chapter 3

Samantha

He sounded suddenly nervous, his voice cracking at the end of his words.

“What?” I felt a surge of panic. No, no! He was supposed to say yes. Did he think I was kidding? This wasn’t how it was supposed to go. The way he’d been looking at me earlier… “Why not?”

Ryan released a long, shaking breath before saying, “Look, Sam, I’m flattered, really, but you’re…you’re just a kid. Plus, you’re my best friend’s sister! There are some lines guys just don’t cross.”

“You just told me I’d grown up.”

He clenched his jaw, and his cheeks turned a slight tinge of pink.

“Yes, I did,” he stammered. “Look, you’re a beautiful girl, but your brother…”

I surged forward to stand directly in front of him. I reached up and clutched the front of his shirt.

“Ryan, please,” I pleaded. “It’s the only thing I want.”

He took hold of my shoulders but didn’t immediately push me away.

His fingers curled into me, and he seemed to want to hang on tight to me.

I watched his eyes as he stared down at me, and I could almost see the inner battle he was waging with himself.

A part of me felt guilty for insisting, but I was afraid I would never get this chance again. Besides, it was just a kiss.

What harm could come from a kiss?

“Why?” he asked softly, furrowing his brow in confusion. “Why do you want a kiss from me? There are so many boys out there who I’m sure would fall over themselves to catch your attention. I’m…grumpy. Short-tempered. People think I’m cold and unfeeling. Why would you want someone like that to kiss you?”

Licking my lips, I gazed up at him and took a moment to gather my courage.

“Because…because I like you,” I confessed in a soft voice. “I’ve liked you for the longest time. I’ve been dreaming of kissing you since I was a girl. I know you’re not cold and unfeeling. That’s just the mask you put on for the rest of the world, but I see past that. You’re warm and funny, and I know you’d do anything for my brother or me. I’ve never met anyone like you, Ryan, and I don’t think I ever will.”

He appeared stunned, his mouth dropping open slightly, though he still didn’t try to push me away. He kept me firmly in his grasp as he considered whatever was on his mind. I held my breath as I waited for his response, too afraid to hope, but desperate for him to say yes.

His fingers flexed, and his jaw clenched. He licked his lips, and I watched his Adam’s apple bob.

“You’re still so young,” he replied, shaking his head. “You might think that of me now, but you’ll go out into the world and meet tons of guys who’ll be way more interesting than me.”

“I doubt that.” I sighed. “I don’t think there are a lot of guys like you, Ryan.”

He was silent for a few moments as he gazed at me. He seemed to be studying me, looking me up and down before releasing a long breath.

He nodded. “All right. “One kiss. That’s it.”

My eyes widened, and my jaw dropped. “Really?”

“Yes,” he said. “But just one kiss, okay? And we can’t talk about it ever again. If Jason ever found out, he’d kill me. Understand?”

A rather bittersweet sentiment, but I was willing to take what I could get.

“Yes, I understand,” I whispered. “I won’t bring it up again, I promise.”

“Okay,” he murmured. He released my shoulders, so he could cup my face in both his hands.

My heart began beating so hard, I wouldn’t have been surprised if he’d been able to hear it.

His eyes roamed my face for several moments, and his expression was unreadable.

I had no idea what he was thinking.

He growled, “Damn it.”

He dropped his head and pressed his lips to mine.

When he tried to immediately pull away, I whimpered and wrapped my arms around his neck to bring him back to me.

I moved my mouth beneath his, eager and insistent.