by Toni Aleo
My heart aches as I look away from him.
Ryan’s voice fills the room as he yells, “You aren’t a stupid girl. Think!”
“I don’t care! You aren’t my dad. Stop acting like it!”
A hush fills the room. There’s a lump in my throat, and my chest is hurting from the pounding of my heart. Ryan wets his lips, shaking his head as he looks down at the table. Pressing his finger to it, he looks up at her, his eyes swimming in dejection. “You’re absolutely right. I’m not,” he says softly. “And if Dad were here right now, in this room, he’d say the same thing they are because that was his job. It’s not my job to tell you what to do or even to guide you. I do it because I love you so damn much, Amelia…” He pauses, his voice breaking. “I promised Dad I would look out for you, and I will. So stop being a stupid little spoiled brat and use your fucking brain.”
The room is so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Everyone is looking between Amelia and Ryan. The tension is so thick, it’s suffocating me. I look up at Ryan, and slowly, tentatively, I move my hand into his, lacing our fingers. I don’t want to butt in, but I want him to know I’m here. Supporting him. He squeezes my hand, not letting go. After a few more beats, Amelia looks away, tears streaming down her face. My heart aches for her. I want to jump across the table, wrap her in my arms, but I know it won’t help. She has to make this choice for herself. No one can make it for her. As I look up at Ryan, I know he wants to do just that. He wants to make his dad proud and do right by Amelia.
I don’t think he realizes, but he already has.
I also don’t think he realizes that he has and always will completely own my heart.
Chapter Thirty-Five
Sofia
Well, dinner was awesome.
I’m pretty sure the only ones who talked after the whole Amelia thing were the twins, Posey, and Quinn. Everyone else was tense, quiet, and quivering with anger. Especially Ryan. He’s livid. I get it, but I’ve never seen someone be so protective of another human being. Ryan stood tall, poised, and breathtaking as he looked into his sister’s eyes, telling her how he felt. I don’t know how Amelia could stand there like that, so defiant, because I’m pretty sure I would crumble under his loving gaze. It’s so obvious he loves her, but then, he loves all of his family. When we were leaving, he hugged everyone, kissing them and telling them he loved them. He even hugged and kissed Amelia, though she wouldn’t even look at him.
It killed me to see, but he didn’t care. He made sure she knew he loved her.
As we drive back to campus, I look over at Ryan. His hand holds the steering wheel, his knuckles white and his eyes dark. He’s still very upset, and I don’t blame him. While he holds my hand with his free one, I know he isn’t really here with me. He’s back at the table, yelling at his sister.
I clear my throat, and he glances at me for a beat before looking back at the road. I bite my lip as I watch him. “Are you okay?”
“Fine.” His voice is crisp, quick, and I know damn well he’s anything but fine.
“You’re upset.”
“Oh, I’m livid,” he says, shaking his head. “I don’t understand how she can be so stupid. She isn’t an idiot. Honestly. She’s a smart girl, good head on her shoulders, but she wants to throw everything away for some dude who left her. I get that they think they love each other, but she is making a success of things here.”
“I agree,” I say, and his anger comes off him in waves.
“You knew,” he says, chancing another glance at me. “And you didn’t tell me. I would have liked to have had some warning before dinner went to shit and it ended with me having it out with my sister.”
My pulse kicks up. This is the fear I’ve had since she told me. “Ryan, I told you. She’s my best friend, and I promised I wouldn’t tell anyone. Especially you. She made me promise.”
He lets out a heavy breath, squeezing the steering wheel even tighter, and his anger worries me. Was I in the wrong? Should I have told him? But that’s not being a friend to Amelia. This is so complicated. Sighing loudly, he nods. “I know. It was just out of left field.”
“I know, and I’m sorry.”
“Don’t apologize. You were being a good friend.”
“Yeah, but honestly, Ryan, it was killing me. I wanted to tell you.”
He brings my hand up to his mouth, pressing his lips to it and holding it there. “It’s okay. I’m not upset with you.”
“You should be. I feel like I held back something you needed to know.”
He inhales deeply, kissing my hand once more. “No, you were being a friend. It’s okay.”
Well, that’s good. But still, I feel a little guilty. “I told her the same thing everyone else did. I think it’s insane to leave behind everything she has here.”
“Because it’s the truth. No woman should be with a man who wants her to give up her dreams and aspirations. He’s a douche. A selfish douche.”
“I agree,” I say, and as I drink in his profile, my heart skips a beat. “She’s worth more than that.”
“Exactly. I don’t get it. Pisses me off.”
“I know. I’m sorry,” I say softly, and he shakes his head.
“Fuck, I’m sorry I ruined Thanksgiving for you. I know it was hard already without your mom.”
When he kisses my hand once more, pressing his nose against the back of my wrist, I drop my head onto his shoulder. “It wasn’t ruined at all. I was with you, and even with Amelia’s drama, I love your family. They’re amazing.”
“They’re all insane,” he says fondly, his lips tickling the back of my hand. “Thanks for coming, though.”
“I wouldn’t have missed it,” I say without hesitation. “It’s been a nice day.”
He doesn’t comment, and I know it’s because, for him, it hasn’t been. Between the news about Moon and then Amelia, I’m sure he probably thinks this Thanksgiving is a bust, but it isn’t.
I know this could wait, but maybe it can’t. I need to know. “That thing you said about us, to Amelia.”
He draws in his brows, looking at me quickly before looking back to the road. “What?”
“About when you leave and I’ll be here.”
“Oh yeah, what about it?”
“I know we haven’t really talked about it—”
“And there is no reason to,” he says, cutting me off. “Because I would never ask you to leave everything behind.”
“No, I know,” I say, staring at his profile. “But—”
“Sofia, I’m sorry. I’m not trying to be a dick, but thinking about leaving you right now… I just don’t have it in me. Can we shelve this?”
I startle a little. “Oh yeah, sure.”
“Thanks. I just hate the thought, and I just want to enjoy the rest of our Thanksgiving and not think about shit that sucks.”
And leaving me would suck.
Big-ass balls.
When we pull into my dorm’s parking lot, he shuts off the truck, and I don’t have to ask him to come in. I watch as he gets out and walks around the truck, running his hand through his hair. The first few buttons of his crisp white shirt are open, while his blue sports coat hangs open. His fitted dress slacks hug his ass and thighs. God, he makes my mouth water. Even with the stress of the day, he opens my door with a smile before holding out his hand to me. I take it as he helps me out and to my feet.
When Ryan wraps his arms across my shoulder, I wrap mine around his waist as he walks to the dorm. All my teammates are gone for the holidays. Even Amelia is staying with her mom, leaving me all by myself. She offered for me to come stay with her and her mom, but I needed the privacy.
With Ryan.
Leaning my head against Ryan’s shoulder, I enter the code and the door unlocks. After we go in, I relock it before we head up the stairs. Our dorm has a common area and a kitchen on the first level, but I don’t care about that right now.
I care about getting Ryan upstairs.
When I hear him sigh,
I look up at him.
“Do you think she’ll go?” he asks.
He meets my gaze, and I don’t know how to answer him. “Truthfully?”
“Yeah.”
“I do,” I say, and his shoulders fall. “But I don’t think she’ll stay. I think she’ll get there, they’ll do whatever, and she’ll realize she has a life here.”
He doesn’t answer me for a moment as I unlock my door, opening it for him. He enters. “I hope you’re right.”
“Me too,” I answer, shutting the door.
As he walks to the middle of my room, I pull off my sweatshirt, throwing it to the ground. I toe out of my sneakers and then push my leggings down as he lies back on the bed, covering his face with his hands and knocking his glasses askew.
“God, today sucked. I hope it wasn’t too awful—”
When he sits up on his elbows, his gaze falls on me, and I suck in a deep breath. I hope he likes what he sees. I was nervous about wearing the black lace bra and thong set when I bought them the other day. I didn’t think it was really me, but as his lips curve, his eyes drinking me in, my apprehension vanishes and I feel sexy.
“Wow,” he breathes, his eyes moving along my body. “You’re… Hell, Sofia, you make a terrible day pretty damn good.”
My stomach swirls with desire. “We’re alone. No interruptions.”
He stands slowly, fixing his glasses as his eyes still roam along my body. It’s all in slow motion, his eyes moving over my lips, my breast, my stomach, to my thighs before coming back up. When his hungry gaze meets mine, fire explodes between my thighs. “Yeah, and look at that, I happen to have two minutes,” he says with a wink, and my lips quirk. “Or better yet, all night long as long as you have the time.”
“It’s yours,” I say, unsure what to do with my hands, so I just put them on my hips as I pull in shallow breaths. I’m aching between my legs, my body is trembling, and I feel gooseflesh exploding over my skin. God, I want him.
Soon he’s toe-to-toe with me, running his hands up my hips, my ribs, to right under my breasts, cupping them softly. “So,” he says huskily, his eyes burning into mine.
“So.”
He drops his head to mine, our mouths a breath away before he whispers, “Do you want to…”
My heart aches in my chest as it pounds just for him. “I thought you’d never ask.”
He captures my mouth in a heated, fiery kiss. My hands come up, linking behind his neck as he backs me into the door, his body covering mine. Our mouths move together in a desperate, hungry way. He tastes like pumpkin pie and all things wicked. As he slides his hands down my body, I arch into him, feeling his cock coming alive against my soft center. When he pushes down the cups of my bra, I gasp as he takes my nipple into his mouth. He swirls his tongue around my swollen and heavy peak, his fingers biting into my waist. He moves across my chest, placing kisses as he goes, before sucking my other nipple into his mouth. I’m crazy with lust, crying out as he bites me softly, his chuckles running down my spine.
When he takes me by the back of the knees, he lifts me with ease, and I wrap my legs around his waist. He presses himself into me, and he’s already deliciously hard.
Oh, this is happening.
Thank God!
His hands come to my ass, holding me against him. He pulls his mouth from mine and starts for the bed. I trail kisses along his jaw to his neck as his fingers grip my ass. I lick and taste him everywhere. God, he smells fantastic.
“Jesus, Sof, you’re gonna kill me with that mouth.”
I’m too hot to care. He lays me down on the bed, kissing down my chest to my stomach as his fingers hook my thong, pulling it down my legs. Breathless, I watch as he throws my panties to the floor, and he takes in my glistening center. I’m self-conscious for maybe two seconds until his lips curve in the most devastating grin. God, he makes me feel so good.
Running his finger along my slit, he shakes his head. “Sofia, you’re gorgeous, even here.”
I can’t breathe.
His eyes burn into mine, and they’re darker than storm clouds this time. “Do you trust me?”
I nod. “Of course.”
I’m gasping for breath as I watch him move his fingers along my skin. When I arch up into his hand, he tsks at me. “Be patient.”
“Take me,” I demand, and he gives me a lopsided grin.
“Fuck, you’re hot,” he says just as he drops his mouth down to me, and everything goes white. Squeezing my eyes shut, I grip my comforter as he licks along my lips. It feels out of this world, his tongue rough but also so soft, like silk skimming over the most untouched part of my body. When he opens me, he presses his thumb into my clit, and I lift my back off the bed. I cry out, loud, and he growls something, but I’m too lost to even try to figure out what it is. His tongue moves up and down my slit quickly and with purpose, and my whole body goes tight.
“Oh, oh, Ryan.”
“That’s right, baby. Fuck, you’re so wet. You taste so damn sweet.”
My mouth is dry as he swirls his tongue along my clit. I’m lost, completely lost in the sensation. That is, until he pushes a finger into my opening. I squeeze his finger, a little taken aback by the feel of it inside me. “Oh, oh my God.”
“Yeah, baby,” he mutters against my center. “Now I’m gonna lick you while I fuck you with my fingers. Do you want that?”
When he starts to move his finger into me, slowly at first, I grip the comforter. “Yes, oh God, yes.”
“I’m not gonna make it,” he mutters just as he starts to move his finger in and out a little faster. When he stops, I growl like a kitten in protest, and he smiles down at me. “Shh, baby, I got you.”
Lifting my legs up, he presses my thighs together, holding them in place against his chest. He slides two fingers into me, his palm pressing into my clit as he curls his fingers into me. I moan loudly, feeling my body stretch around his thick, talented fingers. Holy crap, this is amazing. He drops his mouth to my pussy, pushing my knees into my chest as he open-mouth kisses me sensually. His tongue is ruthless, flicking quickly as he fucks me hard with his fingers, going deeper and deeper, driving me out of my mind.
It comes out of nowhere. I feel it in my toes at first, the tightness, and it slowly moves up my body before I’m completely taut. My stomach clenches, and then I break, shattering into a billion pieces as he continues to devour me. Crying out his name, I squeeze my thighs, jerking against his hand, his mouth.
“Oh,” I moan as his tongue laps at me, his fingers biting into my skin, but it doesn’t hurt.
It feels absolutely amazing.
“Damn, you taste so good,” he mutters against my lips.
My eyes roll to the back of my head as I arch into his talented mouth, wanting more of the pleasure it guarantees me.
“Ryan,” I murmur, his fingers dancing along my sensitive flesh, his tongue following close behind.
He explores me, he kisses me, and Lord, he worships me. Everything inside me is throbbing with want for him as he slowly rests my legs on the bed. Opening my eyes, I watch as he runs a single finger up my abs, circling around each muscle, a sexy smile playing on his lips.
“I’m pretty sure you’re more ripped than I am.”
I meet his heated gaze, and my heart explodes in my chest. “I think you’re fucking hot,” I moan, and his chuckles move along my stomach as he drops to me. He kisses me before dipping his tongue into my belly button. His lips move along my torso, taking turns at my breasts before he covers me with his beautiful, strong body. He falls between my legs, his cock pressing against my tender center, and I welcome his weight. He cups my face, taking my mouth with his own, and I feel like I’m flying. His kisses are demanding but sweet. With each rough, openmouthed kiss, he gives me a soft, sweet one on the side of my mouth or along my top lip. I want so much more.
When he rakes his teeth along my jaw, I gasp out, my fingers gripping his jacket. “You are fully clothed,” I somehow get out, and he chuckle
s against my neck.
“I am. I want to make this last.”
“Well, I want it now.”
His chuckles tickle my ear. “Do you?”
“Yes, right now.”
I push at his chest, sitting up as he goes back on his haunches. “This jacket is useless to me,” I say, pushing it down his arms, and his amused gaze is locked on me. “And this shirt, it’s covering way too much.”
I rip it open, buttons popping off, and his eyes widen. “Well, Miss Castilleja,” he says, drawing out the last syllables of my name. “I think you may want me.”
I give him a sideways glance. “Uh, yeah.”
He tilts his lips to the side as I push his shirt down and off his arms. It joins my thong as I undo his pants, my eyes never leaving him. “Good, ’cause I need you.”
I can’t breathe as I open his pants, pulling his cock out into my palm. Running my fingers along his thick, velvety length, I lick my lips. “Want me to suck you?”
He shakes his head, rising to his feet before kicking out of his shoes. He pushes his pants down, his boxers going with them, until he is completely and lusciously naked in front of me. My lips part, and my mouth goes completely dry at the sight of him. His cock is erect, his thighs so thick as his balls hang high. He makes the guys on Google look pathetic.
And he’s all mine.
“As much as I hate to do this, I have to borrow some protection from my baby sister,” he deadpans. “My wallet is in the truck.”
I snort as I lie back in my pillows, watching as he opens her drawer, grabbing a square foil packet. His ass is so round, so thick with muscle. The moonlight kisses his skin as he moves, tearing the packet with his teeth and slowly rolling the latex down his cock.
With a teasing grin, I say, “Google says you shouldn’t tear the condom package with your teeth. You could nick the condom.”
He gives me a dry look. “Fuck Google. I’m about to show you things Google could never tell you,” he promises, taking my breath away.