Page 63 of Resist

His lips close ever so slowly over mine so that I have no choice but to sink into the kiss. A kiss that’s soft and tender when every other one we’ve shared thus far has been raging with a lascivious desire.

But not this one.

My body heats up nerve by nerve. Muscle by muscle. Sensation by sensation.

Until he leans back so his forehead rests against mine and we breathe in the same air.

“Good night, Vaughn.”

What?

My head snaps up as Ryker takes a step back, regret owning every part of his expression, including the desire warring in his eyes.

“I don’t understand.” Flummoxed, I stand where I am and just watch him as he takes another step back and points to the taxi pulled up to the curb at my back.

“Your cab is here.” His smile is pained.

“But . . .”

He lifts a hand in silent goodbye before he turns the corner, leaving me staring after him as the taxi driver ushers me into the cab.

Tears sting my eyes as he pulls away from the curb.

Ryker just gave me exactly what I asked for—no sex—and yet every part of me is confused by it.

Because I want him.

And now I’m not exactly sure what I’m supposed to do about it.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

Vaughn

“You okay?” Ryker’s voice comes through the line, his gravelly tone mixed with surprise.

“Yes. Yeah. Um . . .” I walk through my kitchen and sit down on the edge of the couch, now baffled why I thought picking up the phone and calling him was a good idea. “I’m confused about what happened tonight.”

“I’m just abiding by the contract.”

“What I meant was—”

“Whatever happened to you, Vaughn, you’re not ready. You may think you are, because when we kiss it’s fucking incredible, but you’re not there yet.”

“Shouldn’t I have a say in that?” I ask, despite slowly melting at his comment and trying to find some of my stubbornness to combat his words just for the sake of it.

Because no one gets to tell me what I want or don’t want.

Even worse, I’m scared to find out the answer. I’m scared to know why I want to have sex with him and why I’m petrified all at the same time.

“Yes, you should, but I also know you’re stubborn as hell. Sure, as you say, sex is sex . . . but it’s a whole lot more than that too.”

There’s something in his tone that just reinforces what a part of me already knows. Sex with Ryker will be different. I can tell myself it won’t be . . . but if his kiss is any indication, it will be.

But I can’t think about that. I can’t want that.

I change the subject.

“I don’t understand. You came to Wicked Ways wanting—”