Page 79 of The Right Move

Soft lips, warm to the touch. Commanding yet measured, as I’d expect any kiss from Ryan Shay to be. My mouth yields to his, parting to take him deeper and his tongue ever so slightly sweeps across mine in an electrifying slide. One of his hands drops, curving around my throat to bracket the back of my neck as the other pulls my hips to his.

His imposing touch makes me feel small and the deliciously domineering way in which he kisses me makes me feel entirely out of control.

I knew I’d like it. I knew it would be good, but what I didn’t expect was to feel light as a feather from my fingers to my toes. To fall completely under a spell just from feeling his mouth, especially when he told me I’d never have it.

My palms find his shoulders, sliding over his broad frame to hook around the back of his neck. A small, unpermitted moan creeps up my throat and I feel Ryan’s lips curve up against mine before pulling away.

Moving his hand to my lower back, he presses my body into his. His lips dot a map of soft kisses along my jaw, until his mouth ghosts my ear, whispering. “Are you okay?”

My chest is heaving uncontrollably so no, I’m not okay. What the hell was that? And when can we do it again?

I lie, nodding my head against him.

He breaks our connection to look around me. “Hey, I’m Ryan.”

Oh my God, Alex is here.

Then Ryan continues. “How do you know my girlfriend?”

An uncomfortable breath escapes Alex as he steps off the curb to his natural height. “I uh…we used to…”

Now who’s fumbling?

Ryan slides a forearm around the front of my shoulders, holding my back to his chest. He nods towards Alex’s jersey. “Oh,” Ryan says sweetly, patronizingly. “You’re a fan of mine.”

I didn’t notice the Devils jersey he had on, but I especially didn’t pick up on the fact there’s a number five on the front and my fake boyfriend’s last name on the back.

I have to bite my lip to keep it from curving.

“Were you waiting for an autograph?” Ryan continues.

Is it too soon to tell him I love him? Because I think I might love him in this moment.

“Yes!”

“Kev,” Alex quietly scolds.

“It’s Ryan fucking Shay.” Kevin rolls his eyes, pulls out a Sharpie, and turns around for Ryan to sign his jersey.

He continues to autograph the other two guys’ as well, but Alex goes on to claim the jersey he’s wearing isn’t his and doesn’t want to return it to the “owner” with Sharpie on it.

“We should get home.” Ryan slides his hand to my lower back, turning me towards his car. “See you at the wedding, huh?” he calls to the guys over my shoulder before placing another lingering kiss on my temple for them to see.

He opens the passenger door for me and once I’m inside, he gets down on his haunches, making us eye level. “Are you okay?”

No. Yes. What the hell just happened?

I nod. Quickly, maybe too quickly, but I’m more okay than I ever thought I would be just five minutes ago.

My gaze drops to Ryan’s lips and the bucket list item he refused. I don’t feel comfortable faking intimacy.

“What was that?” My words are low, breathy, hopeful for him to lean in and kiss me again.

He tucks a piece of my hair behind my ear. My slick ponytail must’ve gotten messed up while his fingers were threaded through it and his mouth was on mine.

“It was acting, Ind.”

Oh.

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