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He ached for her even though she was right there with him. He yearned for this feeling Esme gave him—not just the physical pleasure of kissing and touching her but the sense that in her arms, he was truly home.
She wore an oversize T-shirt that he efficiently lifted over her head in one movement. Then he was dizzy with the vision of her glorious breasts, which he cupped in his hands as she let out a soft moan. He sucked one pink tip into his mouth, the taste of her like honey, as he caressed the other with his thumb.
“Ryder, I need...” she whispered, her voice strained.
“Me, too, sweetheart,” he assured her as he came up for air. “You’re beautiful, Esme.”
“You’re beautiful, too,” she answered, and he felt his cheeks heat.
She could make him blush with one simple compliment, but he knew that when Esme said the words, she meant them from the bottom of her heart.
He kissed her again, shifting his weight off her. Then he took his time as his hand moved down her rib cage, her waist and her hips. He hooked one finger in the waistband of her panties and tugged them down. Her vanilla scent mixed with the earthy aroma of a woman, and it once again drove him toward the edge of his control.
She was slick when he touched her, opening for him like she’d been waiting for this moment as much as him. He could have stayed like that all night, kissing and touching her, and been satisfied.
But Esme had other ideas. “Not like this,” she said against his mouth. “Together, Ryder. I want to be with you fully. Now.”
Her eyes were filled with a mix of passion and determination, and who was he to deny her?
He climbed off the bed, pushed down his boxers, then plucked the condom from the nightstand and sheathed himself.
She lay back on the pillow and stretched her arms above her head, her breasts high and proud and making every last brain cell in his head take a fast train south.
He settled himself over her, then hissed out a breath when her soft hand enveloped his length, guiding him to her center. She surprised him with her assuredness and lack of reserve—a pleasant surprise that made him wish they’d done this sooner.
Then he pushed into her and lost all ability for coherent thought. He filled her completely, and she dug her nails into his back as if she couldn’t get enough of him. Which was funny because, at this moment, he intended to give her all that he could.
He thrust in and out, and Esme matched his movements until it was impossible to know where he left off and she began. She moaned—or maybe that was him—and their tongues melded as he drove into her.
“So close,” she whimpered after a time, and he could hear the need for release in her voice. Murmuring words of encouragement, he lifted slightly to place his hand between them. Two fingers found that tender spot that sent her over the edge with a strangled cry.
She lifted to bury her face in his neck, then sucked at the base of his throat. It was unexpected enough to make him lose control, and he followed her over, whispering her name as his body trembled in her arms.
“We should have done that sooner,” she said, her voice raspy.
“Like the day we met,” he agreed, making her laugh. When was the last time he’d laughed with a woman in his bed? He couldn’t remember, and the intimacy of it made his chest ache.
When they’d both regained their breath, he rolled off her, took care of the condom in the hall bathroom, then returned to the bed. Esme had the cover tucked up to her chin, and he snuggled behind her, wrapping an arm around her waist.
This felt almost as right as being inside her; only it was a hell of a lot scarier for Ryder since his heart was filled with longing.
“What happened to you?” Bea asked Esme Sunday morning as they perused the shelves inside Remi’s Reads. The sisters had met at the bookstore before they were scheduled to join Asa for breakfast.
The three of them did their best to get together for a meal or visit every week, often with Freya or their cousin Camden joining them.
Esme returned the book she held to the shelf and shook her head. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Except she knew exactly what Bea meant. One night—now two—spent in Ryder’s arms had changed something inside her. It was as if she’d locked away a part of herself in the wake of Seth’s death and learning about his unfaithfulness.
She’d embraced her identity as a mother like that was the only thing that mattered. While she’d rebuilt her life, starting over in Chatelaine, the single-minded focus had centered her and kept her from sinking into sadness and regret.
However, so much had changed since meeting Ryder and Noah. She’d changed, but it was too soon to discuss the details with her sister if she could help it.
“Seriously, there’s something different about you. You’re glowing.”
Esme shrugged and waved off the comment. “I picked up a new face scrub at GreatStore last week. I’ll text you a picture.”
“It’s not a new cleanser.” Bea sounded suspicious.
