Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 88841 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 444(@200wpm)___ 355(@250wpm)___ 296(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88841 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 444(@200wpm)___ 355(@250wpm)___ 296(@300wpm)
“Ryder,” Kira whispers after several seconds of me staring at her.
I imagine her saying my name the same way when I stop kissing her as I move my lips to her neck and then to her breasts.
“What are you thinking?” she whispers, her eyes not leaving mine.
“I’m thinking”—that you’ve rocked my world and turned it upside down, made me feel again, and given me hope of a future where I don’t feel quite so alone—“that I don’t want to be just friends with you,” I blurt out.
Her eyes widen. “What does that mean?”
“That means”—I lean in and pinch her chin with my thumb and forefinger—“that I want to kiss you.” My gaze descends to her lips as her tongue slides across them, leaving them glistening wet. “Tell me that you want me to kiss you,” I murmur, meeting her eyes again, begging, pleading, needing for her to tell me yes.
After several long, grueling moments, she nods, but I need more than that.
“Say the words, Kira.”
“Kiss me,” she breathes out, and I do.
With my hands framing her face, I lean in and press my mouth tenderly against hers. I trace my tongue along her top lip and then the bottom, tasting her sweetness, feeling her softness. I’ve fantasized about kissing this woman dozens of times, but not a single fantasy comes anywhere close to the reality.
She exhales softly, her body sinking into mine, and I slide my tongue between her parted lips, coaxing hers. She tastes like everything good in this world, and I know that one kiss won’t be enough. I’ve only just gotten a taste, and I’m already addicted.
Gliding my hand around, I cup the back of her neck and deepen the kiss. Her lips are as soft as I imagined, and her tongue moves in perfect sync with mine, as if we were made for each other.
Kira moans into my mouth, and the sound sets me off. I slide my hands down her backside and, grabbing her ass, lift her into my lap. We continue to kiss, our tongues stroking and caressing one another. It’s like the entire world ceases to exist and all that’s left is Kira and me.
Until a whimper comes through the baby monitor that I have on the end table, reminding us that we’re not alone.
Kira pulls back slightly, breaking the kiss, but neither of us moves, our foreheads resting against each other as we work to catch our breaths.
“Kira …” I begin, but I’m cut off when Addie cries out for me, forcing me to set Kira on the couch so I can go make sure my little girl is okay.
“I’ll be right back,” I murmur against her mouth, wishing I didn’t have to go, but knowing if anyone understands what it’s like to be a single parent, it’s her.
When I come back downstairs from getting Addie back to sleep, Kira has retreated to her room. I’m tempted to go knock on her door, not wanting to leave things unfinished. But if she’s asleep, I don’t want to wake her. And I imagine after that kiss, we both have a lot to think about.
So, instead, I shoot her a text.
To be continued …
I stare at my phone for several seconds, hoping she’ll text back. And I’m about to give up, assuming she’s asleep, when she hearts the text I sent. It’s not much, but it’s enough to give me hope…for more.
chapter fourteen
KIRA
“Yum! Yum!” Addie shrieks.
“Shh …” Ryder says.
“Mommy’s gonna love this,” Violet adds, attempting and failing to whisper.
As I listen to the voices, wondering what the heck is going on outside my room, I grab my phone and glance at the time, shocked that Violet hasn’t woken me up yet since it’s already eight thirty in the morning.
“Okay, open the door,” Ryder says.
A second later, the door swings open, and Violet runs into my room. “Happy Mommy’s Day!” she squeals, jumping on my bed. She crawls over to me and thrusts a bouquet of purple flowers my way that I immediately recognize as violets.
Addie toddles over to the side and lifts her arms. “Me!” she shrieks. “Pick me up!”
I lift her onto the bed, confused as to what is going on until she pushes a piece of paper my way and I read what must be Ryder’s handwriting.
Happy Mommy’s Day!
“I made you one too!” Violet says, handing me her card. “See? It says, Happy Mommy’s Day. I love you.”
I glance up at Ryder with tears in my eyes. He’s standing off to the side with a tray in his hands.
“Happy Mother’s Day,” he says, walking over and setting the tray across my lap.
“I put the chips in,” Violet tells me, referring to the chocolate chips in the pancakes on my plate.
“You did?” I choke out. “Thank you.” I lean over and kiss Violet’s forehead and then Addie’s. “Thank you so much.”