Page 65 of The Downside of Love
Oh God, he’s here.
Be cool, Rory.
The door opens and Stryder enters, spotting me immediately on the bed. Bag in hand, wearing his desert camo uniform, pants tucked into his boots, sleeves of his jacket rolled up, his cap resting low on his brow, he looks like a soldier returning home on leave—sexy and sinful with the smirk that’s currently spread across his face.
My breath catches in my throat as he shuts the door with his foot, closing off the rest of the world, leaving it just us. My body itches to jump into his arms, to see what it feels like to press my mouth against his, to give in to this pulsing yearning that’s constantly roaring through me when he’s around.
“Hey you.” He takes his cap off, hanging it up along with his jacket, before walking over to his bed and setting his bag down. He sits on the mattress and starts to take off his boots when I hop off my bed and head toward him.
I watch in fascination as his eyes slowly travel up my legs, to the hem of my dress, to my breasts, and then to my face. Sitting back, boot half untied, he says, “Shit, Rory, you look . . .” He pauses, catching himself, and swallows, going back to his shoes. Pushing the laces inside, he sets the heavy boots at the base of his bed and stands, untucking his shirt, lifting it high enough for me to catch a patch of his skin before he covers it back up. “Uh, you look beautiful.” Seeming unsure, he says, “Do you have a date or something tonight?”
I shake my head, so damn nervous that I almost feel like I want to cry. This shouldn’t be a big deal. This is Stryder, one of my best friends.He knows you in and out, so this should be exciting.Natural.
“Just wanted to look nice today.”
He exhales, almost as if he was holding his breath, waiting to hear if I had a date. “You look amazing.”
“Thank you.” Stepping in closer, I hesitate for a second before hugging him, unsure if I should, but before I can decide if I should, he pulls me in the rest of the way. One of his hands goes to the back of my neck, and the other wraps around my waist.
“I’ve missed you,” he murmurs softly in my ear. And at that moment right there, the press of his fingers into my skin and the feel of his large hand against my neck, combined with his signature scent consuming me, I’m a goner. There is no turning back after tonight.
I squeeze him back. “I’ve missed you, too.”
Stryder shifts his hand to my cheek when he pulls back, looking intently at me, his eyes searching mine. His thumb rubs over my skin, the air between us heavy with unspoken words. Sparks fly between us, our breath sinking, our souls connecting.
Blinking a few times, he clears his throat and drops his hands to his side, only to look around the apartment and say, “Uh, dinner . . . it smells good.”
Shit. Have I read this all wrong? Does he not want me like I want him?Deflated from the obvious avoidance, I try to hide the slouch in my shoulders as I walk to the kitchen to check on dinner.
I have no idea how I’m going to go about doing this without laying all my feelings on the table.
What if he doesn’t like me?
What if he just wants to be friends?
What if I’ve made everything up in my head and he truly was just being polite?
I will be mortified. And extremely heartbroken.
Chapter Nineteen
STRYDER
Idon’t . . .
I can’t . . .
Fuck.
Fucking hell.
I should have stayed at Ryan’s place.
I thought coming to Rory’s apartment would be easy. We eat dinner together, we talk about our days, we go to bed.
Hell, was I wrong.
It all started with the look she gave me the minute I walked through the door, as if she’s been waiting all day to see me. And then she walks toward me in that dress, exposing her toned and smooth legs, showing off her fucking tits like some goddamn neon sign pointing at her chest, directing all my attention to them.
