Total pages in book: 62
Estimated words: 57804 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 289(@200wpm)___ 231(@250wpm)___ 193(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 57804 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 289(@200wpm)___ 231(@250wpm)___ 193(@300wpm)
“It’s you, Delilah. It’s always been you,” he murmured. “I know timing and location hasn’t always been on our side, but I just need you to know that I’ve always cared about you.”
My eyes started to sing as I swallowed hard, forcing past the tightness in my throat. I didn’t even know what to say. My thoughts were in a spiral, but the words that were clear to me were the ones that said he wanted to be with me.
“You broke up with her… for me?” I asked.
Ryder brushed his thumb over my flushed skin.
“I broke up with her for myself. Because I knew that I only had feelings for you, and I wanted to tell you,” he replied. “I wanted to tell you a million times.”
Part of me wanted to confess my deep feelings and fall into his arms, but I held myself back. I tried to listen to reason because I had been stung before. I didn’t want to go through that pain again.
“You mean a lot to me, Ryder. It’s just… we live two separate lives. You have a life here, and I have mine in New York,” I told him, feeling my heart ache with every word that I spoke. I didn’t know why so many factors had to play against us. It wasn’t fair, but that was life.
Unfair. Complicated. Torturous.
Ryder let his fingers drift down along my jawbone.
“I know… but I just need you to know how I feel,” he said as he leaned forward slightly, his eyes roaming over my face. “How do you feel?”
I felt so many things in that one moment, but the strongest feeling broke through all the rest.
“I’ve wanted to be with you for years,” I blurted out the words before I could rein them in. “How I feel about you… I haven’t ever felt for anyone else.”
Ryder smiled a little as he nodded, his thumb drifting across my bottom lip.
“I can say the same thing. There’s just always been something about you, Delilah,” he said as he shook his head in amazement. “The future is out of my control, but you’re with me here and now. I just want to enjoy this moment while it lasts.”
Could I even blame him for that? For as long as we had known each other, outside elements dictated whether we could be together or not. Nothing would ever be perfect in the long run, but this moment could be as close to perfect as we could make it.
Until it ended.
“Kiss me,” I whispered as I gazed into his eyes, needing him to show me how much he cared about me and how much he missed me after all these years.
“Gladly,” Ryder murmured before slipping his fingers around to the back of my neck, drawing me into a deep kiss. His lips captured mine, moving slowly and patiently like he wanted to map out every inch.
A relieved sound broke from me as I finally let go of my restraints, allowing myself to succumb to my desires that I had to bottle up for so long. Maybe I shouldn’t kiss him or give myself over to him after the pain I endured in the past, but it felt so damn good to be back in his arms.
It was like I was coming up for air.
Ryder rested his free hand on my hip, his fingertips teasing the skin beneath the bottom edge of my shirt. His lips parted against mine, his tongue brushing against mine. Every motion was soft but needy, driving me crazier and crazier.
I fisted his black t-shirt under the red and black flannel shirt he wore, desire flaring through me like uncontrollable flames. It had been so long since the last time we were together. Truly together. Now that we’d started, I didn’t think that I could stop. What if we paused and all of my worries came flooding back? I wanted to leave this moment uninterrupted for now.
“I need you,” I breathed out as I slid my fingers into his hair. “Now. Right now.”
Ryder drew back and glanced around at the quiet, empty woods around us. He then grinned and held the small of my back, pressing my body against his.
“Can’t even wait five minutes to get back to the house?” he asked teasingly.
I lowered my hands to his belt as I cocked my head at him.
“Do you want to wait five minutes?” I replied, already noting the visible ridge in his jeans.
“Hell no,” Ryder said before grabbing my waist and backing me up against a wide oak tree. He buried his face in my neck, mouthing at my sensitive skin to make me writhe and arch. He slipped one hand beneath my shirt, caressing my breast through my bra.
I leaned into his hand, craving more of his touch. My head leaned back against the trunk as my eyes swept around the area. No one was around, but it still felt exhilarating to be out in the open like this. Anything could happen, but it always felt like that when I was with Ryder. He made anything seem possible.