Page 62 of Stranded

“Notnearlyas much as I’ve wanted to.”

“Me, too.” The hunger is impossible to ignore when I’m stroking Ronan’s hair, running my hands down his shoulders and arms. My voice crackles with it, hoarse and raw.

Ronan’s eyes widen as he looks up at me. Then he groans. “I just can’t stop thinking…”

“Mmhmm?”

Whatever the dirty fantasy, I don’t think we have time for it. But I’ll humour him and let him say it.

“What if you’ve waited… given up all this time with me… and they boo me?” Ronan’s hands slide down to curl up on his chest as he watches me, looking stricken with worry.

I stare at him for a few moments, and then I press my palm over both of his hands. “Then I’ll be even prouder of you,” I tell him firmly. “Because then you’ve done something that blew their minds so much they couldn’t handle it.” I whistle under my breath. “Imagine. That would be incredible.”

“Oh,” Ronan breathes out. “Oh, yeah.”

“Hell, you could walk out there to dead silence, and you’d still be worth waiting for.” I frown down at him, and then I gently shake his hands against his chest. “Because I’mnotout here wringing my hands, waiting for a crumb of your time. I have a little more self-respect than that.”

“No. I know. I didn’t mean…” Ronan trails off. “Whatareyou waiting for?”

I smile. “I’m waiting for you to be ready to give meallof you. Especially the part that scares you right now.”

Ronan slowly sits up and turns to look at me, one hand rising to his chest. The other hand is still clutching mine, so I slip my fingers between his.

“That part you’re afraid they won’t like—or I won’t like? I promise you… I already like it. And the rest of the world can damn well take it or leave it.”

Ronan’s smile is back, even though his eyes are wet with tears. “I…” he trails off.

Then, he just flings his arms around me and kisses me. It’s a kiss that builds and builds, quick as a wildfire and hotter still, until my desire is so thick and dizzying that I can’t think straight.

I want him to know that he’s mine—every part of him, in every moment. I want to steal him away from the world... but I know he has something he needs to say to the world first.

Ronan’s the first one to pull away, fire gleaming in his eyes. “I’m going to finish tonight,” he promises me. “Wewillhave that romantic lunch. And I’m not going to say one word about theshowcase, or school, or my stupid ex-roommates, or… or any of this.”

I don’t doubt him on the first two points.

But that last one…

My lips twitch as I try to hide my smile. I can’t imagine Ronan stifling one moment of his excitement and nervousness and pride, and even the vindication that’s driven him to improve so much, so quickly. And if it makes him happy, I would never want him to.

“Just you and me, at last,” Ronan promises fervently.

I chuckle softly, pressing a kiss on his lips. “It’s been you and me all along.”

Then, I finally push myself to my feet. Ronan reaches out for my hand and I take it to pull him up, too.

“Whew,” he sighs, shaking his head and looking at his whiteboards.

I squeeze his shoulder. “How about that coffee?”

“Give it to me, Alph,” Ronan grins. He sounds tired, but the fight is finally back in his voice. “As often as you want.”

“Ohhh, yes,” I promise, swallowing the shiver of delight as he flicks a look up at me through his lashes. “Believe me… I plan to.”

Chapter

Twenty-Four

RONAN

---