Jourdan Mathews has a secret, and she knows she needs to take this one to the grave.
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Her life was never complicated: a college student with a close family, good friends, and a plan for her future as a doctor. Had that night had never happened...
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When I knock at the door to Justin's house, I am not ready for Ryder to whip it open, even though I obviously know he lives here. Justin asked me to come over earlier to help him with his speech for one of his senior writing workshops and had told me he'd be waiting here when I got out of class at 3:30.
But the sight of Ryder standing in front of me, shirtless with a pair of grey sweatpants hanging low on his trim hips, is not something I expected to see today.
I open my mouth to speak but nothing comes out as my eyes run over the sinuous lines and contours of the muscles rippling across his body. The dark ink of the few tattoos he has scattered on his chest and arms definitely don't hurt either. The one on his chest fascinates me the most, its two dark snakes, one wrapped over each of his shoulders and across his collarbones. Intertwining and meeting in the center of his chest.
"Well, 'hello' to you too." Ryder speaks finally, eyes shimmering as a wolfish grin spreads across his face, he leans against the large wooden door casually. The tendons in his arm flex as he holds himself up with the handle.
I feel my cheeks flush when I realize the attraction I suddenly feel unfurling in my stomach. Reminding me of the way I felt after I woke up from that dream. It's still a foreign feeling for me when it comes to Ryder Harris. I'm not blind, I knew the second I met him he was a handsome guy, and not just handsome, almost hypnotizing with his stature and icy eyes. But the way he acted and his confidence always irritated me, plus I had Miles.
I blink.
"I–" I try to talk again but struggle for a moment, painfully aware that the blush in my face is worsening by the second. "Um, is Justin here? W–we–"
I stutter, his grin widening as he looks me up and down slowly, patiently waiting for me to pull myself together. I know he can tell I'm flustered, and I have a sinking feeling he knows why too. His gaze travels the expanse of my bare legs, up to the pair of frayed jean shorts I'd worn today and a red tube top that fits snugly around my chest. The heat in my cheeks spreads to my neck when his gaze lingers, eyes narrowing and I realize then that my nipples are hard.
I can't blame it on the weather either because it's currently 3pm, the Colorado sun heating Boulder despite it nearly being November.
"I'm here to help Justin," I clear my throat, crossing my arms tightly over my chest as I pull the strap of my backpack farther up my shoulder. "Can I come in?"
"I thought you'd never ask." Ryder replies cooly, stepping to the side only slightly, leaving me just enough room to squeeze by him. Our chests brush against one another as I step inside, my body shivering a bit as I duck around him quickly. I don't know what the hell that was just about, and I try to shake myself out of it as I set my backpack down beside the couch in the living room off the entryway.
"Justin's not here right now," Ryder's voice sounds behind me, dipping his head next to my ear before gliding easily around me to move back to the second couch across the room from me. "By the way."
