“Bring a few condoms too.” His smile was devilish, but worry still lingered in his eyes.
“Sounds like I’m in for a fantastic night.” She threw him her most endearing smile then hurried into his room, wiping the tears as they fell down her cheeks. I have to get it together. Ryder’s injury happened years ago, and he’s coping with it. I can’t let him see how sorry I feel for him. I won’t. Taking deep breaths, she retrieved the items he wanted and walked back to her room.
Ryder was under the sheets, the prosthetic and a plastic cone-shaped object sat next to it. He’d turned the lights off with only the illumination coming from the ensuite bathroom. “It’s now or never,” she muttered under her breath as she ambled over to the lamp and switched it on, then turned off the bathroom light.
“I want to see all of you, and I’m pretty sure you want to see all of me.” She slipped off her robe and sashayed over to him. Bending down, she kissed him deeply while drawing the sheet away.
Savannah looked down at his shrunken limb and her heart lurched. “Where does it hurt?” She ran her hand over his skin. “It’s so soft,” she murmured. “Which lotion do you use?”
“Mostly a jojoba or coconut oil at night and a silicone-based lotion during the day—it helps my liner from rubbing and pinching me so much throughout the day.” His eyes stayed fixed on her.
She unscrewed the cap and poured some of the ointment in her palms and rubbed them together.
“I can do it,” he said.
Placing her hands on his limb, she massaged the oil into the skin. “I’ve got it.” At first she shied away from the bottom of his stump, but she noticed it was very red in spots. Inhaling a deep breath, she inched her fingers downward until they grazed over the scars.
Ryder hissed and she snapped her gaze up and met his. “Is this where it hurts?” He nodded, his eyes never wavering from hers.
For a long while Savannah gently massaged his sensitive skin until his hands stopped hers.
“Thanks,” he muttered.
Without a word, she rose to her feet and walked to the bathroom to wash her hands. When she returned, the damn sheet was draped over him again. She sat on the edge of the bed and ran her fingernails down his chest and past his navel. When she reached the top of the sheet, she gripped it and pulled it off. Lowering her head, she covered his stomach with feathery kisses then lavished them on his residual limb.
“Savannah,” he groaned, crushing her to him with such force that it took her breath away.
Without a second to think, she was on top of him, and he was ripping the condom open with his teeth and then quickly slipping it on. Before she could say a word, he lifted her up and slowly positioned her above his dick. His upper body strength amazed her, and she made a mental note to start working out in the gym he’d set up in the basement.
“I fucking need to be inside you,” he gritted.
Savannah guided him, moaning as he pushed in.
“You feel amazing, woman,” he grunted. Ryder stilled, remaining buried deep inside her as he kissed her lips.
She relaxed and melted into the kiss, and then he pushed up with his hips, almost knocking her over. Before she could catch her breath, he gripped her tightly, pulling her off his cock before slamming her back down. Up and down. In and out. Over and over he jackhammered into her, and she clawed at his chest as sweat trickled down her back. There was something animalistic about the two of them together. It was like their bodies were compatible on an instinctual level. It was raw. It was sexy. It was a downright wild connection.
The tension kept building inside her until it broke. “Ryder,” she croaked, holding back her screams. Shuddering and gasping, her entire body spasmed as wave after wave of sensation hit her, each cresting higher than the last.
A rumbling groan burst from him, and she felt the pulsing of his dick against her quivering walls. She rested her head on his shoulder to quiet her trembling, the nerves and muscles in her body still tingling.
Ryder ran his fingers up and down her back as he panted. Tears stung the corners of her eyes, and her body relaxed, melding into his as they held each other tightly, basking in the afterglow of their spent desire.
Several minutes later, Savannah lifted her head up and locked her lips on his. His tongue slipped into her mouth and they kissed long and passionately for a while, and then she pulled away and smiled at him.
His dark eyes penetrated deeply into hers, and he stroked the side of her face. “You turn me on more than any other woman ever has, darlin’,” he said in a low voice.
“You do the same to me,” she whispered as she rolled off. He took off the used condom, she brought the trash can over, and then she switched off the lamp. Ryder yanked her back down next to him and slipped his arm around her, pressing her close. Savannah nestled into him, resting her head under his chin and cupping her hand over his sated dick.
“We’re good together,” she whispered.
“We are.” He kissed the top of her head. “I haven’t been this alive for a long time.”
“Me neither,” she said. “I want you to know that the way I feel isn’t all just about sex. It’s so much more.”
“Yeah.”
She didn’t want to tell him that nothing she’d ever had with Bret even compared to what they’d just shared. With Bret it was wild and fun, but he never tried to know her. She’d kidded herself that they had this great relationship because they were fucking all the time, but after Timmy was born, the truth had shattered her heart: all they had between them was good sex. The truth had left her empty and lonely, but since Ryder had welcomed her and Timmy into his home, happiness twirled around inside her all the time.
How amazing is that?
Ryder’s breathing was steady and peaceful, and she smiled. I can’t believe I’m falling in love with him. It’s too soon, or maybe I’ve just been so lonely for too long. But her heart told her that wasn’t it. What she felt for Ryder was real, and because it came so quickly, it scared the hell out of her.
Scooting down a tad, she pillowed her head against his chest and closed her eyes as his heartbeats lulled her to sleep.
Chapter Nineteen
Ryder awoke to Savannah’s warm body pressed against him as monochrome tones of gray filtered in through the shutters. He pushed up and leaned against the headboard and glanced over at her; she looked peaceful and beautiful. It had been over six years since he’d spent the night with a woman, and here he was, spending his second night with her.
Ryder slid his hand through her silky blonde hair and brought several long strands to his nose. As he inhaled the sweet fragrance, the need to wake up every day like this overwhelmed him. Damn! I’m falling so fucking hard for her.
When he’d first exposed himself to her, he’d been convinced that Savannah would mumble some platitudes and feign acceptance, but she didn’t. She still saw him and not his disability, and it had blown him away, breaking down the hardened walls he’d built around his emotions.
“Savannah,” he whispered as he watched her sleep.
A small whine at the closed door drew his attention from her, and he pulled the crutches toward him and stood up. As Ryder gimped to the back door, Brutus sat there patiently and waited to be let out. Since the ensuite in Savannah’s room wasn’t handicapped equipped, he crutched over to his master bathroom to relieve himself and wash up.
Brutus’s barks signaled that he was ready to come in, so Ryder made his way to the back door and opened it. The German shepherd rushed over to his bowl and chomped down on his food. Ryder turned around and slowly headed back to Savannah’s room.
She was still sleeping, although she’d turned on her side, facing the window. He rested the crutches against the space between the nightstand and the bed, got back in and pulled the sheet over him, lying down on his good leg. Savannah stirred.
“Are you okay?” she asked drowsily.
“Yeah. Just had to let Brutus out. Go back to sleep—it’s early.”
> “What time is it?”
Ryder glanced at his phone. “Almost six.”
A small groan escaped from her. “That is early.” She snuggled deeper under the covers.
He moved closer to her until her ass spooned up against him, then he ran his hand down the side of her body and smiled when her skin pebbled under his finger pads. Ryder couldn’t help but keep his hands on her anywhere—as long as he touched her, he was good.
“Feels good,” she mumbled.
Bringing his hand back up, he snaked it around her waist, resting it on the small pooch he loved so dearly.
“You smell good, baby,” he said and brought his lips to her shoulder.
Savannah craned her neck, and he pressed his lips on hers as his hand inched up to the most incredible tits he’d ever seen.
“Oh,” she moaned as his fingers flicked her nipples.
One of the many things he loved about touching Savannah was the way her nipples grew stiff under his ministrations. Wriggling her ass against him made his already hard cock needy as hell. I bet she’s wet as fuck. The thought seared through him as his hand glided down her body and covered her pussy. As he massaged it, her juices coated his palm, and her whimpers fueled his lust.
“The sounds you make, darlin’, drive me fucking crazy,” he rasped, grinding against her as arousal flashed hot through his system.
A grunt rumbled from his chest when Savannah reached behind her and grabbed his ass cheek, sinking her nails into his flesh. He ran a hand up the side of her rib cage and cupping her tit, his fingers pinching her taut bud until she gasped and opened her legs.
Ryder smelled her sweet arousal and reached between her legs. “So wet,” he murmured against her ear. Dipping two fingers between her folds, he coated them with her juices then brought them to her beautifully shaped rosy lips and fed them to her. Desire blazed deep inside him while he watched his fingers disappear in her mouth as she sucked them and curled her tongue around them—her eyes never leaving his.
“Do you like the way you taste,” he asked.
Nodding, she grasped his hand and placed it on her pussy. “I love the way you touch me,” she said.
Ryder propped up on his elbow and guided her upper leg back, hooking it back around his butt.
“Can you grab the condom on the nightstand?” he asked, his voice thick.
Once he was ready, he tangled his hand in her hair and yanked her head back, crushing his mouth on hers while he played with her nipples, and then her clit.
“Ryder,” she whispered.
Breaking their kiss, he ran his tongue down to the sensitive spot where her shoulder met her neck and sucked on the skin. Savannah tilted her head more, giving him better access, and as he marked her, his fingers slid between her wet folds. With the lightest touch, he stroked the side of her nub. Her hips bucked and her gasp faded out to a guttural moan.
“You like that, darlin’?” he asked.
Nodding, she thrust her hips against his hand.
Taking her hand, he placed it against the headboard then kissed her deeply as he pushed inside. Pulling out, he shoved back in, then began pummeling her rough and fast, each bounce of her tits fueling his desire even more. His finger rubbed her sweet knot as he fucked her deep and hard, the tension building to where he was barely able to hold back any longer.
Savannah balled the sheets in her fist and stuffed them in her mouth as a muffled cry escaped from her throat. She tightened around him like he was caught in a vise, her pussy gripping him as it clenched and spasmed with her climax.
It was too much.
“Fuck, Savannah,” he groaned, clutching her shivering and shaking body.
When Ryder regained his senses, he gently slid her leg off him then reached for the tangled covers at the foot of the bed. Savannah turned on her side, facing him, and burrowed into him as he draped the blanket over them. A small contented sigh came from her parted lips as her lids fluttered shut. Kissing the top of her head, he held her close, wanting nothing more than to stay like that forever. Savannah had sneaked into his life on a cold, snowy day and stirred emotions and desires he’d thought were lost to him.
Ryder dipped his head down and kissed her hair. “You’re the part of me that makes me whole, baby.”
And he had no intention of letting her slip out of his life.
* * *
“Mommy’s still sleeping,” Timmy said as he climbed up on the chair.
Ryder walked over and pushed the chair in for the young boy then ruffled his hair. “She’s been so busy with decorating and shopping that she probably wore herself out.” Pride coursed through him as he thought of the real reason Savannah was still sacked out at ten in the morning.
“I guess. Do you know what Mommy bought me for Christmas?”
Ryder held up his hands and laughed. “I’m no snitch. You’ll find out in a few more days.” He opened up the refrigerator and took out a carton of orange juice. “Are you ready for tonight?”
“Uh-huh. Braxton, Harley, and James are gonna be there.” Timmy picked up the glass of juice Ryder had given him.
“It’s a good party. There’ll be a lot of other kids there too.” Placing his hands on the island, he leaned forward, his gaze on the young boy. “Eggs and bacon good?”
Wiping his mouth with his pajama sleeve, he nodded.
“Don’t let your mom catch you doing that. I used to do that when I was your age, and it drove my mom nuts.” He bent down and pulled out the cast-iron skillet.
“You have a mommy?”
“Everyone has a mom, buddy.” The coffeemaker beeped and he reached over and shut it off.
“Where’s yours?”
“Right here in Pinewood Springs with my dad.”
“How come she never comes here?”
A pain of regret streaked through him. “I-uh … haven’t wanted anyone over for a long time.” With whisk in hand, he whipped the eggs in the bowl.
“Oh. Does your daddy come over?”
“Not so much. Are you missing your dad?” Ryder watched a small frown skate across Timmy’s face.
“I dunno.”
“It must be hard being away from him,” Ryder said.
Timmy shrugged. “I never see him—only Mommy.”
“Are you talking about me?” Savannah asked as she bent over and kissed her son.
“He’s giving me the scoop on you,” Ryder said, winking at her. A slight blush colored her cheeks, and he never thought she looked more beautiful than at that moment. That’s what I thought three hours ago, and then last night, and then the day before … Damn.
“You slept late,” Timmy said.
“I was worn out.”
Savannah’s sly smile and wink hit him right in his dick. Fuck. This woman was like no other woman he’d ever known. Her taste, her scent, her eyes, her everything intoxicated him. He craved her like an alcoholic coveted his next drink; she was his straight shot of whiskey—smooth and potent with a burn. He doubted if he could ever get enough of her.
Brushing past him, she squeezed his ass as she made her way over to the pot of coffee. Her fresh scent wrapped around him, the clean smell of soap and body lotion. He wanted to pull her into his arms and kiss and nibble his way down to—
“You’re burning the bacon again,” she said as she rushed to the stove.
Fuck! This woman’s killing me. He stood and rubbed against her from behind.
“See how you distract me,” he whispered in her ear. When she shivered, he smiled.
“Mommy never burns the bacon,” Timmy said.
Ryder looked over his shoulder. “I bet she doesn’t.” He patted her ass, then sliced more pieces from the slab and placed them in the sizzling pan.
After they’d eaten, Timmy trotted off to his room to play a video game, and Ryder sat at the table watching Savannah fill the dishwasher.
“Do you wanna tell me the real reason you were freaked out last night.”
A millisecond of a pause.
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“Brutus went ballistic. It scared the crap out of me.”
“He’s gone ballistic before and you seemed fine.”
“But you were there to protect us.” She smiled sweetly at him, but he wasn’t buying the act for one fucking minute.
“We gotta be honest with each other and not hide shit.”
Folding the dish towel, she glanced at him. “Don’t give advice if you don’t take it yourself.”
Ryder jerked his head back. “What the fuck does that mean?”
“You have a lot of secrets you keep inside yourself, and they act as barriers to people who try to get close to you.”
“People?”
The dish towel unfolded in her hands, and she fixed her gaze on him. “Me.”
Frowning, he rubbed his hand over his face. “You’re changing the subject. I’m asking what you were afraid of last night.”
Savannah put the folded towel on the counter and shoved her hands in the pockets of her robe. “Someone followed me and Timmy when we were in town. It was the same guy who was staring at me a few nights ago.”
“The fucker at the tree lighting?”
Nodding, she pursed her lips.
“Why the hell didn’t you tell me that when I asked you? I could’ve gone out and tried to find him. That’s why Brutus went crazy.”
“I wanted to enjoy the night with you. I don’t think he’s going to hurt me” She kept twirling her hair around her fingers.
“How can you be so sure?”
“I’m not really. I’m pretty freaked out about the whole damn thing. What if he’s here to steal Timmy? I wouldn’t put it past Corinne to be behind all this. I can’t let him take my baby. Why don’t they just leave me the hell alone?” Savannah’s voice hitched.
Ryder stood up and walked over to her and drew her into his arms. Her body trembled against him and he ran his hands over her back, his heart squeezing when he heard her soft sobs against his shirt. “Shh … don’t cry, darlin’. No one’s gonna take Timmy, I’ll make sure of that. I’ll make sure I never leave you two alone. I’ll find out who this fucker is and take care of it.”
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