"There are no people like us," I whisper.
He looks down at the carpeted floor. "Not anymore. Not since…"
His voice trails off and then his gaze shoots up to me. I can see it. He is getting closer and closer to me. And oh God, I don't know what's coming next.
My pulse races. "What do you think of me?"
"I think you're a pain in the ass,” he replies, as if it's no secret. He laughs, and I join him. "I always have."
My breath catches in my throat. "But what do you really think of me?"
He looks up at me. "I think you won't believe me if I told you. That you wouldn't understand." He grabs my hand and pulls me close to him. I frown, looking up at him. "I'd have to show you." He hesitates. "But I won't do that until you're ready."
I am too stunned to speak. As much as I want to say I am, my throat is too dry to speak.
His expression grows closed as the silence between us stretches. Glancing over at his laptop, he exhales, his shoulder relaxing, and lets go of my hand.
"It's getting late," he mutters. "Maybe you should head to bed, since we have an early morning tomorrow. We've been doing a lot tonight. I've gotta finish up a couple things, and then I'll head to bed, too."
I feel the disappointment kindling in my insides. I sit there and want to say something. But I don't know what.
I take a deep breath and stand, feeling sobered.
"I—uh," I start. "I hope you won't be up much longer. You can—We can share the bed, of course. It's big enough for five people. I'll probably be knocked out by the time you're ready to succumb."
He studies me. "I'll probably be with you, very soon."
I walk up to him and lightly ruffle his dark hair before stepping quickly away.
I know that if he touches me, I'll give in. I won't be able to resist.
So, I turn my back on Ryder, heading for the bedroom.
The last thing I hear before I shut the door is Ryder sighing, his voice low and tired. "Sweet dreams, Jen."
The sentence makes my throat way too clogged to reply.
I mumble out a "You, too" in return, my heart thudding hard in my chest, my hand itching for his again and my entire body aching.
Aching for what I know I can never have.
ChapterFifteen
RYDER
My eyes are practically aching by the time I close my laptop and pick it up.
I've already sent out emails to the tech team that's also here at the conference this week, as well as to the team that's back home in Seattle. I don't expect a response this late, but I hope by morning, they'll see it.
Grumbling, I stare at the clock. 3AM.
Walking over the lush, cream-hued carpet of the suite I'm sleeping in, I feel my feet dragging, hesitating to head into the master bedroom where I know Jenny will be.
Underneath the sheets. Asleep. In the same bed I will be.
Fuck.
It's weird to think this will be the first time I sleep in the same room as Jenny in over fifteen years. When we were young, we hadn't thought twice about it.