Ryder let him ride his pleasure out, moving in the tiniest hip rolls to keep the aftershocks going. His cowboy was determined to drive him out of his mind.
He shivered, letting Ryder send him wherever the boy wanted to. “I can’t resist you. It’s terrible and wonderful.”
“You don’t have to.” Ryder rested against him. “I didn’t come here to fall in love, but I did.”
“I don’t know. Perhaps that is precisely why you came here. It was just what we both needed, at just the right moment, which is hard to consider complete happenstance.” His mother used to tell him that everything happened for a reason.
“Yes. I like to believe this means something. You mean a lot to me.” Ryder stroked his chest, the touch languid.
He caught those fingers and kissed them. “Ryder, you are the most important person in my life. When you have something you’re dealing with, I’m here to lean on, to give advice if you want it or just listen if you don’t. You’re never, ever a burden, so please, come to me when you’re overwhelmed, and we’ll work through it. Just…give it to me. I’m here for you.”
“Yeah? That sounds…wonderful and hard at the same time.” Ryder chewed on his bottom lip. “I’m so used to having Roper all the time, but—I don’t know, Mister Charlie. I feel… I don’t know. Maybe I should just shut up.”
He hugged Ryder closer and chuckled. “Didn’t I just tell you to talk more?”
“Yes, Sir. You sure did. I love this—it feels special, to be in bed in the daylight, you know?”
“Decadent. A little naughty? I can’t think of anything I’d rather be doing.”
Ryder beamed at him. “Me either. God knows, this is the second most fun I’ve had in this bed today.”
He laughed loud. Possibly the loudest he ever had in bed. “Me too. Maybe we will make tonight our third.”
“God, I hope so, lover. I sure do hope so.”
20
“You can’t just not come home for Thanksgiving! Son, you will not just…leave!”
Ryder put his phone on mute and put it on the bed to keep packing for their trip.
“Ryder? Are you hearing me? Hello?”
“Oh, he hears you.” Mister Charlie rolled his eyes and set their coats on the bed as well.
“I do. She’s really pissed.” Ryder shook his head and sighed. “Roper is heading to Hawaii.”
“Did he decide that after you told him you weren’t going home?”
“Ryder? Are you still there?” His uncle was on the phone now.
“He did. He’s a coward.”
“Goddamn it, Ryder!”
Ryder jumped, his heart hiccupping, and he reached for his phone, automatically.
“No.” His hand landed on top of Charles’s hand. Charles picked up the phone and hung up the call. “I’m turning it off, and we’re leaving it here.”
He searched Charles’s eyes. “It’s okay? I don’t want to hurt them, but I’m so excited.”
“They don’t seem to care if they hurt you, but I do. I won’t allow anyone to speak to you that way. That’s not love. The phone stays here, you can bring your other one. They don’t deserve to be a part of our holiday.” Mister Charlie shut it off just like he said he would and set it on the dresser. “Done.”
“I—Yes, Sir.” He took a deep, deep breath, letting it stretch his lungs, then he blew it out. “Do we need anything else?”
“Yes, I need to know if you’re all right.” Mister Charlie stepped closer and rested a hand on his bicep.
“It’s hard, huh? But I’m tickled as all get out to go on this trip with you. I really am.” Ryder hadn’t even done anything this…utterly selfish and wonderful, ever.