Dare You To (Pushing the Limits, #2)(71)

The hay rustles beneath Beth as she lifts her head. My senses      are flooded with the scent of roses.

“Kiss me,” she says.

Just one kiss and her black spell, the one that she’s woven,      the one that’s constantly weighing her down, will be broken.





Chapter 38

Beth

MY TANK RIDES UP       FARTHER when Ryan strokes the bare flesh of my stomach. He angles      closer to me and I’m immediately overwhelmed by the size of his body. My blood      tingles with excitement. “You’re soft,” he whispers.

I knot my fingers in his hair, guiding his head to mine.      “You talk too much.”

“I do,” he agrees and his lips finally meet mine.

It’s an innocent kiss at first. Soft lips meeting; a gentle      pressure that creates a slow burn. The type of kiss you give to someone that      means something. This isn’t the type of kiss to be wasted on me. But still, I      prolong it by taking his lower lip into mine and I touch his smooth face.

For this one second, I’ll feel. I’ll let myself pretend that      Ryan cares for me. That I’m the girl worthy of this type of kiss, and right as I      sense the emotion becoming stronger, gaining traction, I break away.

Ryan swallows and stares down at me. I press my lips to his      innocently one last time, then slide my tongue between his lips. Sparks sizzle      in the air as we immediately part our mouths, hungry for more. It’s a lightning      storm of fiery kisses and sounds of bliss. Each of us feeds off the other, only      building a greater storm—a thunderhead on the verge of explosion.

My hands roam over his back, clawing for the hem of his      shirt, eager to explore the glorious muscles underneath. Ryan follows my lead      and picks up the pace. Cooler air pricks at my back as he sweeps an arm beneath      me and pulls my tank over my head.

Ryan pauses for a second. His hesitant eyes meet mine and I      quickly reclaim his lips. He responds, but barely. He’s thinking again and if he      follows his thoughts, then I’ll lose my chance at higher.

I trail my hand down his spine—a light touch, a dance that      crosses to the side of his waist, over his hip, and right as my fingers circle      lower, Ryan moans and rejoins the game. My mouth slants up under his kiss.

I love the sound of his moan. I love how his hands memorize      the small of my back and dare lower to my thighs. I love how we’ve both moved      beyond coherent thought. I love floating.

We roll and I help Ryan lose his shirt. In seconds, our legs      tangle. My hands curl into his muscles as Ryan generously trails hot kisses      along the nape of my neck. He grows bold, inching my bra strap off my shoulder.      I reward bold.

We lose control—quickly, so fast we’ve broken beyond      floating to flying. I inhale and all I smell is Ryan: the sweet scent of summer      rain. I’m so giddy I could almost laugh—I’m finally high. Higher than I’ve ever      been without drugs, higher than I’ve ever been with another guy, higher      than...

Ryan’s hand slides to cradle my face, his warm palm touching      my cheek. His head follows and we both gasp for air as he rests his forehead      against mine. He’s pausing and I don’t like pausing. Pausing means thinking.

“You’re beautiful,” he says. His hands still explore; his      lips still exert gentle pressure against my skin. Maybe he’s not pausing. Maybe      he’s...what? What is he doing? His body says one thing, but his mouth says      another.

“No talking.” I don’t want talking. I want higher. I want      further.

Ryan brushes the hair away from my face and my heart      flutters. “I like you,” he says in my ear. “I like you, Beth.”

All movement stops as the corners of my lips tug up for a      shy smile. He likes me. He likes me and I like him and... All the air rushes out      of my body, leaving my lungs in a painful struggle for air. My fingers curl into      fists and I push at Ryan’s chest. “Let me go.”

Instead, his hold on me tightens. His eyes clear of their      haze and dart over my face, searching for the problem. “What’s wrong?”

“Let me go!” I scream and he immediately releases me. On my      hands and knees, I wrestle away from him...away from me...just away. I’m stupid.      So stupid. Ryan doesn’t like me. He doesn’t. How could I let my emotions get      involved? Why couldn’t I just use him for higher?