Page 69 of Christmas Wish
“What the fuck’s wrong?”
Ryder! Oh God, thank you!
He wrapped an arm around her and crushed Timmy to him with the other as Brutus darted into the house barking excitedly. Ryder’s warm kisses opened the torrent of tears, and she rested her head in the crook of his neck and sobbed in relief.
“What the hell’s going on around here?” he murmured into her ear, but she couldn’t answer him. He guided Savannah and Timmy to the couch and sat down, each of them collapsing against him.
“Mommy … what’s wrong?” Timmy’s hand stroked her face. “Why’s Mommy crying?” he asked Ryder.
“That’s what I’m trying to figure out. Did something bad happen while I was gone?”
Through her tears she saw Timmy scrunch up his face then shake his head.
“Darlin’? Can you tell me what’s wrong?” Ryder handed her a wad of tissues, and she wiped her cheeks and blew her nose.
“I’m sorry,” she said. “I just got freaked out, that’s all.” She crumpled the tissues in her fist.
“About what?”
“Later,” she whispered, her gaze drifting to Timmy.
“Okay.”
For a long time the three of them sat on the couch, she and Timmy snuggled on each side of Ryder, his arms wrapped around them like a security blanket. Savannah felt nice and warm next to him … like sitting in front of a wood-burning fire on a frosty morning. “Mommy and me went to see the elves,” Timmy said, breaking the silence.
“That’s right. How’d you like the windows?” Ryder asked.
As she listened to Ryder talk with Timmy about the boy’s night, she craned her neck and kissed him quickly on his jaw. Never once had she heard Bret ask Timmy anything about what the boy liked, let alone carry on a conversation with him.Ryder’s everything Bret isn’t. I can’t believe that I’m giving my heart to a man I just met, yet it seems like I’ve known him forever.
“Feel better now?” Ryder kissed the top of her head.
“Yes. Sorry for the meltdown.”
“Don’t be.” Another soft kiss on her head.
Savannah pulled at Timmy’s pajama bottoms. “It’s way past your bedtime, sweetie.” Yawning, he nodded.
“Let’s go,” she said softly.
“Can Ryder put me to bed tonight, Mommy?”
Her eyes looked to the biker and found a big smile spread across his face. “Yes, honey.” She scooted away from them and gave Timmy a goodnight kiss, and then watched as her son flung his arms around Ryder’s neck and rested his tired head on his broad shoulders. In all of Timmy’s six years, his own father had never put him to bed.
Savannah walked over to the door and picked up the rifle, shoving the bullets into the pocket of her robe, and then placed the gun back on the wall in the workshop. On the way to the master bedroom, she heard Ryder’s deep voice reading one of Timmy’s favorite bedtime stories, and a surge of desire rushed through her for this gruff, yet gentle, man. She walked away, and after putting the bullets back in their place, she went to the kitchen to make hot chocolate.
Resting her hands against the sink while waiting for the milk to boil, Savannah didn’t hear Ryder’s footsteps until he was right behind her and he snaked an arm around her waist.
“Thanks for putting Timmy to bed,” she said softly.
“No worries. He was out like a light after I read the second page.”
His breath was hot against the curve of her neck. Pressed up against her back the way he was left no space between them.
“I couldn’t wait to get back,” he said hoarsely. “What happened to spook you like that?” he asked while pushing her hair over her shoulder, and his tongue danced over the nape of her neck.
Arousal followed where he touched, and she didn’t want to think about the man and how scared she’d been. “Just jittery without you, plus Brutus kinda went crazy,” she murmured, reclining against him. She’d tell him the next day, because at that moment, Savannah only wanted to get lost in the wonderful feelings skittering through her.
“Brutus can get that way.” Soft kisses grazed her upper back. Ryder jammed his thigh between her legs and, even through his jeans, his dick was a bar of steel searing itself onto her ass. Savannah inhaled deeply, and it was all Ryder: leather, whiskey, and heated male. Tilting her head back, she nestled in that scent, in his raw lust. He moved his mouth down her neck, alternately kissing and biting a trail to her shoulder. She moaned and her knees buckled a bit, but he held her tightly while his delicious mouth and tongue blazed a trail over her flesh.
