Chapter Forty-Six
Ryder
I parted Lindsay’s lips with mine and kissed her, taking my time, happiness replacing the panic that’d edged our earlier kiss.
“I hope you understand that I’m never letting you go again,” I said, wrapping my arms even tighter around her as I added the phrase that had first helped me break through to this amazing girl. “For the record.”
“Good. I’ve got one last math test, and it’d be convenient if I had you next to me, explaining how to get the right answers.” She pressed a kiss to my jaw. “Plus, you’re rather easy on the eyes. For the record.”
I laughed and dragged my nose across her cheek, taking the time to memorize everything about this moment. Her scent, the way she felt in my arms, and the overwhelming happiness that left me a little dizzy and a lot turned on. “I was so worried that I’d be too late and you wouldn’t forgive me.”
“Thus the locking me in?”
“Thus the locking you in,” I said. “It was hard enough to ask my roommates and Beck for help, but after talking with the girls and coming up with the plan to get you here, I had to swallow my pride and ask Daniel for help.”
That was putting it mildly. When I’d called his name as we’d climbed off the bus that’d brought us back home to Boston, the reluctant look he gave me was beyond deserved—I’d been a prick to him all week. So I’d given my first apology of the weekend and told him I needed a favor. A big one. When he’d added that he’d help—partially because Lindsay was the best, not to mention super hot, which had made my eye twitch—I’d remained in control. Mostly because I figured it’d be hard to get his help if I maimed him, but by then, I’d also realized it’d never been about him in the first place.
“I hope that counts for something,” I said.
Lindsay ran her hands up my arms and linked her fingers behind my neck, bringing her body flush with mine. “You get all the points.”
“Damn, I love you. When you shot the roses out of my hands, I was sure I was screwed. The fact that you forgave me before I had to pull out the rest of the bribery stops proves you’re a way better girlfriend than I deserve. But I promise I’ll do whatever it takes to make you happy, no more losing control and acting like an ass ever again.”
“You don’t always have to control everything—I don’t want you to feel like you have to hold back your emotions and be the robot your parents want you to be. I love your unexpected jokes, and I like that I can be myself with you, and you can be yourself with me.” She reached up and toyed with the ends of my hair and I couldn’t help the happy sigh that escaped. “But if you’re having a hard time focusing on hockey, or dealing with family stuff, or if you’re worried about some other guy, we discuss it and give each other the benefit of the doubt and the chance to explain. Deal?”
“Deal. And if I ever bring up your past again, you have full permission to shoot me in the balls, point blank. The offer to do it tonight still stands.”
She eyed the gun as if it was a super-hard decision, and I regretted opening my mouth, even if I stood by it. Then her gaze lowered to my crotch, and all my blood rushed in that direction. “I’m thinking I might want it functional later tonight.”
“Later?” I kissed the spot underneath her ear that I knew drove her crazy, and gently bit her earlobe. “I’m fully functional now.”
She raised an eyebrow, acting unaffected, but her pupils were dilated and her chest rose and fell against mine with faster and faster breaths. “You mentioned bribery? Before I was willing to let it slide with the apology, but now I’m curious.”
I dragged my lips down her neck, brushed her hair aside, and kissed her shoulder. “See for yourself.”
Lindsay opened up the box. She lifted out two white Styrofoam containers that I hoped were still warm. She sniffed them and made an “mmm” noise.
“You said your mom’s enchiladas were your favorite, so I called her and got the recipe, and Megan helped me make them.”
She opened her mouth, then closed it, then opened it. I almost teased her that I’d never seen her at a loss for words, but my relief at winning her back made it hard for me to say much of anything, either. She pressed her lips to mine. “Thank you.”
She set the food aside and picked up the semi-destroyed roses. She ran her fingers over the petals. “This is the first time anyone’s ever given me flowers. Now I feel kinda bad that I shot them.”
“I’ll get you more,” I promised.
She righted the vase and stuck the stems in the few inches of water that hadn’t spilled, and then she reached in the box and pulled out the copy of Twelfth Night that I’d had signed by the Shakespeare company we’d seen.
“I know you probably already have a copy, but—”
“I can’t believe you got their signatures. I love it.” She hugged it to her chest. Her eyes widened as she lifted the last package out of the basket, something I didn’t put in there. I leaned closer and read the label.
Edible, glow-in-the-dark finger paints. Desire flared as I thought about covering her body with the paint and then licking it off her.
“Some bribe,” she said.
While I was totally on board with the idea, I didn’t want her to think I’d assumed I’d get quite that lucky. “That must’ve been your friends.”
She turned the box and pointed out the condoms stuffed into the side, more than we could use in a day, although I wasn’t unwilling to try. “It’s got them written all over it. Speaking of…” Lindsay pulled out her phone and her thumbs flew across her keyboard. She turned the screen to me so I could see the message addressed to Megan, Whitney, and Lyla.
Lindsay: We’re going to need at least an hour. Make sure no one interrupts us. THANKS! <3
She slid her phone in her pocket then ran her hand down my chest. “Do you think those enchiladas will keep? We do have this place to ourselves right now, and it seems like a missed opportunity if we don’t do a little finger painting.” She cupped me over my pants and I groaned.
I grabbed the box, tore it open with my teeth when the flap wouldn’t come loose as easily as I wanted it to, and unscrewed the lid to the first jar of paint I touched. It happened to be red, her favorite color—here in a second, it was going to be mine, too.
Swiping a glob onto two fingers, I used my other arm to pull her closer. I kissed her as I dragged my red-tipped fingers under her shirt, hooking my thumb on the hem so I could draw it up and over her head.
“Fair warning, it takes awhile to paint a masterpiece, even when you’ve got an amazing canvas to work with.” I brushed the red across the spot where the bottom of her bra met her skin. I recaptured her lips, inhaling her gasp as I slipped my fingers underneath the lacy black material and circled her nipple.
“Wait,” she said on a shaky breath. “I need to get in on this whole art thing.” She tugged my shirt up and off, then opened the blue paint. I refilled my “paintbrush” as she put handprints on my pecs.
With a flick of my wrist, I undid her bra and then gave my all to making sure her breasts were evenly painted and fully covered. Occasionally, I smeared a little too much, courtesy of the drag of her fingers above the waistband of my jeans.
I groaned when she undid the button and unzipped them, offering the sweet relief my growing erection needed.
Stroking her tongue with mine, I pushed down her jeans, adding red stripes to the tops of her thighs. Then I added color to her inner thighs, teasing her for a moment before stepping back and examining her, as an artist would his masterpiece.
She was already perfect, so there was nothing to improve, but I hadn’t had my fill of painting her body yet, so I grabbed the yellow.
She switched to pink.
Her ass got yellow handprints.
My back got pink stripes.
Red and blue smeared as her breasts dragged against my chest.
Back and forth we went, until I could hardly stand anymore. I’d surpassed hard long ago, moving into rock solid with need territory. I pushed her back onto the hood of the car, glad it was less crumpled than the rest.
One slow inch at a time, I dragged down her silky panties, that final scrap of fabric she was wearing. When she extended a hand to help me up, I shook my head. I hooked her knees with my arm and tugged her closer, until my mouth was over her center.
Her thighs tightened around my head as I slowly licked up, my entire focus switching from painting to pleasure…