by Joya Ryan
She lost the battle with the tears she was fighting. They spilled down her face, and Ryder was right there, brushing his thumb over her cheeks to wipe them away as he moved closer, until she was beneath the shadow of his presence and caught up in his warmth.
“I know you need a souvenir of every place you go…” He reached into the inside pocket of his jacket and handed her a small box. “I had this made for you.”
Her heart stopped when she opened the box and found a ring. But it was missing a center stone. Instead, it held a piece of candy.
“It’s a place holder. You can pick out any gem you want, any kind, and put it in there,” he said.
More tears lined her eyes, and she looked up at him. “I kind of have my mind set on a specific Diamond.”
He smiled. “I was hoping you’d say that. I’ll chase you to the ends of the earth just to keep you within my boundaries.”
She looked up, and a small grin tugged at her face. “Boundaries, huh?”
He smiled back at her. “Well, I guess I’m willing to compromise on the boundaries,” he said. “Since you have a talent for shooting them all to hell anyway.”
She nodded. “I’ve never been in love before, so I’m open to a compromise.”
He kissed her lips softly. “I’ve never been this far gone before, and I’m ready to give you everything if you’ll just let me linger in your world.”
“What if I want to linger in your world?”
He looked at her and cupped her face. “Would I get to take you out and show you off? Love on you in public and private? Keep you all to myself even when we’re out on the town?”
“That sounds like a date,” she teased.
“As long as that date leads to forever. I love you, sweetness. So much that I didn’t know what to do with it. Can you forgive me? Love me back?”
“Only if you promise to take me home and never use those manners on me again.”
“I’ll be on my worst behavior,” he vowed and kissed her. She threw her arms around him and kissed him back, loving every breath he took away and every ounce of calm and wild he made her feel.
He was everything she’d ever wanted. Family, friend, love, home. She could finally stop running, because she held the best experience of her life in her arms. She uttered the only word she could:
“Deal.”
The whole room burst into applause, and Whitney gasped. She’d forgotten they were in a large crowd. But it didn’t matter if they were alone or surrounded by people. Ryder Diamond made her feel like the only person in the room. And she loved him with everything she was.
Epilogue
“I’ve never had sex on stage before,” Whitney whispered, as Ryder pressed her against the side wall of the massive auditorium in the Davenport Hall.
“Well, I’m set to fix that real quick,” he said against her mouth.
The grand opening had been a success yesterday. Of course, Davenport had tried to come after Ryder and say he’d ruined the event, but Davenport’s anger had softened when people kept coming up to him to say that Ryder’s very public declaration of love had given the event the energy it needed. If there’d been any doubt, it had disappeared when the oldest couple in Diamond took the microphone and said Ryder had inspired them to renew their vows then and there.
Diamond Construction was set to start building on Davenport land in a few weeks.
“It was so kind of you to offer to help clean up today,” Ryder said, kissing Whitney hard.
The others in the cleanup crew were in the main dining area. Ryder had taken her away and snuck her into the auditorium, where they could be alone. The only thing shielding them if someone were to enter was a thick velvet curtain that hung from the rafters. He had no problem kissing her in public, not anymore, but hey, both of them had to admit that a little forbidden love got them excited.
“Have I told you how sexy you look in this dress?” he asked, kissing down her neck while bringing the hem of her short black skirt higher.
“Almost as sexy as you, cowboy.” She opened his button-down shirt enough that she could get her mouth on his hard chest.
“Still not a cowboy, but I’ll happily buy a cattle ranch if it gets you wet like this.” His fingers skimmed between her folds, and she arched to his touch. “No panties? Why sweetness, I’d venture to guess you were trying to tempt me tonight.”
“Me?” she said breathlessly. “I wouldn’t think of it.” She gave a gentle bite on his pec, and he hissed. “Besides, my panties keep getting destroyed.”
“That’s what happens to boundaries that get in the way,” he said. “I tear them down.”
She smiled. Ryder loved on her body like nothing she’d ever felt, and though it had only been twenty-four hours since he’d claimed her as his, she knew she could spend a lifetime and never get use to the amount of happiness she felt knowing they belonged to each other.
She undid his pants, reached in, and gripped his hard cock. He hoisted her up, and she wrapped her legs around him, losing herself in his kiss as she positioned him right at her entrance.
“I’ve never been so damn happy in all my life,” he rasped against her mouth. He thrust inside of her. “I love you so much, sweetness.”
She hugged him hard and held on as he rocked in deep and slow. “I love you, too,” she said, and arched into his every move as he brought their bodies higher and higher toward release.
“Please don’t stop,” she begged, as fireworks went off beneath her skin.
“Never. I’ve finally caught you, and I’m never letting go now.” He kissed her until all she could ever believe in was him. “You’re my candy, sweetness. And I plan on eating you for every meal of the day.”
“Promise?” she breathed.
“Yes, ma’am.”
He’d finally caught her, and she would hang on tight, because the man she loved would forever spur her own adventure, every day for the rest of her life.
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Acknowledgments
Thank you to my editor Stephen. Thank you Heather, Katie, Curtis, Liz, Debbie, and the entire Entangled Brazen team. Thank you Jill for being an incredible agent. Thank you to my amazing critique partner and my friends and family.
About the Author
National and international bestselling author Joya Ryan is the author of the Shattered series, which includes Break Me Slowly, Possess Me Slowly, and Capture Me Slowly. She has also written the Sweet Torment series, which includes Breathe You In and Only You. Passionate about both cooking and dancing (despite not being too skilled at the latter), she loves spending time at home. Along with her husband and her two sons, she resides in California.
www.joyaryan.com
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