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

by A.L. Jackson

“Tell me I’m not too late. Tell me you still love me.” There was no stopping the plea. Pain and desperation twisted through her expression. “Do you think I could ever stop loving you?”

“Haven’t you learned yet that you don’t need to ride in like the cavalry, Ryder?” “I already rode in, Cookie, so you might as well let me.”

I’d started calling her that years ago. Now there was no way I could stop.

“Guess I like you on your knees for me.” A snort left my nose. I’d been for years, and she didn’t have a clue.

“I just care about you, Dakota. About Kayden.”

“You know I can’t call you every time some little thing goes wrong in my life and expect you to come running, Ryder. You’ve already done enough for me. Too much.”

“That’s where you have it wrong, Dakota. You can. I expect you to call me. Whatever you need. And there is no such thing as too much

Because I’d wanted to give her everything I had, but the only thing I had been able to do was give her the one gift that I could.

She viewed it as a debt. Like something she needed to repay. She could never understand that what I’d given her was my heart.

“I don’t want you to waste your time on me,” she whispered. “I know you have your own life. Things you need to take care of.”

“You could never be a waste, Dakota Cooper.”

“Be safe, Dakota.” Cinnamon eyes watched me like they could see through to my sins. “You, too.”

I’d been in love with Ryder Nash since I was nineteen, probably earlier than that if I was being honest with myself. I was working on getting over that, though.

She tsked a sound of surprised disbelief. “That boy always seems to know when you’re in trouble, doesn’t he?” I couldn’t keep from rolling my eyes. “He didn’t know I was in trouble. We just happened to be in the same place at the same time.” It wasn’t like he had some sort of sixth sense about me.

Love is on the house.

“You’ve always liked feeding me, haven’t you? Taking care of me?” “I thought that’s what we do for each other.”

I promise I will take care of you. Protect you.” “Why?” “Because protecting you is what I was created to do.”

“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?” A scoff quivered free. “I might not know where you spend your time, Ryder, but I know how you spend it.”

“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.”

“Do you really think I’m going to let you out of this house to go meet some random guy? I don’t think so, Dakota. It’s not safe.”

“Do I think you’re not desirable, Dakota? You’re the most desirable woman I’ve ever met. And yeah, I think you’re worthy of love. Worthy of it more than anyone I know. Don’t ever mistake that.”

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

“Is that what you want, Dakota? You want me to touch you?”

“I’ve wanted you to touch me since I understood what desire meant.”

“I think I know what you need. I’m the one who knows you best, remember?” It almost sounded of a warning, and he pressed his mouth back to that sensitive spot and murmured, “Might make me a fucking bastard, but I want to be the one to give it to you. I don’t want to stop.”

“Cookie. Have been dying to touch you like this for so long.”

“This ass, Dakota. Thing dreams are made of. Did you know that? The way I’ve wanted to get my hands all over it? Mark it? Claim it?”

“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.”

“What I’m thinking right now is I have a goddess kneeling in front of me.” “I’ve always been here, Ryder. On my knees for you.” “No, Cookie. It’s always been me. A beggar at your feet.”

“No one implied that I did. I want to. I want to see you. I want to touch you. I want to taste you, too.”

“Do I want you to? I’ve been dying to feel that sweet mouth around my cock for years. You don’t have the first idea how fucking bad I want you, do you, Dakota? How many times I’ve imagined you just like this, getting ready to wrap those perfect pink lips around my dick?”

“Suck me like a good girl, Dakota.”

“Cookie. Fuck. Your mouth. So good, baby. Always knew you were going to wreck me.”

“Never thought I’d see something so perfect, Dakota. Look at you. So fucking gorgeous with my cock in your mouth.”

“You are playing with fire, Dakota Cooper.” “Maybe I want to burn.”