Ryder’s POV
Iris was leaning her head against the passenger window, her eyes half-closed.
She looked completely exhausted.
As we neared the downtown strip, the bright pink neon sign of a trendy bakery caught my eye.
I remembered she used to post photos of their pastries a long time ago.
“Pull over, Jax.” I told the driver.
Iris blinked, sitting up.
“Why are we stopping?
I thought you were taking me home.”
”Yea.” I flashed her a smug grin.
“Wait here.” Then opened the door and stepped out into the cool night air, leaving her in the car.
The bakery was packed with a long, slow-moving line that spilled onto the sidewalk.
“What is this?” I sighed, I didn’t do lines!
But looking back at the SUV with Iris watching me, I guess I had no choice now.
“Hi there,” a soft voice purred beside me.
I turned my head slightly, and found a young woman in a short dress smiling up at me with an overly confident look.
She was actively twirling a strand of hair around her finger, “Are you waiting all by yourself? Because my friends and I have a table inside, and we have an extra seat if you want to skip the line.”
My voice was completely flat as I responded.
“No, thanks. I’m buying dessert for my girlfriend. She’s waiting in the car.”
The girl’s smile instantly froze.
Her cheeks flustered and she mumbled a quick apology before scrambling off.
Finally, it got to my turn after a long wait.
I stepped up to the counter, bought a small box of their signature strawberry tarts, and headed back to the SUV.
Iris was staring at the pink box in my hands as I passed it to her, “your favorites?”
She opened the lid, and a sweet, sugary aroma instantly filled the car.
“Oooh, I’ve missed these!” she stuffed one into her mouth, a satisfied moan escaping her throat as she chewed.
I loved how she chewed with delight.
“Yeah,” she whispered, looking up at me.
“It’s really—”
Before she could finish the sentence, I leaned forward, meeting her lips in a deep, lingering kiss.
I could taste the sweet, rich strawberry and sugar on her tongue, mixed with the intoxicating warmth of her skin.
She gasped against my mouth, her body going soft against mine for a split second before I finally pulled back.
“Hmm,” I muttered, “it tastes really good.”
Iris sat back, her cheeks were bright red under the dim car lights, reacting to the surprise of the moment.
The engine ticked as it cooled.
Iris hadn’t reached for the door handle yet, and neither had I suggested she should.
“Goodnight, then,” I said, though it came out rougher than I meant it to, like my voice didn’t quite believe the words.
She turned toward me, and that was all the invitation I needed.
I reached over, fingers finding her jaw, and drew her in.
The first press of her mouth was soft, almost a question.
Then she answered it, her hand curling into the front of my shirt, and the kiss tipped over into something greedier.
I felt the small catch of her breath against my lips, felt her lean into me like she couldn’t help it, and something in my chest went tight and hot at once.
Her tongue met mine, slow and certain, and I angled my head to get more of her, one hand sliding to the curve of her waist like I needed something to hold onto.
When we broke apart, it was because my lungs demanded it, a ragged pull of air.
Iris’s forehead dropped against mine, her breath coming in short, uneven pulls that matched my own.
Neither of us moved to close the distance again, but neither of us moved away either, the inches between our mouths were the only thing keeping this from starting all over.
“Goodnight, sweetheart,” I said, when I could finally trust my voice again.
I set my pen down and leaned back in my chair, frowning slightly.
“Mom? What are you really doing here?” I asked again.
“What? I brought soup for you. We both know how lazy you can be with cooking…” She stopped mid-sentence as she approached me, taking a closer look at me.
The container of soup still held out in front of her, her eyes locked somewhere around my throat.
I resisted the urge to touch my collar.
I’d seen it myself in the mirror, a faint purple bloom just above my Adam’s apple, courtesy of the moment with her.
I hadn’t exactly planned around visitors.
“What?” I asked, sitting straight.
“Is that what I think it is?
A hickey?”
”Mom.”
”Who is she?” There was something bright and a little frantic in her expression that I hadn’t seen in a while.
“It’s nothing serious,” I said, which was true.
I still had work to do with Iris, so she could be mine completely.
“But you’re seeing someone.
Oh, thank God.”
”It’s just that you’ve never brought anyone home in years!
You’ve never even talked about anyone, and I thought maybe you just weren’t going to tell me that you…that maybe men were more…” She cut herself off, cheeks going pink.
I almost laughed out.
She thought I was gay?
“Tell me about her!” She didn’t wait for an answer before continuing, “Is she from a good family?
Does she want children?
You should have a baby soon, Ryder, you’re not getting any younger, and I would like to hold my grandchild while I still have the knees to chase one around!—”
”Mom.” I laughed, dragging a hand down my face, though I was fighting a smile.
“Oh my goodness,” she gasped, her hand flying to her mouth.
“This is the greatest news ever. My sweet Ryder is seeing someone.” She giggled, then I didn’t hear the rest of the muttering she did to herself again.
I took a slow sip of my water, keeping my eyes on her.