My eyes immediately go to his chest, where I find a new tattoo among the other older, faded ones. This one stands out. Not only because the ink is still dark, but also because it’s the only one that has color. All his other tattoos are black and gray.
“You got a new tattoo?”
“Yeah, take a closer look.” Ryder climbs on the bed next to me, so I can look at the intricate artwork up close. As soon as I realize what it is, my throat tightens.
It’s an owl—a beautiful, detailed owl, with big blue eyes and soft-looking feathers. The chest of the owl is heart-shaped and written inside the heart are mine and Gwen’s names.
“You like it?”
“Yes.” I nod my head, trying to hold the tears at bay. “It doesn’t really match your other tattoos, but I love it.”
“I know I don’t say this a lot, and I know our life together started more like a nightmare than a fairytale, but I love you. You know that, right?”
“Ryder, I knew it before you figured it out yourself. And even though you don’t say it a lot, you show me every day, and that’s way more important than any words.”
“You’re perfect,” he murmurs, right before he leans down and takes one of my nipples in his mouth. He sucks so hard, my body arches off the bed.
Ryder moves us around and positions himself between my legs while switching to the other breast to give it equal attention. He enters me with one hard thrust.
My head tips back into the pillow, and I hold on to Ryder’s biceps as he moves inside of me. Pleasure ripples through my body. He takes me roughly, his fingers digging into my hips to hold me in place, but his lips are soft as he gently kisses along my neck.
As always, he is a contradiction in himself. Soft and hard. Gentle and rough.
Ryder is all jagged edges on the outside, rough and cold, but there is tenderness inside of him he only shows Gwen and me. A light that only shines when near us.
“I love you,” he murmurs into my skin.
“I love you too.” I love every part of him, even the ugly part. Just like he loves all of me. That’s what love is about. You can’t choose part of someone to love. You have to love everything—the good and the bad.
No one is perfect. The only thing that is, is the love between two people… and that we have plenty of.
* * *