Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 95019 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 475(@200wpm)___ 380(@250wpm)___ 317(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95019 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 475(@200wpm)___ 380(@250wpm)___ 317(@300wpm)
Even though I’m joking, I’m tense too because that is my fear.
His gaze settles on my lips, and he comes at me quickly. It’s the sort of move that, had it happened before last night, I might’ve thought he was gonna punch me, but his lips crash against mine, and it’s like my whole body releases all the tension he created by avoiding me.
He hooks an arm around me and tugs me close to his body. I can feel the heat he’s still giving off from his shower, his oatmeal-scented soap tingling in my nose as his tongue sweeps across mine. He doesn’t hold back, he’s not hesitant, and that tongue sure as hell doesn’t seem confused about what it’s doing. Meanwhile, I’m back to being confused as fuck.
He guides me onto my back, our lips parting briefly as he positions his knees on either side of my waist. He rocks his hips, his crotch pushing against the fresh boner he’s got worked up. My breath hitches, and he finally pulls away, giving me a chance to collect my thoughts.
He’s wearing this cocky smile, the sort that would normally irritate the hell out of me. “You know,” he says, “now that I’ve had this mouth, you look a lot cuter when you’re annoyed with me.”
Heat flares in my chest, and my cock assures me I’m not bothered by what he said, but aroused as fuck. Hell, it’s hard to even remember why I was frustrated with him to begin with, but as it comes back to me, I have to say, “So you’re definitely not weird about what we did.”
“I’m weird all right.” He leans down and licks up my lips. It should seem strange, but it’s fire.
“You’re not acting like yourself, though.”
His playful expression softens, his gaze wandering. “Got some bad news today. News I can’t even process, it’s fucking with my head so much.”
I don’t know that I’ve ever seen him look like this before. Ryan’s range goes from laughing, give-no-shits to teasing to all-out ready to kick someone’s ass, which I’ve only seen a few times at parties when guys have made the dumbass decision to try and step up to him.
“Did something happen at your parents’?” I press since that’s the only thing that’s changed since the last time we chatted.
He nods. “I didn’t stay long. They dumped news on me, and I had to get out, get my head on straight. Well, maybe not straight.” I can tell he’s trying to be his usual playful self, but it falls flat. His lips twist into a frown. “Wasn’t what I was expecting today.”
“I can tell you’re trying to be evasive, and I know we’re not the best of friends or anything, but if you did want to talk about anything, believe it or not, I can be a good listener.”
He presses his tongue against the inside of his cheek, studying my expression.
“I’m good for things other than my mouth,” I add to lighten the mood.
He cracks a smile.
Success.
“I honestly don’t know that that’s true,” he jibes.
“Frathole.”
Even with a smile playing across his lips, I can still see the pain lingering in his blue eyes.
“So as soon as I got home, my parents sat me down and told me they were getting a…”
He hesitates, but I already know even before the word divorce slips past his lips.
Fuck. That explains his sullen mood.
“Now who’s the frathole for coming in after that and giving me hell?” Despite his attempt at another joke, his eyes water. “I probably shouldn’t have even told you that much. It’s been stuck in my brain since they told me. I went to the park for a while after the talk, and my phone died because I forgot to charge it last night, which is why I never responded to you.”
“Oh…”
“It’s been a day, and I’m just in a funk.”
He stares off. I imagine it’s the look I get when there’s too much going on and I don’t even know where to focus my thoughts.
“I’m very sorry,” I say.
“For being a dick?”
“No. Well, yes, that too, but that’s a shitty thing to have found out.”
“That’s part of it, but also, I really didn’t see it coming. And I know I’m oblivious as fuck, and especially with how busy I was during the season, trying to keep on top of frat responsibilities and then the fire stuff… They told me it’s been going on for a year, and I thought we had this perfect family. Like the kinds that TV shows are about. But suddenly, in an instant, it’s like I haven’t even known what my parents have been dealing with. So I guess you’re right. I am the frathole.”
I notice the water in his eyes stirring like he’s about to drop a tear, and he turns away. I rest my hand against his arm. “Hey, hey. It sounds like something they were keeping from you. It wasn’t your job to read their minds.”