“Can I get these?” She asked Ryder once more.
Ryder moved his gaze from the shifty-eyed locals who watched him warily and back to his woman.
Lexi seemed oblivious by the stares the townsfolk aimed at their direction.
She was glaring sunlight, capable of chasing away all the shadows, the demons that dogged Ryder his entire life.
Ryder studied the bright yellow and pink sneakers she’d chosen. His Lexi seemed to favor color. She chose an entire wardrobe—after some persuasion from him, that was entirely made up of pastel colors.
“They look good on you,” he said with a grunt.
Ryder didn’t care much for fashion but he’d buy her anything she wanted if it meant seeing her beautiful face light up like this again.
“Thank you,” she said.
She took off the sneakers and hugged him, taking him by complete surprise. Ryder shouldn’t be shocked by her open displays of physical affection.
Unlike him who shied away from human company, she was the exact opposite. Thinking about their differences made him remember how they practically came from two very different worlds.
“I’ll pay you back,” she whispered in his ear.
“No, this is a gift. Accept them,” he said, tone firm.
On their way to the shoe store, they stopped at a cafe that was hiring. She filled up an application and chatted with the owner.
Ryder considered her actions a good sign. It meant she was seriously considering staying with him. Leaving would no longer become an option for her.
Lexi didn’t need to work a single day in her life if she wanted. Ryder had a decent chunk of savings in the bank.
He had a feeling Lexi would adamantly refuse because she liked to keep busy. She was the kind of woman who didn’t shy away from hard work.
Not caring if anyone was watching them, he stroked her back. She wiggled in his arms when he slapped her ass.
“Not here,” she told him in a conspiratorial whisper. “Keep your hands to yourself, mister.”
Ryder kissed her, drunk on the taste of her. She rested her palms against his chest just as someone asked, “Excuse me, miss. Is he bothering you?”
Ryder practically growled at the intruder. The guy, a customer in his forties, quickly took two steps back. Fear was evident in his eyes. Ryder gritted his teeth.
He knew something like this would happen. He clenched his jaw, ready to fight the bastard if needed.
Ryder preferred to keep to himself. He didn’t start fights but the few times he drove to town for a drink, some asshole wanted to get a piece out of him.
He had a reputation blacker than tar thanks to the bastards who didn’t know how to mind their own business.
“No, he’s not. He’s my boyfriend,” Lexi stated, throwing the man a withering look.
Fuck, but seeing her fierceness made his dick hard.
The man blinked. Then his expression turned ugly. Ryder threw him a warning glare. The nosy fucker better not open his mouth and say anything offensive to his woman.
Ryder would make sure the bastard would come to regret it. The man wisely left them alone, but he continued muttering under his breath.
Ryder pulled Lexi to the cashier. He quickly paid for her sneakers, glad to be out of that store.
“Why is everyone acting like this? They’re scared of you,” she murmured.
She clutched the bag containing her sneakers close to her chest, like a treasured possession.
“I’m not welcomed here,” he said. “I don’t have a great history with this town.”
“Did you grow up here?”
“Yeah, but people always treated me like an outcast,” he said. “At first it was because of my father. Afterward, they learned I was a monster just like him.”
“Your father?”
“He’s a criminal.”
They returned to his truck. Lexi didn’t add her latest purchase with the rest of the bags in the back. She hopped in. He got behind the wheel.
“What did he do?” She asked him.
“He killed my mother. Beat her to a pulp. He was always a hard drinker. One night he came back home in a foul mood. He would’ve ended me as well if my mother hadn’t hidden me in a closet.”
Lexi covered her mouth. “Oh, Ryder. I’m so sorry.”
“It was a long time ago.” Ryder shook his head. “While he rotted behind bars, I learned to fend for myself. He passed away in prison when I was fifteen. It was one of the happiest days of my life.”
Ryder paused. He never confided his secrets to anyone before but he knew Lexi would never betray him.
“That must’ve been hard,” she murmured, touching his arm.
“I was better off living on my own. My old man and I? We’re alike. I also deserve to be behind bars.”
She scowled, pushed him away, and crossed her arms over her very tempting breasts. Lexi had changed into the new bra and dress Ryder brought her, so it would be a shame to rip them off her sweet body.
She’d be mad at him, Ryder knew, so he restrained himself.
“Why do you keep doing that?” She asked.
“What?”
“Reminding me that you’re not a good guy.”
“I’m not.” He stated.
Spending the entire day with her in town showed him just how different the two of them were. It opened his eyes to the painful reality that Lexi was probably better off without him.
She was good with people. Ryder just witnessed her charming the pants out of everyone. She did it so effortlessly, so well that the locals almost forgot about him glowering right behind her.
“You have a good heart.” She reminded him.
“Only for you. I won’t change who I am. I can’t.”
“I know,” she said softly. “And that’s fine with me.”
“I promised you I’ll take you out to lunch, but I’ve had enough of this. I’ve reached my limits.”
Ryder knew a fight was going to ignite. He started to steel himself for it, told himself to reel in his temper but Lexi only looked thoughtful, not mad.
“Okay. I can whip us something for lunch. We still have some leftover trout from last night.”
Ryder started the engine. “I thought you’d fight me on that.”
“I don’t like the way the locals look at you. It’s not fair,” she said. Lexi sounded angry for him. “They don’t know a damn thing about you and they’re treating you like a pariah.”
“I don’t care,” he said. “I only come down the mountain for supplies.”
“And for me.”
Did Ryder imagine the pleasure in her voice?
“I wanted you to trust me,” Ryder said in a quiet voice.
The rest of the drive back was a silent one. She fiddled with the radio and started singing along. Lexi sounded like an angel.
It was mid-afternoon when they finally returned to the cabin. Ryder helped her unload her shopping bags.
Once inside, he dropped her bags in the living room. She touched his shoulder and the mischievous glint in her eyes made him pause.
“Before I start cooking lunch, I want to give you an appetizer.”
“Hmm?” He looked at her.
“Me.”
Lexi wrapped her arms around his neck. She rose on tiptoe to kiss him on the mouth.
Little minx.
He ran his fingers down the line of her back. Ryder cupped her ass and gave it squeeze. She let out a muffled moan. Ryder thrust his tongue down her throat, letting himself drown in the intoxicating taste of her.
He’d been in a foul mood the entire time they were in town but it swiftly evaporated.
They were back in the sanctuary of their home. Ryder no longer needed to keep his guard up.
After the kiss, she knelt and reached for his belt buckle. His mouth went dry. She looked perfect like this, so damn gorgeous under the afternoon light.
Ryder wrapped his fingers into the silk of her hair. He tugged her close so those soft lips brushed against the crown of his dick.
“I’ve never done this before. Tell me if I’m doing something wrong, ok?” She asked.
Lexi kissed his cock head, licked the pre-cum gathered there with her pert little tongue. Groaning, Ryder tightened his grip on her crimson strands.
What she lacked in experience, she made up for with enthusiasm. Lexi licked him like a lollipop. She started from the base of his dick and made her way to his leaking tip.
“Give my balls a little squeeze. Suck harder. That’s it. Good girl.”
Lexi’s cheeks and neck turned pink at his praise. She opened her mouth and started to take his cock down his throat. She gagged at first, her eyes watering.
Ryder waited patiently for her to recover, to try again. Lexi succeeded the second time around. She hallowed out her cheeks and went down on him over and over again.
A groan tickled out of his chest. He nudged his dick out of her mouth. She looked up at him, a silent question in her eyes.
“Need to finish in you. Take off your pants,” he ordered, voice hoarse.
Her blushed deepened but she hastened to obey. Once her denim jeans pooled down her ankles, she kicked them aside. Now Lexi only stood in her new white lace underwear.
She looked sexy as fuck. He wanted to rip the rest of her clothes away to have complete access to her—except she loved the new clothes he bought her.
“Panties next,” he said.
She stepped out of them, then went into position. Lexi wiggled her ass at him, an invitation. Breathing harshly, he positioned himself behind her.
Ryder slipped his hand between her legs. He found her wet and primed for him. He slid his fingers up and down her pink folds, loving every moan she uttered.
Using his foot, Ryder nudged her legs wider apart. He guided his hardening cock into her entrance.
Gripping her hips, Ryder penetrated her. He didn’t go slow this time around. Without warning, Ryder went all the way in, making her gasp.
He rutted her, slow and easy strokes at first, before fucking her for real. His balls tightened against his body. Every muscle in his body locked into place.
Lexi’s cries sounded like sweet music to his ears. Ryder reached between her thighs and fingered her clit. One pinch to the sensitive nub made her arch her back. Lexi screamed out his name as she came, her pussy muscles milking his dick.
Ryder climaxed soon after. With a growl, he emptied his seed inside her cunt.
Spent, he pulled out of her. She slumped against the floor and leaned her head against the sofa.
Lexi looked well-fucked, completely owned by him. Ryder offered her a hand up. She clasped his fingers. Lexi allowed him to pull her to her feet, into another kiss.
“I loved my appetizer,” he said.
Ryder tugged her close to him so her back rested against his chest. He tightened the embrace.
Ryder buried his face into the side of her neck and inhaled her scent.
“I’m glad you did,” she murmured. Lexi linked her hand with his. “I could’ve run but I didn’t.”
“Yes,” he agreed.
“I don’t have anywhere to go.” His Lexi fell silent for a few moments. Sensing she needed to get something off her chest, he waited. Lexi continued, “I needed a new place to start over, far from my brother. I figured being with you is a good place as any.”
“Damn right.” Ryder nuzzled her neck. “You’re mine and I’m not letting you go. Ever.”
She gripped her fingers. “Those words would’ve scared me yesterday.”
“Not anymore?”
“I liked walking in town with you. I knew no one would touch me, or look at me the wrong way with you next to my side. I feel comfortable with you.”
“Same here,” Ryder murmured. “When you’re around, I feel more human.”
He planted kisses down the side of her neck. She moaned when he bit her shoulder and left a hickey there.
Possession took root inside him. Ryder liked seeing his marks all over her body. Lexi didn’t seem to mind either.
“You hungry? Let’s see what we can make for lunch,” Lexi said.
Ryder let her go so she could rummage in his kitchen.
Their kitchen.
“I could eat,” he admitted.