Page 261 of Out of Bounds

"He needs to get to sleep," Kassie murmured and glanced back at me.

The moment we walked upstairs to the bedroom, we weren’t sleeping, but I didn't argue. I buried my face in her neck, pulling her closer. I placed a quick kiss at the base of her throat. "We’ll probably leave when you do."

"What are we up to tomorrow?" June asked, crossing her legs. "How much free time did they give you?"

I shrugged. "I have the day off tomorrow."

Everyone was silent for a moment until Adam spoke. "Bullshit."

King burst into quiet laughter but it was the truth. Without the demands for the draft, I asked Cleo if I could have the day off and I landed it. A free day with Kassie, out of Houston, where we could just fuck off and enjoy ourselves.

"I have to go shopping," Kassie admitted, reaching back to stroke my hair. "My wardrobe isn't going to cut it for the Cross’s place."

I locked my arms around her and held her close. Our first Christmas together. My siblings had bothered the hell out of me for the whole semester to meet Kassie and now she’d get the full treatment to learn I was the only quiet one in my family. It was going to be a huge pain in the ass and a lot to deal with. I couldn’t wait.

The guys started arguing about the game and I listened before Kassie tilted to look up at me. My girlfriend ran her fingertips down my jaw. "Ready to go to bed?"

"We can sleep in," I murmured.

"Holy shit. I don’t know if our bodies can do that anymore."

I chuckled and pulled her up with me, wrapping an arm around her waist. Everybody else could stay up and celebrate but I planned to sleep in as long as possible with my girlfriend and just fuck off for the rest of the day tomorrow.

Kassie wished them a quick goodbye and slipped her hand in mine. It was quiet while we walked back inside of the hotel and when the elevator door shut behind us, I dipped down to kiss her again.

She smiled against my lips. "Aren’t you tired?"

"Adrenaline," I answered simply, kissing her again.

"How long does that last?"

"I don’t know." I ran my hand up the small of her back, sliding underneath the hoodie to touch her bare skin. "You can find out. I’ll take it out on you."

The suggestive grin on her lips made my pulse race, and she squeezed my fingers, leading me off down the hall when the elevator doors opened. God, she was so perfect. And all mine. At our door, I tightened my grip around her and deepened the kiss, holding her tight until she panted every time we broke apart.

"I love you," she whispered.

"Fuck, I love you." I kissed her again and my cock bulged against my jeans. "I can’t wait to give you the ring."

She glanced back. "Thewhat?"

"The ring."

"What ring?"

I didn’t reply. I was too busy slipping her out of her clothes and dipping down to kiss her neck while she sputtered underneath me, goddamn adorable.

"What ring, Ryan? Like, a pool toy ring? Birth control ring?"

I chuckled, hoisting her and carrying her off to bed. "I have it ready. The compromise is, you give me a timeframe for when you want to see it out of the box."

"What—I—?" She shook her head. "There is no way—"

"Want a bet?"

There was an audible pause and Kassie gazed up at me, breathless. "You know what? No. I do not."

???

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