Chapter 11
Ryan
The Uber drops me off at the main entrance to Crestwood. Everything's buzzing, and not just from the beer. But more from how I told Connor's little redhead back the fuck off. How I called him mine in front of everyone.
Then he shoved me. Told me to know my place.
My fists clench as I walk through campus toward Young's Hall. I shouldn’t have gone to the bar. But Kai kept blowing up my phone until I agreed to go out with him. Promised he'd watch out for me and make sure I had a good time.
And I did.
Murphy’s is the go-to spot for Kai and his friends. Bouncers never give them trouble. No one even checked my fake ID.
Then Connor showed up.
Thought he was gonna drag me out by my neck. I could see it in his face, especially when that girl was flirting with me. And definitely when I hopped up on the bar top.
Ugh, fuck.
Why did I do that?
Oh, yeah. Because I wanted to piss off my husband.
I push through the doors of Young's Hall. Check the corners. Nobody there. I take the stairs two at a time, my fingers gripping the antique wooden railing.
I hate lying to Kai. But he wouldn't let me leave without answers. Kept pushing for an explanation. So, I told him that Connor's my roommate, that he's going through some family stuff, and I'm trying to help.
Not exactly a lie, but not the truth either.
My shoulders tense when I get to the second floor and walk down the candelabra-lit hallway. This place needs better lighting. It’s too fucking dark.
I fumble for my key as I approach our room, my heart pounding harder with each step. I’m still drunk enough to be brave. Or stupid.
Probably both.
But I won’t let Connor treat me like shit anymore.
I push the door open and step into the dark room, ready to tell my fucking husband to go to hell.
“Ryannn.” Connor's voice is rough, breathless.
At least he's awake. Can't back down now.
I flick on the lights . . . then freeze.
Connor's sprawled on his bed. Shirt pushed up. Sweatpants down to mid-thigh. Headphones on. Head thrown back, neck exposed, lips parted.
And his hand wrapped around his hard, thick—
Oh, fuck. Oh, fuck.
He's stroking his cock fast and desperate, precum leaking from the tip, free hand gripping the sheet, knuckles white. Our eyes meet, and his body tenses, a choked, guttural groan ripping from his throat. He comes hard, thick ropes of cum shooting onto his stomach and chest.
I can't move. Can't breathe. Can’t think.
And I can’t look away from the cum spilling over his fingers, dripping down his shaft.
Did he . . . was he saying my name while he . . .
My cock hardens painfully fast, straining against my zipper.
“Fuck!” Connor rips off his headphones and scrambles to yank his sweatpants up, going from shocked to pissed in seconds. “The fuck are you looking at?”
I blink, finally snapping out of it. “I didn't mean to—I didn't know you were—”
“Get out!” He jumps up, then grabs a towel from his laundry basket. “Get the fuck out!”
I stare at him, unable to move as he wipes his hand and chest clean.
His phone buzzes on the nightstand. He grabs it and throws it at the wall. Pieces scatter across the floor.
“How long were you standing there in the dark like a fucking creeper?”
“Are you fucking kidding me? This is my room too. I had no fucking idea what you were doing so don’t make me out to be some kind of pervert.”
He tosses the towel back into the basket. “If the shoe fits.”
My hands clench into fists, my pulse thundering in my ears. “You’re the one who stole my first kiss. Without fucking asking. Now you wanna yell at me because you got caught jerking off? Get fucked.”
He goes still for a second, then smirks. “Right . . . your first kiss. Bringing that shit up again. What are you, a virgin?”
I shift my weight, gaze dropping to the floor. So what if I am? None of his fucking business.
Connor laughs, cruel and mocking. “Holy fucking shit. You are.”
He walks across the room, grabs my teddy bear from the pillow, then holds it up. “Though not surprised since you sleep with this thing. Do you kiss it too?”
I charge across the room and slam him against the wall, grabbing his shirt. “Give it back.”
His smirk widens, showing teeth. “Looks like the grizzly came out to play.”
I twist the material, cinching the collar. “Give. It. Back.”
“Aww, is the baby bear gonna hit me?” He sticks his bottom lip out, making a pouty face. “Or do you only know how to run and cry?”
God, I want to both punch him in the face and bite that lip. Instead, I release his shirt then grab his throat, squeezing hard enough to make him sputter. He drops the bear, and I let go to pick it up, then back away.
He laughs under his breath. “Pathetic.”
“Yeah? Well, you forced me to marry you instead of standing up to your parents.” I place the bear on my desk, then turn to face him, crossing my arms over my chest. “Also let your father hit you. Maybe you’re the pathetic one.”
His lips curl into a sneer, the veins in his neck bulging. “Shut your fucking mouth.”
“Or what?” I stand taller, tilting my head. “Or is something else pissing you off? Is it because you might be attracted to me?”
Connor goes rigid, his face flushing. “You think I want you?”
I shrug.
His hazel eyes bore into mine. “Maybe you’re the one who wants me.”
I snort, deciding to poke my already pissed off fake husband even more. “I’m not the one saying your name as I come. And I'd rather be with Kai. He probably kisses better than you anyway.”
Yeah, I noticed the way Connor scowled at Kai, as if he was two seconds away from cracking his beer bottle across my friend’s head.
“What the fuck's that supposed to mean?”
Stepping closer, I lean down, towering over him. “You're a shit kisser.”
Connor opens his mouth, closes it, opens it again, then surges up and slams his lips against mine.
I stand there wide-eyed, brain trying to catch up. His lips are warm and demanding against mine, his tongue already trying to push past my teeth.
I shove him away.
He stares at me, breathing hard, pupils blown wide, chest rising and falling fast. His mouth opens again, probably to say something asshole-ish. But I don't give him the chance. I grab his wrists and pin them to the wall, then kiss him.
He lets out this low, pissed-off growl that's half animal snarl, half desperate groan, as he kisses me back.
I wasn't ready for this, for the way his lips smash against mine, hot and brutal, tasting like salt and beer and something filthy I can't name. It’s making my head spin.
Connor bites down on my bottom lip, teeth sinking in just enough to sting, and I gasp, my mouth opening wide. He shoves his tongue in, fucking every inch of my mouth like he owns it.
I have no fucking clue what to do with my own tongue, and fumble around like the dumbass virgin I am. But I don't want to stop.
His cock presses into mine, and sparks shoot up my spine. My hips buck forward, grinding against him like I've lost control. The friction’s like nothing I’ve ever felt. It’s too much all at once.
My heart slams against my ribs as he groans into my mouth, fighting my grip on his wrists and rutting against me. My legs shake, muscles drawn so tight it’s like my body doesn’t know how to hold this much at once. My cock throbs, balls aching so bad it hurts.
One of his hands slips free from my grasp and slides down to settle on my hip.
Everything stops.
My body locks up, breath catching. A strangled, terrified noise escapes me, and I recoil as if he burned me.
“Don't.” I backpedal so fast I almost eat shit, heel catching on the floor. “I can't—don't touch me—”
My legs slam into the bed frame. I drop down hard, curling in tight, arms wrapped around my knees, forehead pressed to them. Eyes squeezed shut.
Smaller. Gotta be smaller.
Their laughter echoes in my head. The steam. Tile under my feet. The spray hitting my back while they shoved me against the wall. Their hands—
My chest seizes. It won’t expand, won’t let air into my lungs. I fold in tighter, trying to disappear, my body shaking uncontrollably.
“Here.”
Something soft brushes my arm, then a few seconds later the door shuts.
I force my eyes open. Everything’s blurred, swimming. My bear’s on the floor beside me.
Connor.
He gave me my bear.
I clutch it so tightly my arms ache as I rock back and forth, sobs tearing from me. The bear soaks it up, but it’s not enough.
I’m drowning.
My hands fumble in my pocket, shaking so hard I almost drop the phone twice before I get the screen open. I stab the only name I need.
The phone rings twice.
“Hello?”
“Dad.” My voice cracks, and with it, I do too.