Don't Forget Me Tomorrow (Time River, #2)

by A.L. Jackson

Friends, even though it was fucking painful being this close to her most of the time. But I would take her any way I could have her.

touching her was the last thing I could do. I wouldn’t taint her goodness with the sickness of me.

“You’ll stay here as long as needed, Dakota. Until we know you’re safe, and I won’t let you go a second before that.”

“You think any of those women could ever be more important than you?”

“More than that, you think I’ve ever brought one of them here?”

“But that time isn’t important, Dakota. It’s wasted. Squandered. Told you before, if you need me, I’m there. It doesn’t matter what I’m doing. I would never forget you. Do you understand?”

“I can’t take that risk with you, Dakota, and not with Kayden, either. Please. Stay with me.” “We each have our own lives, Ryder.” I forced it out around the tumult. His teeth ground. “You are my life, Dakota.”

“She looks at you like you’re a fucking saint walking on water.”

the only person I want to touch me is you.”

“Ryder, no, I’m going to break it.” A growl ripped from him, and his hands cinched down on the tops of my thighs. “You’re not going to fucking break it. And if it breaks, then we broke that shit together.”

“So gorgeous, Dakota.” His voice was hushed, dragging through the dense air. “Earth shatteringly beautiful. You make the world stop spinning every time I look at you.”

“Is this what you needed, Cookie?” The reverberation of his words rolled through me. “You needed my mouth on you? Needed me to taste this sweet cunt?” I barely wheezed a desperate, “Yes.” “Good girl,”

“I want you to fuck me, Ryder. I want to feel you. All of you.”

“What I would do to be good enough for you.” “You’re wrong. Whatever you’re thinking right now, you’re wrong, Ryder Nash.”

“You’re looking at me like you want me to wreck you, too.” “You wrecked me a long time ago.”

“He’s a fool, Dakota. A fucking fool. You’re beautiful. Everything about you. The inside. The outside. That smile and the way you light up the room. Don’t fucking listen to anyone who ever tells you otherwise.”

“Don’t forget about me while I’m gone?” she couldn’t help but call to his retreating form. He stalled, and he looked back at her through the wisps of the night. “No, Cookie, I could never forget about you.”

“Fuck, Cookie. I have to be dreaming. You feel so good. So fucking good. Your sweet, perfect cunt hugging my cock. Show me how good you can take it.”

“I love you, Dakota. I’m gone for you. Since I was twenty-two fucking years old, I’ve been gone for you. Since you became the one thing in this world that could soothe the ache inside me. Since you became the reason to look beyond my circumstances. Since you reminded me of the good things this world might have to offer.”

“You saved me, Dakota. Saved me when I was lost. When I’d given up. And I keep trying to push you away because I know I don’t deserve you. But I can’t do that any longer. I can’t fucking deny that you are the one thing in this life that I’ve been living for. You are the light breaking the darkness inside me. And I’m begging you, please don’t walk away.”

these arms were just made for you.”

“You think I smell like sugar and vanilla?” “That’s right.” He angled up and pecked a kiss to my mouth. “Cookie.” Oh. “That’s what that means? I always thought it was because you liked my cookies.”

“Oh, I like your cookies, Dakota.”

“I love you, Cookie.” “I don’t think I’m ever going to get tired of hearing that.” “Good, because you’re going to be hearing it forever.”

“And what does it make you feel like?” Her question was raspy. I tightened my hold, my lips riding up her neck in the barest kiss until I was murmuring in her ear, “Like I just stumbled into paradise. Heaven. Except it’s more than that, Dakota. It’s like I’m coming home for the first time after I’ve been missing for an eternity.”

“What do you think you’re doing?” “Carrying my woman to my bed, where she belongs.” “You’re going to drop me.” “You keep forgetting these arms were made for you. Think it’s time we make sure you remember.”

“Swear you were made for me. This body. This heart. Can you feel it?” “I feel it. I need it. I need you.”

“You have me, Cookie. Always. Forever. I could never forget you.”

And I fell completely into him. Lost in his darkness. Covered in midnight.