Chapter 36: Chapter Thirty-Six

Ryder barely got the door closed before he had her pinned against it, his mouth covering hers. He plunged his tongue between her lips in a hard, demanding kiss. Her fingers grazed the nape of his neck, eliciting a groan from him as she tangled her hands in his hair. His cock was so fucking hard he had no idea how he hadn’t split his pants yet.

He changed the angle of the kiss and deepened it, nipping at her lips and tongue, making her moan and lean into him. God, she tasted good—so hot and eager. He released her with a snarl and frantically unbuttoned his shirt, tearing from his arms and flinging it on the floor.

“Seriously”—she sighed—“how much time do you spend in the gym?” She trailed her fingers down his chest. “You’ve got such a sexy body.”

He gave her a cocky smile. “Have you looked in the mirror lately? You’re fucking gorgeous, Madison.” He kissed her bottom lip, then dragged his mouth across her jaw and down her neck. “You steal my breath every time I see you.”

“Ryder.” She tilted her head, giving him greater access.

He squeezed her ass and lifted her off her feet. She wrapped her legs around his waist, grabbed his face, and kissed him until he couldn’t draw in a breath. Holy shit! Her panties were damp with arousal, and that only made his cock harder. He’d never felt so much passion and hunger from her before, and it was dizzying. She attempted to pull away, but he kept his mouth locked on hers, kissing her hard and long, until her taste was permanently ingrained in his memory.

Ryder attempted to carry her to the bed, but he only made it as far as the desk. It would have to do, because he couldn’t wait a second longer to take her. He set her atop the desk. Madison dropped her legs from his waist, and he stopped, giving her a questioning look.

With a seductive smirk, she reached behind her neck and untied her dress. The top fell down around her breasts. He hissed through his teeth and closed his mouth around her nipple, the hardened peak scraping against his tongue in the most perfect way. Flattening his hands on her back, he pulled her closer, and she arched her body toward him. He had never wanted a woman as badly as he wanted her. The need was like a living, breathing being inside of him, controlling him.

Madison reached between them, flicked open the button of his slacks and tugged on his zipper. Her hand slid effortlessly into his pants, her fingers grazing his hard shaft. He let out an animalistic sound and pushed his hips forward, demanding more of her touch. Her delicate fingers wrapped around him, stroking, teasing. He gasped for breath.

“Fuck, that feels so good.” He released her long enough to toe off his shoes, pull his pants down and kick them off.

And then he quickly removed her dress, too. She wasn’t wearing any panties. Good thing he hadn’t know that earlier. He took a step back and let his gaze linger on her naked body. He’d never seen anyone as gorgeous as her. Every inch of skin, every curve, was perfection.

He blew lightly over her nipples, and they hardened. “So pretty.” Then he took one into his mouth and rolled the other between his fingers.

The way she moaned and wiggled closer had sensations shooting through his body and erupting in his balls. He would die if he didn’t get inside of her soon. Stepping back, his gaze once again caressed her body from head to toe. “My God, Madison, you are so beautiful.” Telling her that every day for an eternity wouldn’t be enough in his mind.

His erection jutted out in front of him, hard and eager. She glanced at his face, down at his dick, then back up. She licked her lips, her intentions mirroring his own. But before she could say or do anything, Ryder had one arm around her back and the other gripping her thigh, pulling it to his hip. The head of his cock grazed along her folds, and she moaned.

“Ryder, I—”

He silenced her with a kiss that set him on fire. It was like his body was consumed with hunger; a hunger only she could satisfy. “God, baby, I need you so bad.” He pulled her closer to the edge of the table and pressed his cock against her entrance.

There would be no foreplay this time, and that was okay with him because his need for her was too great. Besides, they’d been teasing each other all damn night. They were both ready, and he wasn’t going to make either of them wait a moment longer.

The familiar, delicious slow burn he felt each time he entered her returned with a vengeance. She gripped the edge of the desk so tight her knuckles were white. “Ahh.” She winced, causing him to freeze.

“You okay?”

“Yeah.” She nodded.

Then Ryder’s mouth was on hers again, every flick of his tongue only fueling his desire. And then with a final push, he was all the way inside of her. “Ah, God, yes,” he groaned and moved his hips, pushing in and out of her with slow, controlled thrusts. “Fuck.” He drew out the word as his pace increased. Every time he was inside of her was like the first time all over again, but more exciting, more familiar.

Madison put her hands on his shoulders and held on as he took full possession of her body—something she hadn’t done before. Before, she’d been holding back, not a lot but enough for him to know she wasn’t fully giving herself to him. But right now, it was different. She was different. Something had shifted in her, between them, and he was going to figure out what.

Her fingernails dug into him, and he cried out as he fought to hold on to what little bit of sanity he had left. His mouth had barely left hers, his tongue exploring with erotic hunger. Her head fell back to her shoulders, and she braced herself, her face contorted with pleasure. Ryder knew that look. She was close, teetering on the edge of her orgasm.

Oh, no. He wasn’t going to let her get off that easily. He wanted to prolong tonight, make it last as close to forever as possible. “I need more,” he whispered with a hungry, growl-like voice. He lifted her from the table, his cock still buried inside of her, and then he sat in the adjacent chair, bringing her down on his lap.

She rocked on him, hard and fast, clearly chasing the pleasure of sweet release, and he needed to feel her careen over the edge with him. Her hands went to his face, holding it as she assaulted his lips with the same fervor that she rode him.

“Ryder,” she moaned into his mouth.

God, the way she said his name. So needy and full of passion. His mind clouded, and the only thing he could focus on was Madison and how it felt to be inside of her, of her lips working against his, stroking his desire to an unmanageable level. He needed this, needed her, needed to know that she’d always be with him.

“Madison, baby.” He gripped her hips in an attempt to hold her still. “Don’t rush this.” He nibbled on her bottom lip, eliciting a groan from her. “Slow down, please, I don’t want to come yet.”

But it was too late. She was past the point of no return, and her body clenched around him as writhed slowly on his lap. “I can’t...I need...” She didn’t need to say anymore.

He knew. Ryder began to thrust, meeting each downward stroke with a powerful lunge. “Fuck, you’re so tight.”

“God, yes!” She drove down hard one final time, taking all of his cock into her, and then she screamed his name, dropping her head to his shoulder.

Ryder hugged her tight to his body, making it impossible for her to move as he succumbed to his own orgasm. “Holy shit,” he grunted.

“My God.” She drew a deep, shaky breath.

Ryder peppered her shoulder with featherlight kisses, and she sighed with contentment. His mouth trailed over to her neck, nuzzling her gently, making her tilt her head to the side. Only when the foggy haze of their lovemaking lifted did he realize he hadn’t worn a condom. Again. Shit. He had to stop being so careless with her.

“Please look at me,” he whispered.

Madison lifted her head and met his gaze. He palmed the back of her head and gave her a tender, reassuring kiss. Releasing her lips, he held her face in his hands. Her eyes were hazy and half-lidded, and she’d never looked more gorgeous than she did right then.

He wanted to blurt out that he loved her, that he hadn’t been faking it when he’d asked her father for permission to marry her. But fear kept his lips sealed.

“What’s wrong?” she asked.

Ryder shook his head. “I forgot a condom again.”

She laughed. “I didn’t exactly stop you, so it’s just as much my fault as it is yours.”

Smiling softly, he caressed the side of her face. Bringing her mouth to his for another kiss, he sighed against her lips, and she moaned in response. “I don’t think I’ll ever get enough of you,” he mumbled.

“Guess my master plan is working then.” She eased back and grinned.

“Didn’t realize you had a master plan.” His lips twitched with the need to smile. “Wanna tell me what that is so I can at least have a fighting chance?”

“No way.” She shook her head.

He rolled his eyes and gently tapped her on the ass. She climbed off him and padded into the bathroom. He snatched a towel from the kitchenette area and cleaned himself off.

A moment later, Madison returned. She stretched her arms over her head and yawned. “I’m exhausted. Today has been such a long day.”

“Tell me about it,” he said as he pulled the blankets back and nodded for her to get in bed.

She did, and he eased in beside her. He wrapped his arm around her, and she rested her head on his chest. He could certainly get used to this, to having her curled up in his arms and falling asleep.

“So, did I live up to the porn star persona?” he asked.

Laughing, she playfully smacked his chest. He dropped a kiss to her forehead and closed his eyes, content to stay with her like this for as long as possible.

“I can’t believe my father never answered you,” she said after several long moments. She dragged her fingers across his stomach. “I mean, he can be a jerk, but that’s rude even for him.”

“Yeah, I can’t figure out if he loves me or hates me.” He tucked his free arm behind his head.

“Does it really matter?” She trailed her fingers up his torso and across his pecs. “Isn’t it enough that I love you?” Her hand stilled, and silence crashed down around them.

Blood rushed to his head and pounded furiously in his ears. His heart was two seconds away from busting out of his chest. “What did you just say?”

“Nothing,” she said quickly. “I mean, I…” She shoved against his chest, sat up, and turned her back to him. “Never mind. Forget I said anything.”

Yeah, fat chance in hell of that happening. “Madison.” He eased up to a sitting position and licked his lips.

Everything in him wanted to say those words back to her, but he refused until he knew that he’d heard her correctly. Gently, he reached for her, and thankfully, she didn’t pull away, but she still wouldn’t look at him.

“Do you mean that?” he asked. “Or did you say that because you’re drunk?”

Madison clutched the blanket to her body as if that would shield her from this conversation. “I may be drunk, but I know what I said.” She glared at him over her shoulder, then turned away just as quickly. “You’ve seen me drunk before, remember? I have a bad habit of blurting out the truth when I drink.”

He inhaled deeply. The last time she’d been drunk around him she’d confessed to needing a fake fiancé and then saying she wanted him to be that person. She’d been telling the truth then, and he hoped against hope that she was telling the truth now, too.

“So you meant it? You’re in love with me?” he asked.

“Look, don’t make a big deal about this, okay?” Keeping the blanket wrapped around her, she climbed out of bed. “I know we barely know each other, and being home like this, seeing my parents and my ex… my emotions are all over the place. I just got caught up in this lie we’ve told everyone.”

She crossed the room to where her bag sat and rummaged around inside. She pulled out a pair of panties and slipped them on under the blanket. Once again turning her back to him, she yanked a shirt on over her head.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make things weird between us.” Finally, once she was dressed, she turned to look at him, arms crossed. “Please just forget I said anything.”

He narrowed his eyes, studying her. She looked like she was ready to bolt from this room and never look back, and he could not let that happen.

“You tell me you love me, and you expect me to just forget it?” he asked slowly.

She nodded. “I’m begging you, Ryder. Please don’t make this into something it’s not.”

He got out of bed, snatched his boxers from the floor, and put them on. Then he strode toward her. “And what would that be, Madison? What isn’t happening here?” He raised a brow, waiting for her to answer.

She chewed on her bottom lip and shifted on her feet before lowering her head and avoiding his gaze. “I have no idea.” She sighed. “Is that what you want to hear?” Throwing her hands in the air, she attempted to step around him, but he clutched her arm, stopping her.

“I want to hear the truth,” he said, easing his hold on her arm. “I want you to admit that we’ve never been just friends with benefits, that since the moment we crossed over that line, there’s been something more between us.”

Squaring her shoulders, she jutted her chin defiantly. “Fine,” she bit out. “If your ego needs to hear it, then I’ll say it. From the moment I met you, I’ve been attracted to you, and from the second I kissed you that first time, it was more than casual sex. More than friends with benefits.” Her eyes blazed green, and his body ignited with desire. “Happy now?”

“Say it again.” He closed the distance between them until they were chest to chest.

“Are you kidding me right now?”

“Say the words, Madison.” He needed her to say it again so he could say it back to her, to let her know she wasn’t alone in her feelings.

She lowered her shoulders, and her posture relaxed, almost as if she’d been defeated. “I love you, Ryder. I know it’s crazy, and after how hard I pushed you away I have no right to—”

He clutched her face and slanted his lips over hers, silencing her. She arched into him, her hands wrapping around his neck. “I love you, too, Madison,” he whispered.

“You’re not just saying that because you’re drunk?”

“Smartass.” He laughed, then claimed her lips in another kiss.