Wild Embrace (Wilder Irish #11) - Mari Carr Page 0,54

laughed softly. “Then you’re clearly getting better. Even so, what a shame to get sick on Thanksgiving. Couldn’t even use the fever to get out of going to school for a day.”

“I know. Right?” Clint clearly enjoyed her joke. “Think I can pretend I’m still sick long enough to miss on Monday?”

Ryder peered around the door, wanting to see them as well as hear. Neither of them noticed his presence. Clint was propped up on several pillows, Darcy sitting on the edge of his mattress.

“You? Stay in bed for three more days?” she asked. “I have my doubts.”

Clint nodded earnestly. “Didn’t think about that. Yeah. I need to get better by Saturday because me and Vince and a bunch of other guys are going to play touch football at Paulie’s house.”

“Sounds like fun.” Darcy lifted the ginger ale from the tray and placed it on his nightstand. “I’ll leave that here for you. Do you need anything else? Want to watch TV? Play a video game?”

Eating appeared to have wiped out what little energy Clint had managed to muster. He shook his head. “No. I think I’m going to go back to sleep.”

“Okay.” Darcy placed her hand on his forehead, checking to see if his fever had returned. “Still cool as a cucumber.”

Clint grinned at the familiar phrase. Ryder had heard Yvonne say it to both boys whenever they tried to feign an illness.

Then she helped him move a few pillows away and lie down again, pulling the covers over him.

“I’ll check on you before I leave.”

“I’ll be asleep,” he said.

Darcy shrugged. “That’s okay. I’ll just stand at the bedroom door and stare at you like a creepy stalker.”

Clint laughed. “That’s not what a stalker does.”

She tilted her head as if he was off his rocker. “You sure?”

Clint nodded. “That’s what moms do.”

Ryder sucked in a deep breath, his chest suddenly tight as he watched Darcy bend forward to kiss his son on the forehead.

“Love you, kiddo,” she whispered. “Feel better.”

“Love you too, Darcy.” Clint closed his eyes as Darcy quietly placed the empty soup bowl and spoon back on the tray.

Ryder slipped back into the hallway, leaning against the wall, fighting against an onslaught of emotions he couldn’t put names to.

When Darcy stepped out of the room, he straightened up and took the tray from her to place it on the floor.

“Hey,” she said softly, “I thought—”

He shook his head as he pressed his fingers against her lips for just a second. Then he grasped her hand and led her to the end of the hallway to his bedroom. Dragging her inside, he closed and locked the door before pulling her body tightly against his and kissing her.

If Darcy was surprised by his impromptu actions, the feeling passed quickly as her hands circled his shoulders, touching the nape of his neck, holding him to her.

He’d done nothing but push her away since they’d started, so he understood her need to cling to him, to keep him close. Why should she expect that this time would be different? That he wouldn’t keep shoving her away?

Together, they began to move backwards toward his bed. With each step, they continued to kiss, to shed clothing. He pulled his shirt off before hers, dropping them both to the floor. Darcy’s hands were at his jeans, unbuttoning them, unzipping. She didn’t even bother to push the denim over his hips, too impatient to touch what was beneath. Her hand wrapped around his cock at the same time he slid his fingers down the front of her pants and found her clit.

They hissed in unison.

“Clint,” she whispered.

“We’re going to be very quiet,” he murmured. “But I… Jesus, I fucking need you, Darcy. Want you. Right now.”

She smiled as she shoved her pants down, stepping out of them and her panties. Her bra went next. Ryder matched her movements until both of them were naked. He wasted no time pulling her back to him, skin to skin, to kiss her once more.

They climbed onto the bed together. One of these goddamn times, he was going to take his time, draw it out, make it last all night.

This was not that time.

He bent his head lower, sucking her nipple into his mouth for just a moment before drifting lower to run his tongue along her slit. She was ready for him…always. It was a heady thing. To know that he could arouse this beautiful, intelligent, amazing woman with just his kisses.

“Can’t wait anymore,” she whispered.

Ryder crawled back