own.
“Thank you,” Ronnie says softly, smiling in gratitude as their lips part.
“I will do anything for you, Ronnie. Anything. I love you,” he says, finally giving voice to his feelings.
Ronnie feels a rush of heat at his words. “You what?” she asks softly after a pause.
“I’m falling for you Veronica,” he murmurs softly, stilling his hips and looking into Ronnie’s shocked face, hoping he hasn’t made a mistake by telling her how he feels.
She can’t believe what he just said. After all they have been through, to profess his love so matter-of-factly like that. “I don’t understand,” she says gently. “Why are you saying this?”
“Because it’s true,” he says before kissing her. “You are the most incredible woman I have ever met. I… want to get to know you. Really get to know you.”
“You don’t know what you are saying,” Ronnie says softly as she can feel tears welling in her eyes. “You can’t mean it.”
“I do know, and I do mean it,” Ryker replies before kissing her again. “I am falling in love with you, Dr. Veronica Baker. I have known you almost a month now, and I have never felt like this about anyone else. Ever. I want you and no other. I will always want you. I want to spend time with you, to explore what these feeling mean. I want you by my side… and in my bed,” he adds as he starts to thrust again. “I want you Ronnie,” he says again, increasing the power and speed of his thrusts. “I want all of you. I want your body and heart and soul.”
Ronnie still can’t believe it, but somehow she knows it’s true. And she feels the same. She has never felt about anyone else the way she feels about Ryker. Being in his presence makes her feel alive. As he begins to pound into her, she gasps in delight and she pulls him down for a long, sloppy kiss. Being his presence may make her feel alive, but being in his bed makes her feel young! As she releases Ryker from the kiss, he rises up, driving into her with intent now, his face fierce with passion… and she smiles. “I love you too, Ryker Evans,” she says softly.
He feels his heart soar at those six little words. The most incredible woman in the universe has just professed her love for him! He lowers himself to her once more, taking her lips as her arms surround him, pulling him into the kiss.
CHAPTER TEN
Ryker reaches for the phone buzzing on the nightstand. The sun is just coming over the horizon and Ronnie is still asleep, snuggled in comfortably close. “Evans,” Ryker says softly, so to not wake her. They had made love long into the night, falling asleep only after being overcome with exhaustion and were unable to continue. Well, he wasn’t anyway. Ronnie, on the other hand, seems to be insatiable.
“Evans. Hargraves. We have a target. Kadar Masood in Trye.”
“Do you have an address for me, Colonel?” Ryker asks, reaching for the pad and pen, causing Ronnie to stir. Hargraves gives him the address.
“Make this happen soon Evans. I don’t know how long this information is going to be good.”
“Understood. I am not familiar with Trye, so I will have to do a little research. But I will try to make it happen tonight.”
“Carry on,” Hargraves says briskly. “If you have to bag him, do not bring him to the embassy. Stash him somewhere and the CIA will come to you. Understood?”
“Understood, Colonel. I will be in touch.”
“Very good. And Ryker... I know this is a shit mission, so be careful. Getting yourself killed isn’t going to find the virus.”
He rolls his eyes. Fine time to be worried about his safety now after sending him out with almost no support. “Understood sir.”
“Good luck,” Hargraves says before ending the call.
“Who was that?” Ronnie asks sleepily.
“Hargraves. I’m a go,” he says, typing the address into his smart phone.
She can feel a chill of