Rescued by Love (Love in Bloom: The Ryders): Jake Ryder

by Melissa Foster

  “So this trip is your way of doing what you wished you could have done when you were younger?”

  “I guess so, in a general sense. But that’s not really why I’m doing it. I like pushing my boundaries to see what I’m capable of. It’s hard to explain, because it’s not only that. I know I can do anything I set my mind to, but I want to experience more of life. And it’s not that I blame my parents for how they raised me, or even that I feel like I missed out. I adore them and I had a great childhood, even though it probably doesn’t look that way since I turned away their trust fund and—”

  “Wait,” he said, eyes wide with a tease. “You have a trust fund? Hell, baby. That changes everything. Let’s get married!”

  “Like you need money.”

  “Money is the last thing I need.”

  He stared at her so long she began to wonder if he was implying something else. Just when she was convinced he was going to say he needed her, he said, “I could live completely off the grid and I’d be happier than if I lived in a castle. My whole family’s like that. Well, maybe not Duke. He likes creature comforts. But look at the house Trish and Boone bought in West Virginia. It’s small, run-down, and in a town as big as my thumb. They make enough money to buy the state, but Trish isn’t pretentious. She’s as tough as nails, and if she had to, she could live off the land, too.” He shook his head and laughed softly. “She’s as stubborn as you are. When we were kids she always tried to beat us in everything we did. It’s one of the things I respect most about her.”

  Hearing Jake talk about how tough Trish was struck another appealing chord. She loved that he placed value on intelligence and drive, regardless of whether a woman or a man possessed those traits, so unlike what she’d grown up with.

  “That’s what I’m talking about. I want to do more. I want to beat myself, I guess. I don’t want to look back when I’m seventy and wonder why I never went camping. You were encouraged to push yourself in everything you did. I never had that. Even going to college was a battle of wills. My father wanted me to go to one of the most prestigious schools, or study overseas. All I wanted was to be a normal kid and go to a school that didn’t cater to only the wealthiest families. And I’m sure you’re thinking I’m just trying to validate my own self-worth, or rebelling against overprotective parents, or some other psych crap, and maybe I am. Who knows?”

  “You don’t know me at all, sexy girl. I was thinking about how admirable it is.”

  “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have assumed that, but I’m sure lots of other people see it that way. All I know is that I enjoy pushing myself, and if that means leaving safety behind, then that’s what it means. I’ve proven I can make it on my own. But now that I’ve done that, I want to do more. It still feels like something is…I don’t know. Missing?”

  She paused, uncomfortable with how she sounded. “Saying this out loud makes me sound rebellious or foolish, and probably spoiled rotten, because how can something be missing when I was born into a family that wants for nothing? I can’t explain it. My mom is perfectly happy living a jet-setting life, in Paris one day and who knows where the next, letting my father make all the decisions for the two of them. But I’m wired differently. I need more. I get restless if my mind isn’t stimulated.”

  He raised his brows.

  “You have such a dirty mind.” And I love it.

  “I told you we’re perfect for each other.”

  He leaned down for another kiss, and when their mouths met, he was in complete control. With the ocean breeze at her back and Jake’s hard frame pressing against her from chest to thighs, fire sparked beneath her skin, and she let him take, and take, and take. The fact that she craved his dominance wasn’t lost on her. Neither was the realization that she was in no hurry to reclaim the upper hand.

  “I get you, sexy girl,” he said in a sensual tone. “You’re smart and capable and you don’t want to be told what to do or when to do it. But…”

  He kissed her neck and then gazed deeply into her eyes. The emotions staring back made it hard to breathe, and she could see that he was drowning in them. But…?

  As he lowered his lips to hers again, she put her palm against his chest, holding the next delicious kiss at bay. She couldn’t get swept away just yet. Not with whatever he was going to say left unsaid.

  “Wait, Jake. Now that Gabby and Duke are trying to start a family and Gabby’s cutting back on her practice, this is my chance to set out and experience more of the world on my terms. You’re not going to hold me back.”

  JAKE WASN’T BIG on keeping his thoughts to himself, but in Addy he’d found not only a woman he wanted, but also someone he related to on every level. She was a strong-minded, intelligent, risk-taking beauty with a penchant for pushing her boundaries—in and out of the bedroom. But he knew what happened when someone tried to forbid him to do something. He not only defied them, but he went above and beyond, proving just how wrong they were. He had no doubt Addy’s reaction would be pretty close to his own, and he wasn’t willing to risk their last night together to prove a point. There was more than one way to scale a mountain.

  Tamping down the protector in him was akin to taming a bear, but his feelings for Addy were more powerful than his need for her to yield to his demands.

  “I’m not trying to hold you back,” he promised, although he sure as hell wanted to talk some sense into her about going on her trip. When he gazed into Addy’s determined eyes, he knew he’d do whatever it took to be with her, including waiting until morning to talk about her trip. His brothers would call this “relationship compromise.” He may not know much about relationships, but he didn’t think that mattered. He only needed to know what Addy needed. And right now she didn’t need to be pushed. She needed to be loved and cherished and shown that how he felt had nothing to do with controlling her decisions and everything to do with keeping her safe.

  “I want tonight,” he said softly, drawing a long, sensual sigh from her. “And tomorrow.” His mouth brushed over hers. “I want you in my bed, Addy. I want to wake up with you in my arms tomorrow.”

  She trapped her lower lip between her beautiful white teeth, looking so different from the bold woman he was used to, he wanted to protect her from the cause of her vulnerable reaction. But there was no protecting her from what was meant to be. Every time they were close it became harder for her to erect those walls she wore like armor, just as it did for him.

  Lowering his face beside her ear, he said, “Want me to take you right here on the sand? Or do you want me to strip you bare in the safety of my bedroom, blindfold those pretty little eyes, and make you feel more than you’ve ever felt in your entire life?”

  Her lip sprang free, and all that vulnerability went up in flames. She went up on her toes and he met her halfway in a feverish kiss. They stumbled up the beach, kissing as they hurried across the dirt road toward the path that led to the resort, stopping only for more kissing and groping. By the time they reached his room they were both breathless. He pushed the door open and swept her inside, kicking the door closed behind them.

  “Lock it,” she said as he tore her dress over her head and tossed it to the floor.

  Done.

  He turned back, stilling at the sight of her wearing nothing but a black lace bra and matching panties. “You are an incredible sight.” And she was all his. He tugged his shirt off, holding on to it as he stripped out of the rest of his clothes.

  She eyed his shirt. “Security blanket?”

  “Baby, I made a promise, and I never back down on my promises.” He lifted her into his arms, reveling in her smallness. Her legs wound around his waist, and her mouth met his as he carried her into the bedroom.

  He flung the blanket back and laid her down in the center of the bed, coming down over her. “I’ve dreamed of seeing you in my bed for so long I could give you a play-by-play of what I’m going to do to you.” Her eyes widened just a hair, immediately narrowing again in pure seduction. “But that would rui
n the surprise, wouldn’t it?”

  She licked her lips, the pulse in the base of her neck throbbing frantically.

  Holding his shirt by a scrap, he dragged it over her chest. “Say hello to your blindfold, sexy girl.”

  Her lips curved up. “My new best friend.”

  As he covered her beautiful eyes with his shirt and tied it in place, he told himself it didn’t matter that she seemed too comfortable with being blindfolded. He lowered her head gently to the mattress and touched her cheek, wrestling to keep his jealousy in check.

  She covered his hand with hers. “Jake?”

  Her voice was unexpectedly shaky. “You okay, sexy girl?”

  Her fingers curled around his hand, and she nibbled on her lower lip again. “I didn’t expect to miss seeing your face.”

  He let out a sigh of relief and kissed her softly. “Want me to take it off?”

  She shook her head. “No. I just wanted you to know. I didn’t expect to feel so much for you.”

  “Neither did I,” he said honestly, noticing how much easier it was for her to reveal her true feelings when she couldn’t see him. That made him want to earn her trust even more.

  Kissing her again, he brushed his thumb along her cheek, and her fingers loosened, falling limply beside her head. He laced their hands together, drinking in the sight of her surrendering to him completely. Her lips were slightly parted, glistening wet from their kisses. Her chest rose with each quick breath. He wanted to take his time, to explore all of her, find every pleasure point, until she was liquid heat beneath him. Lifting her hand to his mouth, he kissed each delicate finger, then placed it palm up beside her head, and continued kissing a path along her slender wrist, to the crook of her elbow. His cock brushed over her lace panties as he kissed her shoulder, then dragged her bra strap down her arm. Sinking his teeth into the curve of her shoulder he sucked hard, testing the waters. She arched up to greet him, moaning with pleasure.

  “My girl likes pain and pleasure.” He laved his tongue over the tender spot.

  “Sometimes,” she said breathily.

  He kissed and licked the swell of her breast, traced the edge of her bra with his finger. His thumb brushed over her taut nipple through the lace, and she bit her lower lip again. She was so sexy, so beautiful, writhing beneath him as he learned the curves of her body, discovering what made her squirm and what brought out the shy girl he’d only yet caught a glimpse of. He tasted the soft skin between her breasts, earning a stream of sexy murmurs. He sucked the swell of one breast while unhooking the front clasp and moved the cups to the side. Using the tip of his tongue, he teased one rosy peak.

  “More,” she pleaded, arching off the bed.

  “Not so fast, beautiful.” He took his time, slowly moving the straps of her bra down each arm, then lifting her off the mattress just enough to remove it completely.

  “You’re gorgeous, Addy.” Lowering his chest over her abdomen, he pushed her breasts together, slicking his tongue over both peaks.

  She fisted her hands in the sheets, and he sucked one nipple hard. A low moan escaped her lips. Damn, he liked knowing he was giving her such pleasure, and he’d only just begun. Tasting every inch of her warm, soft skin as he went, he kissed from her nipples to the undersides of her breasts, down her rib cage, loving the whimpers and sexy noises he incited. When he reached the juncture of her thighs, he reached up and squeezed her nipples between his fingers and thumbs, just hard enough to earn another stream of thrilling pleas. Licking her through the damp material between her legs, tasting her desire, was heaven and hell.

  “Jake,” she begged, rocking her hips.

  “I’ll never tire of hearing that plea in your voice.” Needing more of her, he claimed her in another scorching kiss. Her arms circled him, her knees opened wider, and she rubbed her wetness against his eager cock.

  “Fuck,” he ground out, tearing his mouth from hers. “I want to fuck you so bad.” A sliver of regret spiked through him. He shouldn’t have said he wanted to fuck her. What they were doing felt completely different from fucking. But the word didn’t feel altogether wrong either, because this was who they were. Dirty-talking, boundary-pushing lovers.

  “Then do it,” she challenged.

  He felt a grin tugging at his lips. “You haven’t come on my mouth yet, sweetheart, and I want to taste you tomorrow at breakfast.”

  In his next breath, he grabbed her panties and dragged them off. “You’re all mine, sexy girl.”

  She was breathing so hard, gripping the sheets with white knuckles, that he almost mistook it for fear, but she spread her legs wider and lifted her hips, giving him an open invitation. And he didn’t hesitate. He buried his face between her legs, taking everything he wanted.

  “Oh God, Jake,” she cried out.

  Loving her with his tongue and grazing her most sensitive nerves with his teeth, he took her right up to the edge of release. Her body trembled, and her back bowed off the mattress. He lowered his mouth to the tender skin between her sweet center and her ass. Testing her boundaries again, he slicked his tongue lower, over her tight puckered entrance. Her body went rigid.

  Noting her boundaries, he felt like an asshole for the relief, and the immense pleasure, sweeping through him with the knowledge that there were some things they could explore together for the first time.

  “Don’t worry, sweet girl. I won’t do anything you don’t want me to.”

  Moving his mouth higher again, he slid two fingers inside her slick entrance, homing in on the pleasure point he’d discovered last night, and used his tongue to stroke her into a panting, clawing frenzy as she lost her last shred of control. Her hips bucked off the mattress and his name sailed from her lips—“Jake—”

  He loved her through the very last pulse of her climax, and then he took her up to heaven again. Twice.

  Chapter Eleven

  AS ADDY SLOWLY came back down from the clouds, Jake gathered her quivering body in his arms and kissed her. Every inch of her tingled and throbbed. The blindfold heightened her senses, making her acutely aware of the feel of his chest against hers, the roughness of his hands caressing her skin. The feel of his whiskers scratching her chin was erotically delicious. The scent of her arousal clung to him, the pungent taste transferring as their tongues tangled and he breathed air into her lungs. She pawed at his shoulders, his back, his arms, unable to touch enough, to feel enough, to take enough. He brought nerve endings she didn’t know she possessed to life, and she wanted more. There were only a few sexual things she hadn’t ever had the courage, or the trust in her partner, to explore. Being blindfolded was one of them and letting any man touch her second most private entrance was another. In a single night he’d unknowingly conquered one, discovered another, and made her crave the third like an addict. And she was about to get the hit she needed.

  “Jake,” she said, feeling encumbered by the blindfold now. As titillating as it had made his exploration of her body, it now felt like a barrier between them. “I want you.”

  “Oh, you’ll get me, sexy girl.”

  “Now.” She pulled off the blindfold, needing to see him as badly as she wanted to touch and taste him.

  “Demanding, aren’t we?” he teased.

  Wiggling out from beneath him, suddenly overwhelmed by the urge to get her mouth on him, she tossed his shirt to the floor and raked her eyes down the length of his body. He was sitting up on his knees, his thick erection bobbing against his belly, all his glorious muscles there for the tasting. He truly was unfairly hot. Like put-her-Tumblr-dudes-to-shame hot.

  “Eyes up here, sweetheart.”

  She shot him a sultry gaze. “I’ve already got that cocky grin memorized. I need the rest of you memorized, unless you want to give me a picture for my Cocks I Want to Rock Tumblr page.” Oh shit. She hadn’t meant to say it, but sometimes her words came out before she could stop them.

  “What the fu—”

  “Don’t dwell on it,” she said quickly. Hoping
to sidetrack him, she motioned for him to lean back against the headboard. “My turn. No blindfolds required.”

  He moved stiffly. “You seriously have that Tumblr page?”

  She knelt between his legs, meeting his very jealous gaze. “Something had to get me through night after night of thinking about this.” She wrapped one hand around his cock, and he hissed out a breath. “You should take great pleasure in knowing I’ve never trusted any man enough to blindfold me.”

  She gave his cock one slow, tight stroke and leaned forward, taking him in a languid kiss that rivaled the one he’d given her on the beach, the one that had gotten her into his bedroom faster than the speed of light. When they parted, he still had that green-eyed monster hovering in his eyes. She could kick herself for saying what she had and for sounding so cavalier about it. There was no way that Tumblr page could hold a candle to him. She wished she could take the words back, because the truth was, if the tables were turned, she’d be just as jealous. The idea of Jake with other women made her want to claw someone’s eyes out.

  But she was about to let him do something she’d never allowed another man to do, and that, she knew, would make him forget about the stupid Tumblr page.

  “You might want to hold my hair so you can watch as you conquer another Addison Dahl first.”

  “You blew me last ni—” Understanding flamed in his eyes.

  The appreciative groan that accompanied the fisting of his hand in her hair brought a smile to her lips as she lowered them over his eager arousal, taking him directly to the back of her throat.

  “Jesus, Addy.” He tightened his grip, his hips rising off the bed.

  She held his heated stare, feeling him swell impossibly thicker in her hand. Each time she took him to the back of her throat he made that groaning sound, and it sent streaks of heat between her legs. She brought her other hand to his balls, tugging just a little, and he made another heady noise. His desperate eyes bored into her. When he grabbed both sides of her head, she let him lead, wanting to bring him as much pleasure as possible.