Page 8 of Wicked

The thought is unexpected, but I don’t give my brain a chance to catch up with what I’m doing with my hands.

With my other hand firmly on the dip of her lower back, I caress down her shoulder, bare arm, graceful fingers, and cup and squeeze her hip. Her blue eyes darken. Full lips part. Ready to take her challenge all the way, I reach around her hip. My mammoth arms span her lower back and cocoon her in place.

Small to big. Soft to the solid planes of my muscular body. Kindhearted to my bastardly heart. We’re a perfect fit, and the realization hits me hard in the gut.

Oh, fuck, we cannot fit this perfectly. The arrangement is for a month, and then we go our separate ways. I lean in, and with my mouth near her ear, I remind her of how we met and how I had treated her.

“I’m a douchebag. Funny business is what you’ll be getting. Don’t ever forget that.”

My words have the opposite effect. Of course they do. I’m fast catching on that Harper is different from the girls I’ve hooked up with.

“For your honesty, I’ll let you skate with me any time, Ryker Conway.”

She looks up at me through thick, long lashes, and my heart stutters in my chest and my body stills. I can’t breathe. Can’t look away from the gleam in her eyes. She has one of those silly grins on her face, but damn, this girl is happy, and I have the compulsion to bring out more of the shine in her eyes.

Grabbing my hand, Harper leads me onto the rink. On the way, we stumble and nearly fall on our asses. We hold on to one another for leverage, our feet fumbling for balance. Two college kids adulting. Or are we two adults acting like crazy kids?

She laughs, and I stare at her eyes, her mouth. She’s the flame. I’m the moth. I can’t stop laughing. Or smiling.

Here with her, it’s one of the best nights I’ve had in a long time. We skate to “Remind Me to Forget” by Kygo and Miguel. At the curve, I let go of her hand, skate backward, and serenade her.

I hit the notes wrong. Can’t remember the words for the life of me. But I give it a try just to see her blue eyes sparkle.

She covers her smile with her hand. Seeing her like this . . . I chuckle. If she’s this happy, how can I make her happier tomorrow when we’re trampoline jumping and dodging balls?

4

Ryker

“Okay, everyone, this is Ryker. It’s his first time, so be gentle. Ryker, you’re on their team.”

She tips her head at the group of kids on the opposite side of us.

“Am I expected to dress accordingly next week?” I ask out of the side of my mouth.

“Yes. Sorry, I didn’t mention the themes thing to you.”

I glance sidelong at her. She’s sexy as fuck dressed as Wonder Woman.

“You plan on doing something with that lasso later? Tie me up? Do dirty things to me?” I say next to her ear, low enough that the kids on either side of us can’t hear.

Her hair tickles my nose. Not willing to let this opportunity slip between my fingers, I inhale her scent. She smells sweet, like flowers. I shouldn’t be turned on, but I am. More so when Harper gets sassy. I’m digging sass.

“You seriously want to mess with the lasso of truth?”

“You can’t handle the truth.” I waggle my brows. Smirk when the corners of her mouth lift.

She rolls her eyes, but her smile doesn’t leave her face. “Cheesy.”

“It’s a damn great movie.”A Few Good Men.

“Only because Tom Cruise is in it. He was hot when he was younger. Was even hotter inTop Gun.”

A dreamy look on her face, and I’m not liking it. Shit, am I jealous of Tom Cruise? Still . . . I shoot my gaze heavenward, showing her who the boss of this conversation is.

“Hey, can we start?” one of the kids whine.

I stick my arm out to get the kid to shut up. Yeah, I’m a D-bag. “Usadultsare having a conversation.”

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