Ryker (31 page)

Before I know it, he is naked and next to the bed. My eyes follow his as they roam my body. My legs shift in an attempt to create friction, but it isn’t helping.

The bed dips as he climbs in next to me. “You’re the most beautiful woman. Do you know how lucky I am?”

My hand moves to his torso, and I trace each of his six ab muscles. “You’re the sexiest man in the world.
People
magazine should put you on their cover.”

“We should both grace the cover as the sexiest couple.” His lips land on mine, and we envelope each other. His nimble fingers unclasp my bra, and his hand moves to my panties. “We need to get rid of these.”

With ragged breaths, I say, “You do it.”

“You’re killing me.” He straddles me and pulls my panties over my knees and down my calves. His hand runs down my leg before he lifts it so he can kiss me right behind my knee. He glances at my shoes. “They stay on.”

He positions himself between my legs and runs his tongue along the top of my stocking. My hips move, and he grins.

“Anxious, are we?”

“I need you, Ryker.”

One finger is all it takes to make me moan. He looks at his glistening finger and licks it. “You taste so good.”

He is going to make me orgasm on the spot if he doesn’t get in me now! I wrap my legs around his back and pull him toward me. “Now, Ryker. Please get inside me now.”

“Who am I to say no?”

His muscular arms support his weight over me. As my hands move toward his ass, his eyes open.

“I love you so much, Faith.” His pace quickens, and sweat beads on his brow.

“I love you too.” As I tighten around him, I sigh.

“Babe, I’m… I’m…” He pounds me a few more times, then spills into me. He lays on me with a smile. “Think we made our daughter?”

I can’t do anything but smile back. “I hope so, and if we did, we’d better have made just one.”

A little while later, there’s a knock on the door. “Mommy! Daddy!”

Ryker and I look at each other and exhale. Johnny is done with his nap, which means James isn’t far behind.

“Looks like our little man is up.” I get off the bed. “We better get him before he wakes James or thinks we left him.”

We hurry to put ourselves together. Ryker is quicker than I am, though. I need to change. Once I am in the bathroom and Ryker is dressed, he opens the door.

“Play drums, Daddy?”

I come out in yoga pants and a T-shirt. “What did he say?”

Ryker picks him up so they are face to face. “What do you want, little man?”

“Play drums. I play Daddy’s drums.”

My beautiful husband’s face lights up like the sky on the fourth of July. “You want to play my drums, little man?”

Johnny nods wildly.

Ryker kisses his cheek. “Well, then let’s go downstairs and play.”

My baby waves at me. “Bye, Mommy.”

Just like that, they are out the door.

Having my boy in my arms is something I’d never expected. Shit, being married to Faith and having kids is unexpected.

Johnny sits in my lap behind my drum set. His eyes widen as I hand him the sticks. “Daddy, you take one, and I take one. We play together.”

Well, melt my fucking heart already.
“You got it, pal.”

I position his hand on the stick, and he smacks the drums. He’d discovered the cymbals last week, and that was fun—for about five minutes. With a stick in my left hand and one in his right, we try to make some sort of rhythm, but Johnny has his own beat he is drumming to. I still my stick and listened to him. Yes, he is only three, but my kid has skills.

Johnny looks at me with a mischievous grin. “I do like Daddy. Watch.”

He grabs the stick out of my hand and goes wild on the drums. I have to lean back for fear he will smack me in the face. The joy on his face makes me laugh. The kid loves it, and I love him.

Faith and James are coming down the stairs. She is perfect. Everything about her is all a man could ask for, and I am that lucky man. Johnny stops playing when he sees his mommy.

“Mommy! Look!” Johnny starts banging again.

She waves, trying to get my attention. I still Johnny’s arms, which makes him whine.

“Guess what, Johnny and Daddy? Uncle Max and Aunt Tyf are here.”

Johnny can’t get off my lap fast enough. He tosses my sticks and runs up the stairs. He loves his godparents, and I can’t blame him—so do I. We follow him.

“Uncle Max!” Johnny goes flying into Max’s arms.

“How’s my little guy? You playing the guitar I bought you yet?”

Johnny crosses his little arms and shakes his head. “Nope. I’m a drummer like Daddy and Bonnie.”

Max’s chuckle reverberates through the room. He looks at me. “Bonnie?”

“Shut up, dickhead. He means Bonham, and you know it.”

“Yeah, Uncle Max. Shut up, dickhead.”

My eyes instinctively close tight. I know what is coming.

“Ryker!” Faith says. “How many times do I have to tell you not to talk like that in front of the boys?”

Max gives me a crooked smile. “Better listen to your wife.”

“Sorry, babe. Johnny, don’t tell Uncle Max to shut up.” I decide not to say “dickhead” again. And why bother correcting the kid when he is right?

We set the boys in front of their blocks, which they love. Watching them create things out of little squares is cool. My boys are creative! Max, Tyf, and Faith sit on the couch, and I sit on the chair next to them.

“So what brings you guys by?” I ask. “Just come to torment my son about the guitar? Maybe James will like it, but I wouldn’t count on it. That kid has the coordination of a drummer.” I laugh.

Max shakes his head. He grabs Tyf’s left hand and kisses her wedding band. They got married three months before we did, and they are still swooning in love. Tyf smiles.

Max looks at us after winking at his wife. “Well, maybe we’ll have the guitarist.”

Faith jumps up and squeals, making me cover my ears. Then Tyf follows her lead. They are hugging and spinning around.
What the hell did I just miss?

Tyf and Faith have tears streaming down their cheeks. Faith’s hand goes to her chest, and she is half laughing and half crying. I look to Max for guidance, but he is staring at them like a love-sick fool. Then I look at my boys, and their eyebrows are lowered in confusion. Finally, I’m not alone! Granted, I am looking for support from two three-year-olds, but still.

Faith hugs me. “Oh my God, isn’t it great, honey?”

I release her, bend so we are eye to eye, smirk, and say, “Dude, I have no clue what just happened or what you’re talking about.”

She smacks my arm. “Seriously? You don’t know why we’re all happy?”

I instinctively rub the spot she hit. “Ow! And no, I have no clue.”

Johnny chimes in, “Uh oh, Mommy hit Daddy.”

Naturally James follows suit. “Daddy, did Mommy give you a boo-boo?”

I turn to Faith. Her face has paled.

I lean in and whisper, “You shouldn’t hit Daddy.”

“Daddy’s fine, boys. He was just joking around.” Faith smirks.

Max stands next to Tyf, looking at me as if I have ten heads. His smile grows as though he has some huge secret he can’t wait to divulge. “We’re going to have a baby.”

“Oh! That’s awesome, man! Congrats!” I hug Tyf and then Max. I excuse myself to the kitchen, and I grab beers for me and Max and lemonades for the ladies.

As I walk back in and look at my family, my heart swells. I hand out the drinks and hold up mine. “To Max and Tyf. May your child be healthy and happy, and may he or she love to play the drums.”

Max rolls his eyes, the girls laugh, and we all say, “Cheers.”

We order dinner and spend the evening enjoying each other’s company. I love it. After Max and Tyf leave, Faith takes the boys upstairs for their bath. After crawling around the floor putting the blocks away, I sit back on my heels and smile.

Faith and I have been through a lot, some of it good and some bad. Most of the bad was my fault, but thankfully she’d accepted my many apologies, and we’ve moved forward. But all of the good, all of the amazing parts of my life—that is all her.

Through the years we’ve known each other, she has given me more than I ever could’ve imagined. She gives me friendship, and gave me the most amazing children. She taught me how to love and, more importantly, how to forgive. She gave me faith. Not only do I have faith in myself, but I have faith in us. But the best thing she has given me is herself, and really, what more could a guy ask for?

There are so many people in my life that have supported me, encouraged me, and quite frankly, put up with me while writing
Ryker
that I pray I don’t forget anyone.

First and foremost, my family, especially my husband, Dave, and my sons, Nick and Zack. Without you, this would not have been possible. You guys are beyond fantastic. To say that I’m blessed would be an understatement. I love you all so much, and you mean more to me than anything else in the world!

My beta readers, thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedules to read for me. Your feedback and comments were incredibly helpful and insightful.

Tyf Snyder…what can I say, you know how much I love ya. Thank you for everything.

My PA Ashley Blakenship, thank you for everything you have done. I truly appreciate it.

My friends who always have my back, thank you for supporting me. Without all of you, I know I wouldn’t be where I am today. You all do so much, and I don’t even think you realize it. Just by telling me you enjoy my writing and my characters makes me happy. Some of you even put up with me when I want to go listen to bands so I can stare at the drummer to see how he moves… Okay, some of you like that too, but nonetheless, you were there with me, and I love you for it.

To my “Rockin’ Street Team,” thank you for “pimping” me out and, more importantly, for your encouraging words. You’re the best, and I’m so glad you’re on my side!

Every once in a while, you meet someone that you connect with and thankfully, I’ve met Lisa Paul. I’m not sure how our friendship started, but I’m so happy it did. I treasure our daily chats, critique sessions, and numerous messages. Thank you for bouncing ideas back and forth and making me laugh. I don’t think I’ll ever think of Miso Soup the same way again (that’s an inside joke, and I can guarantee you Lisa is laughing as she reads this). You’re honest and truly a wonderful person.

To all the bloggers, thank you for everything you do. Your support and kindness means the world to me. I wish I could list all of you, but that would add several more pages! Thank you for all the time you spend supporting authors and reading our stories. You take time out of your personal lives, and I appreciate it more than you know.

My “Top Secret” girls, you know who you are. Thank you for listening, chatting, and for your honesty; that seems to be rare these days, and I’m glad I have you all in my corner. I will always be there for you too.

A HUGE ROCKIN’ thank you to KC Brooks at Northern South Entertainment. You were with me from the beginning of Ryker back in March 2013. Although I needed to change some “moves” (I hope mine prove to be fun for you – haha), I had a blast talking to you about this book. We’ve been friends for a very long time, and I’m so glad that our friendship continues to grow. I never would have thought that our worlds would come together this way, but I’m so glad they have.