Page 74 of Rinkmates

“I have more sad stories than happy ones. Consider yourself lucky.”

While the others start to grab some more drinks, Liora tells me about her father hitting her mom until she finally kicked him out. My boner is gone in a minute, and I want nothing more than to find her father and kick his ass.

“It’s okay, don’t worry,” she says. “He’s gone now, and as for us, I think it’s safer if we stick to the contract.”

I watch her striding to her bedroom, locking it from the inside and I think my heart just broke in two.

Twenty-two

LIORA

Fingertips tremble against my clit, gasping breaths echo in my dark room.

The memory of Riley’s touch is burned in my mind.

His fingers filling me, taking me to the chasm, only to leave me aching.

When he knocked, I pretended to be asleep, too overwhelmed to face him and admit that I wanted to stick to the contract because I was afraid I might actually develop feelings. Afraid to tell him that I kind of already have.

Instead, my mind replayed every moment of his touch over and over.

The rumble of his voice.

The hunger in his eyes.

The bold press of his hardness against my ass.

I couldn’t fall asleep, and as soon as he was in his own room, my hands instinctively went into my panties.

I imagined his sculpted body, remembering how it looked with water and soap cascading down every defined muscle. My fingers work frantically beneath the covers, chasing the release he’d denied me.

I’m close, so close.

But climax hovers out of reach.

And just when I think I can make it, a muffled groan sounds from the other side of the wall.

The cadence is unmistakable—Riley is pleasuring himself too.

I squeeze my eyes shut, imagining his strong hand fisted around his cock, stroking in time to my fingers rubbing tight circles on my clit. Soft grunts escalate to deep moans of ecstasy. Hearing his pleasure pushes me over the edge. I bite my lip to stifle my cry as I shatter.

I pant and mortification replaces the fleeting bliss.

What was I doing, getting myself off to my roommate? I can’t let myself fall for his charm and risk everything I’d worked so hard for.

I roll over and will myself to sleep.

But sleep doesn’t come in a while.

I tiptoeout of the apartment after hiding in my room for hours.

I told my mom what happened—though obviously not the part about the fingering. I just mentioned that we broke the contract by kissing, and she advised me to trust my instincts. But my gut tells me that Riley isn’t ready for a serious relationship, which is what I need. We’re on different pages in our lives. The sooner I accept that, the easier it will be to realize that if I let this go any further, it’s just about sex and nothing more.

My skates bump against my back with every hasty step.

I need to clear my mind before tonight’s show. The thought of seeing Riley only adds to the jumbled chaos in my head. After yesterday, I just can’t handle the thought of seeing him today. I’m feeling so shy and guilty that I don’t even know if I can look him in the eye again. Okay. No, I can’t.

I know I have to eventually, but not today.

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