Total pages in book: 186
Estimated words: 176552 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 883(@200wpm)___ 706(@250wpm)___ 589(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 176552 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 883(@200wpm)___ 706(@250wpm)___ 589(@300wpm)
I exhaled slowly, the tension unwinding as I tilted my head enough to glance back at him. “You already are.”
His thumb stroked the side of my neck where he held me, and I reached up to cover his hand with mine. Holding onto our last quiet, stolen moment before reality fully crept back in.
“What are your plans this morning?”
He slid his hand from my neck to rest low on my stomach, fingers splayed like he wasn’t ready to let go. “Me and Cade are meeting everyone for breakfast at Grandpa Fred’s. Do you want to come? He’d love to see you.”
I smiled, touched by the offer. “Maybe next time. Sugarmama’s cooking a big breakfast this morning, and if I skip, she’ll never let me forget it.”
“I miss her cooking.” His lips grazed the curve of my jaw, lingering until I swatted at him with a laugh.
“Okay,” I sighed, “I need to use the bathroom and get some clothes on.”
Ryder didn’t move. “I prefer you just like this.”
“I’m sure you do,” I mumbled, nudging him lightly. “Can you roll over or something?”
He grinned, his sleep-messed hair making him look annoyingly attractive. “Getting shy on me now?”
“No.” I hesitated, searching for the words. “It’s just… different in the daylight.” Last night was wrapped in shadow and warmth. Now, the sun snuck through the closed drapes, brushing over skin and doubt. The blanket barely covered me, and I was acutely aware of every inch of my body.
Without warning, he leaned down and bit my shoulder.
“Ow!” I slapped his chest. “Why would you bite me?”
“I told you I would drag you back,” he retorted with zero remorse, grinning as he kissed the spot to soothe it.
“Stop that, too,” I warned.
“I’ll stop when you do.” His voice was a low hum. “You’re beautiful, Sass. I mean that. I’m going to keep showing and telling you until you believe it too.”
From somewhere beyond the door, Cade’s voice rang out. “Bite her later. We don’t have time for y’all to start exploring kinks!”
My face flamed. “Look what you did.”
Ryder laughed under his breath. “You’re even prettier when you blush.”
He pressed one more kiss to my cheek, then finally got out of bed. “I’ll be right back,” he said, glancing at me over his shoulder before stepping out of the room and quietly shutting the door behind him.
I got up too, going into the closet to grab a change of clothes. Nothing fancy, just leggings and an oversized sweater, a bra too. I bundled everything in one arm and grabbed my phone from the nightstand. It was still early, 9:15 AM. I had no need to rush yet. I checked my notifications and saw there was only one new text, and from Ashton.
ASH
You up?
The words sat there so innocently, but they didn’t feel like either of those things anymore. I was going to hold off on texting him back until after breakfast. I entered the bathroom, shutting the door behind me and sealing myself in a space that felt both modern and serene.
There was a freestanding tub that sat like a sculpture in front of a frosted window. Gold fixtures. A large walk-in shower that could hold at least six people. I knew that from experience.
I put my clothes down on the counter beside my phone. I used the bathroom, and as I washed my hands, I finally let myself look in the mirror. My reflection stared back at me with nothing but honesty.
No makeup.
No jewelry aside from my half of the best friend necklace resting against my chest. My skin still held the flush of sleep and leftover sin. My long hair was a bit messy from his hands. Where my neck and shoulder met now held a faint bite mark. This morning, even with my reservations, I was happy enough that while standing in the brutal clarity of daylight, bare and exposed, I didn’t pick out all my flaws or hate the woman staring back at me. In fact, I might have liked her a little more than usual. I may have been sore in places thanks to Dennis, but after some much-needed, uninterrupted sleep, my eyes looked clearer than they had in weeks. The multiple orgasms probably didn’t hurt either.
I grabbed the bathroom caddy kept stocked for me from under the vanity, and pulled out my morning essentials: toothbrush, face wash, a brush, and one of the many ponytail holders I could never seem to keep track of. The water from the right sink was already warming as I went through the motions. Brushing my teeth. Washing my face. Twisting the cap back onto the mouthwash with one hand while patting my skin dry with a facial towel. The door opened just as I was about to start brushing out my hair. Ryder strolled in and shut it with a flick of his wrist.