Dare You To (Pushing the Limits, #2)(111)

“No. He knows I’m seeing you tonight and that I have to be      up early for my writing competition.” Ryan cups my waist with his hand. His      thumb sneaks underneath my shirt and draws circles onto my skin.

I notice a bundle of papers tied together with two pink      ribbons on the middle of his bed. “What’s that?”

Ryan places some space between us, but slides his fingers      into mine. “A finished copy of ‘George and Olivia.’ It’s yours. So are the      ribbons.”

“Cool.” Because it is. Ryan will do well at so many things      when he graduates.

“Take a look at the title page.” Ryan releases me and I      immediately miss his touch.

I plop on the bed, untie the bow, and blink—Dedicated to the girl I love: Beth Risk.      My fingers skim the page as if caressing the words will make them more      real. George was a short story for class. Olivia came to life because Ryan      couldn’t stop thinking about the story. He dedicated it to me because...because      he actually loves me.

A twinge of pain flashes in my chest. I could be happy here      in Groveton. Scott’s not so bad. In fact, I kinda enjoy waking in the morning      and telling him about school. I appreciate how Scott nods while I talk and when      I stop, how he asks questions to show he heard what I said. I adore sitting in      class next to Lacy and listening to her ramble about useless gossip. I love      health class and despite what Allison said, I’m becoming fond of science. I like      watching Logan, Chris, and Ryan one-up each other. I like...I like...

I run my hand over the paper again. I love Ryan. I’m in love      with him. I love how he smiles. I love how he moves. I love his hands on my body      and his lips on mine. I love how he laughs. I love how he makes me laugh. I love      how he can smooth away the roughness and make me feel like someone worth loving.      “It’s perfect.”





Chapter 55

Ryan

IN THE MIDDLE OF MY BED, Beth      touches the title page for a third time. She likes the gift. The queasy anxiety      I’ve had all day fades. The mattress sinks when I sit beside her. Crimson stains      her cheeks as I brush my fingers against her skin. It’s hard to believe she’s      the same girl from Taco Bell. Beth was hard and shut down that night. The girl      on my bed is open and soft.

The physical differences are obvious. I run my hand through the      sleek, silky strands and she edges away. She hates what I see, but I don’t. One      inch of golden-blond stretches from her roots. The blond highlights the      blackness of the rest of her hair. I love the black. I love the blond. I’d hate      to see either one of them go. Somehow both suit her.

I take the manuscript from her and place it on the nightstand.      Her hands shake and she bites her lower lip. She’s nervous and I don’t know why.      “Are you okay?”

She nods but refuses eye contact. “I wish I was perfect for      you.”

“You are perfect for me.”

Beth rests her hand on my inner thigh and her fingers slowly      trace the seam of my jeans. Fire races through me and flames lick areas very      close to her fingers. Beth starts again. “No, I wish...” And stops.

Even though part of me wants nothing more than for her to keep      touching me, I force my hand over hers. When Beth struggles with words it means      she’s on the verge of saying something worth hearing. Her emotions confuse her.      Maybe tonight, she’ll finally find the courage to say the words I’m longing to      hear.

“I wish...” She sighs. “I wish I never had sex with Luke. I      wish I could take back so many things, but I can’t. I wish I could be someone      worthy of you.”

Beth is on my bed. Her body is close to mine and her fingers      hold on to me, but something in her voice makes me feel like she’s slipping away      again.

“I’m not perfect,” I tell her. “And you’re exactly who I want      you to be—you.”

“I want you to be happy,” she says and even though she’s      physically near me, I look into her eyes and see the glaze creating a wall.

Beth slides a leg over my body and straddles me. Her parts are      right on top of mine and the fire within threatens to become an inferno. She      knots her fingers in my hair, sending chills along my neck and down my spine.      Her lips graze my earlobe, followed by a gentle tug with her teeth. Warm breath      tickles my ear. “Let me make you happy.”