Page 22 of A Very Grumpy Halloween

“Well, I’m here to do that anytime you want.”

She laughs, and I turn back to her, grabbing her again as we step into the shower. My cock is hard and rubbing between us, driving us both wild.

I make sure the water isn’t hitting her in the face as I close the shower door behind us and look up at her. She pushes some of my hair off of my forehead and then leans down, her lips landing on mine.

She kisses me, her tongue tangling with mine as my hands mold her ass. Soon, she starts to rock against me, showing me that she wants more, and I shift her higher in my arms. Her hips angle, and we both groan as I sink into her.

I pin her back against the shower tiles as I start to thrust lazily in and out of her. This is how I want to wake up and start my day every day, and I wonder if I could convince Maple to move in with me or to let me move in with her.

Her phone starts to ring in the bedroom, but we both ignore it. Her hands cling to my shoulder, and she kisses me harder, her thighs squeezing my hips as her orgasm starts to grow inside of her.

“Ryder,” she moans, her head tilting back against the shower tiles and I hum, my lips finding her damp skin as I kiss a trail up her neck.

My teeth nip at her earlobe, and she shudders in my hold. My pace is starting to grow erratic as my own orgasm grows bigger and bigger. I know that I need to get her off before I come, so I reach between us, my thumb finding her clit and rubbing over the sensitive little pearl until she’s tensing against me.

She cries out my name and I amend my earlier statement.

That is my favorite sound.

I follow her over the edge, coming so hard that my legs feel weak. I let her slide down my body reluctantly, and she sighs as she leans against me.

I grab her shampoo and start to wash her hair.

“That feels good,” she moans, and I clear my throat.

“If you keep moaning like that, you’re really going to be late for work,” I warn her, and she gasps.

“Shit! Gosh, I lose track of time around you.”

She takes over and rinses her hair out. I watch as she grabs her body wash and scrubs her body, and then she hurries from the shower and back into the bedroom.

I rush through my own shower and join her just as she’s pulling on her shoes.

“I have to go, but I’ll see you later, right?” She asks, and I nod.

“Of course. I’ll text you.”

She smiles and leans up, kissing my cheek before she jogs from the room. I watch her go and then pull on my own clothes and try to make a plan.

I finally have Maple’s attention and she’s finally let down her walls around me. Now I need to figure out how to make her mine.

Permanently.

NINE

Maple

I was so wrappedup in Ryder that I completely forgot that the Halloween party was tonight, and I never confirmed that he was coming with me. I went to text him around lunch, but then I stopped.

I don’t know what happened between this morning and tonight, but I’ve been plagued with nothing but doubts all day. We were so happy and perfect together this morning and last night, but what is this to him? What am I to him?

I check the time for the third time in as many minutes, anxiety bubbling up in my chest. I should have left ten minutes ago if I wanted to make it back home, shower, and get ready for the Halloween party.

I’ve been distracted all day. I can’t stop thinking about Ryder. The way he kissed me last night, the way he held me like I was the only thing in the world that mattered. It made me feel things,realthings. That kiss wasn’t just a casual fling. There was something more behind it—something I can’t ignore anymore.

I’m falling for him.

I actually think that I’ve been in love with him for months now, but I was too afraid to let him all the way in, too afraid that he might leave me like my parents did. I know that fear is irrational, but I couldn’t help it.

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