Page 96 of Escaping Our Reality

But she doesn’t let me kiss her. She pulls her head away.

Tugging my hand from her crotch, she guides my fingers to my face where she wipes her juices all over my cheeks and chin.

It’s a struggle to even form a cohesive string of syllables. “What are you doing?”

“Marking my territory. There’s a whole world of Clarissa’s out there. And they need to know what’s mine.”

She walks away, leaving me stunned and fully erect.

Pausing at the door, she asks me one final question. “Tell me something. Something no one else knows.”

I sigh. “You already marked me. The very second we met.”

Chapter 39

ELLA

I must admit, it’s pretty hot.

Knowing that my scent is trapped all over him right now.

First of all, I can’t believe I actually did that. Second of all, the bitches all over this room staring at my man like cats in heat better take notice.

I watch him from across the dining room. We came in here to get some food and he got stuck chatting with an alumni who actually owns several car dealerships in town. They’re talking about muscle cars. He catches my eye and winks.

“There she is.”

I turn, smiling, happy to put the face with the voice. “Ridge! What are you doing here?”

Ridge wraps me in a hug. I forgot he likes to hug too. And he’s definitely gotten better at them. I haven’t seen him in a couple of months, and you can tell he’s grown taller, more muscular. He’s probably the same height as Holt now, maybe an inch shorter.

He nods back at the kitchen. “Making some extra money. Dad’s the caterer on this one.”

“I should’ve known. Look how good the food looks. I’ve been trying to get in here all day to eat.”

He replaces a plate of freshly cut cheese and fruit. “Been stuck doing the small-talk thing, huh?”

“Yes, and it’s driving me crazy.” I peer past him, looking into the kitchen where constant food prep is still going on. “Is Holt working this too? He didn’t call or text me.”

“No, he was afraid he’d run into Delaney.”

I chuckle. “Smart move.”

Delaney is a very snobby sophomore at my school. She’s one of the girls who fawned all over Holt when she first saw him. He made the mistake of taking her out on a couple of dates. One too many dates.

I believe Holt’s exact words were, ‘Money don’t take the crazy out of people’.

I think my own parents are a testament to that.

I study Ridge’s handsome face, his strong jaw. He’s really turning into a heartbreaker. He has always played second fiddle to Holt, but he’s finally coming into his own. Shining his own star. I take a quick glance around the room and notice more than one set of eyes watching Ridge’s every move as we speak. “Hey, you know to avoid all the girls at my school, right?”

He rolls his eyes. “Yes, Mom. I’ve been duly warned.”

Ry catches me off guard, snaking his arm around my waist, possessively holding me next to him.

Hello pot, meet kettle.

His obvious jealousy makes me want to laugh. I best put an end to his torture. “Ryland, this is Ridge. Ridge is Holt’s best friend. Ridge and his family live next door to Uncle Ray and Aunt Teresa. We all grew up together. And Ridge’s dad is the best chef I’ve ever met.” I wave my hand at all the food spread across the table. “Ridge, this is Ryland, my boyfriend.”

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