Page 77 of The Downside of Love
It’s been a month of playing it by Stryder’s rules, and I’m about to lose my mind. I hate that he’s still staying with Ryan for the entire week. He doesn’t come over on Thursday or leave Tuesday. No, he’s stuck to his normal schedule, and it’s driving me crazy. And FaceTime? Forget about it, because he won’t do it. He won’t even text. It’s like he’s trying to torture me. He leaves our conversations to nighttime phone calls—phone calls that last a few hours and consist of me lying on my bed, letting his seductive voice wash over me, sending tingles up and down my spine every time.
I’m at the end of my tether. I need something more than just kissing, and make no mistake; I plan on getting something more than his perfect mouth on mine tonight.
Opening the door, I am greeted by Ryan and her new guy of the month . . . uh, Chad . . . I think? It was Brad and now it’s Chad. Which has been super fun. Stryder called him Brad once by accident and the guy has been a dick to him ever since. It’s not Stryder’s fault. It’s Ryan’s, she needs to find men whose names don’t rhyme. We are bound to make mistakes.
“Hey you. Chinese is on its way. Got you the lettuce wraps, so I hope that’s okay.”
I set my purse down in the entryway and look around for Stryder. “Lettuce wraps are great.”
“Chad paid for everyone.”
Giving them my attention since we’re already on thin ice with Chad, I say, “Thank you so much. Do you want me to chip in anything?”
He waves his hand at me. “No, I have money to spend. I know you don’t.”
Hmm. . . I wonder why we don’t get along with Chad. It’s just so strange to me.
Ignoring the pompous ass, I look down the hallway just in time to see Stryder pop out of the bathroom carrying his folded uniform and dressed in a casual pair of khaki shorts and a plain white T-shirt. His hair is wet from a shower, and his face is covered in a light five o’clock shadow making him look absolutely sexy and sinister.
When he spots me, a large smile takes over his entire face, and I can’t help it. I run to him and leap into his arms. With one hand, he catches me, cupping my ass and holding me against him, not letting go. I wrap my arms around his neck and my legs around his waist, and I kiss him, hard, threading my hands through his hair.
He groans into my mouth and then pulls away, eyes heady, lips tilted up. And then that voice . . .
“Hey baby.”
I can’t even describe what my heart feels like in my chest when I hear him call me baby. It’s an unreal feeling, like someone is trying to jump-start my heart every time, skyrocketing my pulse into overdrive.
“Hey.” I kiss him again and then slide down his body, letting him drop his clothes off by his bag. When he returns, he immediately links my hand with his and nods toward the balcony off the main living room. It’s our routine whenever I come over mid-week. The balcony grants us some privacy from Ryan and her man, who, by the way, is less than thrilled that Ryan has a boy staying with her. Don’t worry, Chad. I’m less than thrilled too.
Settling into a lounge chair, I sit on Stryder’s lap, straddling his legs and facing him. I play with the hem of his crisp white shirt and watch as the fabric pulls tightly over his bulky muscles.
“How was your day?” I ask as he gently rubs my thighs with his palms.
“It’s better now. I’ve missed you.”
“I’ve missed you, too. This living in two different places is really stupid, you know.”
He shakes his head. “Nah, it’s good for our hearts, makes the time we spend together more meaningful.”
“But think about all the things we could do if you lived with me.”
Raising a brow in question, he asks, “Let me hear them.”
Still playing with the hem of his shirt, slipping my fingers under the fabric, I quirk my lips to the side. “Well, there’s all the couples’ coupon cutting we’re missing out on. Not to mention the copious amounts of swing dancing we could be doing.” I dance my fingers across his abs causing him to suck in a sharp breath.
“Swing dancing and coupons?” he asks, his voice short and crisp.
“Yup, what a tragedy, huh? Think of all the savings you’re missing out on. Think of all the sex we could be having.”
He laughs, his head falling back to the chair, the sound coating my skin in a sheen of pleasure. So sexy. “And there it is, the real reason. Poor coupons were just a veil for you.”
“Not true. I like coupons and I’m sure cutting them out with you would be fun. But come on, let’s be serious for a second. It’s been a month, Stryder.”
“Yeah, I know.” He reaches up and twists a strand of my hair in his finger, lightly tugging on it.
I love it when he plays with my hair. “So you’ve been counting every day then? Every sexless day?”
“More like every minute.” He smiles wickedly.
