Page 29 of Crossing Lines

My chest heaved with deep breaths. “Yeah?” I wetted my lips. Had I been wrong this whole time? Had he been struggling the same way I had? “Ryan…”

He lifted his head and gazed deeply into my eyes. “Yeah?” His gaze dipped to my mouth, then snapped back up. “I want to kiss you again.” He adjusted himself.

Peeking down, heat sparked low in my belly. His hard, brief-covered dick poked out of the open fly on his jeans.

Oh, sweet Jesus, he had a nice fucking cock. Even outlined in fabric, it was thick and mouthwatering. “Then do it. Kiss me again.” I pressed my lips to his and claimed him, then slid my hand down his shirt, over the ripples of his abs and under his briefs, wrapping my hand around his solid shaft and stroking.

With a whimper, he shuddered in my arms and tipped his head back, his brows tensing and mouth dropping open. “Fuck, not here.” He slapped his hand over mine, stopping it.

“Then where?” My balls ached. There was no way in hell this was ending now. He wanted me, and I…I more than wanted him.

“My place?” His throat dipped with a hard swallow and his gaze darted between my eyes. “It’s only a few blocks?—”

“Fuck yes.” I stood, hefting him up with me. I wasn’t going to give him a chance to think about it. I’d text Ace and Mason later, though I doubt they’d be worried about me if they saw me leaving with Ryan.

CHAPTER EIGHT

RYAN

Holy fuck, what was I doing? I’d worked so hard to stay away from Jonah, and now… As I stood, my knee twinged. With a grimace, I stumbled. “Shit.”

Jonah hooked his strong arm around my waist. “You okay? Did that fucker hurt your knee?” He dipped his head, looking toward my legs.

“No, it just twisted when”—I huffed—“when he turned me around.” Goddamn it, how had I let him get me into that position? I clenched my jaw. He’d surprised me. I never thought he’d pull something like that.

“Lean on me and I’ll take you out of here.” Jonah’s hold on me tightened and he weaved me out of the hallway and through a throng of dancing men. The whole place was hopping now. He threw a wave across the room, then continued on.

As I walked, the stiffness in my knee relaxed and I put more weight on it. I peeked at Jonah, biting his lower lip as he guided me. Warmth fluttered in my chest. Thank God he’d been there. But I was pretty sure after the initial shock had worn off, I’d have thrown Owen off me and beaten him to a pulp. Inside, I was still a hockey player, after all.

Walking me out past the bouncer at the front door, hestopped at the top of the stairs. “Are you going to be able to get down these? If not, I can carry you.” He knitted his brows. He was serious.

“No, I can walk. I’m fine now.” I took the first stair with my good knee, then winced as my knee stitched on the second step.

“No, I’m carrying you, and we’re going to ice that knee when we get to your place.” Jonah shoved his arms under my shoulders and legs and lifted me like I was a sack of feathers.

Shit, he was stronger than he looked. I wrapped my arms around his neck and fought off a smile. “This really isn’t necessary.”

“Yes, it is.” He stopped and pulled me closer, then kissed my cheek. “I’m taking care of you tonight.” He curled the edge of his lips and made his way down the stairs, carefully navigating each one.

“Jesus, okay.” I buried my face in his neck, breathing in his musky cologne. Fuck, he smelled so good. And the way he kissed… My dick plumped in my jeans. I was in so much trouble. But I wasn’t going to think too much about it tonight. It was too late to take back what had happened, and I’d have all day tomorrow to figure things out.

At the bottom of the stairs, he set me down. “Can you walk okay?” He snatched my hand.

“Yes, I can walk.” I took a purposeful step down the sidewalk with him at my side, watching my legs. The pain was pretty minor now, and fuck if I was going to let him know about it again. “Let’s go. My place is two blocks down.”

“Okay.” He fell into stride with me, past people dressed up for a night out and students in their hoodies and jeans. “So, what the hell happened?”

I gazed at the restaurants and bars lining the street, the glow of their inside lights spilling out onto the sidewalk, then the cars driving down the boulevard. “I don’t know, it was so fast.” I furrowed my brows. “I guess he was angry that I blocked him. I told him I wasn’t going to see him again.” I shook my head. Thatwas only a few weeks ago. I stopped at the entrance to my building and slipped my keycard out of my wallet. The door clinked and Jonah opened it.

Leading Jonah down a short hallway to the elevator, I snuck a peek at him. He was really here. I was bringing him up to my place. I never thought I’d be doing this.

At the elevator, I pressed the call button and the metal doors swooshed open.

“After you.” Jonah waved me inside.

I stepped in and pressed the button for the third floor, my floor. My mind replayed the almost kiss at our hotel in Colorado Springs.

“Ryan.” He faced me, then cupped my cheeks. “This is what I’d wanted to do the last time we were in an elevator together.” He pressed his soft, warm lips to mine and devoured me in a heated kiss, then broke it as the doors opened.

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