Justine
Ryker’s reaction to Elliot giving me a ride is still swirling through my mind as he wraps my hand around a large cup of tea from the café and pulls me into the elevator. I see the looks we’re getting. His actions are making it abundantly clear that we’re . . . what are we exactly?
The crowded elevator is taking us to the third floor, and Turner’s class is not the place to pose that question.
Do I need an answer? Do I want an answer?
What if we’re just friends with benefits? Am I okay with that?
The doors open on the second floor and, of course, Kristy Horner is standing there.
“Room for one more?”
No one in the elevator can miss the way she devours Ryker with her gaze.
Being that Kristy’s blond, built, and hot, it doesn’t surprise me when two of the guys step backward and make room. I squish toward the back corner, attempting not to whack the tiny girl behind me with my backpack.
Ryker takes a step back too, but Kristy presses her chest up against his anyway.
“Sorry, guys. Didn’t mean to make it a crush.”
Liar.
I can see her profile over Ryker’s shoulder, but she’s not paying any attention to me. The standard awkward elevator silence fills the car as it goes up one more floor before jerking to a halt.
Kristy takes this opportunity to fall forward against Ryker, both hands pressing against his pecs. The guy to her left reaches out to steady her, but she moves closer to Ryker instead.
I can’t make out her whispered words, but it sounds like, You always did know how to keep me steady.
The doors slide open, and Kristy waits an extra beat before lifting her hands off Ryker’s chest. She gives him a wink before strutting out, confident that every eye is on her.
I really hate that girl.
A niggle of . . . something sneaks into me along with the echo of Ryker’s words—“My lips are the only ones I want to see on you.”
Apparently, my hands are the only ones I want to see on him. But I say nothing and follow the crowd toward the classroom. Ryker reaches back and grabs my fingers, lacing his through mine.
He releases me when I stop by a single empty seat, and I drop my backpack on the counter without bothering to cushion the thunk. His eyebrows knit together, but all he says is, “I’ll see you after class,” before moving down the row to the next empty chair.
The lecture drones on, but I force myself to pay attention and take verbatim notes like I normally would. It’s a good way to block out the stupid rush of jealousy I feel every time Kristy blatantly stares at Ryker. Is she feeling desperate now that he has clearly turned his attention elsewhere?
I shove the thoughts down. I need to concentrate. No distractions. That was the deal. But I didn’t take into account my own feelings when I made that decree.
Yeah, he and I need to have a little chat after class. Maybe I’ll feel better if I know where we stand.
Ryker is by my side as I finish packing up my laptop and shoving my casebook in my backpack. “Library?”
“Sure.”
I lead the way out of the room and across to the third-floor entrance where the private study rooms are. Ryker looks in the windows until he finds one that’s unoccupied, and flips the sign before letting me in.
“We need to talk.” The words come out in a serious tone from Ryker’s lips. But what surprises me most is that he beat me to it.
“I think you’re right.” I take a seat on one side of the table, in view of the window, and he takes a seat on the other side.
I open my mouth to say something, but Ryker jumps in first. “This thing between us? It’s exclusive. No one puts his hands or mouth on you but me. Got it?”
Crossing my arms over my chest, I lean back in my seat. “Then same goes. Because you didn’t exactly push Kristy Horner off you in the elevator.”
“That’s not the same—”
“Bull. Shit.” I emphasize both syllables.
“She fell into me.”
“On purpose.”
“And?”
“And I didn’t like it.”
Ryker leans forward, propping both elbows on the table. “And I didn’t like watching some guy you barely know put his lips on you. I’ve never been the possessive type before, but when it comes to you, I want to drag you away from any guy who tries to touch you. Fuck, Justine, there aren’t two minutes that go by when I don’t want to drag you away, period. Get you alone. Make sure that sweet little pussy is wet and ready for me.”
My eyes widen at his words, and my body reacts predictably. How can it not when he’s staring at me like that? And his possessiveness? Why does that make me even hotter? I shouldn’t like it. I shouldn’t be this thrilled that he feels this way. But I can’t help it. I am. The flare of heat in his eyes says that he knows it too.
“You love it when I talk dirty to you, don’t you, baby?”
His low, husky words jerk me out of my slide into lust. “We’re in the library. We can’t talk like this here.”
Ryker glances to the little window in the private room and back to me. “No one can hear us, and what’s more, no one will be able to see what I’m about to do.”
Oh. Hell.
He stands and flips the lock on the inside of the door before grabbing my backpack and pulling out my laptop, opening it on the table in front of me. Next, he pulls out my casebook and sets it beside the keyboard.
“You’re going to look like you’re studying your little heart out if someone looks through that window. They’re going to have no idea that I’m eating your pussy until you’re ready to scream. But you’re not going to scream—you’re going to bite your lip and let that orgasm rip through you, and no one is going to be the wiser. After, you’re going to go to class, your pussy ready for my cock, and then I’m going to take you home, make you sit across the table from me while we both do all of our reading. I’m going to feed you before I fuck you all night and you can scream as loud as you want.”
I’m not sure he needs to say anything else, because I’m ready. I’ll do whatever he wants as long as he gives me everything he says he will.
“Now, pick up your highlighter and start your reading. I’ve got work to do.” And he ducks under the table and disappears from sight.
Today I opted for comfort over fashion, going with black leggings, black boots, and a tunic-length gray sweater. Simple, but it works.
Ryker doesn’t waste any time tugging my leggings down and smoothing my sweater along my leg so there’s no visible skin.
Is he really going to . . .
Cold air hits my bare skin as he tugs my panties aside.
“Fuck, you’re already wet, baby. I’ve been dying to taste you since yesterday.”
My grip on the highlighter tightens, and I stare blankly at the words on the page in my casebook, pretending to concentrate as the first swipe of his tongue laves me from bottom to top.
Oh God. I can’t do this. I’m never going to be able to stay quiet.
I squirm in the seat as Ryker murmurs from beneath the table. “You better make it look like you’re studying, baby. You don’t want anyone to know that I’m eating this pussy, do you? Hold still. You’re not going to last long.”
I open my mouth to protest that he can’t possibly know that, but two fingers slide inside me, and I shut my mouth with a snap.
Oh. Shit. I’m going to come. In the library. I don’t think I’ll be able to do it silently.
His mouth latches around my clit, and when he sucks, I know I’m screwed.
“Oh shit. Oh shit,” I murmur.
“Quiet, or I’m not going to let you have it. I’ll stop right now.”
I bite down on my lip and squeeze my eyes shut, hoping like hell no one looks in the window. The orgasm slams into me, and I drop the highlighter to grab the edge of the table.
“Good girl,” Ryker says as he slides his fingers out of me, replaces my panties, and pulls my leggings back up my hips. I release my grip on the table to yank them up the rest of the way, my gaze darting to the window.
I’m not sure if I was expecting a crowd of gawking onlookers, but there’s only one set of eyes. They’re on Ryker as he comes out from under the table.
Fucking Kristy Horner.
I slam my casebook closed and she darts away, a look that could kill on her face.
“What? What’s wrong?”
I don’t even want to say it. It doesn’t matter. She’s not going to do anything. Right? Then again, he should know too.
“Kristy Horner was by the window. She saw me. Saw you. Us. Whatever.”
Ryker’s satisfied smile falls away. “I’ll take care of it.”
“No.” My voice strikes out like a lash.
“I’m sure as hell not going to let her tell anyone. This was my idea, and I’m not letting you get in trouble for it.”
His concern for me quells some of the rising panic. “Do you really think she would?”
He shrugs. “I don’t know. She’s a piece of work, but she’s not a bad person. I’ll talk to her.”
I narrow my eyes and pitch my voice as seriously as possible. “If she says she needs the same treatment to keep it quiet, I will shank her.”
“Not happening, babe. Don’t worry about a thing. I’ll do damage control, and you get on with your day.”