Sheltered(43)

“Good, because I’ll never let you go,” he rasps in my ear.

The possessive tone in his voice is all I need to send me over the edge. I cry out his name, and Ryker jerks above me as his warm release fills me. I moan when the heat of him sends my climax even higher.

He holds on to me tightly as he rolls us over so that I’m sprawled across his body. My head is lying on his chest, and the sound of our heavy breathing fills the room.

I turn my face into his chest and place a kiss there, realizing that once again we didn’t use protection. We should probably be careful, but I can’t find a reason to care. The idea should scare the crap out of me, but I’ve spent my life planning for everything. Deep down I know that no matter what happens, Ryker will take care of me and our baby. The thought of having his baby makes my heart flutter. I’ve always loved children, and it’s why I wanted to become a teacher when I first went to college. My breath hitches and hot tears burn my eyes.

“Cricket?” Concern fills Ryker’s words. “Did I hurt you? Are you okay?” He tries to move us, but I sit up, placing my hands on his chest and pushing him down.

“I’m fine,” I tell him, smiling even though my eyes are filled with tears.

“You don’t look fine.” He sits up ignoring my attempts to keep him still. He cups my face and I see his eyes are filled with concern. “Tell me.”

“I’m just happy is all. Really, really, happy,” I admit. Maybe even in love. But I keep that to myself. I’ve never said those words to another person before, and I’ve never had them said to me before.

Ryker’s face softens as he kisses me. I wrap my arms around him, holding him close. This is the first person in my life I can truly count on to be there for me. For once I don’t have to worry about everything. I have someone at my side who truly cares about what I want and need.

Something new takes hold inside me and his kidnapping doesn't seem crazy anymore. His obsession with me doesn’t seem crazy either. In fact, deep down when I think about it, I love it. He wants me so bad and needs me on a level that’s so insane he’ll do anything to have me. I’m that important to him—beyond measure and reason.

Maybe I’m crazy, too. This could be unhealthy and codependent, and the old me would question it to death. I’d tell myself this isn’t right, but the old me didn’t get me anything that I truly wanted. I was living a life that was empty and I hated it. It might have been better than the life I had when I lived in the trailer with my mama, but it wasn’t much better. I was still all alone with no future.

When he pulls back he places kisses down my neck. “I don’t like to see you cry. Even if they are happy tears,” he tells me, his voice filled with emotion. I reach up, tracing his soft lips with my fingers.

“I’m staying,” I tell him, and he tightens his arms around me, as if to say I didn’t have a choice to begin with. “I choose to stay. I want to be here. You don’t have to keep me locked away. I’ll always come back to you.”

Ryker has given me something I’ve longed for my whole life—to feel like I belong somewhere. I want to give him something, too, because he’ll never know what it means to me. The only thing I can give is myself, and he wants that more than anything. I’m not really sure if that’s a gift for him or me, to be honest, but I vow in this moment that I’m his. Forever.

I wrap my arms around him and squeeze before I lean back to look into his eyes. I place my hands on both sides of his face and take a breath. “But you have to tell me everything, Ryker. If we are going to do this, I need it all.”





Chapter 21





Blair





“I’ll give you anything you ask for,” he tells me, holding me tight. He’s relieved that I’m finally giving myself over to him completely. He already looks more relaxed. “Except letting you go,” he adds.

I roll my eyes, even though his words warm me deep inside. His possessiveness is something that’s quickly becoming one of the things I love most about him. As soon as I have the thought, I’m stunned that I’ve thrown around the L word again. Maybe I should hear all of what he has to say, because if I keep letting it pop up, it’s going to take hold. Though it’s likely too late for that.

“Don’t give me any ideas. I’ve always wanted my own private jet,” I tease. He gives my ass a small squeeze and smiles.

“Make an honest man out of me and you’ll have one. I can even have her renamed, if you want.”

My mouth falls open and I can’t tell if he’s teasing me or not. “Do you really have your own plane?”

“Maybe you’ll find out one day.” He sits up with me in his arms and carries me towards the bathroom. I knew he was rich, but this is a whole new level.

“I need to get you cleaned up and dressed if I’m going to have an actual conversation with you.” He puts me on my feet in the shower and turns on the water. His hands roam my body as he shakes his head. “You’re distracting as it is, but when you’re naked I can barely think.”

My nipples tighten as he runs his fingers over them, then pulls me into his body under the warm water. He slowly takes his time washing every inch of me before washing himself. I slide my hands over his muscles, feeling the excitement build. I can’t seem to get enough of him. But as I begin to move my hand lower, he grabs my wrist to stop me.