Page 82 of The Downside of Love
I reach behind me to undo my bra when Stryder quickly stops me and rests his forehead against mine. “We—” he pauses, catching his breath. “We can’t do this, Rory.”
I lift up so I can really look him in the eyes. “Why the hell not?”
Turning away, he quietly says, “We just can’t.”
And that’s it. Sitting taller, I grip his chin and force him to look at me, truly look at me when I say, “Is this because of Colby?”
His eyes squeeze shut, the tension on in his body rolling off in waves from the mention of Colby’s name.
I have my answer.
“You won’t have sex with me because of Colby?”
“It’s not that simple, Rory.”
“Yes, it is.” My voice rises. I place my hand under his shirt and run it up his chest as I say, “I want you, Stryder. I want all of you, not just pieces. Why are you letting Colby get in your head?”
“Because,” he answers gruffly, arm thrown wide. “Because he was my best friend and I’m . . .” He shakes his head.
“You’re what?”
“I’m stealing his fucking girl,” Stryder shouts, sending me backward for a split second before my anger blooms into pure rage.
There is no way I’m going to let Colby be the roadblock to the relationship I want to have with Stryder.
No way in hell.
Chapter Twenty-One
STRYDER
Fuck.
I can’t seem to look at her, not when I can feel the heat of her anger blazing into my skin. Not when her perfect body, toned and tight in all the right places is begging for my touch. Not when all I can think about is the friend I would be betraying, the man I’ve been betraying this entire time.
From the moment I laid my lips on Rory and claimed her as mine, I’ve felt an overwhelming sense of guilt.How could I do this to Colby?I gave in to the temptation, and even though I would do it again and again just to taste Rory on my lips, I continue to have this overwhelming sense of having fucked up yet again.
And I hate that feeling.
I’ve been a fuck-up my entire life and this is just another thing to add to the list.
Looking away, my confession hangs between us, heavy and unwanted. Turning my head with her finger, Rory makes me look into her eyes of green, understanding and sweet.
“Stryder, do you see Colby here?”
“Rory, come on—”
“No.” She grips my face tightly with both hand. “Do you fucking see Colby here?”
I swallow hard and say, “No.”
“Colby isn’t here. Why are you letting him in your head? I’m the one who’s here, I’m the one practically begging for you to touch me, to kiss me, to fuck me.”
I rub her bare sides with my large palms, hating this mental roadblock I’m suffering through. “I know, Rory. I just—”
“No.” She shakes her head. “There is no reason why you should be thinking about him. This is about us, Stryder. You and me, no one else. Just us.” She leans her forehead against mine and quietly whispers, “What am I going to have to do to get you inside me?” She presses a light kiss across my lips. “Strip?”
She wiggles on my lap, her hips starting to undulate back and forth, slowly, methodically, igniting a flame deep in my belly.
