Chapter Thirty-One

Zoey

I already knew that I loved him, but when he said I was his home, my heart exploded inside of my chest. I was expecting him to fuck me hard and fast, but he had made love to me. Slow and soft. I was ready to let him use my body to get what he needed, but he hadn't.

He arranged us so my back was against his chest. “I want us to live together,” he said softly in my ear.

I turned in his arms so I could look him in the eyes. “You—you do?”

“I want you with me all the time,” he said. “I wanted to wait until after the fight, but I needed you to know just in case anything happens. I need you to know where I stand. I love you, and I need to make sure you are on board with my future plans. I know you have plans and I don't want my future to engulf yours, but I want you. If this isn’t the thing you—”

“Yes.” I interrupted him.

The smile that broke across his face was brilliant. He looked like a kid opening the best gift on Christmas. “Really?”

I nodded. I felt my throat tighten with the threat of tears and was afraid to speak.

He started to say, “I don't want you to—”

I put a finger over his lips and cleared my throat. I could feel the tears pooling in my eyes and knew they would fall but I spoke anyway. “I want you, and if that means moving to you, then I will. The clothing line has been getting positive feedback, so there’s a good chance I could technically work from anywhere. Plus, Amy found a place near your gym that I could use as an office. It could be a great arrangement if this works.” I motioned between us.

“Nothing to worry about there.” He kissed me. “I will move heaven and hell to make this work.”

He must’ve heard my fears and with those words, he took them from me. He reached a hand a wiped at my wet cheeks. I knew they were good tears, but he didn't know that. He kissed me softly, then pulled me into his neck. It wasn't long before I felt his breathing even out and I kissed his neck before falling asleep at his side.

The next few days were insane. He was so busy getting settled in his hotel and the gym Tristan had set him up to work out in before the fight, that I barely saw him. I had been foolish to think that we would actually get some time. He crashed when he came into the hotel room and was gone before I woke up. I guessed I should have been prepared for it, but I missed him. I missed his enthusiasm at seeing me. I kept him at the forefront of all of my thoughts, making sure his every want was tended to and making sure there was nothing extra for him to stress about. I had several pairs of his shorts ready, and he just grabbed them as he left for training each morning. All of the meetings were starting to take their toll on him.

“I just want to fucking fight. I am tired of all this bullshit camera stuff,” he complained as he shoved the door closed one evening. He threw himself into an armchair that faced out over New York. “I cannot stand answering questions that these assholes have no business asking.”

“They have to drum up as much hype as they can.” I followed him to his chair, climbed over his arm, and landed in his lap with a thud.

“Umph.” He made a funny noise, then kissed me softly. He rubbed his nose against mine. “I haven't said thank you today. I don't know what I would do without you.”

“It's just clothing.” I shrugged.

“No, it's much more than that. You calm me in my sleep just by being next to me. You keep my nerves in check.” He sighed. “I want this fight, but I didn’t realize how much media there would be. I mean, I knew, but I didn't.”

“It’ll be over tomorrow. And then we can move on with us.” I kissed him quickly, then tried to stand.

“Nope,” he laughed as he pulled me back down. “Just sit here with me for a while.”

We sat in silence for the better part of an hour. Silence was something we both savored at the moment. He rubbed my back and shoulders as we watched the city rush around. It was peaceful until the sound of Tristan’s ringtone broke through it. Ryder stood, taking me with him as he grabbed it from the table.

“Yeah? . . . Probably . . . Okay . . . Yup . . . Thanks.” He took the phone away from his face and clicked it off before laying it back on the table.

“Can we take a shower?” he asked as he pulled me closer to him.

“We?”

“Yes ma’am. We. I really need to feel you wrapped around me right now.” He looked into my eyes.

“Yes,” I said quietly.

He was on me before I could look back up at him. He never took his mouth from mine the entire time he carried me to the bathroom. I felt him reach and turn the water on. He sat me on the sink then started to undress me.

“I wanna fuck you so hard.”

“I want you to fuck me as hard and fast as you can.”

“Good, because Tristan is expecting us at dinner in forty-five minutes.”

“Ryder!” I exclaimed as he shoved me under the stream of water. A mischievous grin spread over his handsome face. He pressed me against the cold tile and pushed into me. His thrusts bordered on painful but felt so good at the same time. An orgasm ripped through me, and soon he was pushing into me as hard as he could. I felt the hot spurts as he emptied into me and my body quaked as he pulled out.

“Damn woman, I'll never get over wanting to get inside you, ever.” He kissed me hard. I knew I would never be ready when he had to leave, but he insisted that I come. He pulled my half-wet hair out of my face and then braided it. He worked so quickly that I could only sit there in shock.

“You can braid hair?”

“My mom taught me after she hurt her shoulder. She had to keep her hair out of her way because of her job, and she had a hard time doing it herself. Dad wasn’t always home when she needed help with it. I learned and then I did it for her from time to time.” He kissed the side of my face, slapped me on the ass, and pushed me out of the bathroom.

“Put some clothes on that beautiful ass and let's get going. Oh, and I’ll need some more naked time with you later.” He smirked before pulling his shirt over his head.

Twenty minutes later, we were standing at the restaurant podium being checked in by a woman my age who was openly flirting with Ryder. It was harmless, but I wanted to stand in front of him and claim his as mine. Not that I blamed her, because if it was me, I didn't think I would be able to contain myself, either. He never encouraged it, but he never put a stop to it either. He took my hand and led me to the table.

The waitress also ignored Amy and me and she took our drink orders.

“It's so good to see you.” I leaned over and hugged Amy.

“And you.” She hugged me back.

“I cannot believe how quickly this clothing line is becoming a thing.” She let out a little whistle of excitement. “There were over ten thousand preorders this week. Just for men's t-shirts! There were over a thousand inquiries about women's shirts and tank tops, too.”

“I can hardly believe how well all the sample feedback has been. They love the material, and that was all you. You did a great job,” Tristan said to me.

I tried to hide my surprise. I wasn't used to being on the receiving end of his compliments. I watched Amy smile at him and place a hand on his forearm.

“Quick dinner tonight?” Ryder suggested in question form.

“Just wanted to see how my main man was doing the night before his fight.” Tristan looked him over.

“He is doing great,” Ryder replied and lifted his glass of water to his mouth. Ryder didn't speak again until we were leaving. He ate three chicken breasts and brown rice with water to drink. He always ate differently before a fight, and I knew that, but I also didn't enjoy eating the food I was eating while he only ate chicken.

“You don't have to bring your food home and eat it in the bathroom so I don't have to watch you eat it, you know,” he informed me as we were leaving.

“What?” I feigned innocence.

He smiled at me. “You can eat it at the table in the room when you’re hungry later. I don't mind. I know I have to eat clean to win. It doesn't bother me that you wanted all of that cheesy ravioli and red sauce goodness,” he teased.

I slapped his arm. “Way to make me feel terrible. I wouldn't eat it now if you paid me to.”

“Then I guess I'll hold you down and force you.” He winked.

“Okay fine. I'll eat it while you are doing your last-minute tape reviews. At least then you'll be watching the television instead of me.”

“Well, now I'll know what you're doing so I'll be completely distracted.”

We both laughed. After we got home, Ryder finished his work and I at my leftovers in silence. When we climbed into bed, I was expecting sleep but I got a little more of Ryder before we finally curled into each other and closed our eyes.