Xena''s POV


    "I''m not telling," Ryder said with that mysterious half-smile that made my stomach


    flutter.


    "Fine," I replied softly, trying to sound indifferent despite the curiosity burning inside me. We walked side by side in silence, our shoulders asionally brushing. I had no idea what was going through Ryder''s mind-his expression was always so difficult to read-but I could feel the tension crackling in the air between


    us.


    The golf cart that had brought us here was parked in front of the pack house. We climbed in, and Ryder drove us past several houses toward the outskirts. My heart raced with each passing second, unsure of where we were heading but unable to deny the thrill of being


    alone with him.


    As we crested a small hill, a cluster of lights appeared ahead. Fireflies danced in the darkness, seemingly guiding our path. When the cart finally stopped, I saw a nket spread on the ground, adorned with pillows and a tray of food.


    "This looks nice," I said, genuinely surprised by the effort he''d put into this.


    "Just be yourself," he said quietly, his green eyes reflecting the moonlight.


    "You got angry when I was being myself earlier tonight," I mumbled as I climbed out of the cart. Ryder paused for a moment, then walked over and ced a gentle


    kiss on my


    forehead.


    My heart jolted like it had been struck by lightning, and the dark cloud that had been hanging over my head dissipated. He pulled me toward the nkets. "Hope you like cold


    pasta."


    "I''m sure it''ll be fine. Thanks for do


    this." We sat down, and Ryder served us


    each a te. The chicken alfredo wasn''t the best I''d ever had, but I wasn''t about toin. Truthfully, even the most unappetizing food would have tasted like a gourmet meal


    shared with him in this moment.


    "I couldn''t take you on a tropical getaway for your birthday, or to the mountains. This was the best I coulde up with," he said, his voice carrying a hint of uncertainty.


    "It''s perfect," I said sincerely, "I don''t need anything fancy or expensive. I just need something thates from the heart. This is really perfect." I felt my voice quiver slightly and hoped he didn''t notice the tears glistening in my eyes.


    The atmosphere was still a bit awkward, but it was slowly improving. We each only ate half our food before setting our tes aside.


    “Where did William and Amara go?" I asked as wey down. Ryder positioned his arm beneath my head, letting me rest against his chest. Though the temperature was warm enough not to need a nket, I grabbed one anyway and draped it over my legs. His heartbeat was steady against my ear, making me feel safer than I ever had before.


    "He arranged a date for himself and Amara. She thought it was going to be a double date,


    So..."


    "Well, I wouldn''t want to ruin their evening anyway," I said softly, thinking to myself: But I''m d to have you all to myself.


    Ryder ced his fingers under my chin, lifting my face to his. "I''m sorry too."


    I gave him a gentle kiss before settling back against his chest. I could feel his warmth through the thin fabric of his shirt, heating my entire body. In this moment, our earlier arguments and misunderstandings seemed insignificant.


    "When do we have to go back?" I asked, not wanting this perfect moment to end.


    "We don''t have to go back," Ryder said. He gazed up at the stars. "That''s the Big Dipper."


    "It''s a full moon tonight," I replied,pletely rxed now. I sneaked a nce at his phone. The time showed 11:24 pm. Thirty-six minutes until my birthday, I thought, but didn''t say it aloud.


    "Will you wear that red dress tomorrow?" he suddenly asked.


    "Yes, I will."


    "Good."


    Ryder turned so that I was lying beneath him, his body covering mine. His hand caressed my cheek, his eyes speaking volumes though his lips remained silent. Instead, he ced a


    soft kiss on my lips.


    Gradually, the kiss deepened, and I could feel his cock pressing against me. My heart was pounding so fast I thought it might burst through my chest, an instinctual attraction making it impossible to resist him.


    "If you don''t want this, we can stop now," Ryder said, breaking the kiss to look directly


    into my eyes.


    "Touch me," I practically begged.


    He crashed his lips against mine. His hands pushed my dress upward, quickly removing it from my body. Ryder stared at me, my matching whitece bra and panties eliciting a deep growl from his chest before his mouth captured my nipple.


    "Oh!" I moaned as he yed with the other one. God, I wanted this so badly. I grabbed his shirt, making sure to remove it as he continued sucking on my breast. I needed to feel his


    skin against mine.


    Ryder''s hungry movements slowed as he moved back up. "Damn, I want you so badly," he


    whispered in my ear.


    "Then have me," I whispered back.


    "Once the bond isplete, I''ll possess you entirely," he promised, his hand covering my most intimate ce. "Open your legs for me."


    As if my body had a will of its own, my legs parted. He moved my panties aside


    and slipped a finger inside. His thumb yed with my most sensitive spot, making me writhe


    involuntarily.


    "Oh, Ryder!" I moaned, my nails digging deep into the nket. In this moment, I waspletely his, and he waspletely mine.


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