With one hand on the ground by his hip, holding her weight, she splayed the other on those cut abs and gently massaged as she took him deep over and over. Feeling his muscles jump beneath her touch gave her a feeling of power and pride. He liked it. Liked her. Was giving into the pleasure she gave him.

She hummed, and his body tensed another degree.

“You’re going to make me come, sweetness.”

She liked the sound of that. She took him deeper, stretching her throat and working past her reflex. He hardened even further and proved once more he was, in fact, a man of his word. He came violently. His big body flexed and retracted. Those chiseled flanks tightening made her wet just from the sight. She drank him down, loving the manly, salty taste that was all Ryder.

She licked and laved at him until she slowly brought him back to earth, and his heavy chest rose on big breaths.

He sat up and cupped her face in his palms. “You always do what I never expect.” He kissed the tip of her nose. “Can’t let me win, can you?”

She smiled. “Nope.”

A scheming expression skated over his face. “Well, this game isn’t over yet.”

He rose and took her with him, slinging her over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. She laughed and smacked his ass as he walked them back into the lake.

“Careful there, sweetness. I give back what I get in kind.” He swatted her bare bottom with his hot palm, and she couldn’t help but moan. But the heat lasted only a moment, because as soon as the water was up to his chest, he tossed her into the lake.

She laughed when she came to the surface, and Ryder was right there, pulling her against him with one hand, wiping away the wet hair from her face with the other.

“I recall telling you I wanted to feel you come multiple times.” Keeping his eyes on hers, he locked legs her around him once more, her heels fastening together at the small of his back. Water pooled around his chest as she hugged him tight. Instead of sheathing her on his cock, he reached between them and sank her down onto two of his fingers.

“Is there any part of you that doesn’t feel good?” she moaned.

He kissed her bottom lip gently. “I was just going to ask you the same thing.”

With his fingers deep, he pressed his thumb against her clit and rubbed. He tongued between her lips, kissing her intently, but also slowly and softly while she rode his hand and the water gently rippled around them.

The feel of his wet face against hers made her lips tremble and beg for more. She loved his taste, and the feel of his firm mouth working hers. The sound of the lake dancing around them. The moon shining down. It was a moment she was certain she’d never repeat in her life, and she just wanted to linger in the details.

Part of her wanted to stay. To just…stay. Right there. In his arms. But staying wasn’t what she did. Yet for the briefest a moments, it didn’t sound so bad.

As she came apart in his arms, he caught the sounds of her gasp in his mouth, and she knew one thing:

I’ve never felt like this before…

Chapter Nine

She was only halfway through her first margarita, but Whitney had to admit, girls’ night at Lily’s was everything she’d hoped it would be.

“I’m going to need a refill,” Penny said, holding up her empty margarita glass. She sank deeper into Lily’s cozy blue couch. She was wearing sweatpants and an oversize T-shirt with a law school moniker. Must belong to her fiancée attorney, Bass.

Lily started up the blender in the kitchen and peeked through the little cutout between the breakfast bar and the living room. After a few pulses of crushing ice, she joined them in the living room with another pitcher of blended margaritas.

She filled Penny’s glass, and when she eyed Whitney’s still half-full, Whitney drank the rest down quickly and then held out her newly emptied glass.

“Thank you,” Whitney said, fighting off a mini brain freeze as Lily topped her off.

“I’m bummed Autumn couldn’t make it,” Penny said.

Lily tossed a long straw into the blender carafe and drank straight from it. “Me, too. Although the phone call will haunt my nightmares.” She took another long swallow and shuddered. “I heard Huck in the background, all growly, saying something about her fine ass and what he was going to do to it.”

“Those two,” Penny said. “I swear, they’re always pawing each other. If they’re not careful, Huck will impregnate her again while she’s still pregnant with this one.”

“Says the woman who can’t go thirty seconds without groping or being groped by the town’s attorney,” Lily said with a smile.

Penny just shrugged. “Have you seen Bass’s ass? Pretty sure it’s against the law to not grope it whenever he’s in arm’s reach.”

Whitney laughed. They all seemed so happy. Except Lily didn’t have a significant other, and Whitney noticed the flash of yearning behind her eyes. Maybe she noticed it because she knew what that felt like. Or maybe Lily really was looking for someone.

“At least Autumn had a good excuse for not coming out tonight,” Penny said. “Huck gets cranky when she doesn’t give him attention. And she’s been kicking him out more often to go be social. He doesn’t let her out of his sight much unless she forces guys’ night on him. I swear that man is obsessed with her.”

“But in the best way,” Lily said with a smile. “I keep thinking the baby is going to come out with tattoos just like his daddy.”

“You think it’s a boy?” Penny said. “My money is on a girl.”

Both of them were clearly happy for their friends. Whitney had figured out that their little circle was more like family, and they all spoke great about each other and seemed to really care.

Whitney was still trying to keep everyone straight, though. “You said that your friend Jenna also couldn’t make it?”

Lily nodded. “Yes. Jenna is married to my brother Colt. They took Alex to go camping for the weekend.”

Whitney nodded. Yep, definitely all family.

“How are you doing with Alex being gone?” Penny asked Lily.

Lily shrugged. Her ponytail bobbed a little, and she adjusted her seat in the oversize chair. Her pajamas were thin purple pants and a matching tank top. She looked angelic with her ivory skin and big blue eyes.

“I know I need to let go and let him grow up. Being with Colt is so great for Alex, because he has a man he can look up to. But they want to take him for two whole weeks next month. Colt is doing some promotional appearances for the circuit and Alex is over the moon excited to go with him and Jenna.”

“Sounds like it’d be a good thing,” Whitney said. Not that it was her business, but the girls were including her, and she couldn’t help but get caught up a little.

“Yeah, it would be. Just… Two weeks without my little kiddo.” She sighed and laughed at herself. “I don’t know what I’m going to do.”

“You’re going to get out and have fun,” Penny said. “Maybe meet a man.”

Lily took another long sip of her pitcher. “I don’t know about that.”

“I do,” Penny persisted. “You’re hot! And I don’t even want to know how long it’s been since you’ve gotten any.”

Lily shook her head. “Too long.”

“Yeah, so think of this as a mini vacation coming up for you. It will give you a chance to really relax.”

“Speaking of relaxing,” Lily said, turning her stare on Whitney. “The town’s golden boy has been looking a special kind of relaxed lately.”

Whitney’s cheeks heated just a touch, and both Lily and Penny giggled.

“I…ah…huh?” Whitney took another drink.

“Oh no!” Penny laughed. “Don’t think you can’t dish about what’s been going on with you and Ryder. I’ve never in his life seen him look so pissy while smiling at the same time. Whatever you’re doing, keep it up!”