Chapter 19
CHAPTER NINETEEN
EVE
I stretch lazily in the bed and feel the empty space beside me. Glancing at the clock, I see it’s after nine. I quickly get up, knowing Ryland has been up for a while. I throw on a t-shirt and some shorts before piling my hair up in a loose bun to go in search of them both.
I scan the living room before I see her standing at the edge of the pool. Ryder has his arms out, and she jumps into them, squealing. Laughing, I open the cottage doors and make my way over to them.
“How long have you two been out here?” I sit down on the edge of the pool and smile when Ryland swims a little with her water wings on.
“About thirty minutes. We came out here after breakfast. You looked so peaceful I didn’t want to wake you.”
“I can’t believe I slept so late. She usually has me up at seven.”
“I usually get up at six to hit the gym but couldn’t make myself leave once I saw how cute she was sleeping. I must have sat and watched her for over an hour before her eyes blinked open, and she gave me a toothy grin.”
“She’s quickly becoming daddy’s little girl.” I smile when she hands him the little ball floating beside her.
“Thanks, Rybug,” he says, taking it from her.
“Don’t you have work today? I should be going in too to work more on that mess you call an office,” I laugh.
“I took the morning off. I thought we could go in after Ryland’s nap and take her with us. Besides, someone kept me up half the night, so I needed a lazy morning to recover.”
“I kept you up?” I grin down at him.
“I’m not complaining,” he laughs when I lightly splash him with water.
“Daddy.” We both stop and stare at Ryland. She’s got the biggest grin on her face and is holding her arms up to Ryder.
“She called me daddy.” His eyes well up as he lifts her out of the water and hugs her. “That’s right, Ryland. I’m your daddy. I love you so much, baby girl.” She lays her head on his shoulder, and he looks over at me with love shining in those beautiful greys.
I wipe the tears that are falling as I watch the two people I love most stare back at me. His strong tattooed arms are gentle as he rubs and pats her back. The pale baby skin is a sharp contrast against his dark tan.
“Doggy!” She squirms against Ryder and points to Nemo, who comes out with Max. Sophia and Travis are behind him.
“We’re going to take Max down to the beach. Do you care if we steal Ryland for a bit?” Travis bends down and grins at his niece.
“She’ll love that,” I say. “Let me get her beach bag in case she needs anything.”
“It’s over there on the chair.” Ryder nods to the lounge chair by the pool, and I walk over to it. I smile when I peer into the bag. He’s thought of everything.
I hand it to Sophia. “Here’s the sunscreen, her water, and towel. There are snacks in there, too, if she gets hungry.”
“Use this time wisely,” she winks at me, and I laugh.
“Want to go to the beach with Max and the doggy?” Travis holds his hands out to Ryland, and she eagerly goes to him.
“I do.”
Travis laughs and scoops her up, kissing her on the head. I walk over to the deck railing and watch them set up a blanket and umbrella for her before getting out her sand toys. She happily sits in the sand and starts scooping it up into her bucket.
I feel Ryder come up behind me and close my eyes as he wraps his arms around my waist.
“I don’t think I’ve ever been so happy in my life as I am right now,” he whispers into my neck. “I was so afraid I would never be happy again, and now…” He kisses my neck, and I smile. “Now I have everything I have ever wanted and more right here with me.”
“I feel exactly the same,” I say softly, sighing when his tongue comes out to taste. He presses against me, getting my pajama bottoms all wet from the pool water. “You just got me soaking wet,” I laugh.
“That’s exactly what I plan on doing,” he says, turning me and throwing me over his shoulder, causing me to yelp. He walks us to his place and immediately heads for the shower before setting me down. My laughter dies down once I meet the heat in his greys.
“You are wearing entirely too many clothes,” he says in a low voice before backing me up against the shower door. He lifts my shirt before lowering my shorts. “Much better,” he whispers near my ear as he sucks the sensitive spot on my neck. Reaching behind me, he turns on the shower and lowers his swim trunks to the ground.
He’s hard and swollen as he circles his hand around himself and takes a long stroke. My eyes watch him as his muscles strain with the movement.
A rush of desire hits my core as I watch a bead of arousal leak out.
“This is what you do to me. I could cum right now just by looking at you. All I have to do is imagine what it feels like to be inside of you, and I lose all control.”
He steps closer to me until we are under the warm spray. His hand slides down my stomach before running his fingers through my folds. I moan when he enters two fingers and presses me against the wall.
“I think someone liked watching me touch myself. You are practically dripping,” he breathes against my skin. His fingers continue to plunge deep, and I know his words will be my undoing.
He releases his fingers, and I whimper from the loss of contact. His finger comes up and rubs my lips, coating them with my taste. The look in his eyes has me wanting to drop to my knees and please him in any way I can. His tongue traces my bottom lip as he licks my arousal off. He grins against my lips before reaching behind me and grabbing the shampoo.
“Ryder, please.” He’s got me so worked up that I can hardly see straight.
“Not yet, my evening sun. I want your body craving me just a little bit longer.” He washes my hair before quickly doing his. I take this opportunity to grab the sponge and body wash. Bubbles slide down his chest as I run the sponge over his tattoos. I reach out and circle his length and hear him hiss as his jaw clenches tight. I stroke him slowly before running my thumb over his tip, catching the drop that seeps out.
“My turn,” he growls, taking the sponge from me. He trails it down my chest and over my aching nipples. I throw my head back and gasp as the sensation shoots straight to my core. He lowers the sponge and rakes it across my sensitive bud, and my body trembles with need.
“Ryder…it’s too much. Please,” I pant.
“Does my girl need to cum?” He drops the sponge and backs me under the water, rinsing us off.
“Yes,” I whisper, pressing my bottom against him and rubbing against his hard length, trying to put an end to this ache. His fingers dig into my flesh as he grips my hips tightly.
“I think that’s enough torture for the both of us.” He turns off the water and picks me up. I immediately wrap my legs around him, putting him right where I want him. He walks us to the bed as I move against him. My wet body slides down his length as he grabs my ass, increasing the pressure.
“I need to be in you right…fucking…now,” he growls, lowering us down onto the bed. He flips us over, so I’m straddling him, giving me control of the situation. I move against him, teasing him just enough to make his jaw clench tight. I grin wickedly down at him as I watch him struggle with control.
“No more games, Eve. You either put that pussy around me,” he says through clenched teeth, “or I’m going to cum all over you right now, leaving you wanting more.” His greys are wild as they burn into me. I do what we both want and lift up before sliding down on him.
“Oh, God,” I moan, almost cumming from the contact. We both go still to catch our breaths. He’s so deep inside me, and all I want to do is keep him there forever.
His hands come up and squeeze my breasts before pulling on my nipple hard. The sensation causes me to cry out as I tilt my head back. I rise up and sink back down, going harder this time.
“Jesus, you’re a vision,” he rasps out, holding my hips while I start to ride him. “I’m getting two more of your orgasms, Eve, that’s owed to me,” he grounds out. I feel the pressure start to build as I go faster. “That’s it, baby. Ride the fuck out of me.”
He squeezes my ass tighter, and I explode around him as stars block my vision. I cry out his name as sparks fly through my body. Trembling, I squeeze him tightly. I’m flipped so fast my head spins. He’s still inside me as he puts his hand on the headboard to brace himself.
My body is still reeling from the effects of my orgasm as he rocks into me harder than before. A deep pull has me digging my heels into his back as my body responds to him again.
“Give it to me,” he demands. “I want another one.” He reaches between us and rubs my clit before pinching it hard. My body clenches him tightly. I hear him shout off in the distance as my senses get scattered. My whole body vibrates as my second orgasm washes through me. I feel him pulse as he empties inside of me. His breathing is hard as he lets go of the headboard and settles above me.
He kisses me softly before burying his face in my neck. I feel his heartbeat match mine as it pounds fast in our chest.
“Jesus, Ryder. The second one almost killed me,” I whisper.
He laughs softly against my neck. “I was right there with you.” He moves to his side and brings me to him. I lay my head on his chest and listen to his heart rate return to normal.
“I will love you forever,” I say sleepily.
“I love you too, my evening sun. Forever,” I hear him say before my eyes drift shut.
“Oh shit!” I blink my eyes open to Miles standing there with a big grin on his face. Jake comes up behind him and laughs. Ryder immediately throws a cover over my bare ass. Thank God I was pressed up against him, and nothing else showed.
“What the fuck, guys?” Ryder yells, sitting up and looking like he just got thoroughly fucked with his hair sticking up in all different directions. We must have dozed off for a bit.
“We just wanted to let you know that lunch is done. Travis and Sophia are feeding the kids now.” Jake grins at the state of the bed. Covers are thrown everywhere. I’m surprised the damn bed is still standing. It looks like a war zone in here. “Somebody got in an afternoon delight, and from the looks of it, it was a damn good one.”
“Afternoon delight? What are you eighty?” Ryder mutters. I giggle beside him, and Jake winks at me. “Maybe knock next time?” Ryder scowls at both of his brothers.
“We never knock,” Miles laughs.
“Well, you do now. Eve lives here, and I’m not about to have you walk in and see her naked.”
“You sound all possessive like Travis now. You’re taking the fun out of everything.” Miles looks like he’s about to pout.
“I am possessive when it comes to Eve. You’ve obviously forgotten all the times I wrestled your ass to the ground in high school for just looking at her the wrong way.”
“You mean you tried to wrestle me to the ground,” Miles grins.
“That’s not how I remember it.” Ryder stares down Miles before his lips slightly turn up. It’s like trying to be mean to a puppy. You just can’t do it.
“So does this mean you are together again?” Jake asks, looking between the two of us.
“Yeah, we are together.” Ryder smiles down at me, and my heart soars in my chest.
“Thank God,” Miles laughs. “If I had to live through one more day of his mopey ass, I was going to lose it.”
Jake and Miles dodge the pillow Ryder throws at them. “You can go now so we can get dressed. Tell Travis and Sophia we’ll be right there.”
“Okay, okay,” Jake laughs. “We’re going.” They leave, and I grin up at Ryder. I’m barely able to contain my happiness as I scoot up and straddle him.
Laughing, he traces my lips with this thumb. “I love seeing you so happy.”
“I love being so happy. I’m especially happy right now because I have you.”
“I’ve always been yours.”
“I’ve always been yours.” I lean in and kiss him. He moans when I run my fingers up into his hair to deepen the kiss.
When we break away, we are both grinning like giddy teenagers.
“As tempting as it is to slide back into you, our daughter is probably missing her daddy, so we better go check on her.” He lifts me up and sets me back down on the bed so he can get dressed.
“She probably is missing you over me,” I laugh. “I don’t exist anymore when you are in the room.” I get up in search of some clothes. He catches me around the waist and pulls me back to him.
“We both know that’s not true. I can tell you, though, that when I’m in a room with you, nothing else exists for me except you. Now, go get dressed while I check on our little girl.” He slaps my butt and lets me go. I can’t help the happy dance that comes out as I make my way to the bathroom. The past is finally behind us, and I have my Ryder back…I have my family back.