Cinder's Rising Read online

  Her eyes were closed and little gusts of air left her.

  “So tight and wet.”

  She opened her eyes and her arousal snapped back at him like a boomerang.

  “You’re so ready for me, baby. I bet you taste even better.” Tearing his gaze off of her, he looked down at where his finger was buried deep inside of her. He slowly pulled it out and pushed it back in. She clenched around his probing digit, as if she wanted to suck it into her body deeper. He couldn’t contain himself any longer. He moved down her body until his mouth hovered over her swollen clit. Pushing his finger in and out of her, he sucked the tender, slick bud into his mouth. His cock throbbed when she speared her hands in his hair and pulled him closer, smashing his face into her warm, wet body.

  “You’re so fucking sweet, Cinder.” He slid his finger from her body and replaced it with his tongue. Over and over he brought her to the brink of orgasm, and he knew she’d get off soon by the tightening of her hands in his hair, and the way her body grew tense. “Your pussy tastes like the sweetest berry. I could eat you out all night, savoring you until you were so swollen from my mouth, you begged me to stop.” Flattening his tongue on her, he ran it up the length of her cleft. Her thighs shook on either side of him. “Tell me how much you want that, baby.”

  “Yes, Ryder.” She lifted up slightly and stared at him down the length of her body. “Yes, I want it all.” Her response was so breathy, so erotic in nature that the feral sound that left him was all for her. She made him feel like a fucking animal, like if he didn’t watch himself he’d eat her alive. That was how powerful his emotions for her were. He felt unhinged, disconnected, like at the drop of a hat he’d snap and go crazy on her. It wasn’t sane, wasn’t logical.

  Moving back down to her opening, he teased her before plunging his tongue inside. Her inner muscles clenched around the muscle and he grunted in response. Damn, his cock was like steel and his balls heavy weights beneath it. He started pressing his hips into the mattress, trying to alleviate some of the tension in his shaft. The rhythmic movements of his cock meeting the mattress reminded him too much of fucking and he had to stop or he would have surely come right then and there. “Yes, baby. Lift your hips. Use my body to find your pleasure.”

  “Oh, God, Ryder.”

  He groaned against her mound as she came undone beneath him. The saccharine flavored cream that spilled from her coated his lips and made its way down his throat. He swallowed every last drop, growing high from the candied flavor that was all Cinder. He couldn’t remember anything tasting as good as her orgasm. When the last tremor worked its way through her body and she was left lying there replete and satisfied, he moved himself beside her and ran the pads of his fingers over her silky thigh and up to her arm. He felt and then saw the puckered scars of the cigarette burns that lined her smooth flesh. She pulled her arm away and covered it with her hand. When she went to rise, clearly uncomfortable, he reached out and pulled her back down toward him.

  “You don’t need to feel ashamed about anything, baby.” He pushed her hand away and leaned down to kiss each and every one of the small scars. “I don’t want you to ever feel like you have to hide yourself from me, Cinder.” He stared at her face, right in her eyes, and leaned up to kiss her on the mouth softly.

  She was silent for a moment, and then finally said, “There is a lot you don’t know about me, things that would probably have you running in the other direction.”

  He shook his head before she even finished speaking. “I’m done running from my life and what I want.” She leaned forward, now the one to take control, and he was more than willing to let her.

  She reached out, placed her hands on his chest, and smoothed her fingers down his abdomen. He couldn’t take his gaze off of her, didn’t pull his sight from her face and the way she watched herself touch him. He couldn’t hold his eyes open any longer, and let himself succumb to the drugging sensation of her fingers brushing against his bare flesh. For several agonizing moments, she kept her hands on his abdomen, and when he finally peeled his eyes open, he saw her watching him with her arousal clearly written on her face. There was a lot between them, not just the arousal that was thick, but her past which needed to come to the surface. Her breathing visibly changed when she reached lower still and placed her hand on his cock. His shaft jerked from that simple contact, and a soft groan left him.

  “That’s it, baby, stroke me.”

  Cinder licked her lips, and the movement was so slow and deliciously torturous that he couldn’t control the low sound of need that left him. She curled her fingers around his girth and started stroking him with sure, steady strokes. For several long seconds, all she did was run her palm up and down his length, and it took a lot of self-control not to thrust into her grasp, or push her back on the bed and take her right then and there. And although he was not an animal that couldn’t control himself, he was also just a man who only had so much strength when it came to her. Her movements were slow but steady, and she worked him over like she was starving for him in every way possible.

  “Christ, baby.” He groaned, cursing low. “You’re making me feel really damn good.” Closing his eyes, he let the feelings she evoked in him completely claim him. Her breathing was becoming shorter, faster as her arousal increased.

  Ryder couldn’t catch his breath, and knew if she continued to touch him he’d come in her hand. He didn’t want it to end that soon. He reached for her, needing her warm body as close to him as she could get. When she curled into him, as if she knew he would protect her at all cost, knew that he would keep her safe, a sense of male satisfaction filled him. There was so much he wanted to experience with her, and right now was just the beginning. He stared at her mouth, all plump and pink from when he’d kissed her, and he didn’t stop himself from tasting her mouth once more. Ryder slid his tongue along her lush lips before slipping it into her mouth. When he moved his hand between her thighs and felt her slickness coat his fingers, he groaned. She was so wet for him, soaking actually, and he knew he had to have her right now. He’d wanted to take things slow with her, because he knew she needed that, but it was damn hard. As he played with her clit and slid his middle finger into her accepting body, he knew he was too primed for her to wait.

  He adjusted his body so she was on her back, with her legs spread, and his hips cradling his perfectly. She was hotter than hell and he was burning alive. His hips jerked on their own accord, and he felt the heat and wetness from her arousal coat his length. She liked what he was doing, and he knew it by the little mewls and cries that left her parted lips.

  “Ryder, please.” She breathed out those two words.

  “God, just hearing you say my name, pleading with me, makes me so damn hard, baby.”

  Arching, she pressed her hard nipples against his chest. He grabbed her wrists and lifted them above her head. Looking down at the way she was stretched for him like some sacrifice had his body growing taut. Slowly rubbing his thumbs along her wrists, he reveled in her smooth skin. The sight of the scars on her arm infuriated him, and Ryder wanted to hunt down whoever had done this to her and hurt them.

  “I want inside of you so damn badly, baby.” Thrusting against her with a little more force, he groaned, “I want to feel your tight, hot, little pussy spreading around my cock, milking me until I come and fill you up.”

  She panted beneath him.

  “You want that too, don’t you, sweetheart?”

  “God, yes. Yes, I want that.”

  He could feel her wetness, her arousal slip along his length, making him wet with her desire as well. Before he lost his damn mind altogether, he moved away from her only long enough to grab a condom, sheathed himself, and moved back between her thighs. Grabbing his shaft, he placed the tip at her entrance. He could have died right now and he would have only felt bliss. As he started pushing into her, inch by slow inch, he watched her face, gauging her reaction to make sure she wasn’t uncomfortable. Her eyes were wide and full of hidden e
motion. She was his, and he was claiming her.

  Ryder bit his tongue and continued sinking into her, feeling every hot part of her pussy ripple along his length. Lowering his face, Ryder dragged his lips across hers and murmured, “I won’t let you go. I can’t, Cinder.” He slowly pulled back out, and when just the head was at her entrance, he took a deep, calming breath and pushed back in hard. He kissed her face, not stopping until every part of her was engrained in him. Ryder still had both of her wrists secured above her head. He braced his weight on his knees, and with his other hand he gripped the back of her thigh and deepened his penetration. Pulling out and then sinking back in again, he made sure his movements were easy and slow. He gave her body time to adjust to him, to stretch around his cock. With his mouth pressed to hers he could hear her whispered pleas for him to give her more. They were so close, so fused together that they breathed the same air.

  The more he moved within her, the more she cried out. In and out he thrust into her, going as far as he could until the heavy weight of his balls rubbed along the crease of her ass every time he pushed back inside of her. The whole sexual act was made hotter by the fact they were covered in sweat, their skin slapping together every single time he sank into her. Not able to help himself, he let his tongue follow a bead of perspiration that had started making its way down her body. He tracked it, pushing it between her breasts then sucking at her flesh at the base of her throat.

  “Christ, baby, I’m going to come. Please tell me you’re close.” Over and over he plunged into her, yet she didn’t respond, just continued to make small noises in the back of her throat. Yeah, she was fucking close. “You feel so damn good.” He slammed into her fiercely on the last word, and she cried out in climax. Yes. Harder and faster he sank into her, needing her to come like he needed his next breath of air. It was right there. The roar that left him was loud and animalistic. He would never let her go. He couldn’t.

  When both of their bodies stopped shaking, he collapsed on top of her, trying to catch his breath. He rolled off of her and moved out of the room only long enough to get cleaned up and grab a washcloth for her. After he helped her clean the sweat and arousal from her body, he rested on the bed beside her, pulled her in close, and kissed the top of her head. She was breathing evenly now, and although they had a lot to talk about, right now he just wanted to hold her and bask in the fact he had her in his arms. Staring at the wall, he listened to his heart’s slow pace and thought about all of the things he’d been missing in life by blocking himself from feeling and wanting a woman of his own. But Ryder knew that even if he’d opened himself up to these emotions sooner, he wouldn’t have felt a fraction with another female as he did with Cinder.

  Epilogue

  ‡

  One year later

  Ryder stared at Cinder, and wanted to have the image of her lying on their bed naked, anticipating him, and looking as though she were truly happy engrained in his mind for all time. It had been one year since she’d come into his life, one year since he’d realized that before her, he hadn’t actually been living, and one year that he wanted to be a better person and experience life because of her. Ryder leaned in that last inch, but right before their lips touched, he stopped. Cinder held her breath, but didn’t move away. In fact, she gripped his wrists, as if she wasn’t sure if she should push him away or pull him closer.

  “I…” He closed his eyes and rested his forehead against hers. God, I love this woman more than anything else on this world. Words failed him, and so he did what he wanted to do every time she was near. He kissed her. At first she didn’t respond to his touch, but then she opened her mouth, and he slipped his tongue into the warm, sweet depths. He let his hands move to her head and curled his fingers into the silky strands. A light tug from him had her head tilting back, allowing him to deepen their kiss. He delved further into her mouth and dragged his tongue over every inch of her. Ryder couldn’t get enough and wanted, no, needed to be closer to her. Cinder was so receptive to him, and the soft, pleading noises she made had him getting so hard he could feel his length press against his pants.

  “Cinder, love…” He tilted her head with his hands and deepened the kiss. She moved her hands so they gripped his biceps and pulled him impossibly closer. A low, guttural groan left him. As if his hands were in control, he pulled Cinder onto his lap. She melted against his body instantly. He broke the kiss and trailed his lips across her jaw. “God, baby.” The breath gushed out of him in hard pants against her cheek. She rested her forehead in the crook of his neck, and when he felt the tiniest touch of her tongue against his skin, his cock jerked in his pants. “You smell so good.” Ryder inhaled. Because he couldn’t help himself, he ran his tongue down and over her collarbone. “And your taste,” he moaned deeply. “You taste so fucking good.” She gripped each side of his face, and he dragged his lips back to hers. She took his mouth in a bruising, desperate kiss, and he gave her all of him. The feel of her full breasts rubbing against his chest almost broke his self-restraint.

  “Ryder, God, Ryder, I need you so badly.” She moved her mouth against his.

  “Yeah, I know, baby.” Ryder moved his hand down her throat, over her delicate collarbones, and covered the full mound of her breast. She was naked for him, so beautiful and giving that he needed inside of her badly. The low sound that came from her had him curling his fingers into the soft flesh. He felt her nipple harden against his palm, and the little control he had left him in a rush. A gasp left her, and he swallowed it. Licking, nipping, and teasing, Ryder devoured her mouth. He would never get enough. Never.

  * * *

  Cinder leaned into him, felt the heat from Ryder’s body seep into hers, and closed her eyes. It felt good to feel warmth, to be so close to the man she loved, lived with, and had given her life to. For one year she’d been in a relationship with him, had fallen more in love with him each passing day, and knew she would always feel this way. For a long time all she’d felt was a coldness that left her numb. But Ryder made her feel alive. When she opened her eyes and looked into his face, the fierce look of desire reflected back at her increased her pulse. Very gently she curled her fingers into the hard, pliant flesh of his chest.

  “You make me feel good, Ryder, so alive and warm. I don’t want to lose that.”

  “You’ll never lose that, baby. I’ll always be here for you.”

  She moved an inch closer until her chest pressed against his, and rested her forehead on his skin. Just inhaling the strong, masculine scent that was all Ryder made her feel happy and safe. His big, strong arms were wrapped around her. Cinder tilted her head back, and thankfully Ryder saw how much she needed him and brought his mouth to hers. The kiss started slow and passionate, filled with so much yearning from both of them that Cinder thought she would die from sensory overload. The feel of his hands coasting down her back and cupping the mounds of her ass sent a thrill of wet arousal through her. She was slick with her lust, and she deepened the kiss and moved her tongue faster and harder against his. His answering groan came from deep within his chest and sent vibrations throughout her body.

  Cinder’s mind and body screamed for more, yet she didn’t feel as if she could get close enough to him. The tightening of his hands on her ass was the only indication of what he was about to do. With great strength, Ryder lifted her so she was forced to wrap her legs around his waist to keep stable. He turned so she was on her back on the bed. The hard length of his erection prodded between her legs. A smokiness covered his expression, a hidden temptation that called to her.

  “My love.”

  The endearment sent a spike of liquid heat through her. She reached for him, but he stopped her with a gentle hand to the center of her chest. Cinder rested against the mattress again and watched him. Ryder lifted his hands and smoothed them down her arms, and she felt a shiver move through her. Even after a year of making love with Ryder every chance they got, Cinder still felt the butterflies in her belly, and as if she was giving herself t
o him for the first time all over again. The sound of him swallowing filled the too-quiet room. For a suspended moment he did nothing but stare at where his hands rested on her lower belly.

  “Please,” she whispered into the darkness, and closed her eyes as arousal weaved its way into her body.

  “Look at me, love.” His voice was soft, but there was a distinct note of command laced in the words. She opened her eyes and stared at the shadows that cast harsh lines across his face. For several long seconds he didn’t speak. Slowly, he removed his shirt and tossed it aside. He went for his pants next, and the sight of his hard and muscular body had her so wet between her thighs she shifted her legs on the bed.

  His cock was long and thick, and she eagerly awaited his next move. Ryder moved closer, and his warm breath teased the skin of her belly. She took in a stuttering breath. The first touch of his lips on her flesh had her mouth parting and her pulse racing. Over and over he kissed and ran his tongue along her body.

  “You’re beautiful, Cinder, so damn beautiful,” he whispered. “You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen, and you’re all mine.” He moved his hands to where his lips had just been. He caressed her in a gentle sweep of his fingers, so soft and smooth that goose bumps formed along her skin. “Every part of you is mine, and I’ll cherish you until I can’t breathe any longer.” He moved his hands up until he stopped right under her breasts. “I want you to tell me you’re beautiful.” He leaned in the rest of the space and kissed her long and slow. When he broke the kiss he stayed only inches away again. “Tell me, love.”

  Cinder licked her lips, the words getting lodged in her throat because even after a year she still had issues with her self-esteem, and how she saw herself. But with each passing day, she was getting stronger, saw herself as a person and not someone to be walked upon, and it was because Ryder helped her along the way. He never let a day go by without telling her she was worthy of all she wanted, and that being with her made him a better person.