Page 18 of Dare You to Love Me

Once we make it up the rickety front porch stairs, my hand scrabbles for the handle without lifting my mouth from hers. My fingers wrap around cold metal before shoving open the door and steering us carefully over the threshold and into the entryway.

I’m well aware that this would go a lot faster if I’d just take a step in retreat, but I can’t bring myself to do it. Driving over here from campus without mauling her was a feat in itself. I broke about ten different traffic laws in my rush to get home. Her hand was firmly ensconced in mine the entire time. Barely could I drag my gaze away. I was afraid that if I did, she’d vanish into thin air.

Or worse, I’d wake up and realize this had been nothing more than a dream.

I’ve wanted Stella for far too long, and now that I actually have her, I refuse to let go.

“See? Told you something was going on between them. That kiss last night was too damn hot to be just friends. You owe me twenty.” I break away long enough to glare at Hayes. A grin slides across his face as he pops his shoulders in a careless shrug. “What? I saw this coming from a mile away.” He elbows Bridger before rolling his eyes. “Not like this guy.”

My other teammate glares. “Thanks a lot. Now I owe this dumbass money.”

Instead of responding, I scoop Stella into my arms and carry her up the staircase to the second floor. The warm weight of her against me feels so damn good.

She buries her face against my chest. “I’m so embarrassed.”

A chuckle escapes from me. “Why? Because everyone around us could see that I was in love with you? Except for, you know, you.”

She lifts her face until her eyes can fasten onto mine. “I’m sorry, Riggs.”

“Don’t be. Our relationship is right where it’s supposed to be. Don’t ever doubt it.”

I press my lips to hers before crossing the threshold of my room and closing the door. Then I twist the lock for good measure. I don’t want any interruptions. If my roommates are smart, they won’t even think about disturbing us until tomorrow. Maybe the day after that. Because now that I finally have Stella exactly where I want her—in my bed—it’ll be a long damn time before I allow her to leave it.

Even though I’m reluctant to relinquish my hold, I set her on the queen-sized mattress before straightening to my full height. My fingers grip the hem of my sweatshirt, peeling it off along with the T-shirt. Her pupils dilate, the black swallowing up the blue, as her gaze roves over my bare chest. I can’t help but stand perfectly still, allowing her to drink in the sight of me as sunlight pours in through the windows. If I questioned for even a second that she might not be attracted to me, the way she eats me up with her eyes only reconfirms that she feels the same way as I do.

Her attention dips to the thick jut of my erection covered by the joggers. Already, I’m hard as steel.

Her tongue darts out to moisten her lips as she shifts on the bed. “Aren’t you going to take off the rest?”

A slow smile tugs at the corners of my lips. “Just waiting for you to give me the word.”

“Word.”

I snort and shove the cotton material down my legs before kicking them off so that I’m completely naked. Her gaze resettles on my cock. I can almost feel the heat of her perusal as it slowly licks over me.

Nothing has ever felt better.

“You’re so beautiful,” she murmurs.

I shake my head. “No, baby. You’re the beautiful one.”

With that, I swallow up the distance between us, crawling onto the mattress and up her body until she’s lying flat.

There’s so much trust swimming around within her blue depths as they cling to mine.

The one thing I’ll never do is break it.

I nip her lower lip and suck the plump flesh into my mouth. After a handful of seconds, I release it with a gentle pop before peppering her face with soft kisses. It’s only when I’ve adored every inch that I slide down the slender column of her throat and bathe the fluttering pulse with my tongue.

When I reach the collar of her sweater, I sit up and wrestle the wool up her torso before pulling it over her head and discarding it. The pink, cotton candy colored bra is the next item to get removed. I sit back so that my gaze can stroke over her lush curves.

She’s even more perfect in the undiluted sunlight that streams in through the window. My palms settle over her breasts, squeezing the soft flesh. When she’d touched herself last night, it had taken every ounce of control not to go off like a shot.

It reminds me of summer and how we’d hang out at the swimming pool or the beach. I’d salivate over the tiny bikinis she’d wear, wanting to rip them off her body. I knew she’d be more than a handful.

And I wasn’t wrong. Her breasts are generous in size with dark pink stained nipples. I can’t help but tweak them, watching as they stiffen right up.

“How are you this perfect?”

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