Roughing the Kicker Page 21

  “Then do them, papi,” she said, her voice sounding low, desperate and it would be. Ryder answered her with a groan that sounded like a plea, something he did when Reese had turned him on so completely he became nothing more than ache and need and endless desire.

  He slipped his hands further down, behind her silk thong to cup her, his eyes slamming shut when he felt her there, wet and warm and ready for him to do a little teasing of his own. But Ryder didn’t seem eager for that.

  “Turn around. Now,” he said, pushing Reese onto the counter as he lowered over her, grabbing his hard dick, stroking it like he was ready and couldn’t stand not being inside her for another second.

  They went at each other in the quick flash of movement, mouths claiming, touching, taking until there was only taste and greedy possession. Ryder cupped Reese’s ass, shifting her closer and pushed himself inside in one quick sliding gesture. They both hissed at the contact, then set to working each other fierce and full and so sweet that within minutes, Reese cried out, aware that as she climaxed Ryder watched her, feeling his hand on her neck, his sweet touch over her cheek.

  He went on kissing her, picking her up to slip her legs around his waist and Ryder turned them, walking into the hot shower, attacking her mouth as he leaned Reese against the tiles, lifting her enough to work her faster, harder.

  “I fucking love you,” he said, the words coming out in an awed, groaning whoosh of air as Ryder spilled himself inside her. It took several minutes for him to recover, and he didn’t move, kissing her shoulder, over the tops of her breasts as they both came down from their release. Reese felt boneless as Ryder held her, his breath slowing, calming as he continued to hold her.

  The water covered them, Reese’s professionally coiffed hair lost in the manic rush to be with Ryder and for him to have her inside the shower. She knew why he wanted her there, under the spray on that night.

  “Do you remember?” he asked, kissing up her neck, his voice low and breathy.

  There was a twitching movement at the corner of his mouth before Ryder smiled. “Eleven years ago today,” she breathed, her body, her expressions feeling a little lazy as he moved back to look her in the eyes. “The Duke locker room.” Reese tilted her head, waiting because she knew he wanted to hear everything. “The first time we were together.”

  Ryder nodded, wiping a droplet of water from her face. “The day I felt alive for the first time in my life.”

  She stilled his hand, frowning at his confession. “Because we were together?”

  Ryder held Reese’s face, keeping her still long enough for her to make out the way his eyes had lightened, how clear and focused his attention went as he watched her face, looking like he wasn’t sure if she was worried or just curious. Ryder clarified, smoothing his thumb over her lips. “Because you told me you loved me.” He pulled her face closer, covering her mouth with his. “No one on earth gave me that, baby. Just you.” He hesitated just one moment then kissed her nose, releasing her from his touch. “Two seconds. Don’t move.”

  She didn’t know what Ryder was up to but took advantage of the shower she now had to herself, grabbing the bottle of soap and a loofa from the tray in the center of the tile.

  Reese was lathered and soapy by the time she heard Ryder reenter the bathroom. There was a draft of cool air against her wet skin as he opened the glass door and then he warmed her again, taking her mouth when she looked over her shoulder and he closed in behind her.

  “What did you…” But Ryder silenced her, sliding his fingers under her free palm, the soap making her skin slick and she looked down, spotting the ring now on her finger as Ryder held it under the spray.

  “Ry…” she started, her breath caught in her chest as she looked at the large stone and the cluster of smaller diamonds that circled it.

  “You. Winked,” he repeated, wrapping her tight in his arms. “I took that as a yes.”

  Just then, Reese understood the feeling Ryder mentioned—she felt as alive as she ever had under that water with that beautiful man wrapped around her. It was the same feeling that lived inside her every day since the first time Ryder kissed her. It was a forever kind of love, the kind that makes you soar and never want to be brought back to earth.

  That kind of love never ends.

  - The End -

  Acknowledgments

  Apologies if I forget anyone!

  First thanks go out to my dear friend Kele Moon. Back in October of 2017 while we sat next to each other at Shameless, Kele and I discussed plots and new series and she suggested that I try another sports series, specifically football because during the season, I tend to get a little “vocal” about my Who Dats on social media. I love the game. I love my team, and Kele believed that would be present in a story if I tackled it. So, I went back to the world I’ve always loved—Kona and Keira’s world, and the city that has always been like a second home to me: New Orleans. From that Ryder and Reese and a few other stories were born. Thank you, Kele for the suggestion, and for the past fifteen years, and the love, support and friendship you’ve always shown me. I love you.

  Massive appreciation goes to Marie Anderson-Simmons, Heather McCorkle, Renita McKinley, Jennifer Holt, Judy Lovely, Trish Leger and Lori Westhaver for the first read. You guys loved this story from the beginning and weren’t afraid to hurt my feelings to help me get it to where it should be. Thank you so much.

  Thanks to Kiezha Ferrell, Julie Deaton and Elaine York for making my words pretty and to Anna Crosswell for bringing the visuals together. You guys are amazing.

  Thanks, as always to the wonderful Ena with Enticing journey for the hard promotion work and to Maryse Black for always supporting me and my fellow indie authors. You are a class act, my dear. Thanks also to Joyce Lamb with USA Today’s Happily Ever After blog for the constant support.

  To my Sweet Team, my Saints & Sinners and all the readers who never fail to read and review and always cheer me on. Your love and encouragement is what keeps me writing. Thank you.

  As always, mad, mad props and massive appreciation to my Corporate Hell Sisters: Barbara Blakes, Marie Anderson-Simmons, Kalpana Singh, Sarah Cooper and Sherry Jackson. And to Sedra, who we will forever miss.

  To Chelle Bliss for always having my back and making sure I hustle and work hard when I just want to hide under my covers and ignore the world. You make me remember why I do this publishing thing. I love you.

  Finally, as always, thank you to my love Chris and my girls Trinity, Faith, Grace and Chelsey who always understand when I have to disappear into my own for a while and to our moon baby Jax for the best snuggles in the world.

  I love you all. Be blessed.

  About the Author

  Eden Butler is an editor and writer of Romance, SciFi, and Fantasy novels and the nine-time great-granddaughter of an honest-to-God English pirate. This could explain her affinity for rule breaking and rum.

  When she’s not writing or wondering about her possibly Jack Sparrowesque ancestor, Eden patiently waits for her Hogwarts letter, writes, reads and spends too much time watching rugby, “Doctor Who” and New Orleans Saints football. Currently, she is imprisoned under teenage rule alongside her husband in Southeastern Louisiana.

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