Page 28 of Ryder

I turned and inched back so I could see his face. This was some shit. I knew The Devil’s Queens hated the Silvermans and with them fighting X, this was huge. I was surprised Ryder was at home with me and not out kicking arse and arresting people. I could see the worry lines around his eyes and his lips were thin, but it was his eyes that gave away how frustrated and angry he was at everything, I wanted to wrap my arms around him and hug him to me and help him feel better. “So why aren’t you at work?”

“I’m not going to risk leaving you and anything happening to you again. I’m staying and protecting you. You are more important to me than anyone else. You’re the only person I care about getting hurt.” His moan was deep and guttural and clearly a sound of pain. He stroked my cheek, his rough callused fingers adding to the sweet feel of his touch. “I don’t think you understand how much you mean to me. I know I explained the soul mate gypsies’ gift, but you have become more. With you I laugh, I have fun, I talk for hours, I can justbe. I’ve never had that with anyone, not even my brothers. If I ever lost you I would go insane. I’m not even joking. When I found out what happened to you I nearly had a heart attack and when you made it to the hospital? I have never prayed and begged so much in my life. I don’t care if I never work in law enforcement again. You have become my whole world. You’re all that matters.”

Oh. My. God. I loved this man. I was so damn lucky. I beamed up at him, happier than I could ever remember being. “Thank you. You’re an amazing man and I’m so lucky to have you, but you don’t have to stop doing what you love doing because you want to keep me safe wrapped in a bubble. I can take care of myself. I got kidnapped, sure, but I promise I’ve learned my lesson and know what the bodyguards are for and will make sure I have them with me at all times. Go back to work. Catch bad guys.” I kissed his lips and, being careful of all extra medical bandages and cast, straddled his lap. I gave up when I couldn’t bend my right leg thanks to the brace. “Argh. I hate this. I want to be closer to you. I want to feel your body against mine. Dammit I’m so horny, especially after those sweet words you gave me.

His groan of need at my words eased me some. It was nice to know I wasn’t the only one suffering.

I was back at work but working from home. I was still reluctant to leave Divinity. When she had some of the cast off, I’d told work I’d go in for a couple of hours, but it would still be a couple of weeks. Work wasn’t happy, but it was either that or I told them I’d retire. And they didn’t want me to retire. Not only because I was good at my job, but because they used my contacts and my name.

The department also liked that I knew how to deal and work with the media, thanks to my upbringing. I was grateful I wasn’t my American or English cousins as they dealt with a lot more media than we did here.

The news I’d just learned scared me. Divinity’s father Eric, had been hounding the detectives working the case while I’d been on suspension for weeks about getting X, but for the last two days they’d heard zilch from him. I’d seen firsthand what Eric could do, and on the one hand I was glad he was involved, because I knew now that X would be found. On the other hand, I was petrified of what shape I would find X when, or if, he was given over to me.

I’d tried calling Eric and he wasn’t answering. This worried me more. I had a feeling this was either going to blow up in my face, or I was going to have everything sorted out in a week or so. I was praying for the latter.

I’D BEEN HOME FOR OVERa week and a half and Ryder decided we should have a picnic. I was set up out in the beautiful backyard, lying on stuffed beanbags and pillows. The lagoon-like swimming pool had the sun shining off it and I wished I could swim, but not all my casts were waterproof.

Ryder had set me up and went back inside the house to get a picnic basket full of food, but he’d been gone for a while now. He had suggested we go out for our picnic, but it was a lot of work with me still in casts and healing, and I was happy staying at home. I loved the house and the surrounding ground, sure from the outside as you pull up in a car it looks like a fortress, but once you’re in it a haven of palm trees, lush green grass, hibiscus flowers and many others. The pool was one of my favorite places to relax on a sunny day with its palm trees, green shrubbery, large rocks and makeshift waterfall.

“Sorry. I forgot the wine.” I turned to see Ryder coming towards me with an old fashion picnic basket, an open bottle of wine and two wine glasses in his hand. He gently placed the basket down right next to me and then sat and poured wine into the glasses. “I know you haven’t taken any pain meds today so you could go on the picnic and if you like, you don’t have to drink much.”

Narrowing my gaze, I raised my brow. “Why on earth would I do that? The whole reason I didn’t take any pain meds was so I could get plastered on wine.”

He chuckled then held out his glass. “Cheers then.”

We tapped our glasses, but I knew I really couldn’t drink much wine and get plastered like I wanted to, because I was pregnant. “I can’t drink. I’m pregnant. I read that I can have a sip or two, but it’s advised no alcohol.”

“Oh, okay. When did you find that out? And it’s good then it’s just sparkling apple cider. I wasn’t sure about alcohol with your meds. Ryder sounded off, like his mind was elsewhere, but he was looking at me waiting for my answer.

Being unable to move around because I was disabled, had made me bored out of my mind. I’d been on the internet looking up everything. The things I now knew about pregnancy and giving birth scared the crap out of me. “Let’s just say the internet is a scary place when you’re pregnant and bored.”

Ryder cleared his throat. “You can eat grapes, oranges, strawberries and apples though?”

I nodded. “Yep, no sushi though, deli meat, or soft cheeses.” I pouted, because that had been a blow, I loved a good creamy cheese with a cracker. The sushi wasn’t anything for me to care about as I wasn’t a fan and I wasn’t a huge fish eater anyway.

He smirked, his lips quivering as he looked like he was trying not laugh. “Would you mind getting out some fruit?”

Staring at him for a moment, I wondered why he was letting me do something. Since, having arrived home from the hospital I’d barely lifted a finger. The most strenuous thing I did was wipe my frigging arse. He leaned back against a cushion and smiled, shrugging. I unhooked the clips on the basket and opened one side. I gasped at the little fluffy caramel fur back and tail. I rushed to undo the other side of the basket and my heart almost exploded from the cuteness I saw. Asleep, curled up is a caramel Labradoodle.

“OhmyGod!” I blurted without taking a breath. “Oh. My. God. You didn’t…” I darted my gaze up to see Ryder leaning forward with a heart stopping smile on face.

“Are you going to pick him up?”

I nodded, resisting the urge to squeal and wake up the little angel. I carefully picked him up the best I could with my cast hand as I have finger movement from that hand, and hugged him to my chest. He woke up and his head popped up and I fell in love instantly. I took him all in, from his adorable floppy soft ears to his cute little button nose. I paused at his neck as I spotted his collar and couldn’t miss the ring hanging from it. I looked closer, laughing when the puppy licked my cheek. The name tag said, “Marry us”.

Oh, my God. He did it! Ryder gave me a dream worthy proposal.

I hugged my puppy close, not caring about the tears falling from my eyes. “Yes. A million times yes. I can’t believe you. This is perfect. You’re perfect. This little guy, er, he is a boy?” I held him up and confirmed before Ryder answered. “Yes, boy. He’s perfect. Yes, yes. I’m so happy you gave me a proposal I deserve.” I sat the puppy down and leaned in and kissed my fiancée.

We didn’t pull away until a tiny bark interrupted us. Laughing at how adorable it was, I gazed down at my puppy. My heart filled so full to bursting with love and happiness. I wanted to tell Ryder I loved him, but I wanted to wait to say that another time, so I could have another special day.

“What are you going to name him?” Ryder patted the puppy and undid his collar, getting the ring and tag off. He did up the collar again and then picked up the ring, reached into his pocket and pulled out a gold chain. He put the ring on that. “I thought this would be best. With the cast, it won’t fit.”

I nodded. I loved that Ryder thought enough about my condition and that the ring wouldn’t fit. He was always doing little considerate things like that. It was something I hadn’t expected with such an alpha man like Ryder.

“You thought of anything to call him?”

I had no idea. I’d never had a pet. I always wanted one, but with moving about so much with the Army it wasn’t really practical. Looking down at the puppy I noticed he was small, smaller than what I thought the breed should be. “Is he a Labradoodle?”

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