Just a Little Crush(16)

“I’ve endured two hours of waiting for them to pass out just to get this chance. If you want to leave, I understand, but if you stay, I fully intend to kiss you. Your choice.” His lips swept over mine again. “But you need to make a decision quick because your mouth is too perfect not to kiss. If you don’t walk out of my suite right now, I won’t be able to stop.”

I should leave. Just turn around and pretend none of this ever happened. But then Ryder’s mouth covered mine, taking every bit of my argument with it.

He pulled me into his room, never breaking our kiss, and closed the door. My back pressed against the wall as he slid his hands down my body. His tongue tangled with mine.

He brought one hand to my face and ran his thumb against my cheek while sliding his fingers into my hair. He worked his other hand under my shirt and up my ribs then grazed his thumb over my satin bra.

A moan escaped my mouth, heating my face with embarrassment. I wanted to pull away, but he only seemed more encouraged. His thumb made small circles and my knees weakened. He pressed his thigh between my legs and another moan slipped out. Shit. What was he doing to me?

His hands went to my thighs as he wrapped my legs around him and carried me to his bed. The thick comforter padded my back as he settled over me. Heat radiated off his body and every inch of me longed for him to come crashing down.

“Nothing but kissing. I promise.”

I nodded, while secretly hoping he broke promises.

His mouth returned to mine and he nibbled my bottom lip before slipping his tongue past.

I lifted my hand and tentatively skimmed my fingers over his neck. He deepened the kiss and my grip tightened. The metal ring contrasted with his soft, full bottom lip. It was so incredibly sexy I couldn’t stop myself from running my tongue along it again and biting down.

He groaned and lowered his body. The hardness pressing through his jeans triggered my moan. He tensed and there was a good chance I’d die from embarrassment. He was probably waiting for me to run, like I’d done four years ago.

Ryder shifted a little and pressed into me again, sending my head spinning. I gripped his back and my hips bucked slightly.

“Brinley.” My name came out like a plea as he repeated the motion.

The way his mouth caressed my name made me desperate to feel his lips. I pushed my tongue into his mouth, wanting him to devour me.

He broke the kiss and pressed his forehead to mine. His chest expanded as he took two deep breaths. “Ruined,” he whispered.

Was he worried he’d ruin me? If that was supposed to scare me, it did the complete opposite.

He lowered his mouth to my neck and sucked with gentle pressure then ran his tongue over the tender spot. He alternated between pressing kisses into my neck and exploring my mouth with his tongue.

We lay like that, kissing, groping, exploring, for what seemed like an eternity yet it’d never be enough. My lips were tender and swollen but I wanted more of him. I couldn’t get enough—and given the way he kissed me, it seemed he felt the same way. Heat pooled in my stomach, spread into my fingers and toes. My belly tightened and sounds beyond my control escaped my lips.

He nipped at my earlobe and whispered, “Come for me.”

A wall slammed down.

Everything came into focus. His grip on my waist. My hips rocking against him as he pressed into me, grinding our bodies together. My ragged breathing. The building sensations. Holy shit. I was about to, and we weren’t even anywhere near having sex.

I shoved Ryder off. “I’ve got to go,” I mumbled, and darted from his room. Like I was fifteen all over again, embarrassment was the only thing forcing my legs to move.

I rushed through the living room, past a sleeping Noah, and opened the door.

“Brinley, wait.”

My throat was dry and some stupid part of me was all choked up. I flew into the hallway, never glancing back. I had to get away.

Thankfully, there weren’t any pools to fall into this time.

—

The next day in class I popped two ibuprofen and washed them down with a healthy dose of caffeine. While Cassidy and Noah probably nursed beer hangovers, I nursed a Ryder hangover.

After rushing from his place the previous night, I lay in bed unable to sleep, and wound up in more ways than one. Not only was my entire body still flaming from memories of his touch, my head spun with questions. He could have any girl he wanted, why did he decide to pursue me last night? He’d always been confident in high school—bordering on cocky—and went after what he wanted, but he’d never spared me a glance. Had he?

Dammit. Why did I even let him kiss me? I never had a problem saying no to guys, so why had I been so freaking willing with him? But, of course, I knew the answer to that one already. No matter how much I claimed to hate him, a part of me had always wanted Ryder. And since he’d been away at college, he’d grown his hair out, pierced his lip and defied logic by becoming even more irresistible. It really wasn’t fair that one guy should house that much—well, everything. He oozed sexy. From his annoying little I-know-a-secret smirk to his I’m-mentally-undressing-you green eyes, he had me wound so tight I wanted to burst. Hell, I almost had.