Sheltered(44)

“We’ll end up back in the bed if you keep going,” he warns against my lips, kissing me sweetly. “Is that what you want?”

I do. But the next time we make love I want nothing between us. I want to know as much about him as I can. “I’ll be good,” I vow as I bat my lashes. He grumbles low in his chest and I can’t hide my giggle.

“You’re a little liar, Cricket.” He smacks me on the ass, making me squeal.

I know exactly what I’m doing. Teasing a man isn’t something I’m used to. Maybe it’s his reaction to me that I’m not used to, but it makes me feel sexy when I see the desire and want in his eyes.

He pulls me from the shower and dries me off before I go into the closet looking for something to wear. I slide on a pair of black silk panties and grab one of his T-shirts that reads Gamecock across it. It reminds me how little I really know about Ryker. It’s strange, because I feel so much closer to him now than I ever did to Fritz.

I glance around the closet and smile at all of our clothes lined up next to each other. If anyone were to come in here and look they’d think we’re a married couple. It was the first thought I had when I saw this closet. It makes that warm feeling stir in my stomach again. Just like it did when Ryker said I should make an honest man out of him.

I grab a pair of socks and slide them on before heading back to the bathroom to brush out my hair and blow-dry it. I watch Ryker get himself ready, enjoying this little act of normalcy. How can something so small make me so happy? It really is the little things in life you never think about that mean the most.

Before I always had these big goals and end points I was reaching for. At least that’s how I thought my life was supposed to go. With Ryker, I’m seeing something that I was missing in my life before. Now I’m just enjoying the ride. This could be because I was on the ride alone before, and now even the quiet moments between Ryker and me are ones that are most precious.

After my hair is dry, I brush my teeth. As I’m finishing, Ryker comes up behind me and kisses me on my neck. I can feel him smile against my skin.

“You feel it, don’t you? How right this is?” he asks me as our eyes meet in the mirror.

I nod and he turns me in his arms so I’m facing him. He leans down and kisses me as I run my hands through his hair, pulling him closer. When we finally break apart we’re both breathless. His hair is a mess now, and his lips are full from kissing.

I reach up and touch the place where I left the small hickey. “Sorry about that,” I say and wink at him.

“Liar,” he says with a chuckle. “I like it.” He slips his hand into mine and takes me back to the closet. Inside he digs around for a moment and comes back with a pair of shorts. “For my own sanity.” He drops down to his knees, lifting my shirt. He places a kiss on my panty-covered pussy and for a second my whole body clenches. I want more, but instead he holds out the shorts for me to step into. I let out a sigh of frustration before he winks at me and helps me put them on.

Once I’m covered, he throws me over his shoulder, taking me my surprise. I yelp, but he gives me a smack on my ass, making me laugh.

“I can walk, you know.” I smack his ass back, smiling, but it doesn’t seem to faze him.

“I like carrying you around.” His hand grips my ass as he jogs down the stairs like I weigh nothing.

He stops when he gets to the kitchen and sits me on the island. I catch Lily out of the corner of my eyes. She gives me a knowing smile as she dries her hands on her apron and calls for my cat to follow her out of the room. The two of them exit quietly, slipping out of the kitchen and leaving Ryker and me alone.

“She’s stolen Bear,” I say as I watch them through the window.

“I think she likes the company,” Ryker says. “I had a couple of cat doors installed so he can come and go as he pleases. I think he likes it here.”

“I think I like it here, too,” I say, turning my attention back to him.

His smile is so bright and big, it makes my body ache for him. How can one smile rule my whole world?

“I’ve wanted you from the first time I saw you,” Ryker says, placing his hands on the counter on either side of me. “I wasn't even looking for you, but there you were.” A small smile pulls at his lips like he’s remembering the day.

“You were sitting on a bench outside. You were wearing white shorts with a pink tank top and flip-flops. Your toenails matched your shirt. I’m guessing you were waiting for your next class to start, or at least that’s what I tell myself you were doing. I don’t like the thought of you waiting for him.” His eyes grow a shade darker. He doesn’t have to say who he means, I already know who he’s talking about. “You were thumbing through your textbook looking completely bored. I thought you were stunning. I wanted to walk over to you and make you smile. I knew if you looked so breathtaking with that bored look on your face, I couldn't imagine what you’d look like smiling. I wanted to see that more than I’d ever wanted anything else.”

I search my memory trying to think back to the time he’s talking about. I wonder if I saw him that day, but I don’t recall. When I try to remember if he was there, the only thing I can think of is that I felt like I was being watched. More so in the past few months, but now I know it wasn't in my head. It was Ryker. Maybe that should make me mad, and it might have if he told me this when I first got here. But now? Things are different. I like that he watched me. He cared so much about me that he had this crazy need to make sure I was always safe.