until there was only taste and greedy possession. Ryder cupped Reese’s ass, shifting her closer and pushed himself inside in one quick sliding gesture. They both hissed at the contact, then set to working each other fierce and full and so sweet that within minutes, Reese cried out, aware that as she climaxed Ryder watched her, feeling his hand on her neck, his sweet touch over her cheek.
He went on kissing her, picking her up to slip her legs around his waist and Ryder turned them, walking into the hot shower, attacking her mouth as he leaned Reese against the tiles, lifting her enough to work her faster, harder.
“I fucking love you,” he said, the words coming out in an awed, groaning whoosh of air as Ryder spilled himself inside her. It took several minutes for him to recover, and he didn’t move, kissing her shoulder, over the tops of her breasts as they both came down from their release. Reese felt boneless as Ryder held her, his breath slowing, calming as he continued to hold her.
The water covered them, Reese’s professionally coiffed hair lost in the manic rush to be with Ryder and for him to have her inside the shower. She knew why he wanted her there, under the spray on that night.
“Do you remember?” he asked, kissing up her neck, his voice low and breathy.
There was a twitching movement at the corner of his mouth before Ryder smiled. “Eleven years ago today,” she breathed, her body, her expressions feeling a little lazy as he moved back to look her in the eyes. “The Duke locker room.” Reese tilted her head, waiting because she knew he wanted to hear everything. “The first time we were together.”
Ryder nodded, wiping a droplet of water from her face. “The day I felt alive for the first time in my life.”
She stilled his hand, frowning at his confession. “Because we were together?”
Ryder held Reese’s face, keeping her still long enough for her to make out the way his eyes had lightened, how clear and focused his attention went as he watched her face, looking like he wasn’t sure if she was worried or just curious. Ryder clarified, smoothing his thumb over her lips. “Because you told me you loved me.” He pulled her face closer, covering her mouth with his. “No one on earth gave me that, baby. Just you.” He hesitated just one moment then kissed her nose, releasing her from his touch. “Two seconds. Don’t move.”
She didn’t know what Ryder was up to but took advantage of the shower she now had to herself, grabbing the bottle of soap and a loofa from the tray in the center of the tile.
Reese was lathered and soapy by the time she heard Ryder reenter the bathroom. There was a draft of cool air against her wet skin as he opened the glass door and then he warmed her again, taking her mouth when she looked over her shoulder and he closed in behind her.
“What did you…” But Ryder silenced her, sliding his fingers under her free palm, the soap making her skin slick and she looked down, spotting the ring now on her finger as Ryder held it under the spray.
“Ry…” she started, her breath caught in her chest as she looked at the large stone and the cluster of smaller diamonds that circled it.
“You. Winked,” he repeated, wrapping her tight in his arms. “I took that as a yes.”
Just then, Reese understood the feeling Ryder mentioned—she felt as alive as she ever had under that water with that beautiful man wrapped around her. It was the same feeling that lived inside her every day since the first time Ryder kissed her. It was a forever kind of love, the kind that makes you soar and never want to be brought back to earth.
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