Page 105 of Come Break My Heart Again

I pull the white bakery box out and place it on the mattress, then glance up to meet Ryder’s gaze. “It’s a s’mores cupcake. It was that or lemon raspberry.”

“No plain vanilla or chocolate?”

“Of course not. Butter & Batter doesn’t do single flavors.”

“Today’s the twenty-fourth.”

“You can eat it tomorrow, if you want.”

His exhale sounds amused. And then he’s kicking off his sneakers and climbing on the bed with me, careful not to jostle the box before lying down next to the wall. I scooch until I’m lying flat too. My left side is pressed against his, the bed not really wide enough for both of us. Heat radiates from everyspot he’s touching me, blazing through my body like the sun’s warmth.

Ryder is looking at the box. “Thank you, Elle.”

“Mmhmm.” I grab my sketchbook and flip to a fresh page. Draw two horizontal lines, then cross them with two vertical ones. Leave the book lying on my stomach.

“What are we playing for?” he asks, reaching for the pencil and making a neat X in the top-right corner.

Rookie error. He should have taken the center spot, like I always do. And then I realize … that’s why he didn’t.

“What do you want, birthday boy?” I add an O to the center of the board.

He still hasn’t confirmed I got the date right, but I don’t think I’m wrong. My brain can’t seem to forget anything about this boy.

“Nothing,” Ryder answers.

“Nothing? How altruistic of you.”

He smiles. “Nothing that’s not right here.”

I swallow, momentarily stunned speechless.

“All I’ve ever wanted out of life was a s’mores cupcake,” Ryder continues.

My scoff sounds forced, my mind still reeling from the softness on his face.

His second X gets drawn in the bottom-right corner, forcing me to block him. He blocks me next, so I go for the top center. He blocks me again, lining up two X’s and forcing me to block him again. I drop the pencil, the possibilities already played out in my head and all leading toward the same outcome.

“Cat’s game.”

“You’re rusty.”

“Haven’t played in a while.”

Ryder hums. “So … you still got a lot of homework to do?”

I roll my eyes as I toss the sketchbook onto the floor. “You told me to?—”

“I know; I know.” Ryder shifts so he’s propped up on one elbow, leaning over me. I inhale sharply, registering how close he is all over again. “I wasn’t sure where we stood on … stupid stuff.”

His head lowers until his lips brush my collarbone, the gentle press of his mouth against my bare skin pushing a surprised, “Oh,” out of my mouth. The flash of heat is silent at least, but he can probably feel the fever radiating from my skin.

My breathing becomes rapid and greedy. I know he can hear it when I feel the vibration of his chuckle against my skin. His lips move lower, tracing the raised line until he reaches the center of my chest. I moan as he brushes the curves of my breasts. Trying to regulate my breathing and failing miserably.

Ryder shifts again, so he’s hovering over me, his gray eyes blazing like liquid smoke.

I lift my head off the pillow and kiss him, wrapping my arms around his neck and tugging him down. He’s careful to keep his full weight off me, but doesn’t resist my attempt to fuse our mouths together.

His tongue slides inside my mouth to touch mine, and I’m very glad I’m already lying down.

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