She threw my words back in my face, and I growled. The need to prove my attraction to her battled with the promise I gave her brother. It was a full-fledged war, but before I could decide who won, she got up, picked up her sweatshirt from the couch, and stood in front of me. I was much taller, so even though I sat on the ground, her face wasn’t far from mine.
“You look furious right now,” she said, frowning and almost looking disappointed. “There’s no harm in us being attracted to each other, okay? We’re single, healthy people who checked the other person out. It doesn’t have to be a big deal. I know you don’t have time for distractions, and my brother wouldn’t forgive me, or you, so there are a million reasons why I shouldn’t wonder what it feels like to kiss you.”
“Ryann,” I pleaded, unsure what I wanted her to say. Hearing her state it out loud made me focus on her lips, how full and soft they looked, and sparked my attraction even more. I’d bet my scholarship she kissed like she smiled, all-in, one hundred percent, and god, I wanted to find out.
“I know.” She smiled, reached over, and ran her fingers through my hair. I closed my eyes and almost groaned at how good it felt. She did it a couple more times before letting go. “I’m capable of ignoring this thing between us and staying friends. I think we make a good pair. But if you feel different and want to go back to ignoring each other… I could survive it. It would suck, but I’d do it because I really do like living here. It’s your call though.”
She didn’t say anything else before going back to her room and shutting the door. The sound of the shower came on, and knowing my ridiculous sexy roommate was wet and naked with a wall between us—I had to take care of this attraction. With inappropriate thoughts of Ryann, I got into my shower and wrapped my fingers around my already hard shaft, pumping and resting my head against the shower wall.
How would her skin feel against mine? Would she groan like she did with the sit-ups? How heavy would her breasts feel in my hands? God, pleasure zipped through me the harder I pumped. My balls tightened, and I cupped them, pulling on them as I came into my hand. Heat spread through me, my skin tingling from an orgasm that should’ve settled me down.
I hadn’t been controlled by lust inyears. Sex was a release, a way to pass time, not something I sought out, yet I hadn’t even touched Ryann and I wanted her. This could very much be a problem.
I finished in the shower, feeling dirty knowing I thought of her nipples and her sounds the entire time I jerked off. I threw on a pair of athletic shorts and a long-sleeved shirt before heading into my bedroom without a plan. Not having the ability to leave should’ve stifled me, but instead, it was almost freeing. The pressures to get better, to work out, to skate on the ice all evaporated because I had no choice in the matter.
I wasn’t ready to face Ryann yet, so I plopped onto my bed as my phone rang. “Hey, Dad.”
“My boy, you seem happy.” His scratchy voice brought me back to reality. He sounded tired and worn out. How the hell could I be thinking of Ryann when he was suffering? Was I going to risk my focus, my team chemistry for some girl? No.Absolutelynot.
“I’m good. How are you?”
“Well,” he paused and cleared his throat. My anxiety shot through the roof. “Your mom called.”
“Lawyer bullshit again?” I scoffed.
“Well, she, uh, thinks I’ve tarnished your opinion of her.”
“Nope. She did that on her own. All on her own.” I gripped the phone tighter, the familiar rage burning up my chest, making my words come out choppy. “What does she want now?”
“She’s going to reach out to you.” My dad sounded so sad. I closed my eyes. “I know it’s hard, Jonah, but she’s your mom.”
“She left us, okay? I’m never going to forgive her. She chose the coward’s way out and crushed both of us. It’s you and me, Dad. You and me.”
He sighed, and I could hear the relief in his voice. “I know I’m not supposed to want to hear that and I would never, ever make you feel bad if you want a relationship with her. She’s your mom, and if some day you make it work, don’t hide it from me.”
“Dad.”
“Not done.” He gulped. “But all that being said, you’re my best bud, Jonah. I’m pretty damn lucky and thankful you’re my son.”
My eyes stung briefly, and I swallowed down the emotion. “I got lucky with you too, Dad.”
“Now, I didn’t call because of her. Wanted to see if we could get together since it’s your off day.”
“Well, I would, but I’m stuck in our place since the stairs went out. Ryann and I can’t go anywhere.”
“Oh good, how’s the new roommate? He a hockey fan?”
“Ah, well.” I cleared my throat, the guilt of what I did in the shower washing over me. “Ryann is a girl, actually. She’s Michael Reiner’s little sister.”
It was rare my dad was speechless, but his lack of response made butterflies explode in my stomach.
“There was a little name mix-up, and well, he knows and it’s going okay. Better than okay. She’s…awesome.”
“Oh, that makes me happy.”
“Yeah. I wasn’t thrilled at first, but if anyone understands what my life is like, it’s her.”
“Is she starstruck with you?”
