Chapter Four #2
The team waves as they file out of the room through a door in the back, and I quickly follow Brenda back out into the hall.
“I considered telling them you’re Ryan’s girlfriend, but you just got here, and Ryan said you’re not used to the spotlight,” she says conspiratorially, like we’re two girlfriends sharing a secret. “I might be pushy, but I’m not cruel.”
“Thank you,” I manage to choke out, keeping my back to the door as the reporters and paparazzi file out of the press room and back to the parking lot.
“Any who, see you later.” Brenda glances over my shoulder and gives me a little wave before turning to follow the reporters.
I turn around to find Ryan walking toward me.
“There she is.”
“Hi,” I say shyly, tucking my hair behind my ear and catching my fingers in a tangle of hair beneath my hood. Flustered, I try to untangle them, but get frustrated and let out a huff.
“Here.” Ryan reaches out, an amused smile on his face. “Let me.”
I want to pull away, but I’m frozen as he reaches over to help. I watch his face as he gently untangles my fingers, almost confused by the way this powerful, aggressive man is so careful with me compared to how he is on the ice. How can he be so strong yet so gentle?
“Done,” he says, lacing his fingers through mine as he lowers my hand.
“Thanks,” I mutter, blinking up at him.
“C’mon, let’s go home.” He smiles and leads me through the arena. I’m silent the whole way, in awe at everything Ryan’s become and how he treats me.
He has to feel the way I do. He can't have told Tucker the truth earlier. No one would act like this just for publicity…right?
Oh, what do I know?
When we reach his car, the lot is nearly empty and the sky is dark. A few stars manage to blink through the light pollution, and I wonder what the sky looks like without it. Right now, it looks like how I feel, barely shining and a little hazy.
“Everything alright?” Ryan asks, opening the passenger door for me.
“Yeah,” I say too quickly. I seem to have a habit of doing that when I’m lying.
Ryan hums and shuts the door, moving around the car to get behind the wheel. I can feel every nerve on edge, desperate to get closer and further away as he climbs in.
“Don’t forget your seatbelt.” He leans across the center console to grab my belt.
I freeze, inhaling the sweet muskiness of his cologne as he slowly slides the belt across my torso and clicks it into place. His hands linger, and he “tests” the seatbelt by sliding his fingers up between it and my chest, sending goosebumps erupting down my arms.
I open my mouth to speak, but the words get stuck. He gives me a nod and starts the car. The engine purrs to life, and we pull out of the parking lot.
The drive is mostly silent, which I don’t hate after all the noise inside the arena.
Ryan easily navigates Houston’s traffic, but his knuckles are white from how tight he’s clutching the steering wheel.
I look up at him, taking in the sharp line of his jaw, the dark stubble starting to show, his nearly dry, tousled hair, and the pinch of his brows I want to smooth out with my thumb. He gives me a sideways glance, then turns his eyes back to the road.
“I overheard your conversation with Tucker this morning.” I surprise myself with the raw honesty.
“I heard you promise him that everything between us is just a fake PR stunt. It really hurt.” I look down at my hands and pick at my fresh manicure.
I got it done yesterday after class, and it’s already ruined.
He doesn’t say anything. Eventually, we pull into the parking garage for Ryan’s building. He pulls into his assigned space before killing the engine.
I move to get out of the car, but Ryan reaches over and takes my hand. My breath hitches at the contact. His hand nearly engulfs mine, and despite my mind shouting at me to let go and run, I instinctively lace my fingers with his.
“Lana. Look at me.”
I shake my head.
He reaches out and hooks a finger under my chin, forcing me to look at him. His hazel eyes are dark and intense, sending heat straight to my core.
“What happened between us last night…it wasn’t fake. Not a single second of it was fake to me.”
“Then why did you say it was?” I whisper, my voice cracking.
He lets out a heavy breath. “Because Tucker is my best friend and this was literally your second day in Houston. I didn’t want him thinking I took advantage of you.
I lied to protect us, not because last night wasn’t real.
” His voice is thick with emotion. “Besides, I like breathing, and Tucker wouldn’t let me do that for very much longer if he thought I’d hurt you. ”
I stare at him like a deer in headlights, and then laugh—hard. Laughing turns to crying as all the stress catches up with me.
I let go of Ryan’s hand and pull my hoodie up to hide my face.
The car rocks slightly and then Ryan’s on my other side, scooping me up into his arms.
“Come on, let’s get you inside.”
His arms are solid around me, and I lean into his chest, listening to his heartbeat the entire way up to his apartment.
“Are you lying to save my feelings, Ryan?” I ask once we’re inside. My face is tucked against his shoulder where he can’t see my tear-stained cheeks.
In response, Ryan kisses my temple and pulls me tighter against him.
“Let me show you,” he murmurs, his voice raw and heavy. “Will you allow me to show you that I’m not lying, Lana?”
I pull back, and I’m cooked.
The way he looks at me, like I’m everything, makes me squirm. I’m not used to being the subject of anyone’s attention, let alone the kind that says Ryan wants to hand me the world.
I nod, my resistance melting away entirely.
Ryan smiles and kisses me. I part my lips for him, allowing our tongues to tangle with each other. He growls possessively and heat pools in my core.
He walks us into the bedroom and lays me back on the bed gently. I wrap my arms around his neck, refusing to let go of him.
“You’re mine, Lana,” he says, nuzzling into my neck. He then nips and kisses up to my jaw and back to my lips.
I wrap my legs around him, and his palm finds my ass. I push into it.
“Harder,” I whisper against the shell of his ear.
His palm lands harder this time, making an audible noise that seems to echo through the space. I’m panting now and can barely lie still. My panties are soaked already, and I just want him to touch me.
“Ryan…” I whine against his lips.
“If another man ever touches you…” His voice is gravelly and full of restrained need as his palm lands heavy against the curve of my ass. “I can’t promise that he’ll still have hands afterward.”
His threat shouldn’t turn me on, but it does.