There’s an urgency in this kiss I’ve never experienced before. But I don’t shy away from his lips or his exploring hands.
Instead, my body moves purely on instinct as I swing my leg over his lap and straddle him. At his angle, I’m able to press my body completely against his. I twine my fingers into his dark hair, pulling him even closer. “I love your hair. Don’t ever cut it,” I pant between toes curling kisses.
“Same goes for you.” I feel his hand wrap into my own hair and borderline painfully tug.
“Okay,” I manage to get out between clenched teeth.
Ryker’s mouth leaves mine and begins trailing kisses down my chin and neck. My breath catches when his lips caress the spot on my neck that makes my skin burst into flames of pleasure, and I move my head to the side to grant him more access to the sensitive skin.
“I wish you could mark me,” I whimper, my voice breathless.
“Soon.”
As he sucks and bites at the spot on my neck, my hands make quick work of unbuttoning his shirt. Each button I undo reveals more of the artwork that decorates his chest, dark swirling lines create a beautiful image of a stopwatch nestled between roses, with roman numerals surrounding the edge of a clock.
“That’s my birthday,” I say as I push back to get a better look at the artwork. Now that his shirt is completely open, I push it down Ryker’s shoulders.
“Yes.” He tugs the shirt the rest of the way off. “It was the second tattoo I got after this one.” He holds out the forearm that has the name “Grey” etched across it. “The time on the clock is the exact time my father told me you had died. I got it to represent the exact moment my heart also stopped beating.”
I smooth my hand over his chest, and I can feel his strong heartbeat under my fingertips. “Seems to be beating now.”
“Because yours is.” His gaze, now a glowing gold, locks onto mine. “That’s enough talking for now, don’t you think?”
I laugh, but he quickly swallows my amusement when his mouth collides with mine again. He doesn’t stop kissing me as he flips us in one fluid motion. I’m on my back now, and he looms above, careful to not put too much of his weight onto me. Unable to stop myself, I nip at his bottom lip. He growls at me before I swipe my tongue across the spot, soothing it.
Again, Ryker makes a trail of kisses down my chin and neck. But this time he doesn’t stop at my shoulder. Instead, he continues, leaving wet kisses all the way down my sternum. I shudder when I feel his lips caress the top of one of my breasts.
I open my eyes and look down at him. My heart skips a beat. I see he’s staring right back at me, his glowing eyes filled with lust. His fingertips tentatively make their way under the edge of my tank top, lightly running across the edge, causing goosebumps to cover my skin. He looks at me for permission, and after I give him a quick nod, he swiftly pulls the shirt over my head. I can’t keep from self-consciously trying to cover myself now that I’m only wearing a bra.
“Don’t,” Ryker speaks through the link in my head, and with gentleness, takes hold of my wrists and pulls my hands away. “You’re perfect.”
He starts kissing me where he left off, right between my breasts. My chest heaves, and my back arches into his touch. I tangle my fingers into his hair again, holding onto him for dear life. I don’t have much experience with men, but nothing in the past has felt like this. I gasp loudly when his tongue swirls around my navel. Liking my reaction, he does it again, and again, until I’ve melted into a puddle below him.
We spend the rest of the night exploring each other’s bodies, acquainting ourselves with each other’s curves and scars. My wish comes true, and I’m able to trace many of his various tattoos with my fingers and sometimes my tongue. All the while, both of our pants stay on. Neither one of us has to say anything, but we both know we want to wait until the mating ceremony for our first time.
I fall asleep topless and extremely happy sprawled across his tattooed chest. It’s something I look forward to doing every night in this house—our home.
24
Pruitt
The light coming through the bare windows pulls me awake as it’s shining directly in my face. Ryker’s chest rises and falls under my head since I’m still using him as my pillow. I reach up and make sure there isn’t any drool on my face and sigh in relief when I don’t feel any. As gently as I can, I move away from his sleeping form and sit up. My back is sore from sleeping on the floor, but it’s worth it.
Best date ever!
I reach for my phone that sits on the fireplace hearth and frown when I find it’s dead. I hadn’t planned on spending the whole night away from Addison, and I need to send her a text to make sure her night was okay and she doesn’t need anything, so I try looking for Ryker’s phone in the pile of blankets and pillows we’re lying on.
“Where are you?” I mumble to myself as I throw another pillow out of the way.
“It’s right here.” I turn to see Ryker sitting up. He blinks multiple times, trying to get his sleepy vision to clear. “I think I used it as a pillow…” He looks down at the phone in his hand and shakes his head. “It’s dead from playing music all night.”
“Crap,” I curse. “I need to check on Addison. Hopefully her night with Noah was okay.”
“I bet ours was better.” He smirks.
“Even half asleep, you’re cocky.” I roll my eyes at him, but I feel my
