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  “Johnny is a good man. Please put him out of his misery and talk to him tomorrow,” Ryker says, stroking my back. “Your silent treatment is going to kill us all.”

  “Okay,” I mumble into his neck.

  He pulls me into him even more so every part of me is now lying on top of him and we are completely wrapped in each other. I know after tonight I won’t be able to sleep without him, but right now I don’t care.

  Chapter 16

  Blair

  Water surrounds me, and I try to fight it. Hold on. He’ll come, I think to myself over and over again. My mind searches for who he is, and a face flashes before my eyes. Ryker. He’ll come. He’ll always come. I know it deep down without a doubt.

  “Cricket, baby. Wake up.”

  My eyes fly open at the sound of Ryker’s voice, and I’m suddenly staring into his bright green eyes. He leans over me with a pained look on his handsome face. The lamp on the side table fills the room with soft light, and relief floods me when I realize I’m safe in bed. He’s here, watching over me, and nothing can hurt me anymore. It feels so good to have that security, I don’t know whether to cry or laugh.

  “I’m so sorry, Cricket.” Anguish is clear on his face. “I hate that you’re having nightmares over this. I know how much you hate storms.”

  I reach up, stroking his face. Something inside of me needs to comfort him, too. He always makes me forget everything else when he’s this close to me.

  “It was just a dream,” I tell him. “I’ve had worse,” I admit. He’ll likely learn that if we carry on sharing a bed, and at this point that looks to be the case.

  He closes his eyes as he leans into my palm. “The point of taking you was to make sure you never had nightmares again. It may have been the selfish thing to do, but I want to be the one to take all your clouds away.”

  I have to fight back tears at his sweet words. No one has ever really cared that much about me. Not like he does. I was holding on to so much anger at the idea of being taken and no one knowing that I’d even disappeared, I forgot to see what was right in front of me—this man I know nothing about but am starting to feel like could be my world if I let him. He’s trying to make sure he’s my world. My mind bounces to all the small things he’s done for me, and then I wonder if maybe he’s making me the center of his world.

  “Kiss me.” The words tumble past my lips before I realize I’m saying them. All I know is I want to take away the pain from both of us, and I know when his mouth is on me, all I ever feel is pleasure.

  I stop trying to understand everything and my attempts to categorize and analyze everything. I can just be here in this moment and not worry about all the tomorrows. I’ve spent my life planning ahead and chasing other people’s dreams, and look where it got me. Right here, right now, I know I want Ryker.

  He doesn’t need further encouragement. But I catch a smile pulling at his lips before his mouth falls onto mine. I slide my hand into his hair, holding onto him tighter, and I let myself get lost in him. Nothing else matters right now, but his kiss is not enough. It’s amazing, and I never want him to stop, but I also want to be closer, to feel more connected to him.

  Because the truth is, no one else knows me like he does. While it should scare me how he knows all these things, I just don’t care. I only know I want to feel more of this connection.

  Our kiss deepens as his mouth makes love to mine. He growls, and the sound reverberates through me and makes my nipples hard. I feel wet between my thighs, and I begin to wiggle.

  “More,” I tell him, pulling my mouth from his. My hands roam his body, and I wish he didn't have a shirt on. I let out a little gasp when a dart of pain shoots up my side. I try to ignore it, not wanting to stop, but Ryker doesn’t miss a thing.

  “Cricket, you have to stop,” he says, but he sounds like he doesn’t want me to. He grabs my hands softly and pins them over my head as he rains kisses all over my face. “Your body is sore from last night. I’m not letting you hurt yourself.”

  Frustrated, I want to say something smartass back, but when I met his eyes, I give him a small nod. He’s right, and I know he’s only doing this to protect me.

  “I’ll take care of you.” He sits up, and my eyes roam over his big body.

  They travel down to his obscene hard-on. I have to squeeze my thighs together to try to get the lust coursing through my body under control. I’ve never in my life felt this worked up around a man before. I have this raw need inside me and it’s pushing down on me. Consuming me.

  His callused fingers explore my body as he massages the muscles that I hadn’t even noticed were sore. I watch him work over me with tender care, and little moans slip past my lips. Each time one leaves my mouth, Ryker freezes in his actions for a moment. His control is being tested, but I can only focus on the need between my legs.

  I lick my lips as I watch him work up my thighs. I part them for him, and he doesn’t ask for permission. I know he won’t. All I have to do is tell him to stop, and I know he will. I also think deep down he knows I’m not going to. Just like he knows everything about me. I’m starting to think he might know me better than I know myself.

  Maybe I should test it, to see if he really would stop, but once again I’m lost in the idea of him taking what he wants. Something about it has me parting my thighs even more for him. The shirt he put on me rides up my legs, giving him a full view of my naked lower half.

  My cheeks heat when I feel how wet I am, and his breath hisses out. The sound makes me feel sexy and desired. I’ve never thought of myself that way before. That I could create such a reaction from a man like Ryker is empowering, which is crazy because I’m technically his captive. Though in this moment I’m not sure I could call myself that. I don’t want to be anywhere else but in his bed, so I guess that makes me willing.

  The anticipation of what he’s about to do to me slides over every nerve ending in my body. He’s has his mouth on me down there, and I know what he’s capable of. My body is already begging for what it had once before, shamelessly pleading with him for another round.

  Ryker’s breathing is as heavy as my own. He licks his lips, and I swear he wants this more than I do, which is insane. But in this moment, he could grant me my freedom and I’d say no.

  “Ryker.” I moan his name, my hips rising and trying to get closer to his mouth. His tongue. His eyes snap up to mine.

  “I’ve waited for you to moan my name for so long. It’s still hard to believe it’s real. That you’re here and underneath me. You’re spreading your legs and asking me to eat your sweetness.”

  “Ryker.” I can only moan again, since all my thoughts are centered around him.

  His words melt more of the ice that I’ve tried to form around my heart, and all of it is because of his tender care. It’s the same ice I tried to rebuild when I ran from him, but it didn’t work. Every moment I’m next to him, more of it melts away. Right now it’s about to shatter.

  “I know.” He leans down, and I gasp as he takes a long lick of me. “I always know what you need,” he says against my clit before taking another long lick. My fingers dig into the pillow my head is lying on. I want the orgasm so bad, but I don't want it to be over too soon.

  I don’t think I can fight it, I’m already so close to the edge.

  “Now give me what I need.” His eyes lock with mine. He sucks on my clit, and I feel the tip of his tongue flick across it back and forth. I know what he’s after. He wants my pleasure, and I don’t think I’m capable of denying him.

  My body begins to arch off the bed, but he grips my hips and holds me in place. He keeps me from moving and I know he’s just making sure I don’t hurt myself again. He shows more care for me than I ever have for myself. More care than anyone ever has. Another of those thoughts float through my mind and I’m starting to think my brain isn’t fighting my heart and body any longer.

  Pleasure rises inside me, making me call out his name over and over again. It slides through me, and I do as he commands, wondering if he has more control over my body than I do. I follow every one of his body’s orders without question.

  I’m starting to think he really does own me. More than I ever thought possible.

  Chapter 17

  Ryker

  I wake up with a smile on my face as I feel the weight of Blair on top of me. At some point in the night she climbed up there, and I felt her rest her head on my chest. All the anxiety and the worry settled as she found comfort in me.

  God, how I’ve waited for this. Waited for the moment when she would come to me. Last night, I felt a shift in her. The over-thinking she’s so good at had been shut down, and I saw in her eyes that she was with me. I’m not sure what today will bring when she turns back inside that head of hers, but I suspect I might be able to pull her out a little easier each time.

  I lie there, the early morning sun peeking in, just feeling her heartbeat pressed against mine. I ignore the dull ache between my legs and allow this moment to just be as it is. For so long, I was ready to rush into making her want me, but I realized once I had her here that she was a lot like Diamond. She needed time to trust me, and I had to prove to her that I was safe, that I would never hurt her. But once we reached that moment, it all fell into place.

  I don’t know how long I lie here, just running my fingers through her ink-black hair, but the sun rises higher and higher until the streams of light are warming her back. I feel her stir on top of me, and when she leans up, her hair falls in front of her face.

  She laughs as I use both my hands to push it aside and reveal my beauty underneath.

  “There you are,” I joke as I tuck it behind her ears.

  “There you are,” she echoes and bites her lip.

  She’s utterly breathtaking as she looks at me with her sleepy eyes and messy hair. The light pours in behind her and it makes it look like she has a halo around her. I’ve never felt anything like this in my life, and right now I just want to roll her over and make love to her for hours.

  There’s so much I need to tell her, to explain why she’s here and what I feel for her. After almost losing her, I know exactly what I’ll be missing without her in my life. I open my mouth to tell her what’s in my heart, but just as I do, the doorbell rings.

  For half a second, I wonder who it could be, then I groan and bury my face in her neck.

  “Who is it?” she giggles as my stubble tickles her soft skin.

  “My parents.” I inhale her sweet scent and kiss the place behind her ear. “Maybe if we lie here long enough they’ll go away.

  Her body responds to my touch, and she spreads her legs as she moves on top of me. I know she’s not wearing panties, and I could so easily push the waistband of my sleep pants down just enough. My hands move to her bare ass, and I cup her there as her hips move. It’s absolute torture, but I can’t make myself stop.

  I become completely still when I feel one of her hands slip between us to the waist of my pants. She must have had the same thought as me as she tugs on them, pulling them down in the front just slightly.

  My cock is painful with need as it lies hard and thick against my stomach. The head was already peeking out of the waistband, and when she moves the fabric down a few inches I can feel her heat so close.

  “Fuck,” I grunt as she lowers her pussy down onto it. Her sweet little lips spread on either side of my cock, her wetness sliding up and down. “Easy, Cricket,” I warn, gripping her hips and slowing her down. If she goes too fast, I won’t be able to control myself.

  “I want to,” she says, as wetness coats my length and her pussy slides all the way up to the tip.

  I can feel her hot opening begging me to play, asking me to push in, just a little. God, I want nothing more than to give it to her, but Lily has probably already let my parents in and now they’re sitting downstairs waiting on me.

  “Not yet,” I growl as she does another slide down my length and back up to the tip, teasing me and herself.

  Her breath catches as I grip her ass harder, and this time I’m the one in control of the slide. I speed up her hips and move against her clit over and over in quick succession. Her body is already primed, and I can get her off just like this.

  “No sounds,” I warn as she starts to whine. She buries her face in my chest and I feel her bite me as she cums. “Goddamn it,” I growl as I cum, too.

  I was trying my best to hold off, but her sweet little honey pot was too tempting. I cum all over my stomach and her pussy, making a mess of the both of us. Her teeth on my chest are just icing on the cake as I move her pussy up and down, wringing out the last of her orgasm. She’s going to fucking ruin me with that sweet little thing.

  “Mmm,” she moans as she lies on top of me, unmoving.

  I want to laugh and go back to sleep with her, but we can’t. I’ve got a standing date for brunch with my parents twice a month, and today’s the day.

  Smack.

  I pop her ass and she squeals as she sits up on top of me. Her mouth is open in shock, but I can see she’s fighting a smile. I look down to where my hard cock is still lying against my abdomen, now covered in cum. My shirt is bunched up around her stomach, revealing her pussy is covered in my cream as well.

  “Now that’s a sight to wake up to,” I say, and reach down, rubbing it into her skin.

  When I look up at her she’s biting her lip and her cheeks are red.

  “Don’t go getting shy on me now, Cricket. You’re about to come meet my parents.”

  “Oh god, you were serious!” she nearly shouts as she immediately hops off the bed like they’re in the room. “I need to shower!”

  She takes off running to the bathroom, and I grab her by the waist and pull her to me. “Think again, Cricket. You’re not about to wash that off.”

  I throw her over my shoulder and smack her ass again as I carry her into our closet. She wiggles on top of me, laughing, and I sense a bit of nervousness. When I put her down on her feet again, I pull her into my arms.

  “Don’t be nervous. They’re excited to meet you,” I say and kiss her forehead.

  “They know about me?” she asks, surprise clear in her voice.

  “Of course. They know about everything that’s important to me.” Winking at her, I turn around and grab a pair of jeans and place them on the chair nearby. I pull out two shirts and hold them up. “Which one?”

  “The blue one,” she says, and I put it with the jeans. “Do they know you kidnapped me?”

  Her face is smug as she takes off my shirt and stands in front of me naked. I look her up and down slowly, enjoying every inch of her. I stalk towards her, and she retreats until her back is against the wall. I place my hands on either side of her and lean down so that we’re eye to eye.

  “Yes, they know that you belong to me.” I lean close to whisper in her ear. “And after what your pussy got you into this morning, I think you might know it, too.”

  Chapter 18

  Blair

  I’m so nervous as we walk down the hallway and to the stairs to meet Ryker’s parents. I mean, who tells their parents they’re kidnapping a woman and then bringing her home to meet them? He’s anything but traditional when it comes to romance.

  He takes my hand, and I take comfort in the gentle touch. I glance over at him and he’s smiling from ear to ear. How does he do that? Know when I need him before I do, and then smile as though everything in the world is perfect. I guess it is, though.

  I woke up this morning and the first thing I thought was how happy I was. I can’t remember the last time I had that thought, if ever. Could this all be happening for real? Am I truly falling for a man who stole me in the night and laid a claim to me? But even now as I walk beside him, I want to lean closer. I’m beginning to crave his touch, which is why I did what I did this morning. My cheeks flush and my body heats as I recall how free I was. Free to make the choice to touch him, free to let him touch me. I might have been kidnapped, but I’m far from caged.

  Everything that’s happened between us, I’ve allowed. I don’t regret a second of it, and if I’m really honest with myself right now, there’s a reason I let it happen. I’m falling for him. Hard. I try not to think about it too much, because that’s when I get into trouble. Right now, I’m just going to focus on what’s in front of me, and that’s Ryker’s parents.

  When we enter the kitchen, I can see them sitting at the bar having coffee and talking to Lily. Ryker wraps his arm around my waist and pulls me even closer. And for the millionth time today, I wonder if he can read my mind.

  We walk over together, and his parents catch sight of us and stand up.

  “Cricket, I’d like you to meet my mama, Kathleen, and my dad, Jackie,” Ryker says as he leans forward and hugs his mom, and she gives him a kiss on the cheek. I’m a little surprised when he does the same with his dad, even getting a kiss on the cheek from him, too. Something about it is kind of sweet.

  “Cricket? And all this time, I thought her name was Blair,” Kathleen says with an accent thicker than my own. She sounds like she could be from Louisiana, and that warms me a little.

  “It’s a pleasure to meet you,” I say, trying my best to be as polite and refined as possible. I’ve got a need to make a good impression.

  Kathleen is tall, probably almost six feet. She’s got solid white hair that’s pulled back in a ponytail and she’s wearing dark jeans and a plain white T-shirt. I notice she’s got on boots and looks like she would be comfortable on a horse. She’s got dark eyes like Ryker, and he’s got her smile. There are lines around her lips and eyes, but they appear to be from smiling. When she reaches out and takes one of my hands with both of hers, I immediately like her. Her hands are a little rough, which makes me think she might actually work on a farm, and for some reason that makes me like her more.

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