Page 117 of Ryder
Ryder kept hold of my hand, and we lay back in those chairs as Has-Been and the other biker, apparently called Rocket, worked on marking us with each other’s names.
It was a slow process, long enough that we all stopped for drinks several times during the process, alcohol for us, and coffee for the tattooists.
It was the strangest experience of my life, and considering the things I’ve seen, suffered through, and done to others, that’s saying a lot.
Ryder watched me a lot during the few hours that we sat there, and when we were finally done, it was a relief to be able to move and stand up, and not have Has-Been hovering over me, his hands working so close to my breast. It was perhaps a dumb idea, but I’d wanted it where it could be seen, if I wore strappy tops or dresses, because I was proud to be his.
The area ached and stung afterward, but I didn’t care. Ryder pulled me up from that seat, and cupped my face with his hands. I could see how much he wanted to kiss me. How much he wanted some kind of physical connection on this momentous day, after what we’d just done, so I nodded lightly, knowing that I could handle this. Surely I could handle this. His eyes widened, and he mouthed the words ‘you sure?’ and I nodded again.
It felt like tension drained out of his body, that I hadn’t even known was there. He leaned closer, his lips brushing over mine. A light, sweet touch. He pulled back to look at me, his eyes on mine again.
“More,” I whispered, because suddenly I needed it too. His grin was still there when his lips crashed against mine, and then he was kissing me like he’d wanted to. Like I’d wanted him to. Like he owned me, his tongue plunging into my mouth, as he claimed me in front of his family. His brothers.It was everything.That one moment. Surrounded by the people who loved him. People who were accepting me, despite my faults and flaws. Who were accepting me despite who my father is, and what that could mean for all of them.
And most importantly, because it was Ryder, his hands on my face, his lips pressing urgently against mine. His tongue surging against mine, practically fucking my mouth. Wow. I hadn’t known just how amazing a kiss could feel until this moment. I guess it had never been the right person before, and now it was. I knew it, with every shred of my being. And not only was I his, but he was mine too.
Ryder
Inever believed she’dlet me kiss her, especially not here, in front of people, but it was fucking epic. She’d started out tentative, her eyes wide and nervous when I pulled back to check on her, and then she whispered one word; ‘more’, and I fucking gave it to her.
I knew I was kissing her hard. I knew I was kissing her like a possessive bastard. I knew that my tongue was practically fucking hers. But she was letting me, and more than that, she was kissing me back. I could have kissed her like that all fucking night, but for one thing.
“Get a room!” Someone finally yelled, and laughter broke out. We pulled apart, breathing hard, with me trying to hide a fucking raging boner, but she was smiling. Everything else didn’t matter, because she was smiling.I’d kissed her, and yet she was smiling. She wasn’t afraid. She wasn’t retreating. She didn’t even seem uncomfortable, or appear to feel awkward.
Someone handed us another glass of vodka each, so we toasted each other, and drank them, and then she leaned forward, and pressed her lips against mine.Shefucking kissedme.
If someone else hadn’t come over to congratulate us then, I think I’d have tongue fucked her mouth for the rest of my life.
Brother after brother came to me with hugs, back slaps, the whole nine yards. Words of blessing and congratulation, and kind words to Tori.Welcoming words. Not a single brother stayed back, or refused to welcome her. They were my family, and I loved every fucking last one of them. No matter what else happened, I knew we’d be okay.
Because we were both where we were meant to be.
Epilogue One
We spent the fewdays after the ‘ceremony’ in our room, as normal, although each day, Ryder made a point of taking me out on his bike, wanting me to feel the same rush of excitement that I’d felt that first time, and it didn’t fail.
Every time was amazing. Having to hold on tight to his firm body was part of the fun for me. Touching him, and holding him was becoming so much easier, even with him conscious. The trouble was that I still freaked out ifhetouchedme.
Hugs were fine. Even kissing was fine. I’d discovered that kissing was fucking amazing, and I wanted him kissing me as often as possible. The trouble with that was that it made us both horny as hell, and then the most I could manage was some mutual masturbation to get us off.
He said it was fine. He said that it was enough, but I knew it wasn’t.It wasn’t enough for me, so how could it be enough for him?
And on the third night after our ‘biker marriage’, I was getting ready for bed, frustrated and horny, after a long kissing session, wishing I could be normal just for fucking once.
A knock on the door drew Ryder away for a few moments, and then he let Ice into the room. I hadn’t seen him since the day we got our tattoos, but he looked tired as always, and frustrated.
“Everything okay?” I asked, and he nodded, waving at me.
“Did you get it?” Ryder asked him, tossing aside the t-shirt that he’d removed, just before the knock on the door.
“You wanna stand back with those fucking man nipples?” Ice walked past him, sniggering to himself. I was just relieved thatIwas still dressed.
“Want something to drink?” I asked Ice, knowing that he didn’t touch alcohol, but I could make coffee. Ryder had been filling me in on his brothers, on the things I should know, and the things that made them the unique people they were.Finding out how Torch got his road name was something I wished I could forget.
Ice shook his head, looking more frustrated by the second. What the hell was going on with him?
“Look, man. Yes. I got it. Are you sure about this?”
He was staring urgently at Ryder, and I had no idea what they were talking about.
