Rocking his pelvis against mine, he reawakens the passion I thought we’d knocked out earlier that morning. I tighten my legs around his hips, pulling him even closer, and he presses down into me, his arousal evident through his jeans. “They’re going to love you.”
“Well, they’d better,” I say lightly, “because I’m awesome.”
His chest rumbles with laughter. “Damn right you are.”
I tilt my head, my lips pursing as something occurs to me. “Does this mean I’m your girlfriend?”
Leaning down, Ransom kisses me softly. “Do you want to be?”
“I think I do,” I say, lifting up to run my tongue along his jaw.
He groans, moving his head to the side as I continue on down his neck. “Then it’s settled. Now put your hand down my pants and play with my cock.”
“I’m not even your girlfriend for two minutes and already you’re demanding things of me,” I tease as I release the button on his jeans. “I hope you don’t think this means you own me.”
“Oh, baby,” he growls as I take him into my hand. “I’ve owned you since the moment I laid eyes on you. You just didn’t know it.”
***
As far as being Ransom’s girlfriend goes, it’s pretty unremarkable. In fact, it’s just what I imagine being in a relationship with a regular guy my age would be, just with a dash of cloak and dagger crap. Dating on the DL means we can’t be seen together outside of class, and if we cross paths in public, it’s a simple, quick hello and we’re on our way. Going into it, I hadn’t realized how hard it would be to actually be with him, but it is. It so is.
After spending the rest of the day together, Ransom suggested that I get out of the house and reconnect with the outside world. He was right, of course. As much as I would like to dominate all of his time, it’s not healthy to be so wrapped up in another person. Plus, his isn’t the only relationship I need to nurture, and I assume the same is true for him. So, we agreed to part ways for the weekend. I spent most of mine at home catching up on homework and wondering what Ransom was up to. Was he working, too? Visiting family? Or catching up with someone else—Red perhaps? Even now, the thought makes my stomach knot up. He hadn’t exactly been shy about shoving her under my nose before. What was to say he wouldn’t continue seeing her behind my back?
Already, trust is a major factor.
Another thing that’s not normal about us: I don’t have any way to contact him. No number. No address. Outside of the classroom, I have no earthly clue how to get in touch with him.
“Are you kidding me?” Annie looks appalled. I don’t know why I told her any of this, but sharing the load makes it somewhat more bearable. “What kind of relationship is this anyway?”
“A secret one,” I whisper harshly over the table. Maybe discussing this over lunch in the cafeteria first thing on a Monday wasn’t such a good idea. There are students everywhere.
Leaning over her steaming cup of vanilla chai tea, she says, “It sounds more like a booty call. You can’t seriously tell me that you’re okay with this.”
No, I can’t. I thought I was okay with it, but I’m beginning to realize this is just another phase of our hotel room arrangement. Only now, he gets to save himself the added cost of screwing me.
I think of how Ransom looked at me this morning in class. Nothing that would be obvious to an outsider, but I recognized that look in his eye, the subtle, secret smile recalling memories that only he and I share. It almost wiped away the worries that have been worming their way into my psyche.
God, I’m an idiot.
Poking at my tuna salad, I can’t meet her eyes. I feel defensive, like she’s attacking me, even though she hasn’t said one word against me. “You don’t know him. He’s sweet.”
“Sweet? He’s sweet? Honey, seriously, pull your head out of the sand. This may have been cute before, but it’s not now. He’s just another man abusing his power. Instead of turning a blind eye, you need to be asking yourself how many other girls he’s done this with.”
My gaze snaps up, and my mouth curves down. I could hurl the same words back at her about her relationship, but I leave the dying argument lying on the table between us. There’s no sense in getting into a fight over something that I know Ransom wouldn’t do. But even as I think it, I question how certain I really am.
Despite where we started, as far as I know, Ransom’s one of the good guys. He’s been upfront about everything right from the start. There’s no reason to search for deception. But who’s to say that there isn’t a trail of teary-eyed girls laid out behind me? What if I’m not the exception to the rule? The thought is unsettling and I move to change the topic.