Once more Amber bowed her body and lowered herself, just a bit further this time, onto the steel of Ryder’s cock. A gasp escaped her at the sensations she felt: Ryder’s shaft piercing her most sensitive place, his warm hands running along her body, heating up her skin, shivers of need and pleasure running through her body, and a deep inner click of knowing just how right this was.
As she began to pull away again, Ryder growled low in his chest. In a move almost too swift for her to see, he sat up, wrapped his arms around her and rolled them over, so he was now on top of her. Her hands were now free to wander over his chest, but he didn’t give her much time to explore. He leaned over, claimed her mouth with a deep, passionate kiss, and at the same time, thrust forward into her body.
He swallowed her moan with his kiss and began that age-old rhythm. Amber met his thrusts with her own rocking hips. Together, they built towards the peak. Amber felt it begin deep in her belly. She cried out Ryder’s name as wave after wave of climax coursed through her body. Her already tight walls clenched harder around Ryder’s shaft and sent him over the edge as well. He put his full weight on Amber and held her close as he emptied himself into her.
Spent and panting, they lay for a few moments just as they were. Amber felt as if she probably couldn’t control her legs just yet, but with her hands, she stroked Ryder’s muscular back and arms. Handily within reach of her mouth was a patch of skin on his shoulder; she placed a few lazy kisses there.
Ryder turned his head and smiled at her. “Good morning.”
Amber laughed, “Good morning to you, sir. Would you be the ‘welcome to town committee’? If so, I’d just like to say it’s a marvelous idea.”
“Only for certain people who return to town.” Ryder propped himself up on an arm, leaving them joined at the hips, “As loath as I am to move from this spot, I need to get out to the ranch for a bit. Can you drive me out there?”
Amber gave Ryder an arch look. “Not in our present position, no. It would make driving a bit awkward. Where’s your truck?”
“I didn’t have my truck last night, so I’ll need a ride today. If it’s an imposition, I’ll call Rachel or Adam; they can come get me.” Ryder began pulling out of that warm home he’d found. Amber raised her legs around his hips and hung on for a minute more.
“Let me shower, and I’ll take you. I need to see Rachel.” She leaned up and puckered her lips; Ryder took the hint and kissed her again. She unwrapped her legs, so he could ease out of her. For a moment, a sense of unimaginable loss swept over her. She shook it off and rolled off the edge of the bed.
A sense of contentment came over her. She hadn’t felt like this in years. She’d daydreamed about being with Ryder again, but never really believed she would be. Her fantasies were nowhere as good as reality.
CHAPTER 7
The drive out to the Barrett ranch took about fifteen minutes. Straight out Highway 79, there were few turns and no way to get lost. Amber shuddered as they passed Prospector’s Den.
Ryder put his arm on the back of the seat and gently massaged the back of her neck. He didn’t think he’d ever get enough of the feel of her skin under his hands.
“It’ll get better,” he assured her.
“The whole thing is fuzzy in my mind, but I feel slimy and toxic. I can almost feel his hands on me still.” Her mouth was twisted with distaste and tears were welling up in her eyes. “I couldn’t understand why I couldn’t control my own body.”
Ryder could feel anger and hatred for this man building in him again. He wished he had ripped the idiot to pieces. “It’ll fade. Just give it time.” He kept his voice calm and reassuring, letting none of the rage he felt slip through to her.
They turned onto the road for the Orso de Peluche Ranch.
“I didn’t know the greenbelt reached all the way out here.” Amber remarked.
“Yes,” said Ryder, “we’ve tried to clear as little of the land as possible. And, it’s not hard when you’re raising thoroughbred horses and renting out fishing cabins to keep as much of the land intact as you can. There’s Rachel and Adam’s house; she’ll be taking the kids through their morning lessons. After you drop me off, I’ll call her to let her know you’re dropping in. She’ll be glad to see you.”
“She’s home-schooling her kids? Never figured her for the type to do that. Huh.” Amber wondered how motherhood could’ve changed her career-driven friend so much.
Ryder smiled, “A family thing.”
Amber gave Ryder a quizzical look then remembered, “Oh, that’s right! You were schooled at home until middle school, weren’t you? I forget that since Rachel went to school with me in town. Must’ve been a terror on your mom.”
“Feel free to ask her sometime.” They pulled up to the main house, and Ryder got ready to get out of the car. “Can we have dinner tonight? My house? Your place? Out? I’m up for anything, as long as I get to see you.”
Amber smiled and blushed. “Jade stocked my kitchen according to a list Iris made. Surely there’s something that can be made in there. Come over at six? Six-thirty?”
Ryder grinned. “Deal. I’ll go call Rachel. Head on over there.” He turned and walked up the porch steps to the front door. Amber enjoyed the view, took a deep breath, and went to see her oldest friend.
***
She pulled up beside the neat, little house with its flowerbeds and children’s toys scattered throughout the yard. Both seemed to be ready to be put to use: one waiting on spring and the other for small hands and large laughs.
Rachel looked just as Amber thought she would as a mother – perfect. Before she could reach the front door, it’d been yanked open. Rachel stood there with a broad grin on her face and then rushed down the walk to meet her halfway.
The two women were of a height. Amber’s chestnut hair down and flowing while Rachel’s raven-black was pulled into a ponytail at the base of her skull. Rachel had been reed slim when they were teens, but was now more fleshed out. She had the boobs and hips she’d always wished for, even if they also came with a rounded tummy and heavier thighs than she wanted. Her face still shone with its smile of utter joy in her surroundings. This time, that joy was centered in seeing Amber.
Rachel couldn’t stop touching Amber’s face. Tears welled up in her eyes.
“I know I saw you for a minute last night, but by this morning I had almost convinced myself you weren’t real. Oh, Am! I’ve missed you! Needed you!” She placed either hand on Amber’s cheeks and bussed her quickly on the lips. “So needed you here! Oh!” Rachel sighed and took Amber’s hand. “Let me introduce you to the Anders’ cubs.”
Amber met Timber and Payton, the two suns Rachel currently orbited about. Timber at six was husky and talkative. He knew everything there was to know about baseball and amphibians. When Amber mentioned the close relationship between frogs, salamanders, and reptiles such as snakes and alligators, Rachel heaved a great sigh and gave Amber a look that distinctly said, “What have you done now?” Payton was four and a chatterbox. Everything that crossed her mind also crossed her tongue. She talked to Amber about colors, toys, brothers, mamas, bedrooms, pets, castles, Barbie dolls, school, numbers, colors, mamas, and cats.
Amber’s brain swam. She hadn’t had this many words thrown at her in years. And certainly not from someone in her lap who was so earnest and captivating. She glanced up at Rachel who just smiled and continued putzing in the kitchen and around the family room while Payton and Timber climbed over and surrounded Amber with questions and comments and conversation. Finally, Rachel saved her.
“Let’s let Aunt Amber breathe a little bit, kids.” She picked Payton off of Amber’s lap and settled her on one hip. “Timber, time for reading. Go get your book. Payton, go find your color wheel. We need to work on your colors.”
Amber was fascinated at this aspect of Rachel’s personality. When they were growing up, all Rachel wanted to do was study so she could go to college and then become a doctor. Amber was the one who just wished f
or children and a family. Rachel had teased her mercilessly for years about her “picket-fence” dreams, and here she was with the very idyll Amber had wanted most.
“Irony is a beautiful thing,” Amber smiled at her friend.
“What?”
Pointedly, Amber looked at the two children and asked, “Where’s your stethoscope?”
Rachel laughed. “Oh, I have one. Believe it or not, I am a doctor. I finished up my residency eight months pregnant with Payton. Timber made my first year of med school quite difficult. Adam’s a great support, though. And Dr. Denehey was my mentor for my clinicals and my residency. We got it all worked out. I spent a great deal of time here in town; it was a win-win so far as I’m concerned. I take a couple shifts up at the hospital, a couple more at the little clinic, and I even do some lab work here at home for the police department. I got the best of both worlds: small town doctor and home-schooling mom.”
“Where do the kids stay when you’re out being doctor? Daycare?”
“No. Adam’s sister Sophie keeps them. It’s a family thing.”
Amber felt like Rachel was exactly the same and yet wasn’t. So much was different, but she couldn’t quite put her finger on what it was.
Young, angry voices sounded from the back of the house. Rachel sighed and started walking that direction. Curious, Amber followed.
“No! Payton, it’s not yours! It’s mine!” Timber bellowed. “And you just broke it!”
Able to give as good as she got, Payton’s voice rang out, “You threw it away. I got it. I can break my own stuff!” On that last word, the sound of plastic hitting the floor echoed down the hallway.
Timber’s voice deepened into a growl with his anger and frustration. Rachel’s pace picked up. The two women hurried around the corner and into the kids’ room. Payton stood with her hands on her hips and her jaw thrust out, stubbornly daring her brother to take her on. At her feet was an unrecognizable heap of colorful plastic parts with bits strewn hither and yon by the force of its impact with the floor. Timber remained a couple of feet away, hunched slightly with eyes narrowed in anger, glaring daggers at his sister. His hands were fisted at his sides, and his breathing was ragged. To Amber, he looked a tad shaggy. Was his hair that long a moment ago? And she could’ve sworn he hadn’t had a narrow, pointy nose that broadened at the tip, but a more pert one like his mother’s… She was going to have to start paying more attention to details.
“Timber! Focus!” Rachel’s sharp tone startled Amber into looking at her instead of the children. “Payton, go to your room, now!” This voice brooked no argument or wheedling; the little girl immediately turned and stepped quietly to her room where she closed the door. Amber turned back to Rachel and Timber. Rachel had knelt in front of Timber and started talking in a low, soothing voice. Amber strained to hear.
“That’s right; good. Remember the breathing exercises. In for the count of three, hold it for the count of three, release for the count of three, hold for the count of three, repeat. We control our emotions, not the other way around.”
Rachel was teaching her six-year-old meditation exercises? Amber was startled. Did he have an anger problem? She would have been angry as well if Jade had broken something that belonged to her; she couldn’t blame the little guy for getting mad. Surely he wouldn’t get in trouble for just getting mad?
Timber’s breathing steadied and lost its uneven snarl. The growl had left his voice when he said, “Okay, Mama. Breathe in – two three. Hold.” He closed his golden eyes and continued.
Rachel seemed to remember then that they weren’t alone. She glanced up at Amber. Amber gave her a half-smile, “I fought with Jade all the time.”
“It’s just, he’s so much bigger than his sister, stronger. He has to remember that he has strength he’s not even conscious of, so we’re teaching him control.” Rachel began picking up the pieces of the toy that had been the catalyst of this altercation.
Amber glanced back at the little boy. He was certainly calmer. Standing up straight now, chin up, his nose no longer appeared thin and his hair must’ve shook back off of his face. He once again seemed to be the clean-cut little guy who’d met her at the doorway with a baseball mitt in one hand and amphibians on the brain.
“He’ll be bigger than his daddy, and just as strong as his Uncle Ryder. He has to control that strength before it fully develops. Think of what Ryder would be capable of if he let himself go berserk.” Rachel stood up and caressed her son’s cheek. He opened his eyes, and hesitantly smiled up at her. “You did marvelous, son. Time to work off some excess energy, though. Go ride your bike up to the ranch house and tell Uncle Ryder everything. He has a little sister and two little brothers; he’ll understand.”
Timber whooped and raced for the front door. Rachel watched him pedal madly up the drive for a moment, and turned to Amber. “His sister is a bit immature, though. She should start school in the fall, but I think we may hold her back a year. She’s an instigator, and prone to stirring things up just to see what happens. Someday I think she’ll be a great scientist, but I don’t think she’s quite ready to be enrolled in school. We’ll stick with play dates and organized sports for another year.” Rachel’s mouth was twisted in a rueful grimace. “If you’ll excuse me for a second, I need to speak with our sparkplug for a moment.”
“Actually, Rach, I should go. I’m going to cook for Ryder tonight and need to see what Iris thinks I can make.” Amber hugged Rachel fiercely. “They’re beautiful children.”
“Thanks, Am. I’ll call you tomorrow, okay? You can give me all your cooking details.” Rachel wagged her eyebrows up and down, and Amber laughed as she followed the path Timber had used a few minutes before.
Just before Amber closed the front door behind her she heard Rachel saying, “Now, miss, what was that about? You deliberately tried to provoke your brother into a change.”
CHAPTER 8
Seeing the van parked outside the shop, Amber passed through the main building in search of Iris. She was in what she called her “happy place” – baking in the kitchen to her favorite Irish folk music on the stereo.
“Perfect!” Amber cried, “You can advise me!”
With her blonde hair pulled back into a French braid, Iris’s green eyes appeared even larger than usual. They turned to Amber.
“Oh, good! I’d love to, dear. About what?” She pivoted in time to the music and walked over, mixing bowl in hand, continuing a steady stirring rhythm.
“All the foodstuffs we got for the apartment. What can I cook for a dinner tonight?” Amber hitched herself onto one of the barstools and waited for wisdom.
Iris looked at her quizzically. “Anything you want to cook for a dinner, I suppose. Why?”
“No, I mean. I’m not entirely sure what I have, and I certainly don’t have the expertise to just whip something up creatively. Will you help me with a menu for tonight? One that’s easy for me to follow? I’m cooking dinner for Ryder, and I’d like it to be nice. Well, nice-ish, my kitchen skills are just above rudimentary, which you know.”
Iris smiled. “Nice-ish. I think we can handle that. So, simple but elegant? Something you and Ryder might enjoy? Handy thing that I decided to bake today. When this is done, I’ll bring it up to the apartment. Let’s see. How about roast sirloin, potatoes, green beans, and salad? It’ll look elegant on the plate, but each thing is simple to make. I have recipes that are easy to follow. And I know Ryder is a meat-and-veggie man.”
Amber sighed in relief. She knew she’d come to the right place for advice.
As she was putting the finishing touches on her table setting for two, a knock sounded at the door. Amber thought to herself, well, the man is better than punctual, he’s early.
She walked over to the door, giving her clothes a quick twitch to make sure they were in place, and the apartment a quick scan for anything out of place. Everything was as good as she could make it.
Ryder filled the doorway and then her senses. From behind his ba
ck he pulled a bouquet of mixed flowers, all in bright colors. She smiled and buried her nose into them, and promptly sneezed. Ryder’s laugh had her rolling her eyes at her own silliness, but she welcomed him in.
“Smells wonderful, Amber. Where’d you learn to cook?”
Pretending offense, Amber scowled, “Are you saying I didn’t know how to cook before? Are you saying I was a bad cook?”
“You were nineteen when you left. You’d fixed me maybe a dozen meals. Everyone of them barely edible. Since you’re still alive, I figure you have to have learned a thing or two, and since nothing smells burnt at the moment, I rest my case.” Ryder swiped Amber into his arms and pulled her into his embrace. He leaned down and, when they were nose-to-nose, whispered, “I’ve thought of you all day. I’ve missed you all day.” Gently, he kissed her lips and pulled back.
Dazed even by the gentleness of the kiss, Amber stood for a second after he let go and then shook out of her trance. She walked back to the kitchen wall and got out a container for the flowers. She checked the clock and the instructions Iris had left for her. The salad she had premade. The potatoes had also been easy to cut and bake along with the roast beef. The green beans were now in a large skillet on top of the stove. Iris had told her to start them after the roast showed as cooked and she and Ryder started to eat the salad. Amber opened the oven and placed the meat thermometer just like Iris had showed her (and how she had practiced several times while the roast was cooking); it showed 145 degrees exactly! With a large grin, Amber got the potholders and pulled out the roast. She moved the potatoes to the top rack of the oven for their last few minutes, and turned on the green beans. She turned to face Ryder.
“Shall we have salad?” she asked in her most casual voice.
Ryder was impressed. He knew how difficult it was to get everything done at the same time. “Yes, ma’am. Let’s.” He walked over to the table and held out Amber’s seat.
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