“I wasn’t trying to snoop, I swear.” A rather indignant smile spreads across his face. “I was grabbing the picture of Sawyer and his girls. I wanted to get a better look, and low and behold, this is what I found—everything on the Kama Sutra.”
He flips through it, only to begin laughing, stopping to look up at me. “This is my favorite and something I can certainly benefit from.” He stops talking, moving his gaze to me as what he’ll probably misunderstand as embarrassment, but it’s heat flashing onto my cheeks. I’m not embarrassed, not in the least. I’m turned the fuck on.
“So how did you come across a Kama Sutra book like this?” Ry asks and waves it in the air to remind me of it.
“The guys bought it for me as sort of a gag gift when my divorce was final with Alison.”
I’m still looking at the cover and wonder what else Ry will do with the book.
He clears his voice. “Chapter three. The orgasm.” He chuckles. “This will be interesting—male orgasm basics and ejaculations. Well, well, maybe I can learn something new.”
I’m still standing in the middle of the room as he’s taken over the long part of my sectional. “Ah, part two of this chapter—the G-spot and the clitoris. I think I can just skip over this. But I’ll dog-ear the section for you if you need some new material.”
This man is being an adorable asshole right now, and funny to boot, so I take my seat on the other side of the sectional where he can see me. “No, I think my moves in the bedroom are just fine. But maybe I should mark some sections for you, pretty boy.”
“I don’t have any complaints from others. But here’s one I find interesting. Chapter four—let’s be vocal in the bedroom. Let’s see—you don’t always have to ruin the mood with normal everyday chitchat in bed. By being vocal, you're showing your partner that he’s doing what you want, and it makes him understand what turns you on.”
“Yeah, again, not a problem for me, pretty boy. I think I know my way around a woman’s body.” But do I? It hadn’t appealed to me, and the last time I looked at some porn to get off, it wasn’t a male/female that sealed the deal for me.
“Okay, good to know. Moving on. Ah, this is interesting. Telling your partner to fuck you is a turn-on.”
I sit up, ready to call bullshit on this. “It doesn’t say that verbatim, does it?”
He winks at me, and fuck, do I want to hold onto his image and tuck it away in my heart.
“Nah, not verbatim. I’m paraphrasing. And my version is always better.” He sits up a little, crossing his leg over his other knee, and I can see into his athletic shorts, spying his boxers. “Okay, chapter seven is sure something many probably want to know more about. Sex toys and their real pleasure.”
“Yeah, I’m sure you could write an entire chapter just from your own supply alone,” I quip.
He gives me a curt nod. “Yeah, big country, I most definitely could do that.” He continues to thumb through the book, reading bits and pieces, and his words cause me to grab a pillow to hide my happiness at this turn of events.
“Oh, I find this interesting, and it’s something I’ve always known.”
He’s holding back his grin as though it’ll turn into hysterics at any second. “Oh, yeah?” I ask. “What is that?”
“Size does matter.”
This causes him to almost fall from the couch, and I match his laughter. “Okay, Mr. Kama Sutra Scholar, give me the book. Apparently, I can’t trust it in your hands.” I cross to the side of the couch where he still lounges to snatch the book from him, and as I do, he pulls me down to sit so close that our thighs touch.
“Ah, but let me tell you, my hands can handle anything, and I mean anything.”
“I’m sure they can.” I’m quiet in my reply, and the book is no longer an issue. As a matter of fact, it’s the only thing linking our fingers together.
He reaches over to cup my chin with his spare hand, but just as he’s about to make contact with my five o’clock shadow, he pulls his hand away.
“Christopher, I’m not sure what you think you’re doing, but I only have so much restraint.”
I’m silenced by my ring tone, “The Devil Went Down to Georgia,” and know it’s Alison on the other end. “Fuck,” I murmur under my breath. “Ry, give me a second. If I don’t answer this, she’ll show up on my doorstep.” I take the phone and immediately head to the backyard in order to tell Alison to go get fucked in private. “Al, hold on, give me a second.”
Her voice is screaming in the background when I mute it. “Ry, did you hear me? Give me a second. I’ll be right back.”
He’s staring straight ahead, and I can’t mute Alison much longer. Moving to the large outside furniture I have in front of the pool, I unmute her, ready for the tongue lashing I know is coming. It’s been a half-hour since I showed up at her house with a fed, bathed, and tired little girl. I’m surprised it’s taken this long.
“What the fuck, Christopher? I told you in no uncertain terms that I didn’t want Brooklyn around Ryder Hanley.”
“Yeah, says the woman who showed up at my house yesterday morning with your new man. Going against the rules we agreed to. And let’s not forget, you left town with Brooklyn last weekend without giving me a heads-up. You’re all about enforcing the rules and not following them. And Ryder isn’t some predator off the street. You may not like him, but fuck, you know he’s not going to harm Brooklyn.”
“Yeah, I guess he’d have to be into girls to be a threat.”
She didn’t just say what I think she said, did she? “That’s the most hateful thing you’ve ever said in the history of us, and let me be clear, you’ve said some hateful and fucked-up shit, Al. So, get off your high horse. My best friend is back in my life, and it’s where he’ll stay. And Brooklyn will get to know him.” I hang up the phone before I unleash holy hell on her.
I take a minute to myself in order to calm every bit of nerves Alison has undone in our two-minute conversation. Pushing to my feet, I stretch, giving me a second longer before I tackle what almost happened with Ry seconds ago.
“Sorry about that, Ry,” I call out, but I don’t see him on the couch. And his bag and keys are no longer on the table where he’d left them.
Moving quickly to my door, I see the taillights of Ry’s Lamborghini as it slows at the stop sign. Maybe it’s best for us to just forget what almost happened between us. But do I want to forget?
11
Ryder
From the reflection in my rearview mirror, I can see Crush’s porch light turn on, and his huge body stands on the stoop, watching my car as I leave. I won’t go back. I can’t let one potential stupid kiss, especially when Crush is so confused, ruin our friendship again.
My text alert dings, and when I’m far enough away from Crush’s house, I pull over. I’m expecting it to be him when Garrison’s familiar and handsome face pops up on the screen.
Garrison: Hey, haven’t heard from you. Just got assigned to your first game in Kansas City. Maybe we can celebrate your win before parting ways.