Page 45 of Face Me Off

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

MADISON

“Well,fuck. He would be, wouldn’t he?” Ryan’s hand rubs his hard-set jaw as he stares into the void. Without a word, he grabs my hand and takes off with me in tow.

“Where’re we going?” I ask, my feet shuffling to keep up. I ignore the excitement shooting through my veins from his touch. The feeling is contradictory to my mind. It’s still reeling over what I learned. Dr. Steinberg, or Alex as I know him, is the mysterious donor who holds the hockey team’s fate in his hands. He also happens to be my dad’s best friend. Our dynamic just got more complicated.

Fuck my life.

“Somewhere where prying eyes won’t fall on us.” He shoots me a sideways glance and gently squeezes my fingers. “I want to be alone with you, Toots.”

My heart does a little flip at the nickname. Damn it, when did that hideous name grow on me, and why does Ryan have to be so infuriatingly charming? I want to resist, to pull away and demand answers. But there’s something in the set of his shoulders, the determination in his stride, that makes me hold my tongue.

I let Ryan lead me through campus, not knowing where we’re headed. Neither apartment is an option, considering we need to keep out of sight. We’re drawing enough attention the way it is now.

The Kernette Center comes into view with its modern glass facade gleaming in the late afternoon sun. A knot of anxiety tightens in my stomach. What is Ryan planning? Surely, racquetball isn’t on the agenda.

“Ryan, seriously, where are we going?” I tug on his hand, planting my feet. “I’m not taking another step until you tell me what’s happening.”

He turns to face me fully, his tall frame blocking the sun. For a moment, I’m struck by how different he looks from the cocky hockey star I first met. There’s a vulnerability in his eyes now, a hint of the boy beneath the carefully crafted image.

“I just…” He runs a hand through his hair, messing up his neat style. “I needed to get you alone for a minute. Away from all…” He gestures vaguely at the bustling campus around us. “This.”

The Kernette Center is part of the sports complex with indoor racquetball courts on the lower level and an indoor track on the upper level. I’ve always wondered who would use the indoor track since our weather is beautiful ninety percent of the time. But it’s an option, anyway.

My heart rate kicks up a notch. Alone? With Ryan? Part of me wants to bolt, to protect myself from whatever’s brewing between us. But a bigger part, the part falling for him despite my best efforts, thrums with anticipation.

“Okay.” The words are soft as he tugs me gently towards the building’s entrance. “Lead the way, hockey boy.”

“There’s a nook upstairs that nobody visits.” He flashes me a grin. “No cameras either.”

Jealousy stabs at me. If Ryan’s taking me to one of his hookup spots, I’m going to … I don’t know, but it’s going to be bad. “Is this where you take your conquests?”

“Conquests? Fuck, Maddy, quit thinking everyplace I take you is a hookup spot.”

I raise an eyebrow and stare. My silent “Well, am I wrong?” hangs between us.

Ryan shakes his head in what feels like disappointment.

“This way,” he murmurs, his eyes darting to the elevator bank. He drops my hand and places it on the small of my back. Shivers race down my spine. Why do I love his fingers on me so much?

I give the area a side sweep, but the few scattered students don’t pay us any attention.

My stomach does a little flip as we step inside. The doors slide shut, sealing us in a bubble of quiet. Sandalwood and something uniquely him fill the small space. I inhale deeply, trying to calm my racing pulse. There’s something about being confined in a small space with an attractive guy that kicks the adrenaline into high gear.

His hand drops lower, fingertips grazing the top of my ass. I have to fight the urge to move closer. But his touch. His smell. It’s all-consuming.

The door slides open, and Ryan tugs me into a secluded alcove hidden from view of the main corridor. My back presses against the cool wall as he releases my hand and steps back to give me space. We’re both breathing hard, though whether from the brisk walk or the tension crackling between us, I’m not sure.

“If this isn’t your lair, how’d you know about this place?”

“I come up here to run in the off-season. It’s quiet and less populated. Fewer distractions.” His face grows serious. “I’m guessing going to the Gala is out of the question?”

Sadness breaks the tension. “Going with you wouldn’t be a good idea. Alex would tell my dad for sure. They’re practically like brothers. They play golf every Saturday.”

A pained expression crosses Ryan’s face. “I hate hiding this. Hiding us.”

“What exactly is this?” My voice is strained, but I want him to be crystal clear. So far, all we’ve done is fuck. We fucked well, but it was still just sex.

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