20. Ryder

When I asked Gia about the woman following us, I believed her answer. She has no reason to lie to me. Kline wasn't able to do a lot of digging into anything because of the threats he was receiving.

Gia is not tied to any mafia. It's not possible.

I choose to believe that she's an exceptional human being and that she wouldn't lie to me.

That's why we're in Cozumel together. I want my teammates to meet her too. She's part of my future.

The cocktail lounge is alive with the buzz of conversation and the clink of glasses as Gia and I make our way inside. The moment we step through the door, I"m greeted by a chorus of boisterous voices and hearty laughter.

My teammates spot me immediately, their faces lighting up with genuine affection as they rush over to greet us. "Ryder, you made it!" Jack exclaims, his voice booming over the din of the crowd as he envelops me in a bear hug.

"Wouldn"t miss it for the world," I reply, returning the embrace with equal enthusiasm. "This is my girlfriend, Gia. Gia this is Jack and his bride to be, Elle."

"It"s so nice to finally meet you," Elle says, her voice bubbly and effervescent as she takes Gia's hand in hers. "Ryder"s been raving about you non-stop."

"Likewise," she replies.

As I catch up with my teammates, Gia is easily drawn into the lively conversation, laughter bubbling up between us like champagne. It"s clear that we all share a bond that goes beyond the game they play on the ice.

As the night wears on, I introduce her to more and more of my teammates, each one welcoming her into their circle with open arms. We share stories and jokes, swapping tales of triumph and defeat, laughter ringing out like music in the air.

Elle swoops in and steals Gia from me to have some girl time with some of the other wives and girlfriends.

"Gia is incredible and gorgeous. How in the Hell did you land her, old man?" Jack asks.

"Luck, I guess," I laugh.

"I"m just saying, mate, you"ve found yourself a real keeper," he says, nodding in my direction. "Don"t let her get away."

"Trust me, Jack, I have no intention of ever letting her go."

"I don't know that I've ever seen you this happy before."

"There's something about her. I can't even explain it."

"No need to," Jack laughs. "I feel the same thing every time I look at Elle. I get it."

I nod, my eyes finding Gia's quickly.

She feels the heat of my gaze and locks eyes with me, a flirty smile playing on her lips.

"I'm glad someone understands it. My sister and my best friend both think we're making a huge mistake because of our age difference."

"Listen, I know twenty-year-olds who are more mature than fifty-year-olds. Every person is different. I can see the glow radiating off both of you."

"I agree with that. We see it every day on the ice."

"How does she feel about Chloe?"

"She told me in the beginning we couldn't be in a relationship because she didn't want kids. Now, now she's incredible with Chloe. They adore each other."

"That's all that matters."

"I agree."

"I'm really happy for you, man."

"This is your wedding weekend and you're more concerned about me."

"We didn't plan anything, she hired someone to take care of it all. I have no worries and if I did, there's no point wasting time on them."

I laugh and nod before Gia walks back over to me.

"Want to get out of here?" I whisper in her ear.

"I thought you'd never ask."

I nod at Jack and he waves in acceptance as I silently gesture that we're leaving. I link my fingers through Gia's as we leave the bar.

"You were by far the most beautiful woman in the room tonight."

"Why are you so sweet?"

"I'm just being honest. I do have an ulterior motive right now though."

"And what's that?"

"I'm dying to kiss you."

"Then what are you waiting for?"

I chuckle before I cover her mouth with mine as we climb into the elevator. She molds herself to me as I lean her against the back wall. It's a quick trip up to our room, as soon as the doors open, I'm tugging her behind me to our room.

As soon as we're in our large suite, I shut the door behind us and pin her against it, kissing her hungrily again.

She responds with equal hunger, her hands running through my hair as she leans into the kiss. The tension between us is thick, as if the air itself crackles with electricity. I slowly trail kisses down her neck, reveling in the way she arches into my touch.

"Your body is amazing, the way you respond to my touch, to my kisses."

"It helps that you always know exactly where to go," she breathes.

I kiss her neck, my hands going down to gather her dress in my hands so that I can take it off her. My mouth never leaves her body.

As she's standing before me in her red lace bras and panties, I stand back and take in her full, beautiful body.

"You're so damn sexy."

The look in her eyes tells me that she wants me to stop talking. She reaches out toward me, her hand going down to my pants, unzipping them to get them out of the way.

I oblige her request, stepping out of my pants and guiding her over to the large, king-sized bed.

She looks up at me with a hungry gaze, her eyes almost black in the dim light. I know what she wants, and I"m more than willing to give it to her. I reach down and undo the clasp of her bra, freeing her lush breasts from the lace. They spring free, full and heavy, and I take one in my mouth, sucking and licking as she moans.

Her hands are everywhere now, running through my hair, down my back, and over my chest.

I pick her up, wrapping her legs around my waist, and carry her towards the bed. Her moans fill the room, spurring my own desire on. I lay her down gently, taking a moment to look at her once more before I completely devour her.

I hook my fingers into her red lace panties and tug them off her, burying my face in between her thighs as I inhale and taste her.

Her hips buck toward me just as she moans my name. As much as I want to take my time here, I also just want to bury myself inside her.

I rise up from between her legs, our eyes locked in a heated gaze. She reaches for me, tugging at my shirt, urging me closer. I respond by stripping it off and revealing my toned chest.

"Now it's my turn to say it, you are so damn sexy."

I can feel her heat enveloping me as I enter her, and we both groan in tandem, the pleasure and pain of the moment merging into one. I thrust slowly at first, savoring the feel of her tightness around me, her warm and wet core gripping me. She meets each thrust with an arch of her hips, her eyes locked with mine.

As we find our rhythm, she wraps her legs around my waist, pulling me deeper inside her. Her fingers dig into my back, urging me on.

Her hands find their way to my hair, tugging at it as I pound into her, her desire for me shining in her eyes. I can"t help but thrust harder and faster, each stroke taking us closer to that incredible climax.

"Ryder," she breathes raggedly. "Fuck, yes."

My hands go to her hair, tugging her head backward as I kiss her throat. She lets out a low moan, urging me on and causing my cock to throb for her more.

I lean down to whisper in her ear, "I want to feel you come around me."

Her response is a low growl and a tightening of her grip, guiding me deeper within her. The pleasure is almost unbearable, but I can"t deny that I want this just as much as she does.

Suddenly, her body begins to shake, her muscles trembling with the force of her orgasm. I can feel the walls of her pussy gripping me, pulling me deeper into her, and it"s all I can do to keep from joining her.

But I want to make her feel even more, and I know exactly how to do it. I slow my thrusts, just enough to keep myself from coming, but not so slow that I lose the connection between us.

I can see the sheer intensity of her pleasure in her eyes, and it only makes me want to give her more. I pick up my pace, her eyes widening in response. Her cries grow louder as I thrust into her, our bodies moving in perfect harmony.

The intensity of our pleasure builds, and I can feel myself nearing the edge. But I don"t want it to end yet, not until she"s been totally satiated.

"Please, Ryder," she gasps, her voice hoarse with desire. "Finish me. Make me feel it all."

I reach between us to find her clit.

She moans as I begin to circle her most sensitive spot, her body arching towards me.

"Are you close, baby?" I pant, my voice hoarse from the passion. "Ready to come for me?"

She nods, her eyes never leaving mine. "Yes, Ryder. I need you. Now."

With that, I drive myself deeper, thrusting harder and faster than before. My heart hammers in my chest, and I can feel the pleasure building up inside me, an unstoppable force that threatens to shatter us into a million pieces.

"Come for me, baby," I growl, my voice thick with lust. "Let go with me. Let it all out."

She does just that, her body shaking and trembling as she cries out in pure ecstasy, her walls clutching at me, pulling me deeper inside her. The sensation is too much, and I can"t hold back any longer.

I release inside her in a rush of bliss, our bodies shaking and quivering together as we ride the wave of our combined pleasure.

We collapse onto the bed, panting and sweaty, our bodies pressed together. My heart is pounding, and I can feel the love and desire radiating between us.

"I hope we don't know the people in the room next to us," she laughs as she covers her face. "Although, I'm pretty sure the entire resort just heard me screaming your name."

"Nothing wrong with that," I chuckle as I pull her in close to me.

I kiss her forehead and she raises her head to look at me, her eyes filled with affection and satisfaction.

"You know how to make a girl feel special," she whispers, a hint of a smile playing on her lips.

"Always," I respond, brushing a stray hair from her face.

We lay there for a moment, basking in the afterglow of our passion. The air is heavy with our mingled scents and the tangible connection between us.

"Is the whole trip going to be like this? I might reconsider staying the night with you every night from this moment forward."

"I will now make certain of it," I tease her.

"I didn't… I didn't know sex could feel this good."

"Me neither."

I pull her in closer to me, wrapping my arms around her as she lays her head on my shoulder.

"Thanks for asking me to come along with you to this. It's nice to see you in your element with your teammates. I see a more reserved side of you, usually."

"Yeah, I guess I have alter egos."

"Nothing wrong with that, I think we all do in order to get through certain things."

"You"re right, of course," I murmur, absently stroking her hair. "But with you, Gia, I feel like I can let the real me shine through."

"And with you, I can be completely myself too," she admits, her voice barely audible.

"I wouldn"t have it any other way."

We lay there in comfortable silence, the post-coital glow still very much present between us. I roll onto my side, pulling her closer to me, her head resting on my chest.

"What are you thinking about?" she asks, her voice a whisper against my skin.

"That feeling you next to me is incredible."

"I agree," she murmurs sleepily.

I kiss the top of her head and she's snoring softly within minutes.