Page 51 of A Lot Like Love
“I don’t either. Not before.”
She smiled to herself and moved harder and faster, loving that he was struggling to stay in control, that he was enjoying it as much as she was, that he couldn’t stop even if he wanted to. Ryder was trying to get her top off now, and she wriggled to let him push it all the way up so she could struggle out of it, still with him buried inside of her. Then he flipped her over onto her stomach, her face pushed into the pillow as he settled himself behind her.
“You asked for it.” His whisper was husky, like it was being dragged over gravel.
Chloe matched him with every thrust, biting the pillow to stop from moaning. Only it didn’t work. Ryder’s fingers were on her again, caressing her as she arched back into him, her climax building fast.
“Ryder,” she moaned, “I’m…” She didn’t get a chance to finish her sentence, the words dying in her throat as a wave of pleasure took over all her senses, her body tensing with the intensity of it before slowly loosening and going slack again.
“Now that was a nice way to wake up,” she murmured, turning her head sideways so he could hear her as he collapsed over her.
Ryder chuckled. “That more than makes up for you crashing on me last night.”
He kissed her shoulder, stroking her hair aside so he could do the same to her neck. Chloe shut her eyes as his lips moved gently across her skin, the tenderness of his touch surprising her. Something had changed between them, something she couldn’t put her finger on yet, but what she was doing with Ryder wasn’t just about sex any longer.
She had feelings for Ryder, and they scared the hell out of her.
He went back to spooning her again, but she turned in his arms so she was facing him. Chloe kissed him, opening her mouth and sighing as he brushed his lips back and forth, his tongue so soft when he touched it to hers.
“So what’s our plan for today?” he asked, cradling her against him so her head was to his chest. She’d wriggled down the bed so she could lie in his arms.
“Breakfast, then more playing cards,” she said. “I think we’ll just stay here today though.”
“You sure?” he asked.
“Yeah. I’d rather just play the smaller tables, but if we gamble here I won’t run into anyone I know. It’ll just cost you more money for me to play the big game room. You should have a flutter, too, put into play what I’ve taught you.”
“Your wish is my command,” he said against her hair, his lips soft. “But I might stick to some low-level slot machines. I’d rather give my money to charity than come up against you or any of the pros.”
“Then how about you order me up some pain killers and a bacon and egg breakfast while I have a long, hot shower.” She pushed back and gazed up at him, wriggling so she could press one last kiss to his lips. “Extra bacon and a strong coffee. Maybe some orange juice, too.”
“You starting to regret the tequila and tacos?” he asked with a grin.
“Ugh.” She sat up and swung her legs off the bed. “I don’t think I can ever stomach either of those things again. Just the thought of them makes me want to hurl.”
She glanced at Ryder, saw he’d kicked the sheets off completely as he stretched out, naked. If she wasn’t so desperate for a shower she’d have run straight back to bed and snuggled up against him again, but the lure of hot water made her keep walking. She could have Ryder to herself again tonight, and she was going to make the most of every second in bed with him.
“I’ll order up room service now,” he called out. “I need you firing on all cylinders.”
“I thought I was,” she teased back as she turned on the faucet, peeking out the door before shutting it.
“You are, darlin’,” Ryder drawled. “Believe me, you are.”
She stepped under the water and didn’t move, letting it soak her hair and her skin. There wasn’t a doubt in her mind that she could win back Ryder’s ranch—Parker was a small fish compared to the serious guys playing her at the big tables here, and if she could bluff her way to winning against them she’d be fine back in Dallas. Her only concern was walking away from Ryder when it was all over. She could do it, but she already knew it was gonna hurt like hell.
“Like a Band-Aid,” she muttered to herself. When it was time for it to all be over, she was just going to have to rip the Band-Aid off and not look back.
* * *
“Maybe we should have stayed at the Bellagio.”
Ryder’s mutter made her laugh. “Hey, just because you wanted to play against me.”
“My mistake. I’m moving over right now.”
They both laughed and Ryder dropped a kiss to her head before moving on, leaving her to play again. She’d decided it was stupid to worry—the Bellagio wasn’t where she wanted to play—and she was really starting to hit her stride. It was the smaller places where she really got to play a good variety of solid players.
She glanced up as another player joined the table, a cap pulled down low, his face impossible to see. She didn’t care anyway, just stared at the table, waited for the dealer.
