Chapter 13
***RYAN***
Ryan and Cooper had been waiting at the bottom of the stairs for ten minutes when they finally heard the door leading up to the attic open and close.
“It’s about time, I don’t know why they’re making such a big deal about this, it’s just dinner,” he said, looking up the stairs.
“This is feeling way too much like…well…a date, and I’m more or less engaged. If Erin finds out…”
“Will you stop worrying? You just said it yourself, it’s just dinner,” Cooper said, patting him on the back.
“Women just like to make a big deal about this stuff; it’s easier to just go along with it.
Besides, I figured out pretty quickly that there’s usually something skimpy and lacey under one of those fancy dresses. ”
The thought of Paula wearing something like that did things to his body that it shouldn’t have, and he groaned as the creature inside him shook off its slumber to come to attention.
He gathered his strength to control both the thoughts and his dragon, but just at that moment, Paula appeared at the top of the stairs.
The wave of desire that hit him only a second later was more than he could control.
His dragon, now fully awake, began to send signals that were almost impossible to ignore, and it was all he could do to keep breathing.
He must have groaned because Cooper laughed and pounded him on the back again. “I think that you’re beginning to understand why it’s worth the wait,” he said, giving him a shove toward the bottom of the stairs. “Go on, right or wrong, she’s yours for the night.”
His dragon took those words to heart, and a series of images flashed through his mind as Paula came down the stairs toward him, sending another wave of desire shooting through him.
Fighting to catch his breath, aware that each step she took brought her closer to him, he wasn’t surprised when his hands began to tingle and the need to touch her began to grow stronger by the second.
He'd never felt anything like this before, but he wasn’t a fool, he knew what was happening and he tried to back away, willed his body to turn and flee, to take him anywhere but there.
Instead, when Paula got to the bottom of the stairs, he found himself reaching out for her hand, not at all surprised when he felt the tingle of electricity when she slipped it into his.
Unable to stop what was happening, he looked over at Cooper for help, but his friend just beamed at him and shrugged his shoulders.
“You look beautiful,” he finally said, looking down at her. “That dress makes your eyes look even bluer.”
“Thank you, I don’t usually…that is, this is a little different for me,” Paula said, her cheeks turning pink. “You look pretty good yourself.”
“I guess we should get going,” he said, tucking her arm into his. “I hope you’re not going to freeze on the way to the car.”
“It’s the price we have to pay for looking like this, or at least that’s what Abby told me,” she said, grinning at him. “If I get too cold, I’ll steal your jacket. A big, strong guy like you won’t mind.”
He helped her into the car, waited while Cooper and Stephanie got in, and then they all headed for the ballroom in the student center.
“I hope parking isn’t a nightmare,” he said, trying to distract himself from the way Paula smelled, something sweet but slightly spicy.
“I wonder how many people will be there? Maybe I should drop you all off at the doors.”
When he pulled into the parking lot a few minutes later, there weren’t that many cars. “I think we’ll be fine if you park,” Cooper said from the backseat. “I think we beat the worst of the crowd.”
He managed to get the car safely into a parking spot despite his shaking hands and knew that he had to pull it together or it was going to be a long night. “Here we are,” he said, turning off the car. “Stay right there, I’ll come around and help you out.”
It only took him a few seconds to walk around the car, but it was enough time to calm the dragon inside him, and he was back in control when he opened the door. “Watch your step, it might be icy out here,” he said, offering Paula his hand again. “I wouldn’t want you to slip.”
This time, he felt that same tingle of electricity, but he was prepared. “Thank you, I don’t wear heels very often,” Paula said, smiling up at him. “I’d hate to embarrass us both.”
He pretended not to notice the looks they got when they walked into the banquet, although he knew that they made a striking couple, but told himself it didn’t matter.
“Let’s find our table and then we’ll check out the food,” he said, guiding her through the crowd.
“I don’t know about you, but I’m starving. Abby promised the food would be good.”
“I missed lunch, I was too nervous to eat,” she said, then let out a long sigh. “I met with Alex about that job with paper today.”
“I guess it didn’t go well,” he said, trying to keep his voice neutral.
“It went great until he came onto me,” she said, scrunching up her face. “Now it’s ruined, I won’t work for him even if he offers me a job.”
“I’m sorry, that sucks,” he said, secretly relieved that she wasn’t going to get tangled up with Alex. “I’m sure there will be other jobs.”
Paula stopped and studied him for a second. “You’re not going to say, I told you so?” she asked. “Most men, including my dad, would have reminded me that they were right.”
They’d reached their table and he helped her sit down, then took the chair next to her before answering her question.
“It was just a warning. I get that you needed to find out for yourself, I’m not going to rub it in that I was right when you made the right decision anyway,” he said.
“Alex can be really smooth when he wants to; he’s charming and good-looking, but underneath all that, he’s really cold and selfish. ”
“Well, I’m done with him,” Paula said. “He blew it with me. Now let’s talk about something else.”
“Fine with me,” he said, happy to put Alex out of his mind. “Let’s go find something to eat, I’m starving.”
***Paula***
“Abby didn’t lie, the food is amazing,” Paula said, pushing her plate away. “I’m going to stop eating now so I have some room for dessert.”
“Chocolate fondue,” Cooper said, setting his knife and fork down on his plate. “I heard they bring a little pot for every table.”
“I’ve never gotten the whole melted chocolate thing,” she said, shrugging her shoulders. “I mean, what’s the big deal? I can do that at home.”
“Have you ever had a real chocolate fondue?” Stephanie asked. “It’s not like one of those fountain things at the buffet restaurants. You’ll love it, you’ll see.”
Just then the band started to play. Cooper immediately asked Stephanie to dance, and then the other couples at the table soon followed.
Left sitting by themselves, silence fell between them.
She became very aware of the heat coming from Ryan’s body, the smell of his cologne, and worst of all, the fact that his arm was draped casually over the back of her chair.
Feeling like she was in middle school again, she leaned back against his arm until they were touching, making her insides flutter.
When he didn’t pull away, she glanced at him out of the corner of her eye to find him watching her, and she turned to look at him, a blush spreading across her cheeks.
He studied her for a long time, then with a deep sigh, pulled her closer and lowered his mouth to hers in a kiss that was both tender and inquisitive.
She wasn’t sure what he was searching for, but her entire body filled with warmth as he kissed her, and it was easy to let herself go, to sink into the sensations as they flooded her system.
When he finally pulled away from her, his eyes found hers and she saw not just desire but a look of resignation, confusing her for a second, but then Ryan gathered her into his arms and held her close.
A feeling of contentment settled over her; it was unlike anything she’d ever felt before, and she didn’t fight it.
For one night, she was going to just let life happen.
“I just had to check one more time,” Ryan said, his voice making his chest rumble under her ear. “I guess it’s you. I just wasn’t expecting it and it does complicate things quite a bit.”
She pulled away from him. “Ryan, what are you talking about?” she asked. “You aren’t making any sense.”
“No, probably not, but give me a little time and I’ll explain everything,” he said. “I have a few details I have to work out before we can…well…”
“I’m not sleeping with you, if that’s what you’re thinking,” she said, pulling away from him. “A few kisses are one thing, but I’m not even sure that I like you. You’ve been nothing but a pain in the butt since we met.”
“That’s funny, I remember it differently,” he said, shrugging his shoulders.
“I thought I saved you the first time we met, brought you gas when you were stranded, but I don’t want to fight.
I wasn’t talking about sleeping together, although I wouldn’t say no if you offered.
I was talking more about going out on a date, you know, go see a movie, grab something to eat, that sort of thing. ”
“You’re asking me out?” she asked, the reality of what she’d been doing hitting her. “I thought you didn’t trust me? Is this your way of keeping an eye on me?”
“I’m not asking you out, I’m not free to do that,” Ryan said, his voice patient. “I’m sorry, I guess I should have explained…”
“You have a girlfriend,” she said, not sure why she was shocked. “I let you kiss me, I thought…I should have asked…”
“It’s not your fault, it’s mine, I should have told you about Erin,” he said. “But I try to forget about her whenever I can, and she’s the last thing on my mind when I’m with you.”
“That doesn’t make it any better,” she said, shaking her head. “I’m not that kind of girl, Ryan, I don’t date cheaters. I need some fresh air.”
He didn’t stop her when she jumped to her feet and headed to the back of the ballroom, where big French doors opened up onto a patio and the grounds.
Walking over to the railing, she sucked in deep breaths until her heart rate calmed down and she could think clearly again.
It had been one of the worst days of her life, and all because of men; they were all just little children with big sex drives, and she wondered if it was possible to avoid them for the rest of her life.
The thought made her feel a little better, even if she knew it wasn’t possible, and she started to calm down.
Neither situation was her fault; Alex overstepped; it was just that simple.
And Ryan…well, he’d tricked her, let her believe he was single, hadn’t he?
The question hung in her mind as she replayed both kisses in her mind, but she realized the first had been pure circumstance and the second one…
a tingle deep in her belly told her she’d better not think about that one.
With a sigh, completely calm once again, she wondered if she might have overreacted, a couple of kisses didn’t make her a cheater, and Ryan had said he was going to break it off with his fiancé.
She probably should have stayed around to listen to what he had to say, she just hated the idea of being the other woman, never pictured herself as a man stealer.
Deciding that she was being a little dramatic, something she accused Ryan of being several times.
She shook her head and turned to go back inside, but ran right into a hard chest.
Strong arms wrapped around her to keep her from falling, and she held on for a second, thinking it was Ryan, then realized something felt off. “Oh, excuse me,” she stammered, untangling herself and stepping back. “I should have been paying more attention.”
“I’m not complaining,” Alex said, grinning down at her. “Having you in my arms just now has been the best part of the night. You look incredible, Paula.”
“Oh, thank you,” she said, feeling trapped between him and the railing. “I was just going to go back inside and find Ryan.”
“You’re not really with him, are you?” Alex asked, then looked around before focusing on her again. “I mean…well…you know about Erin, don’t you? They’re unofficially engaged; everyone knows about it…”
“Ryan and I are just friends, he can be engaged to anyone he wants,” she said, looking for a way past Alex. “But he is inside waiting for me.”
Alex studied her for a second. “I don’t think so.
I saw him get up and leave a few minutes ago,” he said.
“I saw you two fighting. I saw that kiss, too, so you don’t have to play games with me.
You deserve more than that, Paula, you deserve a guy who only wants you, a guy who will treat you the way you deserve, a guy like me. ”
She saw it in his eyes, knew what he was going to do, but couldn’t move fast enough to get away from him, and before she knew it, Alex grabbed her, pulled her roughly into his arms, and slammed his mouth down on hers.
A wave of what she could only describe as evil washed over her.
She instantly felt nauseous and instinctively began to fight against the arms that pinned her to his body.
All the self-defense classes her father had forced her to take kicked in, and a few seconds later, Alex was lying on the ground in front of her, flat on his back, the wind knocked out of him.
Not willing to stick around to see how hurt he was, she started for the ballroom, but Alex was already on his feet. “You little bitch, get back here. No one, especially a woman, treats me that way,” he said, closing the distance between them in only a couple of strides.
Her hand closed into a fist the moment his hand clamped down on her shoulder, and when he spun her around as she knew he would, she used that momentum along with her own strength to punch him square in the jaw.
He staggered back a couple of steps and stood there swaying for a few seconds, but recovered quickly and came at her roaring with anger.
She didn’t try to flee this time, just braced herself to fight with everything she had, hoping that someone would hear them and come to her rescue.