Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 74451 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 372(@200wpm)___ 298(@250wpm)___ 248(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74451 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 372(@200wpm)___ 298(@250wpm)___ 248(@300wpm)
“Okay, it is partially true. It’s just not anymore.”
“Why am I supposed to believe everything is different now? What’s to keep him from breaking you again. I’m sorry, but you can’t expect me to get behind the fact that you’re dating the man that ripped your heart out once before.”
“I can and I do. Ryder didn’t know anything about the note that Emily gave me. He wrote that note to Emily,” I explain, steadfastly trying to ignore the way that stings.
“So, he says,” Mom huffs.
“So, I know. Honestly, Mom, I knew it back then. Ryder isn’t the type to do that kind of thing. I knew all along that Emily had played me for a fool, but that didn’t change the fact that seeing him hold her and proclaim his love to her didn’t crush me, it did.”
“Exactly. Do you really want that kind of pain again, baby? Because I have to tell you, I don’t think I can sit idly by and let that happen.”
“Mom, I love him. I’ve always loved him. It’s not going away. I’m not outgrowing it. I love him and that love is staying. It’s not going anywhere. If I don’t take this chance—this chance to be with him and get to know him, let him get to know me—I know I will always regret it.”
“Tillie—”
“Always, Mom. I have to do this. I promise I’m being careful. I’m being so careful that I’m questioning Ryder and backtracking every single time I turn around.”
“Then why—”
“But Ryder is being patient with me and he’s slowly showing me that he’s here with me, he’s present, and he wants the two of us. God, Mom, you know. You know more than anyone. That’s what I’ve always wanted.”
“If he hurts you again, I’ll kill him.”
I do laugh at that. “You wouldn’t. You don’t have it in you. You won’t even squash an ant crawling on the ground beside you.”
“It’s bad karma,” she mutters. “But if Ryder Monroe hurts my baby again you better believe I would squash him. It would make me happy to do it, too.”
I smile. She’s serious. She’d go through fire for me. I do the only thing a daughter could do when faced with an overwrought, protective mother. I walk into her arms and squeeze her tight.
“I love you, Mommy,” I whisper, instantly feeling like I’m six years old again and I’ve scraped my knee and only my Mom and Band-Aids can make me feel better.
She wraps her arms around me and her fingers glide through my hair. “I love you, baby. I love you, too.” I know she does. She never fails to show me. Yet, every time I hear those words, the world seems better somehow. “But if he hurts you again, bad karma or not, I will squash him,” she warns.
I pull back laughing. “So noted,” I answer.
“Good, now let’s go warm up supper because someone was almost an hour late.”
“Okay, Mom.”
“And, Tillie?”
“Yeah?” I ask as I follow her into the kitchen.
“If you expect me to believe that you were late because Ryder was working, you have no idea who you’re dealing with,” she grumbles, and I laugh.
God, I love my mom.
Tillie
Looking over at the clock, I can't believe it's already midnight. Rubbing my tired eyes, I try to relax but can't. I'm restless. With the killer orgasm Ryder gave me earlier, I should be sound asleep. That’s clearly not happening. I sigh, trying to get comfortable without disturbing Ryder. Even with his form next to me in bed, I can't seem to calm my mind.
Ryder turns over to face me and I know that I’ve failed in my attempt not to disturb him. I reach up to wrap my arms around his neck. He puts his hands on my ass, while his leg slides between mine. Then, he pulls me up, so that my pussy is straddling his leg and it’s pressed in tight—teasing my clit. It sends a thrill to my belly. I can't get enough of him.
“Buttons,” he rumbles, his voice gravely with sleep. “You should be sleeping instead of over here thinking so hard that I can literally hear your brain working.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to wake you,” I whisper.
“I’m fine. It’s you that I’m worried about. What's wrong?” Ryder asks, and even in the darkness of the room I can see the concern on his face and hear it laced in his words. “I thought going upstairs and having dinner with your parents went well, despite the fact we were late because my woman needed me to fuck her.”
I slap his chest, laughing. “I don't think that's how it went down at all.”
This close to him, I can see Ryder's face crack with a lazy smile before he bends down and kisses my lips softly. “Talk to me. What are you worried about?”