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

by Melissa Foster

  Chapter Twelve

  SALLY TOOK ONE last look in the bathroom mirror, wondering why she was so nervous. It wasn’t like this was the first time Gage would see her naked, but for some reason her insides were doing backflips. She put on her robe, opened the bathroom door, and hoped she could hide her nerves. A hint of vanilla hung in the air, soothing and enticing. She found Gage gazing out the windows. His broad back tapered deliciously down to a pair of tight black briefs. His muscular thighs and perfect butt were almost too much to take. No wonder I’m nervous. It wasn’t that Sally had body issues. The fluttering in her stomach and the quickening of her pulse was that of a woman on one of her first dates with a man she couldn’t get enough of. Sharing rooms, baths, making decisions like should we make love or watch television? were couple decisions. And even though they’d done so much together, they were still new to coupledom.

  “I see you drooling over me in the mirror,” he said, turning slowly. A sexy smile lifted his lips. “Nervous, baby?”

  He raked a hand through his short hair, and the tattoo on his arm caught her eyes. She’d seen it so many times, she never thought about it. Maybe it was the lights and mirrors, the candles and bath, or maybe it was just that she loved him so much it magnified her attraction to him. But suddenly the tattoo made him look edgy and mysterious.

  “I’ll take that finger twirling in your hair as a yes,” he said with a dark look in his eyes.

  The nervous habit had followed her from the time she was a little girl. She’d tried to break it when she was a teenager, feeling like it made her look ditzy. But it had been a futile effort and had made her even more anxious trying to fight the outlet.

  “I’d say sorry,” she said as he took slow, determined steps toward her, ratcheting up her pulse with each one. “But I like looking at you.”

  She was getting bolder with her sexuality. Saying things she had only imagined saying. As Gage began untying her robe, she knew it was because of the way he looked at and spoke to her. He made her feel desired.

  “That’s a good thing, bird, because I will never get enough of looking at you.”

  Her robe fell open, revealing a path of flesh down the center of her body, and Gage took in every inch. Okay, this is why I’m nervous. He never hid his desires, and seeing the heat in his eyes, the way he licked his lips as he drank her in, made her body hum with anticipation.

  He took her chin between his finger and thumb, tipping her face up. “Will you be nervous when we’re old and gray and I want to look at and touch you?”

  “Probably, but by then you may feel differently.”

  “Not a chance, my love.” He lowered his soft lips to hers, kissing away her worries as he pushed the robe from her body.

  He stepped back, his piercing stare never wavering from hers as he removed his briefs. She could see her chest rising with each heavy breath, and she had absolutely no hope of not lowering her gaze to his thick erection.

  “See something you want, sweetheart?”

  His voice was calm as a summer breeze as his arm circled her waist, drawing her against him. Heat rushed from her head to her core, gathering speed and temperature until it pooled between her legs, turning every inch in between to liquid fire. Lost in the sensations, she couldn’t form a response, and she didn’t need to. Gage claimed her mouth again, devouring her with fervor, sending electrical currents arcing through her. His hands were everywhere. On her ass, back, shoulders, neck, and finally, tangling in her hair the way they always did. She was hypnotized by the rough, strong feel of him possessing all of her. It was all she could do to hang on as their hips began an urgent, sensual grind. His erection moved against her belly, thick, firm, and beyond tempting. He moaned into the kiss, his arousal taking her even higher.

  “Love you so much,” he ground out.

  And then his mouth was on her breast, sucking so hard she went up on her toes and cried out with his divine ravishment. His fingers thrust into her slick heat, and her thoughts shut down. There was only the feel of his mouth, the lingering taste of his sweetness, and the earnest thrust of his hard length against her belly, matching the rhythm of his hand as he fucked her. Her hand circled his arousal, earning a heady groan, but she couldn’t keep a rhythm when her legs were turning to jelly. She grabbed his arms as her orgasm claimed her, pulling long, lust-filled moans from her lungs.

  “I love hearing you lose control,” he said in a gravelly voice.

  She clung to him, trying to catch her breath. “When you say stuff like that it makes it harder to regain control.”

  “I’m definitely using that to my advantage from now on.” He nuzzled her neck. “Tell me more of your sexy secrets.”

  “I have a feeling you’ll discover them all on your own.”

  With an arm around her waist, which was necessary since her legs decided they no longer needed to function, he led her to the tub and helped her in.

  Too revved up to sit and wait patiently, she straddled him, rubbing her hands over the hard ridges of his pecs, teasing over his nipples, and kissing his shoulders. Gage leaned back, his eyes as dark and wild as a summer storm. His eager arousal twitched enticingly against her bottom. She shifted her weight so she was half on his hip, half off, and lowered her mouth to his as she fisted his shaft, giving it a long, tight stroke and earning a heady groan from Gage. He grabbed her wrist and tore his mouth away.

  “You’ll make me come.”

  Sally grinned and reached for a condom, eyeing the Naughty Sex Guide. “My, my, what did my naughty husband have in mind?”

  “Fuck, baby. What don’t I have in mind?” He ripped the condom package open with his teeth.

  She picked up the Naughty Sex Guide and flipped to a page. Reverse Cowgirl. Hm. Now, there’s an idea. “I might need to study that later.” She tossed it away.

  He rose onto his knees, watching her every move, as she lowered her mouth to his cock, giving him a few deep sucks. His body shuddered, and when he tangled his hands in her hair, she couldn’t stifle a moan. She gave in to the wild girl inside her, loving him with her mouth and hands. When he tugged her hair, making her release him, and crashed his mouth over hers, she opened her mouth wider, rising taller on her knees to meet his height as his slippery hands moved over her heated flesh. She had no idea where the condom ended up, but his hands were definitely empty save for various parts of her body. His magical mouth came down over her breast again, and she arched against him, cupping his balls.

  “Christ, Sally,” he panted out. “You drive me insane.”

  She grabbed another condom with a shaky hand and he tore it open, rolling it on quickly. He sank down in the tub, holding the condom in place, and when he tried to guide her, she shook her head and turned around, facing away from him, and lowered herself onto his shaft. His breath left his lungs in a hiss.

  Okay, Reverse Cowgirl. Let’s see what you’ve got.

  She moved slowly at first, getting used to the position, and holy cow, it was a good one! He hit the perfect spot with every thrust, and when he rose behind her, cupping her breasts and squeezing her nipples, lightning raced through her veins, exploding in a flood tide of sensations. She arched her back, deepening their lovemaking, clinging to Gage’s arms for balance as one pleasurable assault after another soared through her, until she was shaking all over, even while she tried to remain still.

  “Guess my baby likes this position.”

  Her chin fell to her chest. “Ohmygod,” she said breathlessly. “Help me turn around?”

  “Sure you don’t want to come again like this?”

  Oh Lord. Hearing him say come made her insides burn. She shook her head.

  He held the condom in place and helped her turn. She straddled him, taking all of him inside her again, and his arms circled her, steadying her spinning world.

  “This is so much better,” she whispered. “Nothing compares to being in your arms.”

  He poured bubbles over her shoulders, drawing her close again. “Bette
r than that raging orgasm you just had?”

  “Much. That was intense, but I’d rather see your face.”

  “Me too, baby.”

  He ran his hands through her hair, drawing her into a steamy kiss and sending her senses reeling. His hands spread over her butt, guiding their speed. She tried to continue kissing him, but their bodies moved too fast and the incredible friction between them made every ounce of her pulse. Her breasts grazed his chest in a dizzying rhythm. The candle flames danced as their lovemaking created invisible breezes, and the bathwater sloshed around them. Gage feasted on her neck, murmuring sweet sentiments into her skin. She tried to concentrate on every word, but the feel of him loving her and the desire coursing through her were too much. She gasped in sweet agony, trying to capture the orgasm in her periphery, and Gage silenced her with a kiss. His fingers dug into her bottom, quickening their pace, taking her hard and rough and somehow also tender and loving. She felt his breathing stilt, his muscles cord tight, and with the next thrust, pure, explosive pleasure tore through her as they lost themselves in their mutual release.

  Chapter Thirteen

  “HURRY!” SALLY SAID the next morning as she and Gage rushed around the hotel room stuffing their belongings into their bags. They’d stayed up so late fooling around, they’d overslept and were in danger of missing their flight.

  Gage threw the covers back, making a final sweep of the sheets. A wicked grin spread across his face as he snagged something from the bed, dangling her pink panties from his fingertips. “My favorites.”

  Sally rolled her eyes, and he stuffed them into his bag and grabbed the framed wedding photo. She took it from his hands and wrapped it in one of her sweaters, packing it carefully.

  “Do you have the baby gifts we bought?”

  He lifted his suitcase. “Right here.”

  “Then I think we’re ready.” Her eyes sailed over the room one last time. And she was once again hit by the magnitude of what he’d done for her. Planned their honeymoon, found a cheesy room with a lighted headboard, and even a Christmas tree lighting ceremony, while she’d been too caught up in their relations, their love—everything—to think ahead. She looked at her handsome husband, so patient and loving and loaded down with luggage, and she couldn’t stop smiling. She took his face between her hands and kissed him.

  “Thank you for an incredible honeymoon.”

  “You can thank me properly when we get home. Twice.” He gave her a quick kiss and headed for the door. “That is, if we make it to our plane on time.”

  “Wait!” Sally ran back to the chaise lounge, grabbed the Naughty Sex Guide, and stuffed it in her purse.

  Gage chuckled.

  “What? You know you want it.” She hiked her purse over her shoulder as she reconsidered joining the mile-high club. “Do you have our ornament?”

  “Yup. Let’s go, my beautiful bird.”

  My beautiful bird. She looked forward to hearing that for the rest of her life. “This has been so fun,” she said as they left the room. “Maybe cheesy should be our thing.”

  “Everything should be our thing.”

  Gage drove fast but carefully toward the airport, but there was an accident on the highway and they missed their flight. Neither of them minded the delay, because even time spent sitting in an airport was extra time together. Several hours later, they finally boarded the plane. Gage laced their hands together and pressed a kiss to the back of Sally’s. She inhaled deeply, feeling as though she were breathing for the first time that day.

  “You okay, bird?”

  “Yeah.” She rested her head on his shoulder. “So much has changed, but we’re the only ones who know it.”

  “For now. That’ll change in a few weeks when we see Rusty.” He brushed his thumb over her ring finger. “What kind of engagement ring and wedding band do you want?”

  “I don’t know. I liked our inked rings.”

  “Tattooed rings work for me. I’m not picky. I just want rings on our fingers so the whole world knows we’re all in.” He kissed her ring finger and said, “I actually hope to wear my grandfather’s ring.”

  “The one who taught you about sports?” Over the years, Gage had told her many stories about going to sporting events with his grandfather and learning all about scoring and positions and being a team player.

  “The one and only Trenton Theodore Ryder. He taught me about sports, and before he died he told me that the only goal that really matters in life is loving a woman so completely that she can’t wait to come home to you.”

  “That explains why your family is so loving. Good roots.”

  The plane taxied down the runway.

  “I think I’ll text Rusty real quick and let him know we’re heading back home.” She sent him a quick text. Heading back to Colorado. Did you decide on the Jeep?

  Gage eyed her phone and took out his, showing her a text from Rusty. Thanks for warning me about the inspection. The Jeep I wanted needed $1500 of repairs. I’m looking at another one next week. Taking the bus blows.

  “At least he’s taking your advice.” She put away her phone, wondering why Rusty hadn’t texted her. “It’s weird being a mother to a twenty-year-old. When he first went away to college, it seemed like he called me for everything.”

  “He did. I remember him calling to tell you about parties he’d gone to and you worrying about whether you should worry or not.”

  She smiled, remembering those calls. She did worry. “I still worry about whether I’m worrying enough. I’m just not used to finding out things about him secondhand, I guess. I know it’s normal to ask a man about stuff like cars, but still. It’s like I’ve passed an invisible baton I don’t remember releasing.”

  “At least you’re not passing it to a stranger.”

  Takeoff was uneventful and when they turned off the seat belt signs, Sally whispered in Gage’s ear, “Your honeymoon present will be waiting for you in the bathroom.” She rose to her feet, enjoying the shock rising in his eyes.

  She headed down the aisle with her heart beating so hard she was sure everyone heard it—and knew exactly why she was so nervous. Could they see it on her face? Did she look guilty? She stepped into the tiny lavatory and surveyed the confined space. It smelled like urine and cleaning products. Not a sexy combination. She flipped the top of the toilet down with the toe of her shoe. The door opened behind her and she moved back, straddling the toilet, giving Gage room to step in. He closed the door behind him and hauled her against him.

  Her anxiety tumbled out. “Did anyone see you? Do they know we’re both in here?”

  “I’m pretty sure everyone saw me walk past.” He lowered his mouth to hers, their bodies mashed together in the tight quarters.

  “Then they know?”

  He grinned. “All they know is that I went into one of the bathrooms, but if you don’t keep it down, they’ll know the rest.”

  Their mouths came together, and she willed herself not to think about the rest of the passengers. Gage made it easy. His hands explored, bringing her every nerve to the surface, and he kissed her sensually as he worked the button on her jeans free. She backed into the counter, giving them more space as she fumbled with his zipper, and they both dropped their pants. Turbulence sent Sally flying into him, and he stumbled backward, falling onto his ass on the toilet lid with Sally leaning over him, laughing. He ground his teeth together.

  “Christ.” He pushed to his feet, and in one quick move he lifted her up and set her on the sink. She braced herself with both hands, wondering why anyone would want to join this club in the first place. She had boots on, and there was no way they were coming off. With a look of fierce determination, he tugged her pants down to her ankles and pushed her knees apart.

  “Condom,” she whispered urgently.

  “Fuck.” He bent to grab his wallet from his pocket and hit his forehead on the edge of the sink. “Mother fu—”

  “Are you okay?” came out with another laugh. She couldn’t help
it. The whole thing was preposterous. Why did she think this would be a gift? It was like the gift from hell for him.

  “Fine.” He tore open the condom and rolled it on.

  She swallowed her laughter and cradled his face in her hands. “I’m so sorry. We don’t have to do this.”

  “Oh, we are doing this. I will not let you down, beautiful girl.”

  His arm circled her waist and he aligned their bodies as his mouth descended on hers, and they came together. Sally wanted her legs around his waist, but they were trapped at the ankles, making their lovemaking rough and even more exciting because they had to angle their bodies and fight for deep penetration. When the plane lurched, Gage clung to Sally, bracing them both with one strong arm against the edge of the counter.

  “You okay?” he asked quickly.

  The plane bounced and lurched, and the seat belt light came on.

  “Yeah. Hurry.”

  Gage picked up his pace, thrusting faster, holding her tight, using his powerful legs to steady them against the careening plane. Seconds later he was grunting out her name, his body shuddering as he came.

  “Welcome to the mile-high club, sweetheart.” His devilish grin made the whole thing worthwhile.