Page 55 of Keep Me

“No, I need to get home, but thank you,” she says, standing and grabbing her purse.

“I’ll give you a ride,” Theo offers. “You don’t mind, right, Ryker?”

“Actually, I’m going to walk Camille up to her apartment and make sure she’s good, then I’ll Uber home.”

“I can just wait a few minutes. It’s no big deal,” he says matter-of-factly.

The guy can’t read the room, can he?

I tilt my head and glare at him, hoping he’ll get the hint this time.

Theo’s head tilts in response and then he straightens. “Oh. Oh, OH! Yeah, totally, you stay and make sure she’s good.”

“You don’t have to drive me home,” Marcela protests, but Theo’s already walking with her to the door.

“You’re right, I don’t have to. I need to make sure you get home safely,” he responds, and she doesn’t argue.

“Bye, AV baby! Bye, Jay bay bay! Bye, Millie Moo!” Theo shouts, waving at the girls. “Bye, Ry guy! Bye, Ronnie boy! Bye, Eli Oldi!”

Jesus Christ, Theo and his nicknames.

Marcela smiles for the first time tonight and then says goodbye to everyone as she and Theo leave.

“It was so nice to see you all,” Aurora says, pulling Camille into a hug. “I’ll try to come back soon, but with my volleyball schedule, it can be tough.”

“Keep making us proud out there, Rora. You’re crushing it,” Camille tells her once they’ve parted.

“Right? Aurora Vallacourt is a fucking badass!” Jasmine slurs.

Camille and I say goodbye, thanking Elio and Jasmine for having us over even though I didn’t want to be here in the slightest when I first showed up.

As soon as we get into the hallway, Camille jumps onto my back.

“What the hell are you doing, princess?” I ask, gripping her thighs to keep her secure.

“Going for a ride. It’s fun up here.” She giggles and begins doing a lasso with one hand. “Giddy up, cowboy!”

“I can think of something else for you to ride.”

She slaps my shoulder. “Ryker the biker, how dare you talk to a lady like that?”

“I’ll talk to a lady like that when I know it gets her panties wet, or am I wrong?” I ask, hitting the button for the elevator.

“Une femme ne révèle pas ses secrets,” she sing-songs.

“For all I know that was French for my pussy is soaked,” I tease her, right as the elevator doors open and I step inside.

“I said that a lady doesn’t reveal her secrets.” Camille giggles.

“Is that so?”

I spin her around my body so that her chest is to mine and press her gently against the elevator wall as my lips meet hers. I keep it sweet since she’s tipsy and I’m not trying to be that guy.

Camille’s fingers tangle in my long hair, tugging as I deepen the kiss. A little sigh escapes her, making me pull away.

“Nooooo,” she whines.

“Your sounds are going to drive me fucking wild, and I can’t go there with you right now. Not when you’re drunk,” I tell her, tucking a loose strand of her ponytail behind her ear.

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