Read Online Thin White Line by J.A. Templeton, Julia Templeton - Free Book Online

towards the door.
    “Maybe if we’re quiet, they’ll go away,” I say, even as his hand slips out of my panties.
    No such luck. The knocking ensues, this time followed by a, “Ryder, open the fucking door.”
    It’s Brooke, she’s pissed and I don’t have to guess why.
    Ryder drops his forehead against mine. “I’m in trouble,” he says, rolling off me.
    I laugh under my breath. “Maybe she’ll go away.”
    He snorts. “Do you know your cousin? I’m telling you, she’ll kill me if we don’t walk out of this room in sixty seconds.”
    The knocking at the door continues, growing louder by the second. “Ryder, open the door.” This time it’s Deklan. His voice sounds calmer than Brooke’s, but no less intense.
    Ryder releases an agitated sigh and stands, holding a hand to help me up.  “Now she’s brought the big guns in.”
    The knocking grows more aggressive.
    He helps me hook my bra and buttons up my vest while I zip and button my pants.
    I watch him with a smile, finding it hard to believe I went so far with Ryder.
    “You’d better wipe that grin off your lips, Kenz...or we’ll both be in deep shit.”
    He has lipstick on his mouth so I reach up and wipe it off with my thumb.
    “Ryder!” Brooke’s voice is reaching ear-piercing volume.
    Ryder rolls his eyes. “I’ll be right there,” he calls towards the door.
    “You better fucking be,” I hear Brooke reply.
    I lick my lips and he moans under his breath. “Don’t do that.”
    “Why?” I ask, but I know.  He wants me...badly...and the simple truth is that I want him, too.
    His hands move up my waist and he leans in again, kissing me. The intensity of the last few minutes is gone, but definitely not forgotten.
    “You ready?” Ryder asks.
    “No.” I’m not ready. I want to stay with him and keep experiencing this over-the-top, amazing, heart pounding feeling, but it’s over for now and I can only hope that it’s just the beginning.
    Taking a deep breath, Ryder opens the door with me a few steps behind him.
    Brooke looks furious as she glances from Ryder to me, her gaze slowly sliding down my body and back up again; as though she’s looking for one thing out of place.
    Her gaze returns to Ryder and she scowls at him. “She’s my cousin, Ryder.”
    “I know she’s your cousin, Brooke. I get it.”
    “Do you? Because you just fucking locked yourself in a room with her. That is so not cool.” Her tone has a lethal quality to it. “You’re my friend, but Kenzie’s family. Don’t forget that.”
    Ryder holds up his hands. “Sorry, Brooke. My bad.”
    “You can say that again,” she says between clenched teeth.
    I open my mouth, ready to defend him, but he shakes his head and squeezes my hand.
    “Can I talk to you?” Deklan asks Ryder. “Alone.”
    Feeling like a kid who’s been busted with their hand in the cookie jar, I nod. Deklan finally looks at me and he stares at me so intensely, I actually apologize as I pass by him.
    Brooke stays in the room with them and the door closes behind me.
    My eyes widen at the string of four letter words I can hear coming out of my cousin’s mouth from behind the closed door.
    “What’s going on?” It’s Sadie. Her eyes are glassy and her breath smells like tequila.
    “They’re talking.”
    “Wait, what did I miss?” she asks, sounding intrigued.
    “Nothing,” I tell her, but it’s a lie. Everything has happened and I know my life will never be the same because of it.
    I join Sadie on the dance floor. Five minutes later, Brooke walks out of the room and announces, “We’re leaving.”
    “Why?” I ask. The last thing I want is to leave, especially when so many other girls are here, just waiting for a shot at Ryder.
    “Not yet, Brooke,” Sadie argues. “It’s still early.”
    Curtis walks up, a fifth of whiskey in his hand. “Who wants a straight shot?”
    I glance at Brooke. “You’re not driving, right?”
    Curtis lifts a keychain and swings it around his finger.