Page 37 of Ryder

“Try it on,” Ryder breathes next to me.

He causes butterflies to dance inside my stomach as I turn to face him. He suggestively licks his lips and it takes everything inside of me not to beg him to take me right here.

I scurry off to the bathroom and try on the gown. When I emerge back into the room, I hear an audible gasp as Ryder drinks me in.

I turn to face the long mirror on the wall, and I almost don’t recognize myself. “Wow,” I sigh.

“Wow is right. Damn, Scar, you look phenomenal,” Ryder states.

I turn and face him, and he is already right in front of me. His hands find my hips, and he rubs the material between his fingers. I watch his hands move, and it is mesmerizing. I’m holding my breath as his eyes travel all over my body. However, it is when his hand comes up to the base of my neck, and he leans in and places a chaste kiss to my sensitive skin, that I allow a slight moan to escape my lips.

“Scar, you have no idea how magnificent you are,” he says.

I close my eyes and revel in the touch and feel of his hands touching me.

“Ryder,” I say, my voice shaking from the arousal I feel.

“Once I finally have you--and I don’t mean just sex-- that’s it. You will be mine forever. That’s a fact, do you understand?” Ryder asks me, his voice deep and sated.

My eyes spring open, and I can feel his erection pushed up against my leg. “Yes,” I breathe.

Words seem to fail me right now. Ryder has me so twisted in my emotions. I have lost all ability to speak and move. The way he makes me feel is limitless. Like I can soar higher than ever dreamed and heal faster than imaginable.

“We have to be ready to leave the hotel at seven,” Ryder says, backing away from me.

He rubs his chin as he gives me one last look, then he leaves. I swear that man can turn my body weak and melt my panties, and in the next minute, leave me wondering what in the hell just happened. The chaos that has become us is so exhilarating. I find myself loving the back and forth banter. The hot and needy moments mixed with the sweet and sentimental ones make this all worth it.

After I finally manage to get moving again, I spend the afternoon talking with Allison, working out in the gym, and getting ready for tonight. I am about to give my heart to Ryder Raven. I just hope he doesn’t break it.

Chapter 21

Ryder

Seeing Scarlett smiling and laughing with my family is the most incredible feeling ever.

She fits in my world both in Hollow Cove and Los Angeles.

“You did good,” Blaze says to me, as he hands me a beer.

I take the drink and smile. Scarlett is talking with Remy, Ivy, and Lacy and all I can do is stare at the stunning woman who has captured my heart.

“Thanks,” I reply.

“So, do you think Scarlett is the one?” Blaze asks.

Blaze and I never have had personal conversations. We would talk about women with salacious stories about hook ups, but never about real feelings. I guess we’ve both have grown up and matured.

Nodding, I can’t help the smile that grows on my face. And, when I meet Scarlett’s gaze from across the room, there is no doubt in my mind that this woman is my forever.

“Yeah, man. She’s it for me.”

I need to tell her how I feel.

She has to know how deeply in love with her that I am.

But she’s been off. I can sense her wanting to run again and I know I just need to be patient with her, but fuck me if I’m tired of being patient.

I love this damn woman so much and I need her and the rest of the world to know. Maybe after tonight, I can finally tell her.

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