Chapter Twelve #4
“I see that. Why do you have it?” When she shrugged, he stepped closer to her. “Why, Ryan?”
“I promised myself I would get a photo of you. I kept my camera aimed at you since you weren’t looking at me.
When the wind picked up, and you placed your hand on your hat, I snapped it.
I loved it when you wear that black T-shirt.
And I knew that day, I would take a photo of you just for me.
” She placed a trembling hand over his heart.
Her eyes shone, tears glinting. “I love you, and I did tell you that the day I left.”
“I didn’t want to believe it. I… couldn’t believe it.”
“I wouldn’t lie to you about something like that.”
“I should have asked you to stay.” Seth shook his head. “I was too afraid you’d leave me, Ryan, but if you want to live here, we will or we can live in California.”
“In California?” she asked in a shocked tone.
“Yes. If that’s what you want. I’m sure I can still train cutting horses, but Cull said he’d take over growing the feed. I can’t let Ash down.”
“Cull would take over?”
“Yes. He wasn’t thrilled about it, but I trust him completely.”
“When did you ask him that?”
“The day you came here before you left for Kalispell.”
“So, you were thinking about us being together?”
“It’s all I’ve thought about.”
“You’d hate it there,” she said.
“No, I wouldn’t because you’d be there—” He stopped at the look she gave him. “What?”
“That’s almost word for word what I told you. I’d love Montana because you were here.”
Seth ran his hand along the nape of his neck. “Yeah, but—”
“But, what, Seth?”
“It’s because I have been here before, but I realized I didn’t want to follow Autumn, but I’d follow you anywhere. I want… I need you in my life and if I have to live there with you to prove that, I will.”
“I don’t want you to have to live there, Seth.”
“That’s not exactly how I meant it. I just meant I’d be anywhere with you.”
“You said you thought I wouldn’t return to Montana, or you. You see that’s not true. I will go anywhere you are.” She studied him, head tilted. “You’d never be happy there, Seth. You’re Montana born and bred. This is where you belong, and wherever you belong, I do too.”
He smiled then, a slow, warm expression of relief, and pulled her into his arms. The afternoon light brushed across their joined silhouettes as he pressed his lips to hers.
Ryan pulled back from him. “You smell like gasoline.”
Seth laughed. “Well, I was working on a tractor when you showed up. If I’d have known you were coming, I would have showered.”
“If you knew I was coming, you would have ran.”
“No. No more running. I know you love me.”
She tilted her head and smirked. “How? Because I told you?”
Seth picked up the frame. “Because of this. Don’t ask me how, but I know you do just by looking at this.” He shook his head.
“My best friend, Skylar, told me to show it to you because you’d see that I loved you.”
“She sounds very smart. So, why didn’t you show it to me?”
“Because you didn’t want me and I was afraid you’d think I was just infatuated with you.” She looked at him. “I’m not, Seth. It’s not infatuation, it’s love.”
“I believe you.” He took her hand and led her down the hallway.
“Where are you taking me?” she asked with a laugh.
“I need a shower,” he said.
“I don’t think I do,” she teased.
“Yes, you do. Trust me.” He grinned.
“With my life.”
At that, he stopped, pulled her into his arms and pressed his lips to hers. It had been far too long without her by his side. They had some time to make up for. He entered the bedroom, opened the nightstand drawer, removed two condoms, held them up for her to see, and she laughed.
“Just in case,” he said with a grin.
Seth yanked Ryan into the bathroom like a man possessed, his fingers digging into her wrist with a desperation.
The door slammed shut behind them, and he spun her around, pressing her back against the cold tile wall.
His eyes were hungry, and he knew she could feel his hard cock pressing against her through his jeans.
“Why did you wear this... getup?” he teased as he tugged at her blouse, his fingers fumbling with the buttons.
Ryan laughed softly, the sound sending a shiver down his spine. “Because I wanted to start over with you,” she whispered, her breath hot against his neck. “I wanted us to have a better ending.”
“We did,” Seth muttered, shaking his head as he pushed her blouse off her shoulders, letting it fall to the floor in a heap.
His hands slid down her sides, cupping her ass through the thin fabric of her skirt.
“I’m sorry for being a prick,” he said, his voice low and rough.
“I was trying to convince myself we couldn’t make it work. ”
Ryan reached up, her fingers brushing against his cheek. “We will,” she said firmly, her eyes locking with his.
“I know that now,” Seth whispered, his voice trembling with emotion. He reached behind her, unzipping her skirt and letting it pool at her feet. He dropped to his knees, his hands gripping her thighs, pulling her closer.
His lips pressed against her skin, leaving a trail of fire as he kissed his way up her legs. His tongue flicked against the sensitive flesh of her inner thigh, and she gasped, her hands tangling in his hair.
“Seth,” she moaned, as he hooked his thumbs in the waistband of her panties and pulled them down.
He didn’t waste any time, burying his face between her legs, his tongue sliding along her wet slit. She gasped, her fingers tightening in his hair as he licked at her.
“God, yes,” she cried out.
When she came, Seth felt her orgasm rip through her, her cries echoing off the bathroom walls. He stood, his lips tasting of her as he kissed her deeply, his tongue tangling with hers. He unclasped her bra, letting it fall to the floor, and leaned back to admire her naked body.
“You have no fucking idea how much I’ve missed you,” he whispered, his voice thick with desire.
He picked her up effortlessly, carrying her into the shower stall. He turned the water on, the steam quickly filling the room as he stripped out of his clothes in record time. His cock was rock hard, throbbing with need as he pressed himself against her. Then he put his forehead on her shoulder.
“Seth?” Ryan whispered, and he knew she saw a tear on his cheek when he raised his head.
“I can’t lose you, Ryan,” he said, his voice breaking. “Not now. Not ever.”
“I’m not going anywhere,” she promised, her hands cupping his face.
He kissed her deeply, his hands roaming over her body as he reached for the condom. He rolled it onto his cock, his hands trembling with anticipation. He lifted her, pressing her back against the shower wall as he positioned himself.
“You’re so wet,” he growled, his lips brushing against hers as he slowly inched into her. “I don’t know how long I’ll last. It’s been too long.”
“We’ll make up for it later,” she whispered, her legs wrapping around his waist.
Seth nodded, his hips beginning to move, his cock sliding in and out of her with a rhythm that made her cry out. The water cascaded down over them, mixing with the sweat and heat of their passion as they moved together.
She put her lips next to his ear. “Seth,” she whispered and he lost it.
He felt her tightening around him, her moans growing louder as she neared another orgasm. Seth gritted his teeth, trying to delay his own release, but it was no use. He came hard.
Ryan cried out, her own climax crashing over her as she clung to him.
They stayed like that for a moment, lost in the haze of their pleasure, before Seth gently lowered her to her feet.
“We’re not done,” he whispered, his lips brushing against her ear. “Not even close.”
Ryan smiled, her hands trailing down his chest. “I’m counting on it,” she said.
He pressed her against the wall again, his hands roaming over her body as he kissed her deeply.
His cock was already hard again, and he wasted no time in rolling on the condom, positioning himself and thrusting into her with a force that made her cry out.
The water continued to pour down around them as they began again, their bodies moving together in a rhythm that was as old as time.
And this time, Seth was determined to make it last.
“Fuck, Ryan,” he growled, his hips moving faster, his cock plunging into her again and again.
She wrapped her legs tighter around his waist, her nails digging into his back as she met his thrusts with her own.
“Seth!” she screamed, her orgasm building again.
He felt it too, his hips moving faster as he neared his own release.
Ryan’s eyes locked with his as they came together, their cries mingling with the sound of the water.
Seth gently lowered her to her feet.
“I love you,” he whispered, his lips brushing against hers.
“I love you too,” Ryan whispered back, her hands cupping his face.
They stayed in the shower for a while longer, letting the water wash away the remnants of their passion.
Seth knew, without a doubt, that they’d make up for lost time. Again, and again, and again. He knew they’d clash. It’s what they did, but they knew how to make up, so he didn’t mind arguing with her in the least, he thought with a grin.
He kissed her lips. “We’ll go wherever you want.”
“We’re already there.” She frowned. “I would like for you to meet my parents though.”
“I can do that. Same with you meeting mine.”
She grinned. “I’m looking forward to it.”
After stepping from the shower, they dried off, and Seth gave her a pair of his sweatpants and a T-shirt to wear. Both were too big for her, but they didn’t care. He pulled on a white T-shirt and black sweatpants, then a pair of socks.
“Where is your luggage?”
“In the back of the SUV.”
“Okay. I’ll be right back. You’ll be able to change into something that fits you better.”
“I happen to like wearing these. They smell like you.”
Seth grinned, kissed her lips, and strode from the room. When he walked outside, he glanced toward the barn to see Cull standing there with a smirk on his face.
“What?” Seth asked with a grin.
“It’s about fucking time,” Cull said, then turned and entered the barn.
Seth chuckled. Yeah, he was right. It was about fucking time. Pulling the luggage out from the back, he carried them inside and straight to the bedroom, then walked back to the living room and sat on the sofa next to Ryan.
He pulled her into his arms, knowing that’s where she belonged. They were both where they belonged.