Read Online Curse of the Wickeds (The Cinderella Society, Episode 2) by Kay Cassidy - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Kay Cassidy
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His anger snapped at me again. “And I don’t play the hero game.”
I thought about the agony in those parents’ faces, the joy when they had their son safely back in their arms. “Why can’t you just admit you did a good thing?”
He pulled me up to stand close to him. “I’m sorry. It’s a sore subject, okay? Let’s go for a walk.”
I gathered up our trash to pitch. Ryan slipped his hand in mine, linking our fingers together in the fit I’d so quickly grown accustomed to. I wondered if there was a guys’ equivalent to Fortissima. If there was, it would be a sin if Ryan wasn’t destined for it.
The boardwalk went all the way around the back of the lake except for the sandy beach area, which had already started to clear out. We walked in sync, our feet moving in an even, unhurried rhythm. I felt Ryan relax for the first time since we’d left the Fun Zone.
He pointed out where he and Dale used to fish when they were kids. Where they’d spied on Cassie getting her first kiss (then followed her around for a week calling her Goose Lips).
We stopped at a secluded section of railing and watched the sun as it touched the horizon. Ryan snuggled in behind me and put his arms on either side to grasp the railing. The sky glowed with honeyed hues of pink and red, and I leaned back into his warmth, tuning into the quiet evening sounds and the solid feeling of being with Ryan. Just being.
The sun slipped from view, and Ryan nuzzled my temple with his jaw, a tiny bit of stubble abrading my skin. “This feels right,” he whispered.
A sigh escaped my lips as he turned me toward him. His eyes were dark and intense, and I lost myself in them, in the moment, in Ryan.
“You make me feel alive, Jess.” He slid his fingers along my neck and wove them through my hair.
His lips were gentle as they found mine, but when he angled my head, the kisses went deeper, sending sparks all the way down to my toes.
It was well after dark when the kisses became shorter and lighter, and Ryan finally set me away from him. His eyelids were heavy and hooded, matching the rush of emotions I felt in my chest, and I knew it had cost him. The realization made me feel vulnerable but safe. And cherished. Very, very cherished.
We took our time walking back toward the car, my head resting on his shoulder and our fingers laced together in perfect harmony.
We drove home in companionable silence, my hand missing the intimate contact with his but my mind relieved that he was a careful driver. Which made me think of his mom. “I know I already said this, but I’m sorry about your mom,” I said into the dark.
The oncoming headlights cast his face in shifting shadows. I saw him swallow. He reached for my hand at a stop sign and planted a soft kiss on my palm. “Thanks.”
When we got to my house, the walk to the door was so different from last time. Standing on the porch, awash in bright parental-induced light, he touched his forehead to mine. “See me again.”
“Will you be at the banner party?” I’d been crossing my fingers since Sarah Jane had mentioned that the football team usually made an appearance at the cheerleaders’ annual banner-making shindig on Sunday.
“I have to work the whole weekend.” He nuzzled my ear. “I definitely want to see you again, though. In private.”
“I’m working Monday and Tuesday. Tuesday night?”
He groaned and placed my palm on his chest. I felt his heartbeat beneath my fingertips, the quick rhythm almost matching my own.
“That’s too long. But I’ll take what I can get.” He lifted my hand to his lips. “Don’t forget about me before then, okay?”
I smiled, feeling the distinct sensation of getting pulled under by something that felt a lot like love. “Ditto.”
He smiled and dropped my hand as he stepped back onto the path, waiting for me to go inside. I turned inside the doorway and gave him a shy wave before closing the door.
Mom stood in the archway separating the kitchen
I thought about the agony in those parents’ faces, the joy when they had their son safely back in their arms. “Why can’t you just admit you did a good thing?”
He pulled me up to stand close to him. “I’m sorry. It’s a sore subject, okay? Let’s go for a walk.”
I gathered up our trash to pitch. Ryan slipped his hand in mine, linking our fingers together in the fit I’d so quickly grown accustomed to. I wondered if there was a guys’ equivalent to Fortissima. If there was, it would be a sin if Ryan wasn’t destined for it.
The boardwalk went all the way around the back of the lake except for the sandy beach area, which had already started to clear out. We walked in sync, our feet moving in an even, unhurried rhythm. I felt Ryan relax for the first time since we’d left the Fun Zone.
He pointed out where he and Dale used to fish when they were kids. Where they’d spied on Cassie getting her first kiss (then followed her around for a week calling her Goose Lips).
We stopped at a secluded section of railing and watched the sun as it touched the horizon. Ryan snuggled in behind me and put his arms on either side to grasp the railing. The sky glowed with honeyed hues of pink and red, and I leaned back into his warmth, tuning into the quiet evening sounds and the solid feeling of being with Ryan. Just being.
The sun slipped from view, and Ryan nuzzled my temple with his jaw, a tiny bit of stubble abrading my skin. “This feels right,” he whispered.
A sigh escaped my lips as he turned me toward him. His eyes were dark and intense, and I lost myself in them, in the moment, in Ryan.
“You make me feel alive, Jess.” He slid his fingers along my neck and wove them through my hair.
His lips were gentle as they found mine, but when he angled my head, the kisses went deeper, sending sparks all the way down to my toes.
It was well after dark when the kisses became shorter and lighter, and Ryan finally set me away from him. His eyelids were heavy and hooded, matching the rush of emotions I felt in my chest, and I knew it had cost him. The realization made me feel vulnerable but safe. And cherished. Very, very cherished.
We took our time walking back toward the car, my head resting on his shoulder and our fingers laced together in perfect harmony.
We drove home in companionable silence, my hand missing the intimate contact with his but my mind relieved that he was a careful driver. Which made me think of his mom. “I know I already said this, but I’m sorry about your mom,” I said into the dark.
The oncoming headlights cast his face in shifting shadows. I saw him swallow. He reached for my hand at a stop sign and planted a soft kiss on my palm. “Thanks.”
When we got to my house, the walk to the door was so different from last time. Standing on the porch, awash in bright parental-induced light, he touched his forehead to mine. “See me again.”
“Will you be at the banner party?” I’d been crossing my fingers since Sarah Jane had mentioned that the football team usually made an appearance at the cheerleaders’ annual banner-making shindig on Sunday.
“I have to work the whole weekend.” He nuzzled my ear. “I definitely want to see you again, though. In private.”
“I’m working Monday and Tuesday. Tuesday night?”
He groaned and placed my palm on his chest. I felt his heartbeat beneath my fingertips, the quick rhythm almost matching my own.
“That’s too long. But I’ll take what I can get.” He lifted my hand to his lips. “Don’t forget about me before then, okay?”
I smiled, feeling the distinct sensation of getting pulled under by something that felt a lot like love. “Ditto.”
He smiled and dropped my hand as he stepped back onto the path, waiting for me to go inside. I turned inside the doorway and gave him a shy wave before closing the door.
Mom stood in the archway separating the kitchen
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