Page 107 of The Rule Breaker
The guys all rush past me, but Ryan falls in step beside me, glancing over the house. “Not bad,” he says.
“Not bad?” I ask, my eyes widening. “It’s gorgeous. There’s a hot tub, a pool, and it’s huge.”
“Fair point,” Ryan says with a grin, his eyes flicking toward me. Then, without warning, he gently tugs me aside, pulling me behind some bushes near the side of the house, out of sight from the rest of the guys.
Before I can ask what he’s doing, his lips are on mine. He groans against my mouth, like he’s been waiting for this moment, and honestly, so have I. His hand finds its way to my waist, pulling me closer, and I can feel the rapid thump of his heartbeat against mine.
“Missed you,” he mutters, his forehead resting against mine. “Fuck, Ireallymissed you.”
I can’t help the soft laugh that escapes me, still a little breathless. “I’ve been sitting right next to you on the bus all day.”
He grins, brushing his thumb over my cheek. “Yeah, but I couldn’t kiss you,” he says, his gaze dropping to my lips. “Couldn’t touch you.”
A warmth blooms in my chest. I roll my eyes but can’t fight the smile pulling at my lips. “Let’s go inside before the guys start wondering what we’re up to,” I say, stepping back reluctantly before I end up kissing him again and we get caught.
Ryan just grins, reaching down to grab my bag before I can. “Lead the way, baby.”
We walk into the house together, my eyes widening when we step inside. The living room is massive, with plush leather couches scattered around a grand fireplace. A flat-screen TV stretches across one wall, and the place smells like fresh wood and clean linens. To the right is an open kitchen with a marble countertop, and snacks are already set out on the island.
Austin’s lounging across the enormous sectional in the living room, his arms behind his head. “Holy shit, this couch is so soft. I’m never leaving.”
Coach doesn’t even glance at him as he drops his duffel near the door. “If you wanna pay four hundred a night, be my guest. One less headache for me on the bus ride back.”
Austin’s eyes go wide. “Four hundred? Jesus.” He lets out a low whistle, shaking his head. “Okay. I see why your wife sticks around, now.”
Coach just grumbles in response, and I bite back a laugh. Austin is always chirping my dad about my mom, and it never gets old. My mom’s stunning and totally head-over-heels for my dad, in a way that makes Nathan and I groan whenever they start making out in front of us. But Austin thinks it’s his personal mission to remind my dad that he’s got a thing for her, every chance he gets.
The rest of the guys trickle in, tossing their bags wherever they please. Logan heads straight for the kitchen, yanking open the fridge. “Is there any beer?”
Coach shoots him a look. “We got water.”
Logan groans, slamming the fridge shut. Meanwhile, Nathan’s already scoping out the place, mentally calculating where everyone’s sleeping, figuring out where to stash the gear, and making sure Austin doesn’t burn the place down.
I start walking toward the stairs, and Ryan’s footsteps follow behind me.
“I call dibs on whatever room’s closest to yours,” he murmurs low enough for only me to hear.
A laugh slips from my lips. “Should we just share a bed and make it obvious we’re fucking?”
His lips quirk up in that mischievous way I love. “Don’t really feel like getting my ass kicked, but if you need help testing yours out, I’m happy to volunteer.”
I roll my eyes, though a smile tugs at the corners of my mouth as we reach the top of the stairs. Ryan chuckles, his hand reaches out, toying with my ponytail. “You look cute when you blush.”
My skin flushes at his flirting as we walk down the hallway. Most of the rooms have already been claimed, but I spot a smaller one at the very end. Cozy. Private. Perfect.
Ryan leans against the doorframe, crossing his arms, his eyes scanning the room with a grin. “Cute.”
“Are you gonna help me unpack or just stand there looking pretty?” I drop my bag on the bed and shoot him a playful look.
His grin widens, and I feel my knees go a little weak. God, he’s so hot. “I do both equally well.”
Before I can respond, Logan calls out from down the hall. “Reed. There’s a room over here.”
Ryan sighs dramatically. “Guess that’s my cue.”
We glance down the hallway, where Logan is standing, and the room he’s talking about is at least four doors away, a little too far for my liking.
A chuckle leaves my lips when Ryan groans. “Guess you’re not getting lucky tonight after all.”
