“Sorry,” Ryder said.
He didn’t meet my eyes as I handed him a plate.
“Hey, I put up with enough of your shit. The least you can do is put up with me talking about my wedding,” Lucah said. “So shut it.”
Ryder put his hands in the air in surrender.
“Shit, okay. So, tell me about the centerpieces.” He rested his elbows on the table and put his chin in his hands. I stifled a laugh.
Lucah cuffed him on the head.
~*~*~
We’d had dinner at Rory and Lucah’s to celebrate. I was feeling tired, so I said goodnight early and headed back to my place.
I was just putting on some pajamas when there was a knock at the door. I pulled my shirt over my head and went to answer it, figuring it was Rory.
“Oh. Hi,” I said, realizing it was Ryder.
“Hey. Can I come in?”
I nodded and moved aside, regretting that I wasn’t wearing the clothes I’d just had on. Of course I was wearing PJs with ice cream cones all over them. So mature. So sexy.
“Nice PJs,” he said with a smile. Damn, I was hoping he wouldn’t notice them. But to be fair, they were rather noticeable.
“Thanks,” I said, crossing my arms over my chest. I wasn’t wearing a bra, and I hadn’t turned up the heat in my apartment since I’d come back.
“Sooo, what can I do for you?” I said.
“Just wanted to see how you were doing. Away from prying eyes.” Ah. Right.
“I’m good. How are you?” Shit, this was weird.
“Good, good,” he said, putting his hands in his pockets. He definitely wanted to talk to me about something specific, or else he wouldn’t have knocked on my door. I just wanted him to get to the point.
“Is that all?” I finally said. His eyes had been darting around the room as if he’d never seen it before. Bizarre, considering he’d eaten dinner here a number of times.
His eyes landed on my face and he took a deep breath.
“Nothing. It’s nothing.” Whatever he wanted to say, he’d changed his mind. For fuck’s sake.
“No. You knocked on my door for a reason. Say what you’re going to say.” I almost stomped my foot, but that would have been just too immature, and I was already rocking the cutesy pajamas. “I’m not playing any games with you, Ryder.”
He thought some more, and then instead of saying something, he took action. He grabbed me and hauled me up against his chest.
I was so surprised I let out a little squeak as the air left my lungs.
“I just need to see something,” he said, holding me close.
I opened my mouth to ask what he meant and he seized the moment, pressing his lips to mine. Well now.
I’d thought the first time I kissed Ryder it would be like an attack. He seemed like the kind of guy who would shove his tongue down your throat right out of the gate.
But this was soft. So soft. As if he was treating my lips like they were something fragile that he’d break if he pushed too hard. His hands skimmed my sides and came to rest with one on my neck and one on the side of my face.
He pulled back just a tiny bit, and I followed him, reaching, bringing him back to me. Ryder definitely liked that. He smiled against my mouth and then broke the kiss. I made a little sound of protest. We were just getting started. I’d only gotten a small taste and now he was taking it away.
“That’s what I thought,” he said, closing his eyes and resting his forehead against mine.