Lie to Me

by Verdenius, Angela

  “Ryder?” Her voice was low.

  “Yeah?”

  “This is beautiful.”

  He smiled. “It is.”

  “Thank you.”

  He pressed a kiss to the top of her head, snuggled her closer back against him. “I come out here alone now and again just to sit and watch the creek. Night time is magical, it’s peaceful, I can let my thoughts wander.”

  Some people would have expected Dee to give a caustic comment but he wasn’t surprised when she simply nodded and remained silent. The woman might have a sarcastic sense of humour but she could be sensitive to people’s emotions, she’d never hurt her friends by breaking in on their heartfelt musings.

  “You’re the only woman I’ve ever brought out here at night with me.” Bending over her, he lowered his head so his cheek brushed her softer one. “You’re the only woman special enough that I would want to share this with me. The only one I feel comfortable sharing this with me.” He brushed her cheek with his lips. “Only you, Dee.”

  She was quiet, gazing out over the creek. Ryder watched her calmly, just waiting.

  Finally, she turned her head to gaze up at him, the moonlight catching her eyes, making them appear mysterious. Lifting her hand, she laid her palm against his cheek. “Thank you,” she whispered, and then she kissed him.

  It was soft, sweet, a gentle touching of lips, yet it shook him to his soul.

  It was the first kiss she’d voluntarily given to him, but what made it so heart-achingly potent was the emotion her saw in her eyes just before their lips met.

  Love. She loved him.

  God, he loved her so much in return.

  Reaching up, he cradled the hand she held against his cheek as he kissed her back just as softly, just as sweetly, uncharacteristically gentle.

  For the first time in his life, Ryder wanted to show gentleness, tenderness, to give someone pleasure, to watch and feel and not lose himself in his own emotions.

  Lifting his head, he gazed down at her, watching as her thick eyelashes fluttered open, lifting to reveal the passion that flickered in the pale depths of her eyes.

  Uncurling his arms from around her waist, he caught her hand, stepping back and drawing her with him.

  She turned, followed him to the tables, stepping into his arms when he stopped and offering her lips.

  He took what she offered, poured his love into her, holding her close, glorying in the feel of her arms going around his neck, one of her hands slipping up into his hair to cup his head.

  Sliding his hands beneath her shirt, he spread his fingers on her warm skin, spanning her ribcage, trailing his fingertips down her spine, rewarded by her body arching into him.

  His shaft stiffened, pushing against his zipper.

  Then Dee’s hand was there, fingers sliding into the top of his jeans, curling in to hang on the tough material.

  It was the first time she’d initiated a kiss, the first time she initiated intimacy, and he let her go, craving it, craving her touch, her taste, willing to let her lead this time, following her movements, mimicking every caress, every touch she gave him, doing it to her.

  She trailed her fingers around the top of his waistband. He did the same to hers.

  She found the snap on his jeans, pulled it open. He did the same to hers.

  Leaning back a little, she watched as she pulled his zipper down.

  Everything she did, he did, and when her hand slid into the front of his jeans to press against him, he groaned. Hers wasn’t far behind, only she whimpered when his hand found her.

  She was so hot, so creamy with desire. Even her sturdy bra and t-shirt couldn’t hide the press of her nipples against the confining material.

  Her palm shaped along his phallus, fire sparking along his skin at her touch, heat racing through him to pool low in his loins.

  Keeping tight control, Ryder slid his fingers between her thighs, finding her sheltering labia and playing with the edges of the swollen flesh.

  “Ryder.” She pressed into him, lifted her head, her eyes shimmering with need.

  “It’s all right, babe.” He withdrew his hand, kissing her, swallowing her protest as he placed his hands on her waist.

  Lifting his head, he turned her so she faced the table, then he cupped her chin, lifted her head up and back, took her mouth again as he took control.

  Her hands rested on top of his as he hooked his fingers in her waistband and pushed the jeans down over her hips and lower, dropping them halfway down her thighs.

  Unexpectedly, she shifted her legs, the jeans pooling around her knees.

  “Good girl,” he whispered huskily. “Let me in, babe.”

  She relaxed, leaning back against him, moaning softly as his fingers worked their magic on her.

  Finding the little bud hidden high up between the sheltering folds of her labia, Ryder forked his fingers and rubbed each side of it, pressing, grazing it with the sides of his fingers, exerting a little pressure as he squeezed gently, carefully, rewarded when Dee went up on tip toes, a small whimper breaking from her.

  He kissed along her cheek, nuzzled below her ear as he pressed on the clitoris, rubbing it, a possessive satisfaction filling him when he felt her shudder against him, her hands reaching back to latch onto his jeans, hanging on tightly as he rubbed her, teased her, plucked tenderly at the tiny, engorged bud, mindful of how fragile it could be, how delicate, yet how much pleasure it could give a woman.

  He played her like an instrument, her passionate response music to his ears. It was even better that she anchored herself by holding onto him, leaning into him, letting him support her as she crested, rode the wave of desire.

  God, she was beautiful, soft lips parted as she shivered, the climax taking her higher, eyelashes so thick against her cheeks, the decadent stiffness of her body heating his own ardour, the warm cream coating his fingers making his shaft press urgently against his jeans.

  He held her, watching her through the orgasm, amazed in the far reaches of his mind at how much he loved being her support, loved seeing her in the throes of ecstasy, loved being the one to bring her to it.

  The intimacy of watching her was another layer to their relationship, to truly being a couple. To being her partner, her lover.

  She peaked and he held her as she drifted, observing as she finally roused, her eyelashes fluttering open, and she looked up at him almost drowsily, but heat was still banked in her eyes.

  “You didn’t come with me,” she whispered.

  Lowering his head, he brushed his lips against her cheek. “No.”

  “Why?”

  “This was for you.”

  Her smile was slight, but it held a galaxy of warmth. “Come with me.”

  “That was always the plan.”

  She laughed softly, huskily. “Okay.”

  Ryder resumed kissing her, sliding his lips across her cheek, pressing hot little kisses against her throat.

  His shaft pulsed, the fire in his loins flaring hotter, brighter, filling him with heat.

  But he was still so aware of her, didn’t want to lose her.

  Sliding his hands down her arms, he lightly shackled her wrists and bent her forward, bracing her hands on the table, his lips at her ear as she settled. “All right, babe?”

  “Yes.” She arched her back as he trailed his lips down her spine. “Yesss….”

  Ryder plucked his wallet from his back pocket, pulled a condom out by feel alone as he nibbled the silky skin in the small of her back, playing his tongue in the dimples at the base of her spine.

  Her breath caught.

  Tossing the wallet onto the table, Ryder ripped the foil open with his teeth, removing the condom and shoving his jeans down his thighs in a practiced move. Rolling the condom onto his engorged shaft was sweet torture in itself, he was so primed even the feel of his own hands had his shaft jerking, seeking the hot, tight sheath so close.

  Curling his fingers around Dee’s hip, Ryder looked down as he guided hi
s shaft forward. The generous curves of her bottom, the whiteness of her skin, the coy peek of moisture that revealed her body’s desire. He couldn’t wait, craved the heat of her, the moistness, the tightness, and with one smooth thrust he breached her opening.

  God, it was like heaven opening up to him. He tunnelled forward, pushed through the tight clasp of her sheath until his groin was pressed against her, his shaft buried deep.

  Then he simply stopped and looked.

  Dee was braced on her hands, arms holding her up as she pushed back against him, her head flung back, that long, thick braid over her shoulder touching the table. She looked wanton, desirable, a lush beauty in whom he was buried deliciously, decadently deep.

  His instinct was to rut. His desire was to ride her slowly.

  Catching her other hip, Ryder pulled her bottom hard against him, her gasp making his possessiveness roil upwards.

  She was his.

  He thrust slowly but surely.

  Dee was his.

  Every thrust was strong, definite.

  He was never letting her go.

  Another thrust.

  He looked along the length of the woman pinned against the table for his pleasure, her pleasure, their pleasure, primal satisfaction filling him.

  Spreading his legs a little, planting his booted feet firmly, Ryder started riding her, hips pounding slowly, relentlessly, every drag of his shaft through that tight, clasping sheath letting him know that he breached her, invaded her, was inside her.

  Claiming her.

  Gradually his thrusts became harder, faster, but still he didn’t let himself go. Aligning his hips, he sought that sweet spot inside her, knew he’d found it when she stiffened, when her husky moan filled the air. Ruthlessly he nailed it, nudging the spot with every inward thrust, giving her brief relief when he moved away, nailing her again with the next thrust.

  He could feel the need spiralling inside her, felt the urgency in the way she pushed back against him, the way her fingers bent on the table, her knuckles going white as she sought relief, sought more, sought him.

  His shaft felt like it would rip clear through the latex surrounding it. He hadn’t forgotten the sensation of her sheath against his shaft without the condom, the tight slickness grasping him wetly, and he almost blew his load then and there.

  Gritting his teeth, he continued to pound into her in a steady rhythm, driving her higher, driving himself a little insane as his shaft forged its path through her body.

  His sac tightened, heat roiling deep inside it, hot strings of desire pulling tight.

  “Ryder, please!” Dee actually clawed at the table, tried to pull away, tried to push back. “Ryder!”

  His grin was dark, hedonistic pleasure filling him. God, a woman’s helplessness when being pleasured was something to behold, it did it for him every time. Call him a chauvinistic pig, but he wasn’t going to lie. He loved a woman screaming his name when she came, knowing he’d pushed her up that clawing slope of erotic ardour.

  Her pleasure fed his, fanned his fire hotter, his control slipping a little, hips shoving harder into her.

  He had to readjust his feet and then he settled in, gritting his teeth, veins cording in his arms as he rutted her hard with short, sharp pistons of his hips, just nailing and nailing her, hearing her scream his name even as he continued, the heat flooding him, sac so tight, so swollen, his shaft thick, hard, buried deep inside her.

  Her inner muscles squeezed him, almost making him literally see stars, and he would have been able to last longer but the sudden spasm of her sheath, the release and sudden clamping down of muscles squeezed his shaft again, relentlessly gripping him, and he came with almost a shock, seed pouring forth, feeling as though it had been ripped from his sac.

  It rushed through his shaft in long, hot streams, bursting out the top as he strained into her, hips shoving against her, his back arching as seed shot from him, caught in the latex, trapped, but he kept coming.

  Falling forward, he kept hold of one of her hips, his other hand landing with a thud on the table beside her as he leaned over her, coming up on tip toes as his body jerked harshly, pressing into her, his release rolling through him, plucking rigid, pulling him taut.

  All he could do was anchor himself to the one person who meant the world to him as he was rolled under in his own orgasm.

  He didn’t know how long it was before he finally came to his senses, all he knew was that he was slumped over Dee, she was slumped over the table, he was still buried inside her, and he felt so satisfied he couldn’t help grinning like a very tired conqueror.

  Probably not a good idea to tell that to Dee.

  Lifting himself off her, he couldn’t help but kiss the small of her back before he stepped away.

  The sensation of his shaft sliding from her had them both moaning. He was almost tempted to have another go, it sure as hell wouldn’t take him long to get a stiffy, the woman made him run hot with one look at her lush body.

  However, he also had other responsibilities other than seeing to their mutual pleasure, and that was to feed her.

  Sliding an arm around her waist, he pulled her up and around, unable to help that possessive satisfaction again roll through him when she came willingly, collapsing against him to smile dreamily up at him as she linked her arms around his neck.

  “Wow,” she whispered a little huskily.

  “Like that, did you?” He couldn’t stop the big grin, either.

  “Mmmm.”

  Laughing, he rested his forehead against hers. “Confession time.”

  “Mmmm?”

  “That was supposed to be long, slow lovin’.”

  One eyebrow rose lazily.

  “I know, I failed in that department.”

  “I wouldn’t say that.”

  “Oh, I did. I think I’ll need more practice at it.”

  “I’m not complaining.”

  “I’m taking it on as a personal challenge.”

  She tipped her face up to his, her eyes still drowsy, a hint of laughter in the depths. “Ryder, don’t swell up when I say this, okay?”

  “Me or my dangly bits?”

  “You. Probably both.”

  “I’ll try, but I think whatever you’re going to say is only going to stroke my ego.”

  “Really.”

  “I put a lot of effort into sex. It’s a hobby of mine.”

  “If you put any more effort into it, I’m going to go up in flames.”

  “You don’t say.” His hand slid down to rest on her bare bottom.

  “Yeah.” She laughed. “I’m not sure I’m up to your challenges.”

  “Babe, you most definitely are. Besides, you’re now the only one I’m putting the effort and practice into effect with, so you’re going to have to meet the challenge.”

  “Huh.”

  “Plus I know a lot of sex positions that’ll blow your mind.”

  “And you your load, obviously.”

  “Yep.” Happily, he lightly slapped her bottom. “Don’t you just love it when couples find a hobby they can share?”

  “Oh joy.” Her words belied the happiness in her eyes.

  God, she was so beautiful, so responsive. He loved her smart mouth, her snappy retorts, her prickly nature and warmth, her loyalty, a hundred other things that he’d taken for granted.

  Lowering his head, he framed her cheeks with his hands, kissed her lips softly. “I love you, babe.”

  Her lips were soft, but she was so still. Lifting his head, he looked down at her. “I mean it. I’m a dumb arse at times, I don’t deny it, but Dee, I’ve found you and I’m not letting you go. Ever.”

  Her heart was in her eyes, but so was a tiny grain of uncertainty.

  He brushed her cheeks with his fingers. “Don’t lie to me. When did you know you loved me?”

  She swallowed.

  “Please. I know you love me. Tell me.”

  She blinked, glanced away, took a deep breath and finally, slowly, loo
ked back up at him. “I fell in love with you from the moment you kissed me when we were teenagers. I got your drunken arse into bed, you crooked your finger at me, I bent down thinking you had some dim-witted comment to make, and you kissed me instead. I fell head-over-heels in love with you that very second.”

  The vulnerability in her expression tore at him.

  Tenderly, he kissed her forehead before leaning his against hers in a gesture so familiar to him, one that grounded him, grounded them together so that they could gaze into each others eyes while locking out the world.

  “Babe, I knew I loved you from that first kiss in my kitchen after you nursed me back to health. I reckon I secretly loved you for years, I dreamed about this faceless girl who had my heart. I just never knew it was you.”

  Dee closed her eyes, opened them again to gaze steadily up at him.

  “You were always special to me, I just didn’t realise why. The whole damned town knew, everyone but me.” Seconds of silence stretched between them.

  Finally she relaxed, a subtle ease of the tension in her body.

  “I swear, babe, I will never hurt you. You’re my life, my heart, my soul. Please believe me.”

  Christ, he’d put everything he had out there, laid bare his soul, wanted her so much it hurt. His heart actually stuttered, the pain of waiting for her response feeling like a hand was wrapped it, ready to squeeze.

  Slowly, she relaxed further, leaning into him, the smile curving her lips so warm and full of love that his heart now felt like it might explode.

  “Ryder,” she said softly.

  Relief filled him, the knowledge that she was accepting him, trusting him. He waited a touch breathlessly. “Yeah, babe?”

  “I believe you.”

  Oh, thank God. He knew, he’d believed, but hearing her say it had him almost sagging in relief. His heart actually regained its steady beat.

  “I know how serious you are,” she continued. “You know why?”

  “You can see it on my face, hear it in my words?”

  “No. I know it because you’re saying it while we’re both standing out here with our arses hanging out in the breeze and our jeans around our knees.”

  “Huh.” His eyebrows shot up but he continued gazing into her eyes. “You’re right. My arse is feeling a little chilled.”