Swept Into Love: Gage Ryder (Love in Bloom: The Ryders Book 5)

by Melissa Foster

  He shrugged off his shirt and tossed it to the floor.

  She couldn’t resist teasing him. “You still want there to be a next time? Even after the stocking fiasco?”

  “Every day for the rest of my life.”

  GAGE HELD SALLY’S gaze as he undressed. Her dress was bunched around her thighs, her legs tucked beneath her. Her big blue eyes were innocent and hungry at once, trailing down his body, lingering on his erection, and making him even harder. Her chest rose with an uneven inhalation as she went up on her knees and pulled that slinky little dress over her head, revealing a black lace bra stretched tight over her full breasts. Without a moment’s hesitation, she dropped the silky lingerie to the bed. Holy hell, she was stunning. He drank in every inch, from her rosy nipples to the curve of her waist and the fine white stretch marks barely visible along her lower belly. Marks of motherhood. Those scars made him love her even more.

  His gaze moved lower, to the tuft of blond at the apex of her thighs. She trapped her lower lip between her teeth, absently winding her long hair around her finger as she covered her belly with her other hand.

  His body ached to finally make love to her, but it was his thundering heart that had him moving her hand so he could kiss every mark.

  “You’re beyond gorgeous, bird.”

  She was trembling harder again, and he lay her gently on the bed and kissed her until her trembling eased.

  “I love you, sweetheart, and if you need a moment, or a day, give me the word.”

  The sweetest smile appeared, and she shook her head. “All I need is you, Gage. Love me like you promised.”

  Like you promised. She knew she could count on him—even for this. That meant so much to him, he got a little choked up. “Always, baby.”

  He loved his way down her body, memorizing the feel of her, soft and wanting, beneath him. Her hands played in his hair as he learned what made her hold her breath—loving her breasts with his mouth—and what made her arch off the bed—when he licked and kissed her hips. Goose bumps chased his lips around her belly button to the tops of her thighs. When he shifted between her legs, she opened them wider to accommodate his broad body and closed her eyes. He reached up and laced the fingers of his right hand with hers, loving her so deeply he wanted to be connected on every level.

  As he lowered his mouth to her inner thigh, she tightened her fingers around his. He stole a glance at her flushed cheeks, her teeth trapping her lower lip. Her left arm rested beside her head, a lock of hair caught between her fingers. His heart squeezed. She was so trusting. He knew he’d spend the rest of his life making sure she never doubted that trust.

  He pressed a kiss to the tuft of blond between her legs and slicked his tongue along her glistening sex, taking his first sober taste of her. Sweet perfection. He loved her slowly, licking and kissing, teasing and taunting with his hand and mouth, until she was writhing and moaning. Her sexy little murmurs made his pulse skyrocket as she angled her hips, arching and rocking, guiding him in ways he knew she was too shy to verbalize. He slid two fingers inside her, taking her higher, until every breath was stilted and her thighs tightened around his head. Another slick of his tongue, a furtive stroke of his fingers along that magical spot, and his name flew from her lips like the wind.

  “Gage! Ohhhh—”

  The seductive sound shot through him like a bullet. He stayed with her, riding the waves of their passion and taking her right up to the peak again. Her nails dug into his knuckles. He was sure she’d leave scars, and he didn’t care. He wanted them—everywhere.

  “Gage,” she panted out. “I need you.”

  He grabbed a condom from the bedside drawer and rolled it on. Sally’s eyes fluttered open, and his heart tumbled in his chest as she reached for him. He’d waited so long for this moment, he had a veritable list of things he thought he’d say when they got here. But as he gazed into her loving eyes, he couldn’t form a single word. And as he pushed into her tight heat, he filled her so completely, so perfectly, he could barely breathe. Their bodies moved in sync, better than he’d dreamed. Better than anything he could imagine. Her legs wound around his waist as their mouths came together in a scorching kiss. He pushed one hand beneath her ass, and the other cradled her body as he loved her so thoroughly, he had to grit his teeth to keep from coming too fast. Bound by a tempo of urgency, a flood tide of emotions swamping him, he struggled to slow his pace, catching a hitch in her breathing every time he thrust. The feel of her body tightening around him took him right up to the edge.

  “Open your eyes, baby.”

  Her eyes opened, and the love in them would have knocked him to his knees had he been upright.

  “You’re everything, Sally. My heart, my soul, my reason for being.”

  Her eyes went damp, and he kissed her softly.

  “I love you, too, Gage.”

  The raw sensuousness of her voice slid over his lips, beneath his skin, all the way to his bones, carrying him to even greater heights. He thrust harder, loved her deeper, wanting to become a permanent part of her. The sounds of their lovemaking filled the room, their bodies slick with heat, hands groping for purchase. Her breaths came in long, surrendering moans, carrying him right along with them. Gage’s thoughts spun away as they yielded to the searing need that had been building for years, and blissfully succumbed to the explosive passion of their love.

  They lay tangled together for a long while afterward as their breathing calmed. Gage couldn’t stop kissing her. He didn’t want to break away long enough to even take care of the condom. He was so full of Sally, he wanted to keep her in the nest of his love forever. She snuggled against him, murmuring against his neck and holding him so tight he knew she felt the magnitude of their connection just as deeply.

  Sometime later, after ridding himself of the condom, Gage gathered her in his arms again, her body cradled against him, their hearts beating as one.

  “Saying I love you seems too small for what I feel,” he admitted. “I’m yours, bird, in every sense of the word.”

  Chapter Eight

  SALLY WOKE WITH a smile on her face after the best sleep she’d had in ages and the best sex…ever. Being cradled within the confines of Gage’s body was nothing like she’d imagined. He was a big man, and she’d thought he’d cuddle her for a little while and then he’d fall into whatever was his natural sleeping position. But as the sun crept in, Gage was still wrapped around her. The hair on his legs tickled the backs of her thighs. His chest was hot, his arms heavy and comforting. Safe. Loving. He hadn’t moved all night, save for the warm kisses he’d pressed to her shoulder, which she thought he’d done in his sleep. She would pinch herself to make sure she wasn’t dreaming, but she didn’t dare move. He felt too good to risk waking him. Besides, what if their lovemaking wasn’t as good for him as it was for her? She’d gone so long without, her ability to decipher good from bad might be off. Although for her, sex with Gage wasn’t just good. It was unfreakingbelievable. And she was sure it was because she’d loved him for so long before they’d crossed that line.

  His arms tightened around her, and she felt him go hard against her bottom. Heat and ice wound together inside her as she recalled every perfect moment of the night before. She’d imagined making love with him so many times, but when their bodies came together, it was nothing like she’d thought it would be. He smelled more masculine, and his touch was rougher, more controlling, in the very best way. And his laughter? She’d never laughed during sex before, at least not that she could remember.

  There was nothing predictable about Gage, and when they were making love, she felt things she never had before. A trickle of guilt accompanied that admission, but she and Dave had been so young, she’d had no idea how to have an orgasm, much less how to move her body to help get her there. Truth be known, she’d never really thought about or discovered the nuances of the big O until after Dave had died. A few months after Dave’s accident, she’d been lonely, desperate for human touch, and only then
had she explored her own body. She’d taken it further, researching to find out how to best pleasure herself. She’d been amazed by what she was capable of feeling, and she’d felt guilty for not knowing how to enhance her pleasures when she’d been with Dave. He’d never complained about their sex life, but she couldn’t help wondering if he’d missed out on something, too.

  “How’s my wife?” Gage asked in a sleepy voice.

  “Good,” she said nervously, suddenly peppered with worries. Are we still okay? Was it good for you? Oh God! Did I taste okay?

  “Breathe, bird. You heart is beating too fast.”

  “Shh. You’ll make me more nervous.”

  “Turn around, sweetheart.”

  She turned in his arms and he gathered her against him, seemingly either unaware of, or at least not bothered by, his erection.

  “Talk to me, Sal.”

  No way could she voice her worries. “How about if I just go get ready for work? We both have a long day of interviews ahead of us.”

  “Is that what you want, Sal? To fly away and pretend this never happened?” He kissed her softly. “Because if you’re overthinking last night, please don’t.”

  She touched her forehead to his chest, wishing she could crawl beneath his skin and hide until all her worries were put to rest.

  “Sally, talk to me. Are you having second thoughts?”

  She shook her head, and she nervously glanced up at him. “Are you?”

  “No, babe, so don’t panic. Making love to you was the most incredible feeling in the world.”

  “So…I didn’t suck?”

  “Unfortunately, not last night,” he said with a wolfish grin. “But if you want to…” He flipped the sheet off them, exposing their naked bodies, and just like that, her questions were silenced by desire.

  “Gage!” She tugged at the sheet and he covered them up again, chuckling.

  He moved over her, pinning her to the mattress beneath him, an easy, reassuring smile on his handsome face. “Did it suck for you?”

  “What? No!”

  “Was I too pushy?”

  “No.”

  “Was it the stockings?”

  She laughed. “No. That was funny, though.”

  He nipped at her lower lip. “Then what is it, bird? What’s got you all tied up?” He arched a brow. “There’s an idea.”

  She loved that he knew how to ease her worries. “Actually, I’ve never been tied up.”

  “Good. Something to look forward to.”

  Her insides flamed. “So, it wasn’t bad? Really? You weren’t lying there thinking I’m…I don’t know. Not fun enough in bed? Not exciting enough? I’ve had a baby, things might not be, you know…” She whispered that last part.

  He pressed a kiss to the center of her chin. “Baby, you’re fun and exciting. And as far as your body goes, you’re perfect. Didn’t it feel good to you?”

  “Yes. But what do I know? I’ve only been with one man in my entire life.”

  “Two,” he reminded her. “Any other questions?”

  She was quiet for a beat, drawing her courage. “Just one…”

  “Anything.”

  She gave in to the smile tugging at her lips and said, “Can we do it again?”

  “God, I love you.”

  His mouth came down over hers, and she felt the broad head of his arousal at her entrance.

  “Protection,” she said urgently.

  He groaned and reached into the open drawer. Perched on his knees, he tore the condom open with his teeth.

  “You know,” he said with a hopeful grin. “We’re married. We could just throw caution to the wind and start our family.”

  She loved Gage so much, she was tempted to agree, but she knew better. “I can’t even think about having more children until we tell Rusty we’re married.” Rusty had been so angry at his father after he died, and while some of that was normal anger at losing him so unexpectedly, the aftermath of meeting Trisha and Chase had been overwhelming for both of them. She couldn’t expect her son to deal with news of their marriage and a child all at once.

  Gage sheathed his hard length and came down over her as he kissed her tenderly. “I was only teasing, baby. I don’t want to make Rusty uncomfortable.”

  “Thank you. I’m still a little in shock about being married, even if you’re taking it all in stride.”

  “In stride? Hell, baby. I want to shout it from the rooftops.”

  She mentally snapped a picture of the loving look in his eyes and tucked it beside her very full heart. “I’m sorry. I know this can’t be easy for you.”

  “Relationships are supposed to be easy?” He kissed her again. “I love you, Sally. We’ll do whatever it takes to make sure we’re all okay, most of all, Rusty.”

  “Good. Now please proceed in convincing me that this marriage is the best oops moment in the world.”

  “Ah, birdie. What am I going to do with you?”

  “Hopefully all those things you did last night. Especially that thing you did with your tongue.”

  THE REST OF the day passed in a blur. Sally and Gage worked diligently through their schedules, stealing kisses every chance they got. Gage had caught Sally peeking into the gym several times, and it warmed him all over knowing how much his efforts had meant to her. He hated the idea of clearing it all away Friday afternoon, but every day that passed brought them closer to the date they’d see Rusty, and one step closer to building their future together. Sally had spoken with Sable Montgomery, and Danica was putting together a contract for Surge to play at the grand opening. Gage coordinated meetings with several youth groups for after the holidays, and after a string of disappointing interviews, he received a call from Sinclair “Sin” Vernon. They scheduled a meeting for Friday morning, right before Sally and Gage were scheduled to leave town. Gage knew Sin fit the bill perfectly, and hoped the position was what he was looking for.

  By the end of the day, they were both ready for some time away from the office, and in each other’s arms. But first they hit the local shops to find presents for Danica and Blake’s baby shower and Blue and Lizzie’s wedding.

  “I can’t believe we waited so long to buy their gifts,” Sally said as they headed into the mall. “It’s so unlike us.”

  “You do realize, lovely wife of mine, that you sound like we’ve been married forever.” He draped an arm over her shoulder. “From the day we met, it’s always been us.”

  “Whatever, pushy secret husband of mine. It is unlike us. We always make sure we have gifts well ahead of time, and Danica’s baby shower is right around the corner.”

  “I think a spur-of-the-moment wedding and finally getting together is cause for forgotten priorities.”

  She went up on her toes and kissed him. “Definitely. We should really find something for Chessie, too, so she doesn’t feel left out.”

  “That big heart of yours is just one reason I adore you.”

  They went into a gift shop and then a department store looking for gift ideas, but Gage had no idea what to get his brother. “Cash and Siena are getting them a three-week cruise.”

  “Wow, that’s an expensive gift.”

  “It’s something Blue and Lizzie would never treat themselves with, so it’s the perfect gift. What do you think we should get them?”

  “Gosh,” she said as they left the department store empty-handed. “I have no idea. They didn’t register anywhere because they didn’t want gifts, but Blue should know better. Giving gifts is the best part of your friends getting married. What about something clever instead of big, like matching aprons that say ‘Kiss the Cook’ since Lizzie used to do the Naked Baker webcast? Or cooking classes for the two of them?”

  “Hm, maybe. Those are good ideas. What are you going to want as a wedding gift when we have our real wedding?”

  “We’re already married,” she reminded him.

  “If you think I’m going to make you miss out on walking down a real aisle in front of our friend
s and family, in a beautiful wedding dress, you’re wrong.” He tipped up her face and kissed her until she went soft in his arms. “Besides, I want to feel my heart pound as I watch you walk down the aisle. I want to know that you’re sober and nothing could stop you from marrying me. So, tell me, my sweet bird. What would you want if it were your wedding?”

  “You gave me that beautiful night in the gym. You don’t have to do more.”

  “Baby, don’t you see? I want everything with you. When we’re old and gray, I want you to look back and feel like you never missed a thing.”

  Her gaze warmed. “But I don’t love you because of how much you do for me. I love you because of the man that you are.”

  “I know, but I’m going to do things for you, with you, to you…” He kissed her again. “Why don’t you think about what you’ll want for a wedding gift, and we can get Blue and Lizzie something Blue would appreciate, like lingerie for his new wife.” He waggled his brows.

  “I guess I know what you’ll want for a wedding gift.” Her eyes widened. “Oh my gosh, that’s it! Let’s get sexy stuff for them to wear on their wedding night. We gave Lizzie some cute things for her bridal shower, but you can never have too much.”

  “I like the way you think. But, babe, guys don’t really wear sexy stuff.”

  She wrinkled her nose, and then her eyes brimmed with amusement. “True. She’ll probably have Blue wearing nothing but his leather tool belt anyway.”

  “Tool belt?” He hauled her against him. “Are you thinking about my younger brother naked?”

  “A tool belt isn’t naked.” She laughed, obviously enjoying torturing him. “It’s hot. Like a stripper.”

  “That’s wrong on so many levels.”

  “I’m only thinking of Lizzie, the same way you thought of lingerie for Blue.” She slid her finger into the waist of his jeans and fluttered her lashes. “Don’t you want to know what I think about you wearing?”