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“Stopping.”

“Why?”

“Because you’re pissed at him.”

“I’m not thinking about Evan.”

“You were two minutes ago.”

“So?”

His thumb brushes my lower lip. The touch is so gentle it makes everything worse.

“You’re pissed at him. You’re curious about me. Figure out which one is making you kiss me.”

My chest tightens. “Maybe it’s both.”

“Then I’m waiting.”

“You don’t want to kiss me?”

Ryder laughs once.

Low.

Almost pained.

“Clara, I’ve spent the last ten minutes trying not to think about the fact that you’re in my shirt with nothing under it.”

My entire body heats.

His gaze holds mine. “I want to kiss you.”

“Then why aren’t you?”

“Because when you crawl on top of me again, I want you doing it because you want me.”

My breath catches.

“Not because some asshole made you feel like you had something to prove.”

I stare at him.

Evan waited but he always made sure I knew he was waiting.

Ryder wants me.

He’s made that painfully clear.

And somehow he’s the one moving away.

He rolls onto his back. “Go to sleep, librarian.”

I lie there stunned. “You’re serious?”

“Unfortunately.”

I turn onto my side. “Ryder?”