Page 47 of Bite Your Tongue

“Is that so?” I say, trying to keep a straight face. “Guess it’s a good thing we agreed on friends with benefits, right? Because I think that includes kissing.”

“Oh, it absolutely does,” he says quickly, smiling so hard that a dimple pops out. “Everyone knows that.”

“Does that mean you’ll come with me?” I ask shyly.

“Oh, I’ll come with you. Probably in more ways than one.” He winks. “I have practice on New Year’s Day for a game on the second, but the flight from Portland to New York is quick. I’ll come out, spend New Year’s Eve with you, then head back to Maine. But don’t worry; I’ll make sure I’m there for you to make out with when the ball drops. Wouldn’t want you not to complete the whole task on your list, you know.”

“Thank you so much, Ryder,” I whisper. “This is an incredible gift.” I look down for a split second, my feet shifting against the gravelly sidewalk. “I feel awful; I didn’t get you anything.”

His eyes sweep over my face before he leans forward, bringing his lips to my ear. “Brat, you gave me mine last night when you let me gag you with my dick.” He starts walking backward, away from me, and his entire face grows mischievous. “By the way, friends with benefits also means during long distance. Have that phone handy this week, would you?”

I whip my head around to see if anyone is listening, putting my palm to my forehead. “I don’t know. I guess I’ll see what I can do, Cambridge.” Stepping back, I push my ass against my car and hold my hand up to wave. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have Taylor Swift and Morgan Wallen to blast.”

“I bet you do,” he chimes, holding his hand up. “Have a good day, Sail-On.”

He turns, strutting away with his hat pulled low, and all I can do is watch, even though I need to head to work. Ryder has a way of making it damn hard to look away.

It’s just lust. It’s totally fine, and all is good.

And if it isn’t … at least I got some good dickin’ out of the situation. And a lot of good memories too.

I’m not worried about him getting attached, even though I said that to him. I’m worried about myself. I want to be this mature, grown woman who needs no man. Yet someone like Ryder Cambridge propositions me with a friends-with-benefits agreement, and here I am … anxiously waiting for that sexy phone call even though he just barely made it into the airport.

There are moments in life when you see the red flags and you know you’re about to make a mistake, so you pull the emergency brake and get yourself out of the situation. And then there are other times when you drive past the red flags and maybe run a few of them over while holding your middle finger in the air because you know the reward will be worth the pain.

At least … that’s the lie I’m going to keep telling myself.

Ryder’s dick is gold, and his hands are gems. Just call me a miner, ready to work.

I’m enjoying this man too much to let him go right now, even though soon, when someone new comes along and our little arrangement is over, he’ll leave me in the dust. But I guess for now, all I can do is relish in this thing between us. And after everything my ex did, maybe I owe myself that much.

After traveling to North Carolina today, we sit in the locker room, ready to go play some hockey. Now that Christmas is over, it’s time to get back to the grind.

“Hey, Sterns,” Tripp says to Logan before we head out onto the ice. “I forgot my PJs. Got any I can borrow?”

Ever since the guys saw the Christmas pictures of Logan, Maci, and Amelia wearing matching pajamas, they’ve been teasing him. Lucky for Sterns, he’s not the type to give a single fuck about what anyone says or thinks. Each time, he simply grins and throws back some off-the-wall reply. It’s usually something inappropriate because that’s just how Sterns is.

“You’d have to ask your mom, man,” Logan tosses back. “She borrowed them last night when she left my bed.”

“Har har,” Tripp chimes. “So fucking original.”

“Just like me, baby. Just like me.” Logan winks, pulling his jersey over his head.

“Yeah, in your dreams.” Tripp shakes his head just as Kolt comes beside me.

“What’d you do for Christmas anyway?” he mumbles—and I’m not sure if his tone is so unimpressed because it’s Kolt or if he’s bummed out to still not be playing.

“I went to visit a friend,” is all I give him because I haven’t had a chance to talk to Smith yet, and that’s my priority before telling anyone else that I’ve been spending time with Saylor.

“Is this friend the naked kind or the kind that keeps their clothes on?” he mutters with a hint of a smirk. “You didn’t even answer my merry Christmas text, you fuck.”

I give him a pointed look. “The one Paige probably made you send?”

“Well, yeah. What, you think I’d do that shit on my own?” he grumbles. “Either way, the polite thing to do would have been to respond. So, I take it, you were too naked to do that.”

I think about that text and how not long after it, I was lying back in a recliner with Saylor’s pussy on my mouth, her ass against my forehead, and her lips wrapped around my cock.

So, fuck no, I wasn’t worried about responding to Kolt at that point in time.

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