Dare You To (Pushing the Limits, #2)(112)

My mind’s a mess and a small voice yells at me that she’s      leaving. But she can’t be. She’s here, in front of me, driving me insane by      pressing her body against me. My hands grasp her moving hips, physically keeping      her near. She grabs hold of the hem of my shirt and I let her ease it over my      head. Her fingernails whisper against the muscles of my abs and clear thought no      longer exists as she explores downward.

We fall backward onto the bed and Beth continues to move with      me. I moan when her hair brushes my chest and her lips kiss my neck. Against my      skin, her mouth tilts into a smile. My hands wander underneath her shirt. Her      body is burning hot under my touch and I want her skin brushing against mine. I      yank her shirt over her head and kiss that blessed spot right between her      breasts.

Beth gasps and I no longer want her to be in control. I want      this. I want to be the one to make her happy. I want to make her feel good.      Wrapping my arm around her stomach, I twist both of us and flip her onto her      back on my bed. I love the feel of her underneath me.

She tangles her leg with mine and her fingers lace in my hair,      tempting me down again. My hand glides along the curve of her waist and I want      to touch places I know will make her move in rhythm with me. My fingers drift      against her stomach and I hesitate when I come into contact with her belly      button ring.

Our first night together in the barn creeps into the forefront      of my brain. I asked her a question that night and she never answered. I slip      off her even though her hands pressure me to stay. “What’s your tattoo      mean?”





Chapter 56

Beth

WHAT DOES MY TATTOO       MEAN? Five seconds ago my body was blazing and five words freeze me      like an arctic wind. Ryan brushes my hair off my shoulder and tilts his head as      he waits for an answer.

I keep eye contact as the devil inside me fights with my      desire to tell Ryan something I’ve never told anyone before. “It means      freedom.”

Ryan readjusts so that his body touches mine. His abs ripple      as he moves. Oh my God, he’s incredible and I’m shirtless on his bed and he      wants to have a conversation. Ryan can be so...so...frustrating.

“Why did you choose that tattoo?”

I glance away and blow out air through my lips. There are      some secrets that are mine and mine alone. Why can’t Ryan work with me? Why      can’t he let me give him this night? I lean up and kiss his lips. Ryan presses      back, but he keeps the exchange short. I flop back on the bed. “You’re straight,      right?”

Ryan chuckles. “Very.” And to prove his point he makes my      toes curl when he skims a finger in the narrow valley between my breasts, down      my stomach, and plays with the edge of my low-rise jeans. “I’m dying right      now.”

I refuse to give him the satisfaction of closing my eyes in      pleasure. There should be another badge in that for me. “Then why are we      talking?”

“What do you know about me?” he asks.

I shrug. “A lot.”

“Tell me some of it.”

Oookaaay. “You love baseball and writing. Your gay brother      can kick most guys’ asses.”

Ryan laughs and I smile. I love his laughter. It reminds me      of music.

An ache darkens his eyes and his hand stops flirting with      the elastic of my underwear. “You know a lot more than that.”

“I do.” I link my fingers with his and wish I could take his      pain. I know his parents hate each other and that this trip is an attempt to      save their marriage. They won’t divorce, but it’s an attempt to rekindle the      flame. I also know that watching his family fall apart is killing Ryan.

More importantly, beyond all the hurt that pricks at him, I      know that I bring a smile to his face and I know that he loves me.

“I know very little about you and I want to know      everything.”

And we’re done. “You know plenty.” He knows enough. I roll      away and reach for my shirt on the pillow beside him. Ryan snatches it and      tosses it across the room. “You’re not running from me anymore, Beth.”

Hot anger courses through my bloodstream. “I’m not running.      I thought we were going to enjoy each other tonight and obviously you’re not up      for it.”