Page 39 of A Lot Like Love
Chapter 9
“This,” Chloe said, stretching her legs out over Ryder and wiggling her toes, “is bliss.”
Ryder was alternating between stroking her arm and her thigh—her body was tangled over his as they lay naked on top of the bed. His touch was light, soft enough to almost lull her to sleep.
“That’s what all the girls say after a night with me.”
She threw a pillow at Ryder’s head and received a grin in response.
“I was talking about the view,actually,” Chloe said with a laugh.
“Sure you were.”
Chloe was about to locate another pillow when a knock echoed out.
“And that will be room service,” Ryder said, leaning over to kiss her before sliding off the bed.
Chloe pulled the sheet up from where it was bunched down the bed and covered up. She admired the other view as Ryder stretched, then reached for his boxers, his butt firm, shoulders muscular and strong. He wasn’t hard to watch, and she could still feel every groove and indent of his beautiful body if she shut her eyes. She wanted to explore him all over again just so she never forgot. She’d been ready to ditch the good-girl persona, just once, and if he was going to be her one indiscretion, then it wasn’t exactly a bad one.
Ryder yanked on his jeans and answered the door bare chested—she couldn’t see him now because he was in the living room, but she heard him ask for everything to be placed on the table before he tipped the waiter and said goodnight. When Ryder reappeared he had two silver trays in hand, and a grin on his face that she couldn’t help but return. They’d already consumed the first bottle of champagne he’d had delivered.
“Shall we eat in bed?”
She laughed when he waggled his eyebrows at her. “Naked?”
“Now that’s something I like the sound of.’
Chloe shook her head. “You’re not distracting me this time,” she told him. “That food smells amazing and I’m starving.”
Ryder came closer and carefully set the trays down on the bed. He took the lids off and discarded them, revealing two big juicy steaks and fries.
“We could have ordered something more gourmet, but…”
“This is perfect,” she interrupted. “And I’m so hungry I could eat a horse.”
Ryder left her with the trays and disappeared, returning with two glasses and the second bottle of champagne. She didn’t wait for him, propping herself up with the sheet tucked up to her breasts, popping a few fries into her mouth to satisfy her growling stomach.
“Hey,” Ryder protested, walking around to her side of the bed and placing a fresh glass on the side table, then pushing down the sheet. It fell to her waist, her breasts bare.
Chloe considered throwing a fry at him but decided not to. “Haven’t you seen enough of them for one evening?”
He laughed, bending forward to plant a kiss on her lips. “Never.”
She was too hungry to care that he’d so brazenly taken charge, about the fact that he was still wearing jeans when she was as good as sitting naked beside him.
“I was a vegetarian for years,” she told him, guiltily cutting into her steak and taking her first mouthful.
“What changed your mind?”
She sighed. “I hate myself for eating meat but”—Chloe shook her head—“it just tastes so damn good.”
Ryder considered her, putting down his knife and fork and plucking a few fries instead. “You love animals?”
She nodded. “Yes.”
“So what do you think of me riding rodeo?”
“Honestly?” she asked.
