Page 111 of Ridin’ Dirty

‘…I won’t tell my brothers how used up you are; how you’ll spread your legs as a ploy; or how you’re so fuckin’ selfish, the only thing you care about is a man’s title and the power it’ll earn you.’

I heard Twister’s words in my ears just then as clear as if he were standing right behind me. I felt my bottom lip start to quiver as I tried my damnedest to fight my tears, but it was no use.

Riley still didn’t say a word.

It scared the shit out of me.

Finally, he said, “You moved back. You got an apartment. You got a job.”

I nodded, sure if I tried to speak a sob would come out instead.

He leaned toward me then, reaching over to brush away my tears with the backs of his fingers. His touch was so gentle, I found myself holding my breath, desperate with hope.

“Killed a man with these hands, baby,” he began, his voice hardly more than a low rumble. “You saw me do it. Still, you don’t flinch when I touch you. Sometimes, you look at me like I hung the fuckin’ moon—and it’s not because you’re bat-shit crazy. You understand this life. You’re built for it.”

I hiccuped, trying my best to wrangle my emotions.

Is he saying what I think he’s saying?

He reached for my coffee, setting it on the deck between us before taking my hand.

“Come ‘ere,” he demanded with a tug.

I obeyed, following his lead until I sat straddling his hips.

This time, when he wiped my cheeks dry, he used the palms of his hands. He then buried his fingers in my hair, taking hold of my head in order to draw me closer.

“You got a history. Who doesn’t? Shit I’ve got rottin’ in my baggage, shit you don’t need to know, I can assure you it ain’t pretty—but it doesn’t change this. Won’t let it ruin us.” He paused a beat, his eyes staring intently into mine. In his silence, he expressed everything I needed to hear—and then he kept going.

“Don’t care who you were or what you’ve done, Ly. I don’t know her. I know you. You’re my angel. You’re my wife. You, baby.”

I didn’t let him say another word, sure if I didn’t shut him up, I’d start crying and I wouldn’t be able to stop. Instead, I pressed my mouth to his.

Hard.

He was quick to follow my lead, one of his hands moving to take hold of the back of my neck as he tilted his head, pried open my lips, and devoured me. I gave as good as I got, clinging to him with all my might, trying—and decidedly failing—to convey just how much what he said meant to me.

But there was no way I was going to be able to show him how his promises meant everything to me without giving him everything in return. Unable to stand the clothing separating us a second longer, I pressed both my hands against his tatted chest, pushing him away as I pried my mouth from his.

I didn’t speak as I gasped for breath, and he didn’t release me from his grasp until I reached for the hem of his shirt and began yanking it off my body. Somewhere, in the back of my mind, I registered the sound of part of the garment landing inside my coffee mug, but I was too focused on my man to latch onto what I’d done.

And my man—my husband—was as consumed by the urgency of the moment as I was.

I reached for the waistband of his underwear at the same time he lifted his hips, helping me move the fabric enough to free his cock. I wrapped my fingers around his length and found he was already half hard. As I began to stroke him, he buried his fingers in my hair once more, drawing me to him for a kiss.

Fuck, but he could own my mouth like no one else.

By the time I had him fully erect, his kiss had made me slick enough to welcome him inside of me. As I pressed up onto my knees, Riley inched forward along the cushion beneath us, leaning back against the chair as I positioned him at my entrance.

We both sighed as I eased my way around him until I was fully seated. I let my head fall back as my eyes closed, relishing in the feel of him filling me so completely.

It was perfect.

He was perfect.

I was officially ruined in the best possible way, and there would never be anyone else.

His hands skimmed both my thighs, sending a shiver of excitement up my spine as he murmured, “Ride, angel.”