Rydin' the Storm Out (20 page)

Ryder lay in his old bed at Gunnar and JT’s and stared at the ceiling. He didn’t know how long he’d been lying there. He felt numb. He hadn’t eaten in two, no, three days. It didn’t matter, time just crawled by. As he lay there thinking about Molly, he jumped up and walked over to his dresser. Sliding the top drawer open he pulled out his notebook. Turning and crossing the room, he flopped down into a chair and threw his legs up on the bed. Taking a deep breath, he opened his notebook and started writing.

***

Molly paced back and forth in Tammy and Danny’s living room. “I wish you would stop that pacing. You’re driving me crazy.”

Molly stopped and looked at Tammy. With a heavy sigh, she walked to the love seat in front of the big picture window and flopped down. “Sorry. He won’t return any of my calls. It’s been four days. I’ve left hundreds of messages. Well, dozens, anyway.”

“He said he needed to think. You hurt him bad, Molly. He’s sensitive and shy. This was a real blow to him. You should have seen him; he was wrecked.”

Molly let her head fall back against the back of the sofa and looked out the window. The beautiful flowers were all gone for the winter now. Brown, shriveled and dried up. Just like she felt. Lifeless. She felt her phone vibrate in her pocket and pulled it out. When she saw Gunnar’s picture on her phone she pursed her lips, touched the “answer” icon and lifted the phone to her ear. “Hi, Gunnar.”

“Hang on there, I have to get over the excitement in your voice before I can continue.”

“Sorry. I always want to talk to you. I was just hoping Ryder would finally be ready to talk to me.”

“That’s why I’m calling. He hasn’t left his room since he came back here. He hasn’t eaten, nothing. JT and I are worried sick about him and my mom is going crazy trying to get him to open up. He called in sick to work today again. Something has to be done. I have an idea.”

“Okay, what can I do?”

“Come over to the house. JT and I will leave when you get here and give you two time to talk. You’ll have to force the issue. Make him talk to you.”

“I can do that.” Molly sat up straight. “I’ll be there in a few minutes.”

***

Ryder turned his head to look at the back of the bedroom door. Someone was knocking again. “What?” Taking a deep breath, he said, “Leave me alone. Fuck! Please, just leave me alone.”

“No can do, brother.” Gunnar stuck his head in the door. “JT and I are heading out to the Barn. We’ll see you later, okay?”

“Yeah. Later.”

Gunnar stepped back and motioned for Molly to enter Ryder’s room. When Ryder saw her walk in, he sat up and looked at Gunnar, narrowing his eyes at his brother. Gunnar smirked and walked out the door.

Molly stepped further in and closed the door behind her. “I couldn’t wait any longer to see you. Please talk to me.”

“If you don’t trust me enough to tell me
everything
, we can’t possibly have a solid relationship when only
one
of us is giving everything.”

Molly gingerly sat at the foot of the bed and twisted her body so she was facing him. “I’ve learned my lesson. I’m here to swear to you there will never be secrets between us again. Except maybe Christmas and birthday presents.” Flashing her brightest smile she focused all of her attention on his eyes.

Ryder scraped his hands down his face and around to the back of his neck. He rotated his head in an effort to relieve the stiffness that had formed over the past few days.

Molly leaned forward and laid her palm on Ryder’s shin. Squeezing gently, she took a deep breath. “I know I hurt you. If I could take it back, I would in a heartbeat. I’m not used to having so many people care about me. All I’ve ever had was Tammy and she is with Danny now, so…I thought I was protecting you, Ryder. I really did.”

Ryder stared at her. Molly saw him swallow the lump in his throat. The clock ticked in the corner of the room, the tree outside the window swayed gracefully as a breeze swept by. “Molly.” Taking another breath, Ryder tried again. “I still love you, but I can’t go through anything like that ever again. It’s the worst feeling in the world, thinking you’re not good enough for the person you love. I thought I wasn’t good enough for you to tell me the truth.”

Molly shook her head as he was talking. “I know all too well what it feels like to think you’re not good enough for the person you love. Look at you and your family. They’re amazing. Even though you’ve all dealt with shit, it’s nothing like my life. I didn’t come to you a virgin. I felt dirty and unworthy. I was afraid every damn day that you would find out about me and dump me because I was filthy.” Molly swallowed. “I know what that’s like more than you ever will.”

Wiping at the tears that streamed down her face, Molly stood to leave. She paused with her hand on the doorknob and turned. “You know, you don’t tell me everything either,” she said, pointing to the top of his dresser, where his notebook sat. “You write your deepest, darkest thoughts in the journal over there, and you never share them. You’re no different than me when it comes to keeping secrets. Granted, my secrets caused other people to get hurt. This time I hoped it would be different and no one would get hurt. I was wrong.”

Molly climbed in her car surprised that the tears had stopped. She’d tried everything she could; this was her last stand. He simply didn’t want her anymore. She drove home to her little house with a heavy heart.

Molly walked into her small house feeling lost. She hadn’t been back here since the night Ryder left. The house felt creepy to her now. She began emptying the dishwasher when the kitchen door flew open behind her. She jumped and spun around and froze as her eyes met Ryder’s. Gently laying the plate in her hand on the counter so she wouldn’t drop it, she smoothed her blouse with her hands and waited for what Ryder came to say.

“Are you always going to run away from me when things get tough?”

“No…I didn’t.” Molly stammered.

“You didn’t? Yes. You. Did. I wasn’t finished talking to you. You turned, accused me of betraying you and walked out.” Ryder’s nostrils flared. Molly had never seen him angry. It was…scary.

“I’m…I’m…” Taking a deep breath, Molly tried again. “I’m sorry. I didn’t think you wanted to talk to me anymore.”

Ryder closed his eyes and ran his hand down his face trying to compose himself. He was scaring her. Running his hand over his throat and around to his nape, he let out a breath. He opened his eyes and watched Molly’s throat convulse with fear. “Fuck!” He said as he stepped closer to her.

Molly stepped back as he stepped forward. Ryder halted for a millisecond. He stepped forward again, two steps, three steps, until they were almost toe to toe.

“What I wanted to say was, we should start over. You’re right. I wasn’t completely open with you, either.”

A sob tore out of Molly’s throat as she flung herself into Ryder’s arms. He held her close, one arm wrapped around her waist, his other palm pressing her head into his chest. Long seconds passed before he could loosen his hold on her.

“I love you, Molly. I have from the first day I saw you.”

Molly tilted her head back to look into his sexy face. A face ravaged by lack of sleep and food, and filled with worry. Her fingers gently brushed along his jaw and over his lips. Reaching up, she placed a feather light kiss on his lips as her hands held his head in hers.

“I love you, too, Ryder.” Molly’s voice was barely a whisper, her throat was so constricted.

Ryder kissed her. Slowly and sweetly, he touched her lips to his and softly made love to her mouth. He dipped his tongue into her mouth and swirled it around. He’d missed this woman. He slid his hands to her waist and pulled her into his body. He walked them into the living room and leaned back on the sofa, pulling her down on top of him. Molly froze. She looked back at the windows and then at Ryder.

“Lancaster told me he watched us make love under the tree. Are there cameras in here? What about the microphone from Jepson? This place feels kind of creepy now, doesn’t it?”

“Haven’t you been staying here?”

“No. I went to Tammy’s as soon as you left. She told me about Jepson.”

Ryder snorted a little. “Yeah, I have to say, it does feel creepy. Why don’t we go to a hotel? Just me and you and spend a couple of days making up for lost time?”

Molly grinned.“ Actually, that sounds great. I know we have to get back here and deal with all of this…”—sweeping her hand out wide—”…stuff. Cameras, fear, everything, but a few days alone together, getting ourselves right sounds better to start with.”

“Okay, let’s scoot. I really need to make up for lost time.”

Molly stood in the shower and let the hot water pour over her. What a crazy ass few days they had. She started the day, her second without a shower, feeling dark and depressed and scared. She was going to end the day in the arms of the man she loved more than her own life. But first, she had to get cleaned up. It felt like a little slice of heaven standing here with the water flowing over her body. This morning felt like it was weeks ago with all that had happened. Molly lathered her hair up and rinsed it out. She soaped and shaved and rinsed again.

She smiled as she stepped out of the shower. She quickly applied body butter and blew her hair dry. Taking a deep breath, she opened the door and stepped out expecting to see Ryder. He wasn’t there. She looked to the right, where the bed sat behind a half wall. Gawd, there he was, this perfect man. He was propped against the pillows, naked and waiting for her. She looked at him, admiring the beauty of his body and watched as his cock came to life in front of her. Molly watched in fascination as it became harder and harder. Without even thinking, she licked her lips, imagining his cock sliding into her mouth, making it twitch and grow harder still.

Molly looked into Ryder’s eyes and saw him watching her. He looked at her breasts, then lower staring at her pussy. Slowly, his eyes traveled back up her body and stilled on her eyes.

Ryder would never get enough of looking at this woman. Her small face with those sky blue eyes and her full lips, always ready to smile. He loved how her dark hair and lashes framed those blue eyes. Her pussy? Well, it was to die for. Nothing felt better than sliding into her pussy. She clenched him tightly with a velvet smoothness that brushed along the skin of his cock like nothing ever could. Usually, by the time he pushed into her, his cock was throbbing and hard and aching for release. When he slid into her slickness, he had to blank his mind for fear of losing control and coming on the spot.

Molly started walking forward, eager to touch Ryder. He watched her, like a starving man, eager for his meal. She stopped alongside the bed and reached out and wrapped her hand around Ryder’s cock. It jerked at her touch, but she smiled and started sliding her hand up and down its length. She looked into Ryder’s eyes and saw pleasure. She was giving him pleasure. That’s what she wanted to give him, forever. Molly smirked at him and slowly leaned forward and slid her mouth over the head of his cock. Ryder groaned loudly at the feel of her mouth sliding down his length.

They’d been without each other for only a little more than a week, but still this probably wouldn’t last long. They usually made love at least once if not more each day. Molly cupped his balls with one hand and slid her other hand up and down his length with her mouth, keeping him completely covered. She pulled him out of her mouth and licked down the underside and then licked his balls. He put his hand on her head and held her there. Hmm, he liked that.

Molly continued licking his balls and running her hand up and down his length slowly, making love to him with her mouth. She ran her tongue around his cock again and pulled him into her mouth with gentle suction, making him raise his hips in the air, pushing up into her mouth. His hand became more insistent on her head, pushing her faster. Molly continued stimulating him with her moans while sucking and applying more and more pressure. With Ryder’s assistance, her movements increased in speed. She could feel his balls scrunching up into his body. It gave her such pleasure to make him feel this way.

Ryder started shaking. Jesus, she was going to suck him off in record time. He hadn’t had her in a few days, and he knew this would be short lived. As she moaned and sucked on him, it was all he could do to not shoot into her mouth the first time. She continued to suck and moan and dammit, he was so horny it was almost too much. Molly moved a little and her breasts rubbed against his leg and that was all it took. He spurt into her mouth with a loud groan.

She felt the first shot hit the back of her throat and quickly began swallowing to catch it all. She continued sucking up and down his length as she heard him moan. Damn, that was hot! Molly swallowed, drinking him down. When he began softening in her mouth, she let him slide out slowly and kissed her way up his body. She climbed up on the bed and lay on top of him as she skimmed her breasts against his body. She slowly kissed her way up to his mouth, then laid her head on his chest and listened as his heart beat returned to normal. Ryder was still and quiet. Molly thought he’d fallen asleep, but when she lifted her head and saw him looking at her, she smiled.

“I thought you fell asleep.”

“No. I was just enjoying you on top of me. I missed you, Molly. So damn much. I thought my heart would never heal and the hurt would always be there. You crushed me. And just now, you crushed me again. Only this time, it was sweet, and loving, and tender. It felt so fucking good that my mind took longer to catch up to what my body was feeling.”

“I’m so sorry, babe. I never wanted to hurt you. I really thought I was doing what was necessary to keep you safe.”

Ryder cupped Molly’s face in his hands. “I know, Molly. I do. But, never, ever do that to me again. Do you hear me? I won’t survive next time.”

A single tear slid down Molly’s cheek. Ryder quickly swiped it away with his thumb. “No more tears. Let’s promise to never again keep secrets from each other. If there is anything bothering either of us, we talk about it, we don’t run. If there is an issue, we fix it, we don’t run. Mostly, we never run.”

Molly nodded and grinned. “I promise. I will never run again. I swear on my life.”

Ryder quickly flipped Molly over so he was on top of her. He held her with his arms under her. He wiggled around so her legs were spread apart and he was lying in between them. He was still chest to chest with her, looking deeply into her eyes.

“I love looking into your eyes, Molly. I want to look into them for the rest of my life.”

“I love looking into your eyes, Ryder. I want to look into them for the rest of my life.”

“Well, let’s make that happen, shall we?”

Molly giggled. Ryder began kissing his way down Molly’s body. He suckled her breasts and rolled her nipples between his fingers and thumb. He kissed his way down her stomach, across her hips and to the apex of her thighs. He was treated to the most beautiful view of looking up at Molly and seeing her large breasts, with nipples puckered tight. She watched him with those big blue eyes, and never breaking his gaze, he licked her pussy and watched her pupils dilate and her nostrils flare. Ryder grinned and licked her again.

“Do you realize what a view I have here? Absolutely fucking beautiful. You are the most beautiful woman I have ever laid eyes on, Molly.”

Ryder slid down an inch or so and began licking Molly in earnest. He parted her folds, watching intently as he did. What a beautiful sight this was. He watched as his fingers slid across her moist flesh and listened to her moans as he did. He saw the glistening flesh and reached out with his tongue to taste her honey. He slowly slid two fingers into her wetness and reveled in her moans. Ryder watched his fingers sliding in and out of Molly. He watched her body while he was giving her pleasure. It was beautiful. He could feel the walls of her pussy constrict as he started to slide his fingers out and it made his cock twitch. He slid his fingers back in and listened to Molly moan again. As he pushed his fingers inside and curled them just a little to hit her g-spot deep inside, she quivered and groaned. That was the spot. Her breathing was staggered and fast, he looked up her body and saw that she was beginning to glow with a fine sheen of sweat. He slid his fingers out and back in, curling them just a bit and elicited yet more groans of satisfaction. Yes, perfect. A few more times and Molly was coming apart in his hands, and he’d barely put his tongue on her clit. He had another way to make her come. He slid his fingers out of her and replaced them with his tongue, so he could taste her sweet, honey-flavored juices.

Ryder slid up her body and kissed her softly as he pushed himself inside of her. They both groaned at the feel of his cock pushing inside of her. Good God, this was the best feeling in the world.