8. Catherine
CATHERINE
I hear the dull roar of a motorcycle, and I have to close my eyes and push out the image of Ryker on his bike. I don’t think I’ll ever not see him when I hear a motorcycle.
The rumble gets closer and closer, but then softer as whoever it is pulls up close to me.
My heart thuds in my chest, and suddenly I’m scared I’m here alone at night.
This is a good area of town, but crime happens everywhere. I’m too scared to even turn around as I walk quicker and closer to the edge of the sidewalk. But then I hear his voice.
“You need a ride.”
My head whips around at the sound, and I stand dumbfounded.
“Ryker?” My blood heats, and anxiety washes through me. I take several steps closer to him, gripping my clutch tight in my hands.
My blood surges with adrenaline, and the exhaustion that was weighing me down before vanishes.
Fate gave me another chance. I can’t blow it.
I walk to his bike and prepare to just put it all out there. Taking a deep breath, I say, “Ryker, I’m sorry.”
“Catherine, I’m sorry,” he says at the same time as me.
My breath stops, and my mouth opens slightly. I don’t know what he could possibly be sorry for. He looks at me as though he’s thinking the same thing.
He throws a leg over his bike and walks in front of me. A car’s coming, but we’re safe here on the sidewalk. He looks over his shoulder as the car drives by and watches as it drives away.
He takes a step closer, looking me in the eyes. I know how I must look; I’m a mess and I hate that, but all I see in his eyes is desire. It’s like that night all over again.
He starts to talk, but I don’t want to hear it.
I don’t know if it’s the exhaustion, the thought of losing him again, or the fact that he came to get me when I was so down on myself, but something pushes me to wrap my arms around his neck, get on my tiptoes and push my lips against his.
I kiss him with the desperation I feel. I can’t lose him again. I can’t let him leave again without him knowing exactly how much he means to me.
I catch him by surprise, and at first his lips are hard. Then they soften and mold to mine. His hand splays across my lower back. My tank top has ridden up some, and the feel of his warm hands on my bare skin is heaven. He pulls me closer to him as his other hand cups the back of my head, angling my head so he can kiss me back passionately.
I keep my eyes closed and moan into his mouth. My body arches of its own accord and my pussy heats for him.
I’ve waited years just for this kiss, but it isn’t enough. I want more.
As the sound of another car approaching barely registers, Ryker breaks the kiss and moves us backward and onto the sidewalk.
He looks down at me with his chest rising and falling, and lust in his eyes.
My lips feel slightly swollen from his bruising kiss.
“You need a ride?” he asks in a low voice.
I start to answer, but then my eyes fall. I clear my throat. I don’t want to go back to the dorm. I don’t want him to just drop me off.
But I’m not going to tell him no.
“What’s wrong?” he asks, searching my eyes before I can even answer. He cups my chin in his hand and forces me to look at him.
“I just want to go home with you tonight.” I say each word slowly and carefully. My heart races in my chest.
I’ve never gone home with a man. I’ve never done anything with a man beyond kissing. And even then, it was nothing like what I just had with Ryker.
Ryker cocks an eyebrow and an asymmetric grin pulls his lips up.
He leans down and quickly plants a kiss on my lips.
“I’m not gonna say no to that, kitten.” His rough voice sparks the desire in my core once again. My heart flutters in my chest as he reaches behind him and grabs a helmet off the back of his bike.