Annihilate (Hive Trilogy #3)(66)

That angered me even more. How dare Sam set that rule and then not go for Becca.

“Yeah, well, the rules have changed, and trust me, he’ll thank you later. I’ll make sure he doesn’t kill you,” I added.

Jason seemed to consider it. Finally, he nodded. “Okay, but you’re going to owe me one.”

“Yep, fine,” I said, pushing him in their direction.

I stayed close, because I couldn’t actually be sure that Sam wasn’t going to try and kill him. Walking five paces behind him, I casually acted like I was looking for a waiter. When Jason got two feet from Becca, both her and Sam looked up.

Jason cleared his throat and I knelt, pretended to be adjusting my dress.

“Would you like to dance with me?” he asked, extending his hand in Becca’s direction.

She looked utterly shocked, her eyes so huge without glasses hiding them. Sam’s head shot around, his gaze absolutely feral, and it wasn’t aimed at Jason. He locked eyes directly with me.

Ah fuck. Abort mission.

“Oh … um … sure,” Becca said, distracting everyone when she took Jason’s hand.

Oh shit. Sam shot up lightning fast and stepped between Jason and Becca.

“I was just going to ask her. Why don’t you go get yourself a drink?” His voice was very quickly developing into the growl register.

Jason swallowed hard and nodded. Sam’s gaze bore into me with a fire that said he would be plotting my death soon. Then he spun on Becca.

“Here’s the thing, Becca. I know you don’t want to ruin our friendship, but I can’t stand by and watch you date other men. So … will you please dance with me?”

Becca swallowed hard, eyeing Sam’s outstretched hand, then a blaze of silver lit up her eyes and she placed her hand into his. He pulled her so hard into his body that I could tell he’d knocked the wind out of her a bit. They remained molded like that, and then started gently swaying to the music. It was a slow romantic song, and dammit I was tearing up again.

On the dance floor, close to them was Tessa and Jared. Definitely something going on with those two. And was that … well, I’ll be damned. Looked like Kyle was going full steam ahead with his Sasha plan. Although, knowing that kickass chick, she’d been the one with the plan all along. Sasha had been the only SWAT human to accept the wedding invitation, but I was still going with my theory that she wasn’t actually human. Too much awesome in there for her not be something a little more.

“Can you take a break from all of your evil plotting?” Ryder came out of nowhere and I turned, smiling.

“What did you have in mind?” I raised an eyebrow. It was very dark out now, with only candles and the moon to light the night.

He leaned in close and whispered in my ear. “I’ve always wanted to have sex on the beach.”

I grinned. “What a coincidence. So have I.”

Jayden caught my eye as we were leaving and blew me a kiss. I winked and blew him one back.



Okay, so sex on the beach was a loose term. I wasn’t really that keen on sand in my ass. Thankfully, Ryder had already thought of that, and we had rented an exclusive cabana house on stilts that was literally out in the ocean.

We didn’t really speak; there was no need for words as Ryder slowly undressed me, his mouth caressing every part of my bare skin. The warm breezes embraced us though the open windows, white sheer curtains flowing in the wind as Ryder made love to me. He kissed me at least a thousand times over every inch of my body, touching each spot reverently.

This was it.

This was my happy.

I didn’t need marriage or kids with Ryder. Just being together, like this, forever. That’s all I wanted. No labels required.

Afterwards, when I was barely coherent, and my body still trembled from the sensations, Ryder held me tightly, stroking softly up the side of my neck. After a while he sat up, the sheet falling to reveal all of his glorious naked body. He pulled out his cell phone.

“I want to show you something,” he said, flicking through his phone quickly before handing it to me.

It was a house. The front of a beautiful, modest, Craftsman. The address said Portland. I couldn’t help the grin that spread across my face.

“What’s this?”

“Our new home,” he said. “If you want,” he added quickly.

OMFG, he’d bought us a house. “I want!” I shouted, and threw myself on him, kissing him.

He smiled. “Good, because it closes next week and Oliver bought Jayden the house down the street.”

Jayden and I were going to be neighbors? Oh the shenanigans we would get up to. If I had it my way, then Tessa and Jared wouldn’t be far behind us. Then Sam and Becca. I was grinning like an idiot and Ryder was looking at me with a serious gaze.

“What?”

He chuckled. “When I saw you all those months ago at the club, I knew you would be special, but I never thought you were capable of this. You changed everything, Charlie. You changed the way the world lives. But most importantly, you changed me. I was a shell of an ash and man. I never even knew what I was missing.” He kissed my lips softly. “I love you.”

I was lost in his kiss, before pulling back to express my absolute adoration and love for him. I’d never imagined a few months ago, when I turned ash and I thought my whole world was falling apart, that I would end up here. I had found my family. Or added to it at least. I had so much more now than I ever imagined.