need to get inside of you.”
In one deft motion, he unhooked her bra.
“Now.”
Zoe felt his erection pressing against her thigh, and grew desperate to have him inside her. He covered her body with his, trailing kisses down the hollow of her throat to her breasts, where he teased and sucked until her breathing grew harsh.
The pulling sensation in her belly had gotten more intense during the past few minutes. “Please, Ryder.” Zoe slid her hands along his back. “Make love to me.”
***
Ryder stilled. She watched him with those beautiful green eyes, and he got lost.
Absolutely lost.
He hadn’t made love to anyone since Danielle. Even though what he’d shared with Zoe in the truck had been honest, hot and real, it definitely hadn’t been making love.
As he placed a kiss on the delicate skin behind her ear, he made a decision. He’d give her everything she’d missed on their first night together. He’d make it up to her tonight.
Ryder placed his lips on hers, devouring her mouth with hungry, deep kisses until they were both breathless.
He was painfully hard, but took time exploring the soft curves and contours of her body, pausing to lick and kiss her flushed skin.
He slipped a finger inside of her, stroking slowly. Her legs shook, and she made sexy, mewling cries as she dragged on his hair and begged him for more.
“You feel so good, Strawberry,” he murmured, kissing her inner thigh.
He reached for the condom he’d thrown on the bedside table when they'd first come into the room, and put it on in record time.
Trailing kisses back up her body, he settled his erection between her thighs, pausing to feel her heat. She clawed at his back, driving his control to the edge.
“Ryder,” she cried. “Please.”
He smiled into the crook of her neck. He’d just discovered another way to be in control that didn’t involve any safe words.
“You’re so beautiful.” He brushed his lips against her ear.
She wrapped her legs around his back. “I want you so much.”
“I want you too, Strawberry,” he said, sliding inside of her inch by inch until he filled her completely. She arched her body into him, and it took every ounce of his concentration not to come.
Ryder moved slowly at first. She lifted her hips and pulled him close, desperately trying to find her release. He held her down and forced himself to go slow. He wanted this to last.
He could feel her starting to tighten around him, and he closed his eyes. Her heat burned him up as she grew wetter with each thrust.
“Zoe, look at me.”
When she did, he went deep and she let out a gasp, her eyelashes fluttering low.
“Look at me,” he repeated.
She did, and he ran his fingertips along her jaw. “Come for me. I can feel how hot you are. Come for me, Strawberry. You know I want to see you let go.” His voice wavered as she squeezed him from inside.
Zoe moaned and arched her back, grinding herself against him as he moved inside of her, deep and slow. She alternated between pushing and pulling at him before he felt her shaking beneath him. She cried out his name over and over as she came.
“Oh fuck. That’s it, baby.” He lost control then, burying himself in her hard and fast. “Sweetheart, I can’t hold back.” Seconds later, she came again, gripping him hard, and it threw him over the edge. Shuddering, he came deep inside of her.
He held her for a minute before rolling onto his back, breathing hard.
When he glanced over at her, tears were rolling down her face.
Guilt washed over him. “Zoe, what’s wrong? Did I hurt you?”
She shook her head, smiling at him through her tears. “No, I’m just incredibly happy.”
He propped himself up on his elbow and brushed a stray tear away from her lashes with his thumb.
“I am too.” He thought back to when Fally had first told him to be happy. “I have you to thank for that.” He placed a gentle kiss on her forehead.
For the first time in ages, he felt peaceful. He felt like he could be himself, and just take a breath.
He’d fought so hard against falling for her, and she’d had the courage to let him know she wouldn’t settle for less than she deserved.
Being with Zoe felt like the first step toward putting his past behind him. He wanted to build a future with this woman, the woman who’d seen past all of his bullshit and focused on the man