If he asks me one time if I’m doing okay I may stab him in the eyeball with a fork. I know he’s only helping. But I’m suffocating on the inside. The longest I’ve ever been laid up in bed is two days max, and that was with a nasty stomach bug.

Going on three weeks of boring, mundane routine visits to physical therapy and then back here to have Ryder hovering over me is about to make me postal. My tongue should be bleeding and raw from all the times I’ve had to bite the nasty retorts down. He’s only helping. He’s concerned. Be nice, Shayne has been on repeat in my brain over and over.

Don’t even mention the fact we’ve all pussyfooted around the percentage of my full recovery and have avoided the word, Olympics, as if it was a flesh-eating disease.

“Here, babe, let me get that for you.” Ryder races over to the couch where I just dumped the remote control.

“I’ve got it.” I lean down stretching out for the end of it but manage to come up centimeters short.

“No, you had a rough day today at physical therapy. Lie down.” He’s kneeling in front of me in a flash.

We shared stolen kisses here and there after my surgery. It took me some time to come out of the drug coma state. It’s like we had an unspoken pact to take things slow in our new relationship. Every pot finally boils over with heated, pent up frustration and the whistle on my teapot is screaming.

“Ryder.” My hand darts out grabbing his forearm. “I could’ve got it.”

He runs his hand through his long, dark hair. His frustration evident. “Sorry. I just want to help, but stay out of the way all at the same time.”

“I know you’re trying, and I love you for that, but Ryder you are driving me fucking crazy.”

His face falls making me feel like shit for a split second.

“You’re helping in all the wrong ways.” I lean up feeling my out of shape ab muscles strain in protest. “I need you to kiss me, lick me, fuck me, and love me not be my nurse.”

If only I could capture the look on his face at this moment. It’s priceless. Adorable. Hot. I need him now.

Leaning in closer, I brush my lips against his. “So take care of me, Ryder.”

The look on his face is bathed in hesitancy. He’s fucked up in the past and knows it. The man on the plane who took me and had his balls out to the world is different from the one in front of me. He’s been walking on ice, tentative about each move. Between that and my recovery process, I’m about to go mad. A girl can only take so much.

I wait for his move. The ball is in his court. The fact he’s contemplating each of his decisions makes my heart happy.

“Shayne.” He caresses his thumb over my cheek. “Are you sure?”

It only takes a slight nod.

Lips crash. Bodies meld together.

“Baby, you okay?” Ryder asks.

“Don’t. Keep going.”

Ryder’s hands roam up and down my torso. His words contradict his actions confusing all of our entangled emotions even more. His skin connects with mine. And it’s game over. Doesn’t matter that it was just a sliver of his abdomen. Skin, I need him along with his touch. Our connection energetic and wild with no stopping either of us.

The bulky brace on my leg long forgotten when Ryder settles between my spread legs and begins rolling his hips into my needy core. Fuck, I need this man like I’ve never needed anything else. Our mouths lapping up each other’s taste in hasty fashion.

He has my shirt off, then leans up on his knees wiggling down my sweat pants. His fingers graze along the top of my panty line leaving behind a wake of fresh goose bumps. Kissing and heavy fondling were as far as we ever went in the past. The one time I did have sex was way back in high school and also was the night I lost my virginity.

His fingers trail down, down, down until he finds the magic spot. I can’t help the cry that escapes my lips and the way my hips buck up into the air. Ryder glides his fingers through my folds stroking me with gentle perfection. Then there’s one finger inside of me followed by another. It’s delicious and addicting coming from the man who stole my heart over a year ago.

“I love you, Ryder.” I reach up and grab his face forcing him to look down at me. “I never fell out of love with you. Every day was cruel torture without you.”

He opens his mouth to say sorry, but I cut him off with my lips. Ryder kisses me back while stroking me to the edge of a beautiful orgasm. The energy low in my belly tingles and rolls until it finally explodes.

Ryder catches my pleas of pleasure in his mouth. I’m greedy at this moment needing more. I want all of him. Need all of him. My hands fumble while pushing down his gym pants. They go down easily. I cup his firm ass in my palms urging him to push into me. I need him.

Just like he’s a leader on the football field, here on the couch is no exception. My nails dig into his ass cheeks as he inches inside me. It’s a painful feeling as if my flesh is ripping from my body. It’s almost too much, and I’m ready to cry out asking him to stop, but then a deep growl escapes low from Ryder’s chest. His eyes shut tight.

It’s a masterpiece I’m staring up at. A rare and expensive painting with no limits on beauty. The pain vanishes when I study the pleasure dancing on his face. Another growl, then another, and I’m out of control moving my hips up matching each one of his movements. The tension builds fast and without warning. My nails dig into the top of his shoulders piercing his skin.

“Jesus, baby, oh fuck, baby,” Ryder growls sinking his teeth into his bottom lip. “Your pussy so tight and so perfect.”

His dirty talk sends me over the edge. Nothing has ever felt so damn delicious. My body jolts and vibrates with endless pleasure. My legs tremble while my entire body goes limp and sated. With one more final push, I feel Ryder spill into me.

The man just bought my heart forever.

“You okay, baby?” He dips his face down kissing the tip of my nose.

“Very much so.” I wrap my arms around his neck pulling him down to me.

It takes Ryder long moments before he gives in and nuzzles the crook of my neck. His breathing rhythmic and tickling my skin.

“Now get your ass to the gym and start training again.”

Ryder growls like an angry dog in my neck. “Nope. Told you football is taking a back seat until you’re all healed up.”

Lazily, I begin to run my palms up and down his muscular back. “Bullshit, Ryder. You’ve proved your point. I trust you. We are both in this and will see where it goes. I’d never be okay with you giving up your career.”

He perches back up on his elbows staring down at me. “It’s what tore us apart. I’m fucking serious when I say nothing is coming between us.”

“Baby?” I cup his face. “We went about it all wrong. It was both our decision to hide it. We both made choices, but now we’re here. You’d never let me give up on my dreams, so why should I let you?”

“The guilt eats me alive, Shayne. I hurt you. You begged me and I let you down.”

“You have to get over the guilt, or it’s going to ruin us. Now off to the gym you go.” I reach down and swat his bare ass.

“I’m not leaving you here alone.”

“Ryder.” I say in a stern voice. “You are driving me fucking crazy with your helicopter boyfriend routine. Go work-out, I’ll binge-watch House of Cards on Netflix, and then when you get home, we’ll have round two of hot, amazing, mind-blowing sex.”

“With a blowjob?” He asks with a wink.

“Only if you are a good boy,” I answer him.

Ryder’s careful when he gets up off the couch and then returns shortly with a rag cleaning me up. The damp cloth brushing against my sensitive parts nearly gets me excited all over again making me regret my brilliant idea of sending him off to the gym.

“Be back in two hours, baby.” He kisses my forehead. “Your water is filled, the remote control right here, and some fruit on the table.”

“Okay, Daddy.” I laugh as soon as the words leave my mouth. “Oh, and Ryder by the way you are going to the scout camp in a month. Before you say anything, I will be fine.”

The smile on his face is contagious.