6. Ryder

Gia.

Her name echoes in my mind like a mantra. She's been haunting my thoughts and try as I might, I can"t seem to banish her from my mind.

I feel like an idiot for not recognizing her sooner, for not knowing who she was. How could I have missed the signs? How could I have been so blind to the truth that was staring me right in the face?

But even as I chastise myself for my ignorance, I can"t help but feel a surge of anger towards her for disappearing without a word all those years ago. Why didn"t she reply to my text messages or return my calls? Why did she leave me hanging, wondering if she was okay?

I shake my head, trying to clear away the thoughts. Instead, I focus on the task at hand, making my way downstairs to the basement gym where I can lose myself in the rhythm of the rowing machine.

The sound of my own labored breathing fills the room as I push myself to the limit, each stroke a desperate attempt to outrun the memories that chase me relentlessly. But no matter how hard I try, I can"t seem to escape the image of Gia"s face, pale and fragile in the dim light of the beach house.

She was just shot, for Christ"s sake. She needs time to rest and heal, not some idiot like me pining after her like a lovesick fool. But despite my best intentions, I can"t shake the overwhelming urge to be near her, to protect her from whatever dangers lurk in the shadows.

I force myself to focus on my breathing, to drown out the noise of my own thoughts with the steady rhythm of my heart. But no matter how hard I try, I can"t seem to silence the voice in my head that whispers her name like a forbidden promise.

Gia.

I push myself harder, driving my body to its limits in a futile attempt to outrun the demons that haunt me. I collapse onto the floor in a pool of sweat and exhaustion, I know that I can"t keep running forever. Sooner or later, I"ll have to face the truth that stares me in the face, to confront the feelings that have laid dormant for the last eight years.

The attraction is still there. She is feeling it too, I can tell that for certain.

Why does she seem so angry with me though?

I walk into the living room, shirtless, to check on her before I go to take a shower. I don't want to leave her alone too long just in case she tries to leave or she's worse off than we thought, and something happens.

She's engrossed in her computer when I walk into the living room.

"Hey, how ya feeling?"

She jumps, lets out a little yelp, and then slams her MacBook down quickly.

"I didn't hear you come up. Are you a ninja or something?" she teases.

"I apologize, I didn't mean to scare you. I guess I'm light on my feet. Comes with the job," I shrug teasingly. "Do you need anything?"

"No, I'm fine."

"I'm going to take a shower. I'll make something for us to eat when I'm done."

"You don't have to cook for me. I'm only here because my brother said I can't be alone. Don't go out of your way for me."

"I have to eat. You have to eat. It seems natural that I would cook for both of us at the same time."

She rolls her eyes and shakes her head before opening her MacBook back up and dismissing me.

The rolling of the eyes is extremely annoying.

I take the stairs two at a time as I go to my bedroom and then walk into my bathroom to shower. The urge to kiss her is invading my entire body and putting me on edge.

A cold shower should fix that.

It does not fix that.

I get dressed and make my way back downstairs and into the kitchen. This time she doesn't jump; she doesn't even acknowledge my presence.

I let out a sigh as I began messing around the kitchen looking for something to eat.

"Do you have any dietary restrictions?"

"No," she laughs.

Okay then.

I decide to make a simple pasta dish, figuring it"s hard to go wrong with that. As I chop up some tomatoes and garlic, the sound of her typing on the computer fills the room. It's a comforting sound, in a way. At least she seems engrossed in something, even if it's not my company.

Once the pasta is cooking, I start on a quick tomato sauce, the familiar scents filling the kitchen. She finally looks up from her computer, the faintest hint of a smile tugging at her lips as she takes in the scene before her.

"Smells good," she comments, and I feel a rush of satisfaction at her approval.

"Thanks. Homemade."

"I see that. I'm impressed."

She walks into the kitchen now, looking over the ingredients. I dish out two plates of pasta, handing her one without a word.

She smiles as she takes it and walks over to the island. She pulls out a stool and then sits down. I pour a glass of iced tea for each one of us and set hers down in front of her.

She takes her first bite, closing her eyes, and relishing the flavors as she lets out a small moan.

Damn, that is sexy.

"Is it good?"

"It's amazing. Where did you learn to cook like this?"

"Chloe's mom was from Italy. Anything Italian is all from her. Everything else is because of my grandma and mom."

"Are you close with them?"

"I was. They passed away."

"I'm sorry."

We're quiet for a few minutes as we eat.

"What brought you back into town?"

"I have a remote job. I felt like I needed to reset and the best place to do that is by the ocean."

"I thought Josh said you lived in California."

"I do but not by the ocean," she shrugs. "I travel a lot. I have nieces and nephews that I don't really know and I'd like to."

"That's understandable."

"Also, I'd never really had a family. I felt like this is where I needed to be."

"I'm glad you came back, even if it's only temporary."

"I'm sure you are."

"What does that mean?"

"Listen, what happened between us, happened. There's no use revisiting any of it. I learned my lesson the first time."

"Your lesson?" I laugh. "What lesson is that?"

"That you were just looking for a quick fuck and nothing else."

"Is that right?"

"Yeah. It's so obvious. How many times have you had a buddy fake call you that you were being deployed?." she asks, referring to the phone call I got before I left her hotel room all those years ago.

"I was deployed. I'm a pilot in the Army, there was a hurricane."

"Okay."

"Your brother gave me your phone number and I texted you, even called you a few times since I didn't come back that night go back to the bar like I thought I could."

"I never got any text messages, but I also asked him to give you my phone number."

"So you thought that I ghosted you and I thought that you ghosted me."

"It's whatever."

"Is it?"

"You're way too old for me anyway. There's a huge age difference between us which means we're in two totally different parts of our lives. I don't want kids; you have a kid."

"There's not a huge age difference. We're not that different."

She's finished eating and stands up to take her dish to the sink. She starts rinsing it off. I get up and wrap my arms around her from behind. I turn her around and cover her mouth with mine.

As I kiss her, she stiffens for a moment before melting into me. Her hands find their way to my chest, fingers curling into the fabric of my shirt. The taste of tomatoes and pasta lingers on her lips, mixing with the sweetness of her breath. I deepen the kiss, pouring every bit of longing and desire into it.

When we finally pull away, she stares up at me with wide eyes.

"I didn"t... expect that," she breathes out, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Me neither," I admit, my own heart pounding in my chest.

A faint smile tugs at the corners of her lips before she leans in to kiss me again, a silent agreement passing between us as we lose ourselves in each other once more.

I pick her up gently, resting her on the countertop as I do. Her legs wrap around me. My hands go up to her hair, pulling her into me. I trail kisses down her neck, feeling her shiver in response.

As our hands roam and our bodies press together, a sense of urgency builds within me. I want her in a way I"ve never wanted anyone before. But beneath the raw hunger is a tenderness, a longing to make her feel cherished and desired in a way she never has before.

I slide my hands under the hoodie, slowly removing it. My mouth and hands find her full breasts, exploring them thoroughly before I pull her off the counter. I set her down in front of me. She tugs at my shirt and my pants, silently telling me to remove them as she bends to step out of her pants.

I pick her up once more and carry her to the couch. I lay her down on it, before following her. My mouth goes back up to hers before I trail downward. Her neck, her breasts, her stomach. I settle between her thighs, and she sucks in a breath, her hand going up to my hair.

My lips brush against the soft skin of her inner thighs, teasing her with their warmth before slowly moving lower. She lets out a soft moan, her breath hitching as I explore her with my fingers. She"s wet, her desire evident as her hips press into my touch.

I slip a finger inside her, feeling the tightness of her core as she arches up into my hand. Her eyes flutter shut, and her breathing quickens, her hands gripping the couch cushions beneath her. I add a second finger, pushing them in and out, feeling her muscles clench around my digits in a rhythm that leaves us both breathless.

I want more, need to be closer to her. I remove my fingers and run my tongue along her slit, tasting her sweetness before parting her folds with my tongue. She tastes like a delicate wine, intoxicating and arousing, and I find myself desperate to drink her in.

She lets out a soft cry, her hips bucking against my face as I lick and suck, seeking her out and finding her sweet spot. Her fingers thread through my hair, pulling lightly as I go deeper, my tongue probing and teasing, driving her wild with desire.

I can feel her nearing her climax, the tension in her body building, her breath growing shallower and more rapid. And then she"s there, her body shaking as she cries out my name, her orgasm washing over her in waves.

I bring my mouth up to meet hers, kissing her deeply, sharing the taste of her on my lips.

I slide up her body, my erection is hard and throbbing, ready for her. I enter her slowly, feeling her tight, wet heat surround me.

She wraps her legs around me, pulling me deeper inside her. Our bodies rock together in a rhythm that"s both primal and tender, a dance that speaks of our longing and desire.

Her arms encircle me, her fingers digging into my back as I thrust into her, filling her completely. The scent of her skin, the feel of her body beneath me, it"s all too much for me to bear. I can"t resist any longer.

I thrust harder, my hips pounding into her, our bodies slamming together with a force that"s both intense and beautiful. I watch her face, her eyes closed, her lips parted, her breath coming in gasps. She"s lost in the moment, lost in me.

"Harder, please."

I obey, increasing the pace and depth of my thrusts, feeling her walls clamping down on me, the wet, slick sound of our bodies meeting echoing in the room.

Her whimpers fill the air as I continue to drive into her, each thrust harder and faster than the last.

With a low growl, I thrust once more, and she lets out a cry, her body shuddering beneath me. The wave of pleasure crashes over us, and I feel her muscles clenching around me, milking me as I continue to move inside her.

We stay like that for a moment, panting and wrapped up in each other, our bodies still connected in the aftermath of our passion. I pull out of her, and she gasps as my erection slides free, leaving her slick and wet beneath me.

"Shit, are you okay? I shouldn't have been that rough."She laughs and sits up.

"I wouldn't have asked for it to be harder if I couldn't handle it."

She gets up and goes to the kitchen for her clothes.

"Are you sure you're okay?"

"Yes, I'm not a fragile flower, Ryder," she sighs. "Is there a bathroom somewhere in this mansion of yours?"

"Yes, I'll show you."

I lead her to the bathroom trying to shake the feeling that I hurt her or that we had sex too soon while she should be resting.

I thought that would curb my urges toward her but now I need more.