Page 205 of The Path to Loving Him
Ryland:Uh, no, but I was talking to Gabby last night about her brother, Bennett. Ethel wants to throw a coming home party for him when the season’s over. Think you guys can keep Ethel in line—the best you can—so we can make the day special for them?
Aubree:I think we can manage, but if she goes rogue, that’s not on us.
Hattie:You saw what she did for Aubree’s engagement.
Ryland:Exactly, and that’s why I’m looking toward you two to help her, keep her reined in.
Aubree:We can try.
Hattie:But when she’s in party-planning mode, she’s difficult to be around.
Ryland:Have my back, ladies. Make this great for Bennett and Gabby.
Hattie:Question, why are we in charge? Why can’t you speak to Ethel?
Aubree:Great point. Are you so scared of Ethel that you don’t think you can handle her, so you pawn her off on your little sisters?
Ryland:No. She doesn’t respect men. That’s the problem. You saw what she did to Wyatt—he was carted around in a kiddie train. She needs to work with her own kind. She’ll respect your opinion more.
Hattie:He has a point.
Aubree:I’m honestly surprised she didn’t make Wyatt blossom from a flower after being carted out in a kiddie train.
Hattie:Missed opportunity if you ask me.
Aubree:Could not agree more. Maybe I’ll have her make him blossom for the party just for the hell of it.
Ryland:Please don’t.
Hattie:Please don’t? Please DO. I’m over here already researching how to make a grown man blossom.
Aubree:Let me know what you find. I’d love nothing more than to witness my man grow from a seedling to a flower in front of the whole town.
Hattie:On it.
Ryland:I think I might regret this.
Chapter Thirty
GABBY
I stretch out, my body sore in all the right places as I slowly let my eyes adjust to the light coming through the curtains. I turn toward Ryland, reaching for his warm body, but when I come up short, I open my eyes wider and notice that I’m naked and alone in bed.
I sit up, look around, and when I see a note on his pillow, my stomach ties in all kinds of happy knots.
Making breakfast. Put clothes on before you come down.
XXX – R
Smiling, I set the note down on the nightstand closest to me, where I find a set of clothes, Ryland’s to be exact. He thought of everything. I must have been extremely zonked out not to notice him moving around. Then again, he wore me out last night.
After our second time, he cleaned us both up and then wrapped his large body around me, keeping me close as we drifted off to sleep. I was in a heavy slumber when I started feeling him touching me, caressing me, kissing me in the middleof the night. I rolled over, and he moved over me and slowly inserted himself.
I was so turned on that it was a quick but slow fuck if that makes sense. There was no finessing, no foreplay. It was just him driving into me over and over until we both came. And then we went back to sleep.
It almost feels like a fever dream at this point, but I know it happened.
I slip out of bed, take the clothes to the bathroom, and brush my teeth. The whole time, I stare into the mirror, assessing my body and all the places where Ryland left his mark.
