“Jenna—” he starts to say, but I refuse to let him finish.
I have something to get off my chest, and he needs to hear it before this goes any further.
“Ryder, I love you. I've loved you ever since we were kids. I never stopped loving you all these years. I just didn't know it. But I do now, I feel it and see it and breathe it in. I can feel you in every inch of my body, mind, and soul. I love you.”
I stand still, waiting for a response. But he's silent, not moving at all.
“Say something, anything.” I'm begging him to respond. I need to know how he feels too.
Does he feel what I feel? It can't just be me, it's not possible. I saw the look in his eyes when I left, I felt the pain in his touch and the sadness in his kiss. I felt it like it was a living, breathing thing.
The man glances between us, arching a single brow. “Ryder, you agreed already. You said you'd sell. All you have to do is sign. Just—”
Ryder doesn't look at him, he simply rises from his seat and holds out his hand to stop the man from saying another word. He walks around the desk, his eyes frozen on mine.
“You mean that?” he asks as he steps closer.
“Every word.” I'm firm in my answer. There's no doubt in my mind.
Capturing my face in his hands, he pulls me in and kisses me. Whispering into our kiss, he says, “I love you too. From the second I laid eyes on you, I just knew we were meant to be together. You belong here with me. This farm is a part of you too. It brought us together, not once, but twice.” His lips crash against mine as he kisses and talks. “I love you so damn much I hurt when you're not here. I can't imagine my life without you, and never I want to.”
Our kiss turns from passionate into hungry and savage. His hands are in my hair, my hands are in his. His tongue sweeps through my mouth, and mine wraps around his.
The man clears his throat, causing Ryder to break away and look over his shoulder. “Deal’s off. I'm not selling.”
“But—”
“I'll escort you out,” he commands, braiding his fingers in mine and walking to the door. He looks back at the man, glaring at him. “This way.”
“You agreed,” the man demanded. “You can't change your mind now.” Snatching the contract off the desk, he lurches from his seat and storms toward Ryder. “Sign,” he barks, holding out the papers.
Ryder releases my hand and takes the contract. He looks it over, then lets his eyes settle on the rep from Blackstone Reality. Pinching the middle, he tears it in two, and drops it to the floor.
“Get out.”
The man grunts heavily under his breath, tucking his briefcase under his arm and storming past Ryder. He's not happy and rightfully so. Odds are he just lost his job. My step-father doesn't play well with others, obviously.
Ryder stands in the doorway, watching the guy leave. His tires kick up dirt as he speeds out of the driveway, causing a small smirk on Ryder's face.
“Is it bad that I enjoyed telling him to fuck off?”
“Not at all.” Leaning against the wall next to him, I cross my arms. “It feels good to get what you want.”
Flicking his eyes to mine, his smile widens. “It really does.” Throwing his arm out, he yanks me into his arms. “I got everything I've ever wanted now.”
“Yeah?” I ask, slipping my arms around his neck. “This is what you've wished for?”
“Hundreds of times over,” he says, moving his hand to my face and sweeping his fingers across my forehead. “I can't tell you how many times I went to bed at night with you on my mind.”
Kissing me, his lips are tender and soft. This isn't a kiss built off raw desire or need, it's made of love and passion. He loves me, he loves me in a way I've never been loved before.
I can feel it. It passes through his kiss, spreading down through my body, infiltrating every inch of muscle. I'm warm, tingling from head to toe like I just swallowed a shot of bourbon.
Ryder swoops his arms under my legs, lifting me off my feet. He doesn't stop kissing me. His tongue licks across my bottom lip, forcing me to open and welcome him in. He carries me upstairs easily, and kicks his door open, laying me down on the bed, delicately and gentle.
This feels different. There are no walls between us, no fear or resistance or worry that what we're doing will one day get destroyed by an outside force.
I'm not going anywhere. Everything I want and need is right here. It's always been right here waiting for me to come home.
I'm home.
Slipping his hand up my shirt, he squeezes my breast. His fingers pinch my nipple, twisting gently as he moves his lips from my mouth to my neck. I coo softly, unable to contain the sound, which causes Ryder to groan against my skin.
My nipple stiffens as he plucks and pinches, rolling it between the pads of his fingers. His hard cock is pushing against my mound, making my clit throb. Raking my nails through his hair, I rock my pussy against his bulge.
Ryder pulls my shirt over my head, and unclips my bra, tossing it over his shoulder. Trailing light kisses across my shoulder, he runs his tongue between my breasts, licking all the way down to the edge of my pants.
Goosebumps erupt over my skin as he keeps kissing and licking every inch of exposed flesh. He lets out a breath of hot air against my lower belly, carefully working the button free on my pants.
Curling his fingers under the hem, he rips my pants down my legs. His eyes expand as they fall on my black, lace panties. Dropping back down between my legs, he softly kisses my pussy through the fabric.
“You're so fucking wet,” he says, kissing my pussy harder. “I want to taste you, devour you, and claim you as mine.”
“I've always been yours.” Tangling my hands in his hair, I pull on it softly.
Ryder moans, his eyes closing slightly as I play with his hair. Opening his eyes, I notice instantly they're darker, heavier, and smoldering like a hot fire. Flicking my panties to the side, he runs the tip of his tongue up through my folds.
My body shivers, causing my back to arch high off the bed. He grabs my hips, holding me in place as he eats my pussy like it's a meal. His tongue swirls around my clit, flicking it rapidly, and then sucking on it.
Moaning, I tear at his hair, yanking on it hard. My thighs attempt to close around his head, but he digs his fingers into my legs, slamming them back down onto the bed. He growls, the tone more animal than human.
Harder and faster he licks my clit, causing my entire body to ignite. I'm a live wire, ready to explode at any moment. The orgasm is building, pushing me closer and closer to the edge.
Ryder pulls his mouth off my heat, leaving me tender and breathless. I'm so fucking close, I know he can see it in my gaze. Staring down at him, my hips rock up, attempting to reach his lips, begging him to finish me off.
“Why'd you stop?” I ask, my voice unhinged and my heart galloping in my chest.
“Because I want to feel you come when I’m deep inside you.” Pressing up onto his knees, his cock is so hard it's threatening to bust through his jeans.
“Fuck me,” I utter as I bite my bottom lip and tug it into my mouth. “I need you in me.”
He rips his pants down, and his cock jumps out of his boxers. The tip is engorged, shiny with pre-cum, and the thick vein is throbbing down the side. His boxers are off in seconds, and he's slamming his cock deep inside my pussy before I can take a full breath.