He sat back on his haunches and lifted his shirt over his head in one fluid movement to reveal a wide span of delicious muscle.
I wanted to lick each ridge of those defined muscles. I wondered how hard he had to work to get them.
I couldn’t linger on the question for long before my thoughts were distracted by something else. Ryker tugged my shirt off, then pulled at my pants too.
“Eager, are we?” I said with a laugh, but cooperated by lifting my hips and kicking off my pants and underwear.
I had a brief worry that Ryker would be turned off after being faced with an erect dick in the light since it had been dark and quick when he’d jerked us off last time, but it was quickly washed away by his tender stroke.
I hummed in pleasure at his touch but still asked, “It’s not a turnoff?”
Ryker’s gaze burned as he said, “No, quite the opposite. Makes me want to worship it.”
He shot me a cheeky grin, and before I could process what was happening, Ryker was going down on me. His warm mouth wrapped around me, sucking, albeit a little clumsy but still eager.
“Fuck, Ryker. You don’t have to do that.” I barely got the words out.
He released me with a loud pop, but he didn’t give me a chance to rest as he fisted my length and drew out another bead of precum.
“Didn’t you hear me? I have worshiping to do,” he stated, and then his hot mouth was back on me.
He licked a hot stripe down my erection, sucking on a ball before going back up to take me down his throat. The sight of this giant man going down on me was hot as hell, and I had to squeeze my eyes shut to make sure I didn’t come too soon.
“Keep your eyes on me,” Ryker demanded. His mouth was off me just long enough to issue the order, but he kept his eyes locked with mine.
My fingers weaved through his short hair and tried to grip what I could. It was the only thing keeping me from completely drowning in his gaze and the feel of him.
The light amber in his eyes crackled again. The heat in them so hot I wanted to melt.
“Ryker, slow down, please. I don’t wanna come so quickly,” I pleaded.
He pulled off again and stroked down my length in a way that had my toes curling.
“That’s a shame, ’cause I really want to have a taste of you,” he said, his thumb teasing my cockhead. “So, will you let me have a taste?”
Then, ever so slowly, his head lowered. He opened his mouth and his pretty tongue licked away the liquid at the head before wrapping me in his warmth again.
I couldn’t have lasted even if I wanted to, and the moment Ryker had me down his throat again, I was spilling my seed inside of him.
I came so hard the room was spinning, and even though I wanted to watch him suck me dry, I had to squeeze my eyes tight to counter how hard the orgasm hit me.
It wasn’t until Ryker’s fingers sank into my thighs that I realized I’d crossed my legs around him so tightly I’d basically had him in a leg chokehold.
“Fuck, sorry,” I murmured and quickly relaxed my legs so they were resting over his shoulders instead of cutting off his airway.
He sucked in a deep breath, probably happy to be able to breathe again.
“Well? How was the taste you wanted?” I asked.
He grunted, but it sounded slightly more pleased than all his other grunts. The fact I was starting to be able to differentiate his grunts amused me.
I lifted my leg to bring it down from Ryker’s shoulder, but he grabbed hold of it first. He placed a soft kiss on my inner thigh, then gave it a hard suck that had my breath catching in my throat.
He licked the spot and released me to reveal dark red skin underneath. I didn’t think I’d still be gettinghickeys at my age.
“Marking me, are we?” I asked in a teasing tone.
Ryker’s answer was to nibble on my inner thigh again, leaving a few more red spots there before finally pulling off.
He leaned over me to brandish me with a heated kiss that lasted entirely not long enough before it was rudely interrupted by my loud, growling stomach.
“Ignore it,” I said and tried to pull Ryker back into the kiss.
He laughed and was already pushing himself off the couch. I was very disappointed when he picked his shirt up off the floor and tugged it over his head to cover the mouth-watering view.
He laughed again when he saw my expression. Handing my clothes to me, he gave me a chaste kiss, then said, “C’mon. Let’s eat before the lasagna burns. Besides, I can’t have my boyfriend starving on the day we start dating. My mama would faint if she knew I was such a savage.”
“I like you being a savage,” I muttered while Idutifully got dressed and followed him into the kitchen. Ryker pulled our food out, and just in time too. The cheese was bubbling and perfectly browned.
He turned off the oven and brought our food to the little table we had in the corner of our living room. I brought the utensils with me, placing them on the table before sitting in the chair Ryker had pulled out for me.
In my seated position, his still-hard cock was right in my face. I reached out to cop a feel.
“I could suck you off and let you feed me your cum,” I suggested, giving his cock a squeeze.
Ryker growled something feral as he bent over for another torturous kiss.
“Trust me,” he said when he broke the kiss. Again . I might have to glue his lips to mine until I got enough of his kisses. “As much as I love the sound of that, you’re going to need some real sustenance for what I have planned for you.”
“Oh, and what’s that?”
“Making sure you won’t be able to walk properly tomorrow,” he said with a hard gaze.
“Promises, promises,” I muttered, but if I physically could, my dick would have risen right then and there.
Ryker laughed, gave me another stroke on my cheek, then pulled out a chair to sit beside me. We ate mostly in silence. Me, too busy scarfing down the food, wanting to get to the next part of the night as quickly as possible, and Ryker, watching me. Those damn hungry eyes only quickened my pace, making me even more desperate for him.
After we finished dinner, he didn’t make me wait long and dragged me to his room. He firmly shut the door despite Gray’s pleading meows.
Clothes trailed behind us as we stumbled further into the room, and we quickly fell onto his soft bed. My blanket was thrown over one half of it, but it was purely there for show. I’d given up pretending I wasn’t crawling under his blanket with him every night.
Once naked, Ryker quickly launched his attack. He smothered me in bruising kisses all while fisting our erections together.
I tried to resist, I really did, but my orgasm stood no chance against his punishing lips and expert hands. Then he used my cum to stroke himself.
I watched him for a minute, mesmerized by the sexy view of him; angry red cock matching the red heat tinting his cheeks, eyes half-lidded as he stared down at me, and neck muscles straining with his effort.
Fuck, I wanted him so much, but we didn’t have lube or condoms in the apartment. I’d asked. Besides, I didn’t think we were ready for ass play just yet. Ryker might have accepted this all so easily, but taking it one step at a time never hurt anyone. So, I did the next best thing.
I flipped onto my stomach and got onto my knees. Ryker raised a questioning brow, his hand immediately stopping his jerking to land possessively over my ass cheeks. I didn’t miss the way his cock twitched as he kneaded them.
Should’ve known he’d be an ass man.
Squeezing my thighs as tightly as I could together, I pressed my chest against the bed with my ass stuck in the air.
“Fuck my thighs,” I rasped.
Ryker didn’t need to be told twice. He positioned himself between my legs, my cum slicking the way as he thrust between them.
He pressed over my back, his desperate growls ringing in my ear. And I swore I was drained, too exhausted for anything more than lying there, taking his movements, but each of his thrusts had his velvety cock sliding against my balls.
Loud slaps rang inside the room each time his front smacked against my ass. The movement was a hard tease of what it’d be like when he got inside me, and I was so needy for him that my exhausted dick was once again rising to the occasion.
“There’s my good boy,” he cooed into my ear as his hand found my dick again.
“Ugh, don’t. You’ve drained me dry already,” I groaned, trying to push his hand away. My dick might think it was ready to play again, but I knew I couldn’t muster another orgasm.
“We’ll see about that,” was all Ryker replied. I could hear the challenge in his voice and that should have clued me in that he really set out to do what he’d promised during dinner.
I should have scrambled away and begged him to just let me suck him off, but I was trapped in between his arms as he continued thrusting into the gap between my thighs.
He grabbed the both of us as he fucked me. The calluses of his hand and the heavenly slide of his cock pumping under mine felt divine, but this wouldn’t end how he wanted.
It was physically impossible.
“I can’t,” I moaned in pleasure and pain; it was all the same at this point.
My ass throbbed from the hard impact of each of his thrusts, and my thighs were chafing from the friction, the same with my cock.
All that, plus the deep-seated exhaustion from coming twice already meant a third was physically impossible, except…
“You can,” Ryker said into my ear. “I’m close. Come with me.”
Ryker had either trained my body to follow his commands without me being aware, or the impossible really was possible.
He grunted his orgasm into my ear. Liquid splashed the underside of my cock, and suddenly I was spilling mine along with him.
I barely registered Ryker turning my head to sear my lips with a kiss before I was plopping flat on the bed with no strength to keep my hips lifted.
Ryker murmured something soft, but I was too far gone to comprehend. The last thing I remembered was him pressing the sweetest of kisses into my hair before I was dead to the world.
Thank the lord tomorrow was Sunday.