Page 62 of The Model

Slowly I started to move, rocking back and forth and then up and down. One hand grasped onto the back of Ryder’s neck, and the other tangled in the long hair at the top of his head.

Ryder started to move with me. His arms lifted me and pulled me down as he surged up. Each time I moaned and clutched him a little harder as he brought me closer and closer to the edge. It wouldn’t take long with how worked up I was and how he always seemed to know exactly the right thing to do to bring me the most pleasure.

His thumb found my clit and circled hard and fast. Heat flooded my body as a rush of electricity raced down my spine and up my legs, converging at the epicenter between my legs. My back bowed as I threw my head back and screamed out his name.

This man was magic. He was a god in bed and the keeper of my soul.

I stayed suspended in the air as he continued to drive to his own release. With one last thrust, he called out my name with a long groan. We stayed like that until our breathing slowed, and our hearts weren’t threatening to beat out of our chests. Slowly Ryder lifted me off him and gently laid me down on the bed.

Disappearing into the bathroom, he came out with a warm wet washcloth that he used to tenderly clean me up with. Once he was done, he dropped it on the floor and settled in beside me. He pulled the covers over us as I moved into him. I didn’t want to be away from him for a single second that wasn’t necessary.

“Are you feeling better now?” Ryder wrapped his body around me, one leg nestled between mine, and his arms held me close.

“Much.” I snuggled deeper into his hold.

“Good, let’s get some sleep.”

I closed my eyes and instantly started to drift off into dreamland when I felt Ryder kiss the top of my head and whisper. “I can’t wait to make you mine tomorrow.”

25

Ryder

WASHINGTON

“Mom, Dad, meet my wife, Lexie.”Not how I was planning on introducing her, but when they eyed the rings on our fingers the moment we stepped inside, my brain went on the fritz, and I said the first thing that came to me. At least I didn’t blurt out she was pregnant.

My dad stepped back, crossing his arms over his chest while my mom’s eyes got round with delight. She clasped her hands together and held them in front of her heart. “Is this the young lady you were telling me about? The one you like and who’s so talented.”

If she wasn’t, that would have put a damper on their meeting.

“The one and only,” I confirmed. Pulling Lexie closer, I wrapped my arm around her shoulders and kissed her temple.

“It’s so nice to meet you, Mr. and Mrs. Williams. Ryder has said such lovely things about you.”

“Oh, you call me mom, dear. I won’t have you call me anything else, do you hear me?”

“Yes…Mom,” she answered back uncomfortably. I wish I could have seen her face, but I also hoped she’d one day love my mom. Lexie deserved a mother figure, and I knew mine had always wanted another child and would want to adopt Lexie into the family as soon as she got to know her.

“Now, you both need to give me a hug.” My mom went for Lexie first.

Lexie gave her a tentative squeeze before she stood back by my side. I stepped forward and picked up my mom, giving her a big bear hug. It had been too long since I’d last seen her. She had gained some more of her weight back, which was good, and her hair had grown out into a short bob. I loved seeing her happy and healthy.

“It’s so good to see you, Mom.”

“It’s good to see you, too, my baby boy. I wish I had known you were bringing a guest, or I guess I should say a wife home with you. I would have—”

“And that’s why I didn’t tell you. There’s no need to overwork yourself.” She always kept the house spick and span and now wasn’t any different. If I thought for one moment she would be embarrassed, I would have given her a heads up.

She swatted my back before pulling away. “Why don’t we all go sit in the living room, and you can tell me why we weren’t invited to the wedding.”

“We really should bring our bags in before it gets dark.” We’d come from rather warm temperatures in Vegas to the cold of Washington, and it would only be worse once the sun went down.

“Fine, go get your things and clean up, but then we’re going to sit down and have a long talk over dinner.”

I stifled a laugh. She made it sound like she was going to give me the birds and the bees talk. It was a little too late for that. I couldn’t wait to see the look on her face once she found out she was going to be a grandmother.

The second we stepped outside, Lexie turned toward me with wide eyes. “Your dad hates me.”

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