Page 33 of Rush
“Name your prize.”
He smirked, glancing at the attendant, who was waiting patiently to start the race.
“A kiss,” Ryan said. “On the lips. Open mouthed.”
“Gross,” I cried, making a face. Even as I said it, deep down, I wondered if I should let him win. That way I could find out what it felt like to kiss someone else. Hunter had been the only man I’d been with, and while I’d been satisfied, a part of me always wondered if that was it. Was that as good as it could get, or was there better out there? Was Ryan better?
It was a dangerous thought.
“Deal?” Ryan asked.
“You’re on.”
Pushing off the end, I flew down the slide, screaming the entire way down. My stomach dipped and rose over the bumps, water flying everywhere as the wind tore through my hair. Ryan was somewhere beside me, but I was too busy worrying about myself to look anywhere but straight ahead.
Before I knew it, I was skidding across the finish line, coming to a stop at the end of the slide. A hand reached out toward me, and I grasped it, thankful for the lift back to my feet. Breathless, I stared up at Ryan.
“I won,” he said, grinning from ear to ear.
“Of course, you did,” I said with a huff. “You’re the pro athlete.”
Glancing back at the slide, I smiled. I’d made it.
I didn’t realize when I’d written down my list that number three was all about losing control. Not being so damn controlling about my life, because it hadn’t gotten me anywhere at the end of it all. Life came in ebbs and flows, and not all things could be manipulated in my favor. Other people existed, too.
There was selfish Jade coming out to play again. She needed to stay in her box for good.
“You’re beautiful when you smile, you know that?” he asked, wiping at the water trickling down his face.
“Oh, Ryan, I haven’t smiled so much since…ever.”
Pulling me away from the end of the slide and onto the path, we lingered in the shade.
“Now, about my winnings,” he murmured.
He edged closer, his smile fading into something a great deal hotter. Caught in his gaze, I melted against him as his arms circled my waist, my palms resting on his shoulders. When his lips met mine, I heated up, my skin sizzling against the warmth of his. His tongue swept into my mouth, and all too soon, he drew back.
“Wanna go again?” he asked, chuckling at my shell-shocked expression.
“Yeah,” I muttered. “I totally want to go again.”
11
Jade
Staringout over the balcony at Ryan’s place, I scowled.
Today was Friday, which meant it was a week since I’d caught Hunter fucking another woman in our bed. I could still see the image of his greasy cock in my mind. The greasy cock that was still hard as he lamely attempted to stop me from leaving. An open relationship?Fuck that. I wanted to be his one and only. I wanted to fall in love and stay that way.
“Jade?”
I glanced up at Ryan as he stood beside me and attempted a smile. “Yeah?”
“Don’t think about it,” he said. “It’s not worth it.”
“Think about what?”
He tilted his head to the side and stared at me with a quizzical expression. “I’m not sure if you’re brushing me off right now or following my advice.”
