The Vargas Cartel Trilogy (Vargas Cartel #1-3)(106)

Perfection.

Completion.

Beauty.

Those three words tumbled through my mind as he glided in and out of me with long, languid strokes—each rock, tilt, and flex bringing me closer and closer to completion. I groaned, voicing my need the only way I could at that moment.

“Does that feel good?” I nodded almost too eagerly, and a suggestion of a smile tugged at the corner of his lips. “I know. We’re perfect together.”

He was right. Maybe that was why I could never refuse him. I circled my legs around his waist and tilted my hips as he moved with the perfect carnal rhythm, igniting a slow burn in every nerve ending. He consumed me with every touch, kiss, and thrust.

In moments like this, only Ryker and I existed. His room could burst into flames, and I wouldn’t care or notice. His hand moved to the apex of my thighs. One masterfully aimed touch and the slow burn exploded into a wildfire. I cried out as an orgasm ripped through my body. He moved faster, harder, wringing every ounce of pleasure from my body and his until he collapsed on top of me, the strong and heavy beat of his heart nudging my breastbone.

With his head buried next to my neck, his thumb traced the edge of my jaw. “I love you,” he whispered. I turned my head and pressed a sideways kiss on the center of his palm.

“I love you too.”

He rolled off me and chuckled.

“What’s so funny?” I stared at his smiling face.

“Nothing. I’m happy.”

“Me too,” I said, and I was. For the first time in months, I believed everything would be fine. Better than fine. Ryker made me believe in us, in him, and our future. Regardless of what happened with my family or Evan’s family, I had Ryker, and at that moment, nothing else mattered. “Having you in my life makes me happy.”

His mouth found mine, kissing me, loving me, and telling me without words everything I needed to know.





Chapter Twenty-Two




Ryker



I placed a tray on the bed next to Hattie. I could get used to waking up next to her every day. She looked so peaceful with her dark hair spread out on my sheets. The morning sunlight flooded the bedroom, highlighting the contours of her body.

I had never wanted the women I dated in my space, touching my belongings and demanding my attention the morning after, but Hattie made me want that and more.

When she left Mexico, I thought I’d be able to forget about her, but it never happened. Days passed, weeks passed, and I craved her more and more. She complicated my life from the minute I saw her, and now I couldn’t imagine my life without her.

Last night, we finally talked about what we meant to each other. We loved each other, but so many obstacles stood in our way. I planned to fight for a life with her even though I didn’t know what it’d look like, because being with her felt…right.

I stroked the side of her face and her eyes fluttered open. “Good morning.”

“Hey,” she whispered. “What’s that?” She sat up, eyeing the tray of food.

“Breakfast in bed.”

She smiled. “Really?”

“Yes. Don’t look surprised. I can be a good guy when I want to be.”

She balanced the tray on her legs and cocked her head to the side. “You know what—I think you’re on to something. You’re not so bad when your moods aren’t all over the place.”

I kissed her. I didn’t have a choice. I had to wipe that sassy smile off her face. “Watch out.”

“Or what?” she mumbled against my lips.

“Or I’ll spend the rest of the day punishing you.”

“Hm.” She leaned against the headboard. “That sounds promising, but let me enjoy my food first. Then you can get to work summoning your inner *.”

Chuckling, I averted my gaze. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the plastic bag I’d left on the nightstand last night. My mood dropped instantly. I didn’t want to ruin her morning, but we couldn’t avoid reality forever.

“Ryker,” she said as she squeezed my hand. “You know I was kidding, right?”

“Yeah.” With a forced smile, I grabbed the plastic bag and sat down on the edge of the bed.

Hattie took a sip of her coffee. “What’s that?”

I slipped the box out of the bag and placed it on the tray.

Her lip pressed into a firm line. “A pregnancy test? I already took one a couple weeks ago, remember?”

I swallowed and shifted on the bed. “I know, but I think you should try again. Just to be sure.”

“I feel fine.” She picked up the box and squinted at the small text on the back. “I’m not nauseous, tired, or whatever.”

“That’s good.”

She held out the box to me. “Save it for me, and if I still haven’t started my period in a week, I’ll take the test.”

I grabbed it out of her hand. “You’re procrastinating.”

Ignoring me, she took a few bites of her toast. “I took a test already.”

“I know, but you may have taken it too early.”

She frowned. “How do you figure?”

“You’d only been home for two weeks. That’s fourteen days.”

“I know how long two weeks is,” she muttered.