“You’re angry, and I sympathize. I want to make sure you’re leaving that at the door.”
Ryder stepped back, sighed. “Oh. Oh, right. I—Maybe I should take a shower before we get busy.”
He eased up on Ryder’s wrists and curled an arm around the cowboy’s back. “Maybe we can start this with a shower together.”
“Sure. Totally.” Ryder sat in the chair and started toeing off his boots.
“Have I hurt your feelings? I want you, Ryder. Absolutely. And I want us to be present with each other.”
“No. No, I’m just…” Ryder sucked in a breath, then let it out. “Ramped up. I’m just really ramped up.”
“I know, and I don’t mind. But I want you ramped up over me. So let me do what I promised and make sure I’m all you’re thinking about.” He toed off his shoes and tugged his shirt over his head.
Ryder stripped down, carefully hanging his dress shirt and jeans, undershirt, briefs and socks stowed away.
He wished he understood better what Ryder needed. He had this awful feeling that he wasn’t doing enough right now. “You handled yourself so well tonight. You stood your ground, you helped your brother make a good decision, and you didn’t rip that awful man’s head off. I can see that it wasn’t easy for you. I’m proud of you.”
“Thank you, Sir. It wasn’t. He’s a skeeze, but it’s done now.”
“It is. It’s done. And now we can enjoy each other.” He caught Ryder’s chin in his fingers and tried a smile. “Unless you’d rather finish the M&Ms instead.”
“No. We can finish the M&Ms after we both shoot.”
“I like it.” He undressed, enjoying letting Ryder help as he pleased. They made their way to the shower, which was a decent size, though nothing like what he had at the estate.
He turned on the water while Ryder made sure there were towels in easy reach. “No shooting in the shower,” he teased as they stepped in. That might be a tall order, they were both buzzing hard.
“No? Darn it.” He got a wink, and he could almost see Ryder relax.
He was aware that he put a stop to what could have been some heated and satisfying sex. He enjoyed that kind of thing under the right circumstances, and they’d get there again at some point, he was sure of it.
But Ryder trusted him and was letting everything go right before his eyes, and it was beautiful, and equally satisfying in another way.
Ryder leaned under the spray, fingers sliding over his skin and making Charles shiver.
He liked Ryder’s hands; they were curious and careful. “I love how you touch me.”
“I like being able to touch. You have a fine body.” It didn’t sound like an empty compliment.
Ryder still looked like he could get on a bull tomorrow. “Thank you. Your abs are like concrete.” He slid a hand over them, appreciating the ridges.
Ryder flexed for him, belly rolling so well that his fingers got caught for a second.
It was difficult to grasp that someone this beautiful, and this compatible, had just fallen into his path. He took a kiss, wanting more connection. The hot water was soothing his soul, but his body needed so much more.
Ryder was right there with him, kissing him slow and easy, letting things heat in a steady stream.
He placed a hand on Ryder’s chest and pressed him against the shower wall as their kiss grew deeper and hungrier. He ached in the best way but made himself be patient a little longer. Ryder’s cock, which had been flagging, began to fill for him, swelling and nudging his lower belly. It made Charles smile, that hunger, the way Ryder gave him what he needed.
He’d meant what he’d said about being Ryder’s whole world. He wanted everything Ryder could see and Ryder’s every thought to be of him. He wasn’t selfish, and he’d make sure Ryder got absolutely everything he needed—all of himself in return.
He straightened up, and their hips met, cocks sliding together, and neither of them fought the urge to press closer.
“Think this is gonna become my favorite thing, ever,” Ryder murmured. “Showering with you.”
It did seem to do them both some good. “It’s lovely, isn’t it?” The heat and the steam set the mood, but they could get clean together later too. “We can’t stay here forever, though. I have plans for us.”
Ryder gave him a wicked little grin. “Do you, now? I do like…plans.”