by Naomi Martin
We laugh together and he takes my hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. Amazingly enough, Ryan has managed to take some of the sting out of Renee’s impromptu breaking news report. He’s made me feel okay again—and without even really trying. That’s one of the qualities I find so compelling about him. That I’m utterly drawn to.
“And look at it this way, not being on the team means you get to spend more time with me.” He smiles at me, and his eyes sparkle in the morning sunshine. If anything was going to make me feel even slightly better about being cut, it’s his smiling face.
“I mean, you know I’m going to win the game, don’t you?” He squeezes my hand.
He finally makes me crack a smile. “I know you think you will.”
“Trust me, I will.”
“Cocky.”
“Confident.”
The ten-minute warning bell for first period sounds and when we look at one another, he favors me with that smile that does strange things to my insides.
“Well, off for another scintillating Biology class,” he says.
“You have a good time, then.”
“Always do.”
We get to our feet and he takes my hand in his, peering intently into my eyes. I feel his strength and his confidence, and it gives me a little boost. If only I could feel that strong and confident on my own.
“Seriously, don’t worry about Renee. She’s so totally not worth the space she’s taking up in your head,” he says. “And as for the other thing, it was probably just some idiot pulling a prank on you.”
“Yeah, you’re probably right.”
“Also, don’t make plans for Friday. I’m taking you out.”
I laugh. “Oh, you think so, do you?”
He shrugs. “Hey, you agreed to the game and it starts this Friday. We all flipped for it and I’m batting leadoff.”
“Okay, fine, but where are you taking me?”
He gives me a sly grin. “It’s a secret.”
“Is that boy code for ‘I don’t have a plan so I’m winging it?’”
He chuckles. “No, it’s me not wanting details of my plan leaking out and giving the other two contestants any advantage. I like keeping my circle of trust small.”
Despite my sour mood, I laugh. “Well, then. I suppose I’ll look forward to it.”
“As you should.”
“Cocky.”
“Confident.” He laughs. “I’m starting to wonder if you actually know the difference between the two.”
He turns and heads off to his class and I watch him go, feeling better than I think I probably should in the moment. I mean, I did just get cut from a team I wasn’t actually sure I wanted to be part of, and all. I’m allowed to be a bit salty about that.
As I walk into the building and thread my way through the crowd, though, another darker feeling takes hold of me, dulling the shine on my mood. It seems logical that if it wasn’t Ryan, it was some prankster. But as I give that idea life in my mind, I don’t know that I completely buy it. Something about that explanation just feels… off. Like a piece of the puzzle that doesn’t quite fit that you have to hammer into place. Yeah, it might be stuck in there good and tight, but it doesn’t quite line up.
But if wasn’t Ryan or some prankster, then who was it?
Chapter Fifteen
Ryan smiles at me. “So, how’d I do?”
I sit with my legs folded on the blanket, staring out at the vast expanse of dark sea beyond the bluff we’re on. Overhead, clouds roll through the sky, intermittently blotting out the light from the moon and the stars.
“I’d give you a solid B. Maybe a B-plus.”
“B-plus?” he gasps. “Come on now, this was a solid A.”
“Oh, I’ll give you an A for effort.” I laugh and he shakes his head at me.
“Just for the effort? I think you might be the most difficult grader I’ve ever had.”
“Well, unlike some of your teachers, I don’t just hand out As because you’re good-looking or a star athlete,” I explain.
He arches his eyebrows at me. “Oh, so you think I’m good-looking, huh?”
“You know, we almost made it through the whole night without you getting all cocky on me.”
“Hey, you said it. I was just asking you to clarify your position is all.”
I laugh and lean back on my arms, staring out at the ocean. I see the lights of a ship far out on the sea—a big one, maybe a cruise ship—and wonder where they’re going. A soft breeze blows in off the water, carrying the heavy scent of salt along with it. I shiver and Ryan wraps his coat around my shoulders.
I pull it tight around me and smile. “Thanks.”
“Of course.”
Our eyes linger on one another for a long minute and I feel my heart stutter. I still have difficulty believing that despite not having known him very long, Ryan can have such a profound impact on me. But he does and I can’t deny it. It’s physical. Visceral. It’s emotional, but it’s so much deeper than even that. And I’m at a loss to understand it, let alone explain it. But I’d be lying if I said there wasn’t a strong, powerful connection between us. And I know he feels it, too.
“So, are you really not mad about… this whole thing between us?” I ask. “I mean, with Xavier and Lucas and all.”
He shakes his head. “I know I should be. But for some reason, I’m not. Don’t ask me why, because I have zero clue,” he says. “For whatever reason, I actually think it’s all kind of funny.”
“You have a strange sense of humor.”
He nods. “I do not deny that.”
We share a laugh then lapse into a silence that’s comfortable and yet filled with a sense of anticipation. And it’s a feeling that’s growing stronger by the second.
“Penny for your thoughts,” I say.
He grins but doesn’t say anything. Instead, he leans forward and I hold my breath, my eyes locked onto his. As he inches toward me, my heartbeat slows—and when his lips touch mine, it stops altogether. Ryan’s tongue dashes against mine and spots of light blossom behind my eyes, dancing in the blackness like the stars overhead.
He leans further, pushing me down on my back as our kiss deepens. Our tongues swirl together and he’s half-laying on me, his hard, toned body pressed to mine. Ryan rakes his fingers through my hair, pulling it gently as he plants a line of kisses down my neck.
I moan softly as he nips my neck with his teeth, a white-hot line of pure energy running from my neck straight down to my most sensitive parts. The fire between my thighs burns as he finds my mouth with his again, and I feel myself growing wetter than I’ve ever been in my life.
I bite Ryan’s earlobe then kiss his neck. He runs his hands down my stomach and as he kisses me harder, he slides them up underneath my hoodie. I tense as he cups my breasts and he swallows my moan as he circles my stiff nipples with his thumbs through my bra. Ryan pulls back and looks at me, the question in his eyes, and I know we’re at the point of no return.
I gnaw on my bottom lip, trembling as we stare at each other for a long moment. My brain is screaming at me to stop—it tells me I shouldn’t be doing this and that I know better. But my heart, not to mention other parts of me, scream even louder that I should blow straight through those stop signs and go for it. Back and forth, the argument goes on in my head for several long moments.
But then I shut it all out and silence everything inside of me. I slide my hand to the back of Ryan’s neck and pull him down to me, pressing my mouth to his. I kiss him more fiercely than I’ve kissed anybody before, telling him with my body what I can’t seem to actually say. And Ryan seems to get my meaning.
Our kiss deepens and intensifies, and he slides his hand down my stomach, his fingers leaving furrows of fire upon my flesh. He slips his hand beneath the waistband of my jeans and slides it lower. I gasp when he touches me through my panties, my body lighting up from head to toe.
When he pulls my panties to the side and slips his finger inside of me, I press my hea
d back into the ground beneath me and draw in a sharp, shuddering breath. Ryan works his finger in and out of my wetness, making me moan. And when he adds another finger, driving both of them into me hard and fast, I cry out, my voice echoing out over the darkened ocean.
My body is awash in sensation as he continues to finger me, and he swallows my moans with his mouth. I grind myself down against his hands, taking his fingers into me deeper and he draws in a sharp breath when I dig my nails into his shoulders. Ryan drives his fingers into me one last time, holding them deep inside and I cling to him tighter as my body tenses and I reach that glorious crescendo. I draw in one last, shuddering breath and then a long, drawn out cry is torn from my throat as my orgasm comes crashing down over me.
I writhe and thrash beneath him, reveling in the feeling of having his fingers inside of me as wave after wave of pleasure washes over me. Ryan smiles wolfishly as he slips his fingers out and slides them into his mouth.
“You taste amazing,” he says.
“Stand up.”
He grins. “A take charge kind of woman, huh? I kinda like that.”
“Stop talking and stand up,” I order, a slow grin pulling one corner of my mouth upward.
He does as I command and I get up onto my knees, immediately reaching for his belt. I get it undone quickly and yank his jeans down to his knees, and his boxers come with them. His cock is already rigid as I grip it at the base and squeeze it tight, drawing a long moan from him. He looks down at me and I see the hunger shining bright in his eyes.
Leaning forward, I flick my tongue over the head of his cock and he groans. I swirl my tongue around his thick stalk and tease that soft, sensitive spot just beneath the head. Ryan throws his head back and groans as I run my tongue down one side of his shaft then back up the other. A flirty smile on my lips, I open my mouth and take him in, sliding my mouth down along his staff.
Ryan’s breath quickens as I tighten my lips around his dick. I grip it with my fist and start to move my hand and mouth in unison, working them up and down on his cock. I move slowly at first but then pick up speed, sucking and stroking him with a zeal born of my desire for him.
Reaching down, Ryan grips my hair and pulls on it, his body tight and tense as I work his staff. I feel his cock swell in my mouth and tighten my grip on him even more, suck him even harder. A strangled gasp passes his lips and he steps back, pulling his cock out of my mouth. He wipes the sweat from his brow, a crooked grin on his face.
“Jesus, Tatum,” he says. “Where did you learn to do that?”
I smile and wipe my lips with the back of my hand. “A girl’s gotta have her secrets.”
Reaching down, he pulls me to my feet and kisses me hard enough to take my breath away. He fumbles with the button on my pants but finally manages to get them undone and slips them down my legs, never taking his mouth from mine. He kneads my breasts through my hoodie, every inch of him radiating his desire.
I kick off my shoes and pants as Ryan pulls me to him, his hard, thick staff pressed to my belly. I reach down and take his cock in my hand as he kisses and nips at my neck. Then he spins me around and pulls me back to him, pressing his cock against my ass as he kisses my neck.
I feel him slinking down behind me, pulling me along with him until we’re both on our knees. Ryan pushes me forward, presses me down until I’m bracing myself on my arms as he moves in behind me. His hand clamps onto my shoulder, harder than a steel vice. A moment later, he slips the head of his cock between my wet, swollen lips and then slides himself deep into me.
I gasp as he buries himself inside of me, all the way to the hilt, filling me up completely. I chew on my bottom lip as he stretches me, reveling in the feeling.
“God, you feel amazing,” I murmur.
He grips my shoulder even tighter as he starts to move within me. I cry out as he slides along my inner walls, the sensations coursing through me almost too much to bear. I push back against him, taking him even deeper.
“Harder,” I moan.
Ryan complies as he grips my other shoulder and starts to pump his hips. The steady slap-slap-slap of our flesh connecting fills the night air around us as he drives himself into me hard and deep. He slides his hands down to my hips, plunging his staff into me, our cries mingling together as a powerful surge of sensation courses through my body.
I squeal as Ryan flips me over onto my back and falls on top of me. Bracing himself on his arms, he smiles down at me. I pull him into a deep, passionate kiss and moan as he nestles himself between my velvety folds. He rolls his hips, sliding himself into me and I bite my lip as he fills me up.
Ryan’s tongue dashes against mine as he thrusts himself into me. My every nerve ending feels like it’s on fire as he fucks me. My breath quickens as I take him into me, as the pressure builds up inside of me. I press my head back into the blanket, tingling with anticipation of the powerful release I feel rising inside of me.
I’m nearly breathless and out of my mind with desire as I stare into his eyes, feeling him within me. Our bodies move in a sinuous rhythm, our gazes locked together, both of us chasing down an earth-shattering climax.
I feel Ryan’s cock swelling and start to pulse. It sends waves of sensation rolling through me, pushing me closer to the brink. His pace and breath both speed up and I see the strain in his face as he tries desperately to hold off for a little while longer. I give him a salacious grin and squeeze his cock with my inner muscles. He loses his rhythm and lets out a stuttering gasp.
“I want to feel you come inside of me.,” I whisper.
And that pushes him over the edge. His body taut, Ryan cries out as he erupts inside of me. The feeling of his warm, sticky seed spurting inside of me makes me scream as it plunges me headlong into a warm pool of ecstasy.
We cling to each other, our breathing labored and wide smiles on our faces. A cold breeze blows in off the ocean, making us both shiver. Ryan rolls off me with a laugh and flops onto his back. He turns his head and looks at me as I curl up against him. I lay my head on his chest and he runs his fingers through my hair.
“That was amazing,” he murmurs.
I look up at him and smile. “Solid B-plus.”
Our laughter echoes out across the dark expanse of the ocean.
Chapter Sixteen
Xavier cocks his arm back and fires the softball with all of his might. It hits the stack of milk bottles and sends them flying.
“Winner,” calls out the game attendant with all the excitement of a wet sponge.
It doesn’t dampen Xavier’s spirits, though, as he throws his hands in the air, a wide smile stretching his face as he struts around in a circle, prouder than any peacock I’ve ever seen. I can’t help but laugh.
He plays it cool and tries to be laid back about everything, but Xavier is probably the most competitive of the boys. He’s just a lot quieter about it than Ryan.
Xavier turns back to the game attendant, who hands him a stuffed bear that’s got wild pink hair, big eyes, and a crazy sewn-on smile that, frankly, makes it look a bit demented. But Xavier looks so proud as he hands it to me that I don’t want to burst his bubble. Not too badly, at least.
“Thank you, it’s really sweet,” I say with a grin. “And it only cost you twenty-five bucks to get it.”
“You’re focusing on the wrong thing,” he replies. “The bigger picture is that I got it for you. I’m persistent. Determined. And some people find that to be a good quality.”
“Is that so?” I laugh.
“Just sayin’.”
I stand on my tiptoes and kiss him on the cheek. “Thank you, Xavier.”
“Nothing but the best for you.”
I hold the demented bear to my chest and we laugh together as we stroll down the midway. It’s the first stuffed animal a boy has ever won for me, but I won’t tell Xavier that—or that it means a lot to me. I don’t want to feed the boy’s ego. My bear is borderline psychotic but it’s adorable, nonetheless.
The night i
s cool and the breeze blowing in off the ocean carries the heavy scent of salt from the Pacific. Smaller kids run up and down the midway screaming like banshees, their harried-looking parents giving chase. Groups of teenagers hang around in clusters, doing their best to look cool and unaffected by anything as teenagers tend to do.
“I have to say, this is a lot of fun,” I tell him.
He grins. “You seem like a carnival kind of girl.”
“Oh, do I? And what is it about me that screams carnival?”
“Well, you’re kind of a clown, for one thing.”
I squeal with laughter and playfully punch him in the arm. He smiles back at me.
“Clowns are at the circus, dummy,” I correct him.
He shrugs. “I know. But I figured you’d be more pissed if I said you reminded me of the sideshow bearded lady.”
I’m laughing so hard that I double over, trying to catch my breath. I can’t remember the last time I laughed this much and this hard. Xavier is a goofball. A low-key goofball, but he knows how to make me laugh. And I treasure that about him.
I let out a long breath as I compose myself. Xavier is standing there, grinning at me. I see a group of girls my age glaring at me with a look of distaste on their sullen faces. Clearly, they disapprove of having anything remotely resembling fun. As a teenager myself, I suppose they think I’m legally obligated to be salty and surly all the time.
When I have my wits about me again, Xavier and I continue on down the midway. The carnival is an annual fundraiser for one of the local schools and I have to admit that I’m impressed. It’s a top-notch set up. People from all over come here for a night of cheesy rides, fried fair foods of every description, and just some good, wholesome fun. And, to be clear, I never thought I’d be a big advocate for good, wholesome fun.
“So, really, what made you think to bring me here?” I ask.
“I don’t know. It sort of seemed to be in your lane,” he replies. “It’s nothing super fancy and pretentious, it’s mellow, and it’s just fun. It just kind of seems like your thing.”
He reads me very well, because carnivals and fairs really are my thing. I always loved the county fair back in Norfolk. In the fall, our school had fundraiser carnivals too and I always enjoyed them. They were nothing as extravagant as this, but they were still fun.
