by Jewel, Bella
His cock pounded.
His passion pounded.
Everything between us unsaid and known pounded.
Again and again and again.
The bed rocked as he fucked me.
The mattress creaked as he made love to me.
And through it all, all I could think about was how much he meant to me after such a short amount of time. How this level of attraction and lust and togetherness wasn’t common and was worth so much more than what we originally thought.
“Fuck, Vesper. I need to come so bad.” Ryder hoisted my hips higher until the only contact I had were my shoulder blades on the bed and his hands holding me in position for his cock. He never stopped riding me just like he promised. In and out. Down and up. Driving me mad, mad, mad.
The orgasm he’d almost given me with his tongue detonated back into business.
“Come, I want to. I’ll be with you.”
The sparkling warning made me gasp and tense.
He growled, “Are you…can I?”
Through my sex-addled fog, I knew what he wanted to know. “Yes, the pill kicked in yesterday. I’m protected.”
“Thank fuck because the rumours of me being your cousin are already all around town.”
The naughtiness of yet another taboo added more gasoline to our rabid raging fire.
Ryder fell on top of me, his hips pistoning as he yanked my legs up, holding them against my chest as he ploughed me into the mattress.
The way he bent my body added a brand new element of wrongness. I curled under his pressure, making me tighter and him so, so big.
“Hell, I’m gonna—” His face twisted as the loudest groan exploded from his chest. His body jerked and jived as he took me again and again.
The first splash of his release set me off.
I shattered.
Violently and completely.
The release that’d lived in my clit the moment he’d put the collar around his neck erupted and I’d never felt anything as breath-taking or life changing in my entire existence.
By the time we returned to our bodies and not floating in sensual subspace, Ryder unbuckled the collar from around my wrists and I corralled my floppy hands to remove the one from around his throat.
The moment we were restraint free, we tumbled together, breathing hard.
Spooning me from behind, Ryder pulled my overheated tingling body into his front, slotting his cock still slippery from me against my ass cheeks.
We were sticky and gross but we made no move to leave.
I stilled as his arms wrapped right around me, hugging me hard. We didn’t say a word but once the hug ended, he murmured, “You know, don’t you?”
That you’re falling for me?
That you like me more than you should?
I snuggled into him. “I think so.”
Another minute passed.
I whispered, “And you know, too?”
That I’m falling for you.
That I like you far more than I should.
His arms tightened, repeating what I’d said, “I think so.”
I whispered, “Does that scare you?”
“Fucking terrifies.”
“What do we do?”
He sighed, taking his sweet time to reply. “We just let go, fall, and hope to God we land in the same place.”
Silence fell.
Thoughts turned heavy.
But the fear turned to acceptance, knowing we were both in the same sinking love boat.
That was all there was to it.
We would drown or float together.
Tapping my hip, Ryder sat up and helped hoist me from the rumbled bed. “Come on, best friend in the world. Up.”
My hair tumbled around me as I stood on wobbly legs. “After what we just did, I better be more than just your friend.”
“Girlfriend?”
“The best girlfriend.”
He grinned. “Best, only, forever.”
My heart hopped like a damn bunny rabbit.
His hand looped around mine. “Come on.”
“Where are you taking me?” I yawned. “After sex like that, I need to sleep. Especially as I have work in the morning and I’m currently brain dead.” I laughed softly, looking at the ripped open bag and its collar contents. “I’ll never look at dog or cat toys the same again.”
Chuckling, he scooped up the pussy tickler with its feather and ribbons. “We didn’t get to play with this one.”
“There’s always next time.”
Kissing my forehead, he grinned. “You’re right. Plenty more games afoot.” Squeezing my fingers, he guided me forward. “And that is why we’re taking a shower. I’m going to massage away the long day you’ve had, and then you’re falling asleep in my bed where I can watch over you.”
“By watch over, you mean keep me prisoner, right?”
“Hey, girlfriend…prisoner. I thought they were one and the same.”
I laughed, following him into the bathroom. “In that case, I think I’d agree to being your prisoner if it meant I was subjected to more of your singular brand of punishment.”
Turning on the spray and helping me into an old claw foot bath where old tiles had already been chipped off the walls in preparation for new ones, Ryder kissed me as water rained over our heads. “Vesper, if keeping you prisoner was the only way I could keep you, you’d be my slave for life.”
And that was how my dreams consisted of Ryder Carson being my master and me his willing little sex slave all night.
It was a good dream.
A great dream.
And I added it to the games we could play in the future.
Because we would have a future.
A long one.
I was sure of it.
Chapter Thirty-One
Ryder
LIFE HAD A WAY OF speeding up without noticing.
Vesper and I remained in our happy bubble for two weeks. She went to work; I renovated the house. Once Barb was cleared of any infection from her wired-shut muzzle, she moved in with Vesper which mellowed Visa surprisingly.
Our texts never ceased and my thoughts never strayed from her.
She sometimes slept over while others she returned home. I brought home a rescue or two and she started introducing Visa and Barb to Scar and Hippo (on the one time she was able to coax her opinionated pussy into the car).
For a single bachelor, my life suddenly became obsessed with togetherness and family.
When Vesper wasn’t working, and I wasn’t bothering her with new rescues, we hung out like every-day couples.
We went to the movies to see the new James Bond (which she didn’t care for), and in return I accompanied her to the latest chick flick (that I didn’t care for). However, I loved every corny pick up line because she held my hand and allowed me to cop a feel in the dark.
It was a win-win, really. Distracting her got me hard and gave me a reprieve from actually listening to sexually repressed dialogue.
A few days later, she gave me a hand job in my Mustang in the parking lot of McDonalds when we’d both had a crazy long night with an abused Zuchon (a Bichon Frise and Shih Tzu cross), and hadn’t eaten all day. I’d repaid the finger service the following afternoon when I popped into her surgery and she had half an hour free between appointments.
We were damn insatiable but not just for sex. For each other.
I ached like the fucking flu when we were apart and when we together, I got itchy thinking of her leaving. I didn’t like being apart, and as stupid as it was, I wanted to ask her to move in with me.
In fact, I would never ever admit this out loud, but I was doing my best to come up with a way to help her out financially, so she could continue to donate to the shelter and be able to afford decadent meals for herself.
However, I hadn’t come up with a way that wouldn’t be a slap in her face or come across as meddling.
One day while Vesper was chained at work, I’d visited the shelter to check out their list of top s
ponsors. I was now in the records thanks to my good deeds but Vesper had been there long before I had.
How had I never noticed her name in the top three donators before?
Not just her personally but the surgery was a donator, too.
Did I need to have a word with her about financial forecast and stability? Had she forward planned retirement and thought about what she would do if, heaven forbid, she could never work again?
I loved her generosity, but it also made me nervous as hell.
* * *
“Do you want to come around tomorrow night?” Vesper asked during one of our late night phone calls.
I’d seen her today for a quick lunch at the surgery but hadn't been able to head to hers tonight as she’d had another online conference with the stuffy bigwigs of the veterinary council.
“Just try to keep me away.” I sprawled in my bed, inhaling Vesper from the last time she’d slept over. She didn’t sleep here often enough for my tastes but at least she’d started leaving little things like a spare toothbrush and a couple of extra clean panties for the shame dash into work the next morning.
Her voice held a smile. “I’ll make some tagliatelle; I know you like pastas.”
The thought of her making me a home-cooked meal made me grateful and upset. How much of her weekly budget would go to that one meal and what would she eat afterward if she insisted on giving most of her pay-check away?
“I’ll even dress up as a sexy chef and wear nothing under the apron.”
I bit my fist. “You’d do that for me?”
“I’d do whatever you wanted me to do.”
My body tightened. “Including bending over the counter and letting me sink inside you from behind?”
“Yum, especially that.”
“Hell yes, I’m—” My erotic fantasy slammed to a stop. “Ah, shit, I can’t come over tomorrow.”
“Oh?” Sadness filled her tone, then was covered by false joviality. “Oh okay, no problem. Another time.”
“Don’t do that. Say you’re pissed at me and ask why I’m standing you up.”
The phone line crackled before she sucked in a breath. “Okay, fine. I’m not happy. I’m going to miss you and it will suck and I’ll end up having lonely pasta for one with Visa and Barb.”
“There’s my girl. Damn it turns me on knowing that you’re going to miss me.”
“Are you going to miss me?”
“Like a bloody lovesick fool.”
“Well that’s a consolation prize at least. I hope it hurts.”
“Oh, Ves, it will, believe me. Knowing I could be with you instead of entertaining someone else will be a dagger in my bleeding heart.”
The line crackled again.
I waited for her to demand who I was entertaining. I knew she cared deeply for me. We hadn’t come out and used the word that dangled around her hearts like blazing billboards but I knew she would stew if she didn’t ask.
And frankly, it kinda pissed me off that she never asked who Fiona was from my stupid text about Fi saying Ves should like me. Not that it mattered now as they’d met about a week ago and become almost as close as her and Polly.
Damn women and their brethren.
“Go on, Ves. Spit it out.”
An explosive sigh hit my ear. “Are you trying to make me jealous or are you just proving a point?”
“A bit of both. But it depends on what point I’m trying to prove.”
“The stupid point being you’re trying to make me admit that I’m in lo—” She wrenched to a stop. She coughed. “Um, the point being that I’m incredibly possessive of you and don’t like the thought of you being with anyone else but me.”
I practically hyperventilated at the almost slip.
Did she love me?
Fuck, I hope she does.
“Does it soothe your jealousy knowing my date tomorrow night has a penis?”
“Not really. I know how irresistible you are. If they’re gay, then I have to worry about the male species as well as my own moving in on my territory.”
“Your territory, huh?”
“Yep. I might have to pee on you. It works in the animal kingdom. It could work at keeping hussies and eager men away.”
“And what if this man was related? Would you be worried then?”
“Oh my God, even more worried! You slept with your so-called cousin. Multiple times, I may add.” Her outburst rang with laugher. “No family relation is not safe.”
“Ah, I love yo…ur sense of humour.”
Holy shit, I almost slipped.
Good save, Ry. Good save.
We were both on a slippery slope tonight. Time to end the call before confessions split.
“You love my sense of humour?” Her voice was hesitant. “That’s all you love?”
I scowled at the ceiling, cursing myself. “Yup. That’s what I said. Sense of humour. Love it. Great. Funny stuff, Veves.”
She tutted. “Right. Because that’s exactly what I want you to love about me.” The hook dangled, and I swam toward it like the sucker I was.
I love your smile, your laugh, your face, your body, your soul, your kindness, your intelligence, your empathy, the way you sleep, the mole on your butt, your vanilla smell.
I love you.
But I was a man not a fish, and I didn’t take the bait.
Doing my best to change the subject, I chuckled. “Remember I said I had an older brother? He’s arriving in town tomorrow night. I promised him clean sheets and a roof to sleep under. I have to uphold my side of the bargain even though I literally have no finished bedroom to store him in.”
“He’s your brother, not a piece of luggage. You mean look after him not store him.”
“Meh, same thing.”
Vesper giggled. “So, you’re cheating on me with your brother?”
“Seems that way.”
“I might have to report you.”
“Or punish me?”
She whispered, “That could be arranged.”
My cock stiffened. “Don’t say things like that in that sexy way unless you want a midnight visitor.”
“I always want a midnight visitor if it’s you.”
“You say the nicest things to me.”
“And I mean them. See what a great girlfriend I am?”
My heart clenched. “You’re better than great. You’re the best.”
“And this conversation just veered into cheesy territory.”
I sighed. “Can you blame me?”
“Yes, I can actually. I was never this infatuated before. You’re interfering with my life.”
“If I wasn’t interfering, I’d be fucking heartbroken because it would mean you didn’t like me.”
Silence fell.
I hesitated then asked a juvenile but much needed question. “You do like me, Ves…don’t you?”
“Seriously, Ry? Fishing for compliments now?”
“Fishing for confirmation of your affection.”
“You already know how I feel about you.”
“I do?”
Silence again.
That damn third party awkwardness and annoying cupid fluttering around us with his arrows ruined everything.
Vesper finally murmured, “You know as well as I do what we’re avoiding. And when we finally find the balls to be honest with each other, we’ll do it in person and not over the phone.”
My hand slipped down my body, cupping between my legs. “I have balls. Holding two of them right now. Maybe I’ll just come out and say it.”
“Do it and you’ll ruin what you’ll get after you do. Because I’m not there to leap on you.”
“Wait…what do I get?”
“It’s a surprise.” She yawned. “Now, I really need to get to sleep. Big day tomorrow. We’re inducing a Peke-A-Tese to deliver eight little puppies. The litter is too big for her to give birth naturally so we’re helping her out.”
“Working on a tease while you’re a tease. Saying you’ll lea
p on me and then hang up to care for a pooch. I see how it is.”
“I know, I’m evil.”
“Wrong. You’re the best person I know.”
“And you’re the best person now and forever, Ry.”
My cheeks ached from grinning but my heart hurt from loving this girl. Keeping it a secret (although a badly kept one seeing as I insisted on hugging her every chance I got) weighed on me. I wanted to say it out loud. I needed to say the words and make it real.
I wanted to know what it felt like when she knew one hundred percent that I was irrevocably in love with her.
But she was right.
Something of that magnitude was best kept for face to face.
I could wait.
One more night.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Vesper
“I’M SO GLAD I’M ON the pill.” I rubbed my forehead with the back of my surgical glove as Polly and I helped extract yet another puppy from the poor Peke-A-Tese. She’d been knocked up by a renegade Jack Russell who pillaged the neighbourhood.
Being slightly bigger than her and Jack Russell’s notoriously having large litters; her poor birth canal would suffer too much to deliver naturally. Both her and the puppies would’ve died if her owner hadn’t had the foresight to bring her in for an ultrasound with our fancy equipment and book in a C-section.
Amanda stood beside me, while another vet student, Sophie, stood beside Polly. After we extracted each puppy, the girls towelled off the amniotic fluid, wiped down their scrunched up faces, used a syringe to extract any mucus from their noses, and flipped them onto their stomachs to rub their tiny backs, mimicking mum’s licking to wake them up.
So far we’d delivered four out of eight and each one was alive and mewling for milk.
We had to work fast.
“I’m just glad most humans statistically only give birth to one. I mean, I know there’s the freak odd case of octuplets but that’s normally because of meddling with science not nature.” Polly shuddered as she cut the umbilical cord on another puppy. “Is it wrong of me not to want children? Not because I don’t want to go through the pain of childbirth but because I hate the way the world is becoming with chemicals in our food and danger all around?” She looked up, her eyes wide and slightly sad while her face was covered by a surgical mask. We all wore hair nets and scrubs, hiding most of our features.