Page 31 of Between the Ropes

Ryan chuckles softly, glancing over Annika’s shoulder to find me standing a few feet away. His eyes lock onto mine, and everything else fades. Without another word, he steps inside, brushing past Annika, and closes the distance between us in a heartbeat. Before I can even react, his large hand cups my face, his lips crashing down on mine in a kiss so intense that I forget to breathe.

He kisses me like he’s been starving for me—like he couldn’t wait another second. His hand grips my waist, pulling me flush against his hard body, and the world disappears around us.

Annika clears her throat awkwardly. “Okay, well, I’ll just... leave you two alone.”

I pull back from Ryan, my cheeks flushed as Annika gives me a sly grin before disappearing down the hall.

Ryan’s gaze is locked on mine, dark and brimming with an intensity that makes my knees weak. “Fuck,” he mutters under his breath, his voice low and rough. “I have no control when it comes to you.”

A shiver rolls down my spine at his words.Good.

Without another thought, I grab his hand and lead him toward my bedroom, my pulse hammering. The second the door clicks shut, he’s on me again—hot, demanding, completely unhinged.His mouth crashes against mine, his kiss deeper, hungrier, as his hands roam my body like he’s desperate to relearn every inch of me.

His fingers find the straps of my dress, sliding them down my shoulders, his touch slow and reverent, as if he’s unwrapping the most precious gift. The fabric pools at my feet, leaving me bare before him, and the way his eyes darken sends a rush of heat straight through me.

“Fuck baby,” he breathes, his rough palms skimming over my curves, memorizing every dip and swell. “You are so fucking beautiful.”

Before I can respond, he lifts me effortlessly, his strength dizzying as he lays me onto the bed. He leans back, stripping off his shirt, and my mouth goes dry at the sight of him. His chiseled chest, the way his tattoos shift over hard muscle, the raw masculinity radiating from every inch of him—it’s overwhelming in the best way.

“Ryan…” I whisper, reaching for him, needing to feel him against me.

He catches my hand, pressing a kiss to my palm before pinning it above my head. “I need to take my time with you.” His lips trail down my throat, across my collarbone, over the swell of my breasts, each kiss branding me as his. “I need to hear you say my name the way you did last night.”

A moan slips from my lips as his mouth finds a sensitive peak, his tongue teasing, his teeth grazing, and I arch into him, completely lost to the pleasure he gives.

His hands map my body like he’s trying to commit me to memory. My hips, my thighs, the dip of my waist—he explores every part of me, leaving me trembling beneath him.

And when he finally strips off the last of his clothes, I can’t look away.

He’s massive. Perfect. A masterpiece of strength and power.

Ryan settles onto the bed next to me, pulling me on top of him, his hands gripping my hips, guiding me as I straddle him. His gaze is fierce, possessive, full of raw need.

“Ride me, baby,” he murmurs, his voice dark and full of promise.

I brace my hands on his chest, feeling the wild thrum of his heartbeat beneath my palms as I sink onto him. The stretch is overwhelming, delicious, and I gasp, gripping his shoulders for support.

“Fuck, Natalie,” he groans, his hands tightening on my hips. “You feel amazing.”

I move, and everything else falls away. The rhythm, the way he fills me, the way he worships me with every touch—it’s intoxicating. The pleasure builds, higher and higher, until I’m teetering on the edge.

“Fuck yes, baby,” he growls. “I want to feel you fall apart—shatter around my cock. I’ve got you.”

And when I finally fall, I fall hard. He’s right there with me, his deep groan vibrating through his chest as he finds his release. I scream his name, the sound tearing from my throat, raw and wrecked.

“That’s it, baby,” he pants. “Tell them who you belong to. Scream my name so everyone knows you're mine now.”

I collapse against him, breathless, his arms wrapping around me like he never wants to let go.

He presses a kiss to my forehead, his fingers tangling in my hair, and when he speaks, his voice is nothing but a reverent whisper.

“You’re fucking incredible.”

I smile against his skin, completely and utterly his.

After a while, we get dressed and head down to the beach in Ryan’s truck. The drive is quiet but comfortable, the hum of the engine and the faint crash of waves in the distance creatinga peaceful rhythm. When we reach a secluded spot, he backs into a space where the ocean stretches endlessly before us, the moonlight shimmering on the water like liquid silver.

Ryan hops out first, moving with an effortless confidence as he pulls a few blankets from the back. The salty breeze tousles his dark hair as he spreads them out in the truck bed, patting the space beside him. “Come here, baby.”

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