I tilt my head. “We’re here.” We arrive at the landing. If we turn left, we’ll head toward my room. If we go right, his.
“Where?”
“Wherever you want,” I say with a cheeky look. “But you have to take the lead. Like I said, I’m done chasing.”
And now it’s his turn to take my hand and walk me to his bedroom. He opens the door and shuts it firmly.
A whine comes from behind the door.
I giggle. “Archie’s upset.”
“He’ll get over it.”
He clicks on a lamp, and I wander through his room. Though it’s not the first time I’ve been in it, I’m taking it in properly because the night of the storm, and the next morning, I was too emotional and overwhelmed to really appreciate and digest the decor.
I laugh. “If only your fans could see this. It isn’t exactly a manly suite, Ryder. This is a thirteen-year-old boy’s room.” Perhaps I shouldn’t tease, but I can’t help it. “You have sports trophies, and”—I peer closer at a picture on his desk—“a soccer team photo. Damn, though, you really were a cute kid, even back then.”
His expression is amused. And maybe a little embarrassed. “Very funny. My grandmother never got around to updating the decor,” he says.
“There’s even a nautical theme,” I gasp in mirth. “It’s like the Pottery Barn Kids catalog in here. I really wanted to be seduced tonight. I even promised to give you three kisses as a reward for doing good date planning. And when I say three kisses, I mean three kissesanywhere. But I’m sorry, with the lights on, I’m not sure if I can be seduced in here. Oh my God, no wonder you took Mallory Sweet to the attic. Because this room would absolutely not do the trick.”
“You had no problems with it the other night,” he growls, as he crosses the room and turns off the light. We descend into darkness.
And then I feel calloused fingers on my shoulders. With one flick, the spaghetti strap of my dress slides down my arm. With another flick, the other one slides. Then, with a slight pull, my entire dress falls off me. Darn silky fabric. It can’t be trusted.
I’m standing in the darkened room, with the moon on the water for light, in a strapless baby-pink bra and matching lace underwear.
“Fuck,” he breathes. And he’s forgiven for all of it. The soccer trophies and the nautical theme. Because just that word, desire tinged with reverence, reaches straight to my pussy and fills me with need.
I feel beautiful. I feel wanted.
I feel seen.
He’s so getting all the kisses he wants.
I step away from my dress and bend down to unstrap my high-heeled sandals. When I stand, Ryder runs his fingers down my sides, causing shivers to spread throughout my body. He follows my bra to my cleavage and dips his hand in, displaying one breast to his heated gaze.
He lowers his head and takes my nipple through my bra. Pleasure shoots through me.
I step away shakily. “No, no, no, Ryder. You’re not playing this game correctly. I saidyouget three kisses. And until I give them, you’re not allowed to touch any of this.” I gesture to my body.
And because I’m just a little mean, I stroke over the edge of my bra, following it to the front, and then undo the clasp. With a shrug, I stand before him half naked, wearing just the smallest, flimsiest scrap of pink lace on my bottom.
“How are you even real?” he breathes.
“Flattery will get you everywhere,” I whisper shakily. “Where would you like the first kiss?”
He watches me with an intensity that makes my blood feel like warm chocolate in my veins, eyes lingering on the thin pink triangle of fabric covering me, then my tits, then tracking to my mouth. He swallows. “You choose.”
“Hmmm. Well, so many gorgeous choices,” I say, leaning into him. “I could start with the obvious. I love the way you kiss me. I love your tongue in my mouth. And the way you grab myass and pull me toward you. That sound you make. And how you bite my lip gently when you lose control.”
He makes the sound. It could be a whimper.
“Or I could kiss your neck.” I wind my arms around him and pull his head down toward me, whispering into his ear, “I could lick you. Bite you. Make you beg for me.”
He shivers at my breath against his ear and tries to grab my ass to pull me toward him, like I described earlier.
I step away. “What did I say?” I scold. “Not until I give you three kisses.” This is fun.
