Page 45 of Playboy For Hire

“And I just thought, maybe if I could help you with this one date, you might have some more self-confidence.”

Right. Of course. I’d been stupid to think it could have been anything else. I was twenty-seven years old. Why was I acting like I was fourteen with my first crush?

“Yeah. Cool,” I said, hoping the disappointment didn’t come through in my voice.

Silence stretched between us, delicate and soft. My whole body was thrumming with desire, and I wanted to pull Ryder close and push him away at the same time. Because if I couldn’t pull him close, I needed him to leave.

“But, um. There might have been another reason too.”

My head snapped up at Ryder’s words.

“What?”

“I, um…”

He looked at his hands again, and that alone was enough to make my breath go all staccato. He had never once seemed this nervous before. I didn’t dare speak. I felt like we were suspendedin a bubble of night and possibility, and I didn’t want to burst it by saying the wrong thing.

He looked up. “The thing is, I think I also wanted to do this.”

Ryder’s left hand moved to my shoulder. I was so surprised, I couldn’t move. Not away from him, not toward him. But that was fine, because Ryder was moving, leaning in. His other hand went to the back of my neck, and his face was inches from mine and suddenly, he was kissing me.

His lips were soft. His hand kneaded my shoulder. His tongue traced along my lips temptingly, but I was still too shocked to do anything. He made a frustrated little noise in the back of his throat, then pulled away.

All I could do was stare at him.

“Okay, so that didn’t go the way I hoped it would.” He looked dismayed. “Guess I have two things to apologize for tonight. I’m sorry. I’ll go.”

He slid off the bed, and finally,finally, my body kicked into gear. My hand shot out to grab his wrist.

“No,” I croaked. “Don’t.”

His eyes were wide and luminous in the dark. I tugged him closer.

“Don’t,” I repeated, and this time I was the one leaning forward.

Ryder met me halfway. I rose to my knees, tilting towards him, and when our lips met, I didn’t hesitate to deepen the kiss. He was responsive, opening his mouth to my tongue, letting me inside.

He crawled onto the bed, and I pulled him closer, tugging his shirt. I leaned back and pulled him on top of me. I was wearing a thin T-shirt and pajama pants. Ryder’s weight pressed down on me, and I could feel his erection pressing against my leg.

He slid his legs apart so he was straddling me, his hands running up and down my arms. I slid a hand into his hair, urging him closer, while my free hand caressed his thigh. He nipped at my lower lip, then sucked it into his mouth. I moaned at the tiny pinprick of pain mixed with pleasure, and he pulled back.

“Was that okay?” he asked, breathing heavily.

“Yeah. Don’t worry. I liked it.”

“And all of this…” Ryder gestured between the two of us. “Is okay too?”

“Very okay. Trust me.”

“You just seemed sort of…not into it, when I kissed you at first.”

A nervous laugh escaped me. “I was just surprised. I can’t believe this is happening.”

“Me neither.” He laughed too, and it was giddy. “But I’m glad it is.”

“You sure?”

I didn’t actually want to have this conversation. What I wanted to do was pull him down into a kiss, taste every inch of his skin, find out if he was a top, or bottom, or vers, and tell him I could be whatever he needed. That I was happy to do it all.

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