Page 104 of The Risk Taker

Ryan looks up, his mouth falling open when he takes in her outfit. “Fuck.” He wipes a hand over his mouth, staring at the way her jeans cling to her ass and that low-cut top shows off her tits—which I know Nathan is probably cringing at right now. “Tell me you decided to stay at home instead of going out.”

“I’ll be back before you know it,” she says with a chuckle. “Try not to burn the place down.”

He pushes up from the couch and his hands find her hips, tugging her toward him. “Can’t promise that. I think you should stay,” he says as a piss-poor attempt to get her to stay in tonight.

She chuckles, placing her hands flat on his chest, leaning in for a quick kiss. “It’s the last weekend I have with my girls before the holidays. Three hours. Max.”

Ryan sighs, his thumb brushing her jaw. “Fine. Have fun, curls.”

Austin lets out a scoff, keeping his eyes on the game. “Let your girl have fun, cap. She can’t be sucking your dick every damn day.”

Nathan throws his empty Coke can, glaring as it hits the back of his head.

Austin winces, glancing over his shoulder. “Shit. My bad.”

I chuckle, but the click of boots makes my head snap to the right as Aurora heads down the stairs next, my brows shooting up at the short, tight skirt wrapped around her long legs.

Maisie’s right behind her, fussing with the strap of her dress that dips low across her chest, which makes my brows shoot up even more. Jesus. Quiet, shy little Maisie is hot as hell. Her black dress hugs every curve on her body and I know Austin notices her, when I hear the sound of a controller slip out of his hands and hit the floor.

He blinks, dragging his eyes up and down her body. “Holy fuck.”

Maisie stops, her eyes widening a little. “What?”

“That dress,” he groans, shaking his head. “Fuck. No way I’m letting you out of my sight.”

Ryan laughs. “Look who wants his girl to stay now.”

Maisie laughs, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear, clearly trying not to melt under the attention. “You don’t have anything to worry about,” she tells him. “Nobody’s going to look at me.”

I scoff as I take a sip. Yeah, that’s bullshit. I have a feeling Maisie doesn’t realize how hot she looks in that dress.

“Every guy at that bar’s going to look at you,” he corrects her, walking toward her.

“Ready?” Isabella asks her friends.

Maisie nods but gasps when Austin tugs on her wrist, pulling her toward him, and kisses her. “You’re taken,” he says when he pulls back. “Remember that.”

She laughs, her face flushing by the second. “Literally not one person has ever approached me before.”

“Good,” he murmurs against her lips. “Because no one could ever love you more than I do.”

She rolls her eyes but smiles up at him. It’s kind of adorable, honestly. “I’ll text you when we get there, okay?”

He exhales through his nose, like it physically hurts him to let her go.

Aurora’s already by the door, jingling her keys. “Let’s go before he chains you to the couch.”

Maisie laughs again, and Austin finally lets her go, but his gaze follows her the entire way to the door until it shuts behind them.

He slumps back on the couch, dragging a hand over his face. “I officially hate girls’ night.”

Ryan smirks, picking up the controller. “You hate that she looked that good leaving you behind, you mean.”

Nathan chuckles under his breath beside me as he picks up the second controller and starts a racing game. He sits back, his legs stretched out, his brows furrowing every time Ryan speeds past him.

I lean my head back against the cushion, half-watching the game, half-watching him. It’s ridiculous how easily my focus drifts to him, to the line of his throat when he takes a sip of his drink, the crease between his brows when he concentrates.

When Ryan wins the race, he places the controller on the table and switches to a hockey game. “You guys got plans for Christmas break?”