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* * *
HE WAS A good lover. He could take his time, drive a woman mad. But something about Annabeth made him lose that, something about her drove him mad. She held him tightly, arms and legs and hands. Her body sheathed him so tightly he worried he’d be done before they got started.
He heard her words and looked down at her. Her hands cradled his face as she arched her back, joining them more deeply in the process. She moaned, her breath hitched, but she never looked away. And he happily drowned in her hazel eyes.
Damn, she was beautiful. Her body and her heart. He loved her. He would love her the way she deserved to be loved.
He moved, soaking up every reaction. Sweet sighs, the roll of her hips, the flush on her skin and the small shudders his touch caused. Watching her was magic, giving him the desire to make it last—to give her what she craved. Her hands tightened on his back, gripping his sides fitfully, dragging a moan from his throat. She was so close. He nuzzled her breast, drawing first one nipple into his mouth, then the next. She whimpered, her nails raking the skin on his back. His mouth on her skin made her crazy. He held her, watching, as every inch of her contracted. Her eyes closed as her neck arched off the pillow. She cried out, threatening Ryder’s control. This was about her.
I love you, Annabeth. He pressed kisses along her neck as her cries began to ease. I love you.
He let go, finally, moving frantically against her. He held her against him, the feel of her pulling him under. Her hands slid down his chest, gripping his hips in encouragement. The power of his release startled him, rocking him to the core. Her arms held him close until he calmed. But whatever calm his body might be feeling, the throbbing beat of his heart was anything but. He rolled onto his back, careful of her. She turned into his arms, sighing as he pulled her close against him. His heart was still thundering as he pressed a kiss to her temple.
A full-on storm raged outside, a hard rain was falling. But he didn’t mind. He was right where he wanted to be, happier than he’d ever been.
* * *
“SCHOOLS ARE CLOSED,” Annabeth announced, so pleased she wanted to jump up and down like a little girl.
Ryder, sleepy-eyed and barely awake, grinned. He rearranged his pillow, the quilts sliding low to his waist in the process. “You look torn up about it, Princess.”
She shook her head. “Not one bit.” She slid back into bed beside him, pulling the quilts over them. She frowned then. “You still have to go to the garage?”
He quirked an eyebrow at her. “You suggesting I call in sick?”
She slipped out of the pajama top she’d put on to answer the phone. “I am.” She slid on top of him, kissing the tip of his nose.
His hands landed on her rear, sending all sorts of amazing tingles down her back. “Think that can be arranged.” His voice was rough and sexy.
She kissed him, loving the way one of Ryder’s big hands slid along her back to cradle her head. His lips tugged on her lower lip, and she melted against him hungrily. She moved, gripping his head to tug him close. There was something freeing, knowing they had hours before Cody woke up, hours before they had to face the day.
Ryder groaned softly, pulling her under him.
Her bedroom door creaked as it opened, giving Annabeth just enough time to nudge Ryder off.
“Ma?” Cody’s voice was a croak. “M-my bed’s wet. W-water coming in.”
“Oh, Cody, I’m sorry.” She couldn’t exactly get up—she was naked.
Ryder slid to the side of the bed. “I’ll check it out.” Ryder shivered. “Brr. Why don’t you climb in the bed there and warm up.”
Annabeth tucked the sheets around her before wrapping Cody with quilts. Tom appeared, leaping up to sleep on Cody’s chest. It took less than five minutes for Cody to fall asleep, then she slipped into her pajamas.
The house was cold, so she tapped the thermostat and turned the heat up. The unit clicked several times before a gust of warm air came through the floor vents.
Ryder stood on a chair, lightly pressing on the ceiling. A huge patch was clearly soaked through.
“It’s bad, isn’t it?” She shook her head.
Ryder nodded. “It’s bad. Not just in here.” He jumped down, took her hand and led her into the small living area. The patch extended for almost half of the room. There were several puddles on the wooden floors, the rhythmic tap-tap of water muffled by the water already accumulated.
“How bad?” she asked, refusing to let this ruin the sense of peace she’d woke
n to.
“New roof bad. New heater, too, probably. And then there’s the wiring...” Ryder pushed the hair from her shoulder, enfolding her in his arms. “We should move out to the ranch for a while.”
Annabeth stared up at him. “We...we can’t inconvenience your dad that way.”
