other ways, it was as if we were never apart. In either instance, I relished the touch, the give and take, of being in his arms.
“Gross! Get a fucking room. And by that, I mean leave!” Tali said. “Watching you paw my girl while I’m standing right here is just wrong.”
Something soft and squishy hit my back.
I pulled back with a laugh. Saw the pillow settling on the floor. I looked at Tali. “You’re just jealous. We’ll find a man for you to boss around, T. No worries.”
She flashed me a sparkling smile. “Now we’re talking.”
“You’re all invited for a girls’ night tomorrow. Drinks, dancing, pillow fights. No boys allowed.”
Ryker drilled his fingers into my sides. “I’m getting kicked out of my own house on the second night we’re together?”
I nodded, not bothering to look up at him. “And I’m moving in, at your very direct order. Therefore, it’s our house.” I elbowed him.
Nico and Turo laughed at whatever expression Ryker must have made. They smiled and shook their heads. “We’ve got a weekly guys night. We can make sure you’re on the list,” Rafe offered.
Ryker sighed against my hair. “It seems I need to vacate the premises, so yeah. I’ll take you up on that. Penn Towers has better security than the White House, so they should be fine.”
I smiled, leaned back against his chest. Rubbed a hand over his. “See? That wasn’t so awful, was it?”
He ground his dick against my ass. “We’ll be chatting later.”
I wiggled my eyebrows at the girls. “Sir, yes, sir.”
They burst into giggles as the men groaned.
“That’s it. Get her out of here before I want to paddle all of you,” Momma said from her spot at the kitchen island. She flicked a dish towel at us. Stabbed a finger at Ryker. “Ring. Finger. Two months. Or Momma steps in.”
“Si, Momma. Si,” Ryker said.
Momma’s lips twitched before she got control and glared at him. A soft rush of Italian floated over the quiet room. She winked at me before turning back to the fridge she and Papa were trying to salvage.
Ryker started slinging bags and suitcases up into his arms and hands. “Everyone grab something.” He turned to the door. Turned back when no one moved. He looked around the room, looked at me. “What’d I do?”
I raised my brows. “Not say please. No need to be rude. They aren’t you hired peons; they’re family.” I rolled my eyes.
His cheeks colored slightly. “Sorry. If you all would please help me get Willow’s stuff to the car, I would greatly appreciate it.”
Everyone nodded and moved forward to help.
Once outside—even in the garage where the smell of hot engines and oil permeated the open space—I felt like I could finally breathe again. We all gathered at the back of the SUV. Like we were playing a big game of Tetris, we loaded the back of Ryker’s Range Rover. Even with the backseats folded flat, it was going to be a squeeze.
He manhandled the back gate down. Glared at me. “I couldn’t have replaced any of that?”
I shrugged. “You said what I couldn’t pack. I could pack it all.”
He chuckled, rolled his eyes. “I’ll be more precise in my language next time.”
I snorted. “If you think I’m going to be moving again any time soon, you’re severely mistaken, hero.”
His green eyes darkened. “I wouldn’t let you leave anyway. Not without me.”
“Boo. Take that cheese elsewhere,” Jessa joked, hand cupped around her mouth. “Boo!”
Ryker smiled, dipped into a slight bow. “The show’s over. Go away.”
He walked me to the passenger side of the car. Opened and held the door for me. I stood on the running board. “Girls, don’t forget. Drinks and all kinds of debauchery tomorrow night.”
Nik, Tali, and Jessa sent up war whoops and fists into the air. “Hell’s yeah!”
I smiled and dipped into the car. Buckled my seatbelt as Ryker shut my door and made his way to his side of the car. He slid in behind the wheel.
He leaned over the console, caught my chin in his hand, and pulled my face to his. “You’re really okay moving in with me?” he asked. His green eyes were dark and searching as he studied me.
I nodded. “I wouldn’t be coming if I weren’t. The Amatuccis have enough safe houses that I could have stayed in while the loft was being cleaned.” I eased forward. Planted my lips on his for a brief moment. Pulled back. “I’m moving in because I want to. Even though