Page 46 of Forbidden Puck
“How am I ridiculous?”
“You know you shouldn't touch me like that.” I planted my hands against his hard stomach and shoved, separating us. “You know nothing good can come out of this. Only bad.”
He nodded gravely, guiltily. “I know.”
With brakes squealing, our cab slowed to a stop at the curb in front of us. Radar held the door open for me.
“And theonlyreason you like me,” I told him as I climbed into the cab, “is because you can't have me.”
He didn't deny it.
Chapter 15
Alone
Ella
Radar gave the cabbie our address and the car rolled forward. The only sound was the hum of the road below us and the quiet whisper of the radio.Disappointment was in the air. It was Radar's, not mine. While he silently suffered the sting of rejection, I was certain that I'd done the right thing.
We were nearly home when Radar broke the silence.
“Y'know,” he began in a low, gritty growl. “It's not because I can't have you.”
I buried my face in my hands and laughed. I couldn't believe he was seriously going to try to argue with me over this …
“I don't believe you,” I muttered.
“I don'twantto like you, Ella. But you're not like any other girl I've ever met. I can't help it.”
I noticed the cabbie's eyes dart into the rear-view mirror and watch us with a hint of amusement.I'm so glad we could be your drunken late night entertainment, sir.
“Don't you get it? You're used to being able to sleep with any girl you want—any girl but me, that is. What you like is that I'm this forbidden fruit, this best-friend's-little-sister taboo that would wreck your life if you dared to touch me. Ryan, you're just after trouble. You don't even know your own self well enough to know that, but I do, so you should listen to me.”
One look at him and I knew my pleas had fallen on deaf ears. His irises seared into mine. Telling himnohad only stoked the embers of his interest, and now he was consumed with burning desire. I knew he wasn't used to hearing a girl mouth the word 'no', in fact, those two letters might be the most powerful aphrodisiac the athlete had ever sniffed in his entire life.
But the way he looked at me, with such brash and undying interest, made my head woozy and my thighs throb.
“You felt it, Ella. Back at the clubandlast night, too. I could see it in your eyes. We've got something, even if neither of us wants to admit it.”
My heart began to race and I didn't say a word. I knew damned well what he meant. And thanks to the heat rushing into my cheeks, I was sure that he could see it in my face, even in the dark backseat of the cab. I knew he still wanted that kiss. And I knew that he was going to come for me soon, and I had better be committed to fending him off.
“I wanted to kiss you,” he began, “and you wanted me to kiss you, too.”
“No …” I panted.
But he cupped my face with his titan hand, so huge and so strong, yet so gentle. “I mean, troubleiskinda hot, isn't it?”
“Ryan … don't … we're almost home—”
But he stroked a lock of hair out of my eyes, and my stomach fluttered and hell, maybe he was right, maybe troublewashot, because the next thing I knew? I'd closed my eyes and surrendered to him, waiting for his kiss.
Part of me stubbornly screamed,um, hello, this is still a bad idea!But the other part of me was far too curious to see where this could go … but when Ryan's mouth grazed mine, any thoughts about this being a bad idea were immediately snuffed out of existence. His lips touched mine like sweet and silky rose petals brushing against my lips. I was surprised. Who would have guessed that the hockey tough guy, the awful playboy, could be so soulful with his embrace? I didn't kiss him back so much as I opened forhim, as if I never had any choice in the matter, and my lips melted into his mouth.
My insides twisted and knotted as I kissed Ryan in the backseat of that cab. I liked it, I liked it a lot, and I lost any sense of time—but with each kiss going deeper, and with a throbbing between my legs, I remembered again, with conviction, thatyes,this was indeed a bad idea. I didn't trust myself. Iwantedto lose my virginity, after all … andyesI found Ryan gorgeous … but that didnotmake any of this appropriate or smart.
I planted my hands on Ryan's chest and pushed, separating our lips.
He looked at me, his brows raised, “no?”
