Free Slide by Michelle Congdon Page B

lamps move across his handsome features. He wasn’t acting like the hotshot womanizer everyone was claiming him to be. I wanted to question this but the electrifying sensation coming from his touch was too hard to ignore. I was glad when we were finally in the privacy of his house.
    After paying the cab fare, Ryan led me straight toward his bedroom. We stood, facing each other silently for a moment, until I dropped to my knees. I didn’t need to ask for his approval, I knew guys liked this kind of thing― famous baseball stars were no exception. I reached for his belt, unbuckled it and slid it off, throwing it somewhere over my shoulder. The button of his dress pants was next. I quickly undid that, and reached for his zipper, gently tugging it down, and letting his pants fall freely to the ground. I looked up to see that he had his jaw clenched tight; not the look I was expecting. The troubled expression on his face had me puzzled but I chose to ignore it. I let my eyes fall; allowing myself devour the superb view I had of the half-dressed man. My eyes stopped when they reached the obvious bulge in his underwear. I went to reach for the top of his boxer briefs, when his hand suddenly grabbed hold of my forearm.
    “Stop,” he ordered. Determined not to look humiliated, I immediately shot to my feet and ripped my arm out of his grasp. Why was I here if this wasn’t what he wanted?
    “But I thought―”
    “No, Evangeline. I’m not going to ask you to do that.” Huh?
    “But you’re not asking anything. I want to do this, Ryan.”
    “I said no , okay?” he said more firmly.
    Before I had the chance to say another word, he turned away and stalked over to the large bed, dropping down and resting over the edge with his hands over his face, leaving me standing there to wonder what just happened.
    I just stood there and watched at him, contemplating whether it was wiser to get the hell out of there, or to go over and comfort him. Something was troubling him. Was he still furious over the bar incident? Was he regretting the decision of bringing me home? Clearing my throat, I inched closer. “Perhaps I should just go.”
    “No, don’t,” he immediately responded. His head snapped up, worried hazel eyes locked with mine. “Please don’t… I mean I don’t want you to go.” I shifted uncomfortably but remained where I was. “Sorry, it’s not you,” he continued. “I just… This is going to sound really lame, and I can’t believe I’m about to say this, but do you mind if we just cuddle tonight?”
    My eyes widened. Is he kidding? “Are you serious?” The words escaped before I could stop them.
    His eyebrows rose before they pulled together and he frowned. “I’m dead serious.”
    The smirk I had on my face dropped. “I don’t get it. The kiss… Why would you ask me to come back if you don’t even want me?”
    Ryan snorted then pulled a face. “Oh, I want you, don’t you worry about that. It’s just wrong, that’s all.”
    “Because it was my father’s funeral today?” Of course that’s why, you idiot! What’s wrong with you?
    “That has something to do with it but no, it’s not everything.”
    “So, then what is it? Because I’m strong enough to handle a little rejection from the likes of someone like you.” Am I? I wasn’t entirely sure about that.
    A lop-sided grin appeared on that damn near perfect face of his. “It’s nothing I want you to worry about, and I already told you that I want you.”
    “Just not tonight?”
    “ Correct ,” he said with a wink. “So are you going to come over here so we can cuddle, or do I have to come over and grab you then tie you down?”
    I wasn’t completely sure what I was getting myself into but it was late and I was exhausted after the big day. I stepped towards the other side of the bed while watching Ryan; mesmerized by the way he slipped out of his suit jacket and tie so effortlessly.
    “Do you have anything I can wear to sleep in?” I