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For one terrifying second, I think I’ve made a mistake.
Then his hand slides into my wet hair and he kisses me back.
Hard.
Nothing about Ryder Hale is careful except the hand at my waist.
His mouth isn’t.
His mouth takes.
Teases.
Coaxes mine open until I’m gripping his shoulders and forgetting every rule I wrote at my kitchen table.
He rolls toward me.
I end up beneath him.
His weight settles partly over mine.
My heart pounds so hard I can feel it everywhere.
His mouth moves down my jaw.
I gasp. “Ryder.”
He stops.
Actually stops.
Immediately.
His forehead drops against mine.
We’re both breathing too hard.
“What?”
I blink up at him. “What?”
“You said my name.”
“I…”
He waits.
I realize what he’s asking.
“No. I wasn’t telling you to stop.”
His eyes close for a second. “That’s not helping.”
I almost laugh. Then I lift my mouth toward his.
Ryder pulls back.
Confusion hits me. “What are you doing?”
