Page 68 of The Upside of Falling
“You can’t talk to me like that and think it’s going to do anything but turn me on more.”
Jesus.
I hold her at a distance, keeping my hands firmly planted on her shoulders, my pelvis far away from her grabby hands. “Rory, there is nothing more I want to do right now than fuck you against that wall. Believe me, I want you . . . bad. But I’m not about to fuck you with your parents—who are wearing matching sweaters by the way—only a few feet away. Okay? Not going to happen.”
She sighs and slouches in my grasp. “And here I thought you liked to live on the edge.”
I chuckle. “I might jump out of airplanes on a daily basis, but there is no way in hell you could convince me to have sex with you right before your parents serve us Christmas dinner . . . in matching sweaters.”
“Caught up on the matching sweater thing?”
“It’s just so goddamn innocent,” I grit out. Nothing my parents would have ever done and yet, I would have liked it. Hell, I like that Rory’s parents are wearing them, and I want to take a picture.
Stepping forward, she tries to come in closer where I palm her head, not wanting to let her get any closer.
“Hey.” She laughs. “Don’t you palm me.”
“I’m keeping you at a distance.”
“I just want a hug and a kiss hello.”
I raise an eyebrow at her. “Are you sure that’s all you want?”
She nods. “Promise, no funny business.”
Giving in, because I can’t resist this girl, I pull her into a hug. I love the feeling of her arms around me, holding me tight, her body so goddamn perfect against mine. Lifting her head, she purses her lips and I meet her halfway, letting the feel of her sweet mouth caress mine for a few brief seconds before pulling away.
“Thank you for coming here tonight.”
“Thank you for inviting me. It means a lot to me.” More than I think she will ever understand.
She presses another light kiss against my lips and says, “Want to meet Bryan?”
“I would love nothing more than to meet your brother.”
We step out of the room and make our way down the hallway. When she reaches for the door, I stop her. “Do I need to know anything before we go in there?”
She shakes her head. “Just act normal. No loud sounds.”
I nod. “Okay, no stern cadet voice. Got it. Not that I would talk to your brother like that.”
“Hey, I didn’t think you would talk to me like that either and yet, you do.”
Leaning down into her ear, keeping my voice low, I say, “Only when I want you to come.”
She scoffs and bumps her elbow into my stomach playfully just before she opens the door to Bryan’s bedroom.
The room is impeccably clean, which reminds me of my childhood room—everything in place, the bed made—and music plays softly from a docking station off to the side.
It’s peaceful in here.
“Hey Bryan.” Rory talks softly, her voice incredibly soothing. “I want you to meet someone. This is my boyfriend, Colby.” It’s the first time Rory has called me her boyfriend. My chest puffs with a sense of pride, being able to take claim to this amazing woman.
Bryan doesn’t look up, he doesn’t acknowledge us, but instead rocks back and forth in his chair that looks like half an egg.
Rory nudges me with her elbow, so I crouch down a few feet away from Bryan, getting at his eye level. Forearms leaning on my quads, I quietly say, “Hey Bryan. It’s so nice to meet you. Rory has said nothing but great things about you. She told me you love the Broncos. I like the Broncos too. Last year, I parachuted into the stadium and handed them the game ball.”
He doesn’t answer me, he doesn’t look at me, but he gestures something with his hand. Confused, I turn to Rory who says, “That’s his sign for playing ball. He’s non-verbal, and we live by his form of sign language to communicate with him. You’ll learn it as we go.”
