Stronger (The University of Gatica #4) Read online

  "Oh, fight with my dad." He pulled his hand back and parked the car.

  "Over Christmas?"

  "Any time we're together. I'd rather not talk about it." He winked at her and got out of the car.

  Chrissy followed suit and moved toward the pub, taking his hand when he reached for her. "You okay?" she asked, tucking herself against his arm and kissing his shoulder as they moved up the stairs carefully.

  "It's part of the norm, so I'm fine. Glad to be back here with you. Nice to remember someone in the world gives a shit about me. Did you miss me?" He smiled, but the motion didn't reach his eyes.

  “Every minute of every day.” The pain his sadness shot down her chest gave credence to one thing: she was falling for him hard. Or had already.

  Jani waved them over, the place far busier than Chrissy expected. The campus was always dead the week after Christmas, but for some strange reason it looked like they were in the middle of a semester. Guess the citizens of the town of Gatica came out when the students disappeared.

  Ryan released her and looked down, grabbing her attention as his hand moved down her back to rest on the curve of her butt. "Go sit with your friends. I'm going to talk with Frankie for a minute and I'll be there." He popped her butt softly as he brushed a kiss by her cheek. Several people watched them wide-eyed.

  Chrissy nodded and turned to walk toward her friends, excitement at having Ryan home and her best friends waiting on her pulsed through her. They were giggling as she walked up and took her seat.

  "What's so funny?" She reached over and took Jani's chocolate milkshake, drinking it deeply and watching her friends.

  "You and Ryan are so freakin’ cute! You're like perfect for each other." Jani took the drink back and grumbled something about getting your own.

  "Yeah, your blond hair and his dark appeal. Like an angel and a demon." Elizabeth chuckled before sliding her strawberry shake to Chrissy. "Speaking of the devil, how's your brother?"

  "Good, I guess. I need to call him. It's been a few days. He usually visits our family during this time and I'm just not interested, but I do need to check in." Chrissy glanced over her shoulder to see Ryan laughing with Frankie. "Hope you guys don't mind that I brought Ryan with me. He just got back into town."

  "Not at all. How are things going?" Jani asked, leaning over her shake.

  "Still just figuring things out." Chrissy shrugged and sat back, hoping the waitress would hurry up. She wanted a chocolate and a strawberry shake now. Deciding was going to be the feat of the day.

  "Well, I think everything is going to work out great. It seems like it's time for all of us to have a change of status." Elizabeth took her shake back and stirred it slowly. "I really like your brother, Chrissy. Do you think... I mean, well..."

  "He likes you too." Chrissy reached over and touched her friend's hand. "You need to open up to him soon though. He's one of those guys who is a total gentleman, but sex is important to him."

  "I'm so fucking grossed out that you and your brother talk about sex." Jani pretended to gag. Elizabeth laughed as Chrissy swatted at her friend.

  "He's all I have." Chrissy rolled her eyes and jumped as the waiter approached. She ordered both shakes and some fries, not willing to decide. She pointed to Ryan and looked up at the cute guy taking their order. "Make sure you get his too. He's with us."

  "Will do." The guy winked at Chrissy and walked off.

  "He's cute," Elizabeth whispered, elbowing Jani.

  "Yeah, most guys here are rather cute, but I'm just going to lay low for a while. Trying to get over Carter has been a little harder than I thought it would." She let out a long sigh. "I’ll tell you something odd that happened today, though."

  "What?" Chrissy leaned forward, wanting her friend to feel like the center of attention. Things should have worked out with Carter, but he was exactly the type of guy girls fell hard for and he simply took what he wanted and left. He was the original bad boy, but his heart wouldn't soften and he wouldn't change. No matter what.

  "I ran into Drew Timmons and for the first time in like, the whole time I've been here, he wasn't an ass."

  Chrissy clapped her hands and laughed. "I thought it was just me. I did the same thing. He was in the coach’s office yesterday and we actually had a normal conversation. It was, well, weird."

  "Yeah. I thought I had entered the twilight zone." Jani smiled before tapping the table in front of her. "Do you think he's cute?"

  "Devastatingly handsome." Chrissy fanned herself dramatically. She jumped at the sound of Ryan's voice as he sat down beside her, putting his arm on the back of her chair.

  "Are you girls talking about little ol’ me?" He winked at Jani and Elizabeth as they cut up into giggles again.

  "Yes?" Chrissy turned and smiled, her cheeks burning.

  "That didn't sound convincing at all." He laughed and pulled her closer. "Who's on the table for conversation?"

  "Drew Timmons. He's a pole vaulter here," Jani added in. "He's usually such a dick, but I saw him earlier and he complimented me like three times. I don't know, I just thought it might be nice to ask him to the game with us. Maybe he's just misunderstood."

  "Who's this Drew guy? Have I met him?" Ryan glanced toward Chrissy.

  "Yeah. He's the cock locked in the door guy from Christmas Eve." Chrissy laughed as Elizabeth spewed strawberry milkshake all over the table.

  They all laughed as Chrissy and Jani cleaned up the mess.

  She looked at Ryan who simply winked. "You think he might have a story behind his anger?"

  "We always do, baby." Ryan ran his hand down her thigh and squeezed it. "Hopefully someone comes into his life that’ll make him stronger."

  "They usually do."

  CHAPTER 17

  "Are you sure Elizabeth doesn't mind us kicking her out?" Ryan shut the door to her dorm room.

  "No, not at all. She knows I can't stop thinking about how much I want you." Chrissy turned toward him and reached for him, pulling him close and lifting up on her toes to kiss him. Her knee protested, but she pushed away the tension and sunk into his hold.

  He slid his tongue deep into her mouth before grabbing a hold of the back of her thighs and pulling her up. He moved slowly as to not hurt her knee. She groaned and he broke the kiss, his eyes filled with concern. "You okay?"

  "Yes. Stop worrying and give me what I'm after." She smiled, enjoying the surprise on his face.

  "I'm supposed to be the demanding one, remember?"

  "Yeah, well you're taking too long with it." She laughed and pulled him back down for another long kiss.

  He worked his tongue against her as his fingers tugged at her shirt. She backed up and he jerked it from her body, bending down and pressing kisses along the straps of her bra. She reached back and released it from her body, throwing it across the room as Ryan began his assault on her breasts. It felt so good, so right to have him all over her. He was controlled and yet the soft shudder in his voice let her know that he was drowning in desire right alongside her.

  He moved back and pulled his shirt over his head before working on his jeans. "Take your shorts and panties off. I won't want to ruin another pair of them for you."

  She laughed as he smirked. Working herself out of her shorts she glanced up to see him watching her. He was magnificent, his body toned and on full display for her. She took a step backwards and sat down on the bed, her arms shaking as she carefully lowered herself. He walked toward her, stopping in front of her and sliding his fingers into her hair. He tilted her head toward him and leaned down, kissing her as his thigh pressed against her sex, rubbing back and forth softly. She whimpered into the kiss, pulling from him and reaching out to stroke him a few times. She would never be able to get over his size. He was beautifully masculine.

  Chrissy held on to him tightly as he groaned against her hair, his body bent over her. She pressed her lips to him and took as much as she could in her mouth, which didn't feel like nearly enough. He let a long sound of pleasure
leave him. It rocked her hard. He stood up, his hands pulling her hair back a little as she began to make love to him.

  The deep breathing and shallow thrusts only pushed her to work him harder, but when he started to encourage her, the world broke open. Never had she wanted to please someone more, or push herself to give into any desire he had.

  "So beautiful. I love the way you take me. Sexy and hot, Chrissy." He rocked his hips and groaned. "I'm close, babe. Move back."

  She growled and picked up the pace, her fingers and mouth taking over him completely. She tried a few new things on him, slowing only a little as he stiffened and cried out hoarsely. The moment was overwhelming and she came close to coming with him. She drank him down and yelped softly as he pulled her up, his mouth pressing tightly to hers as he held her with waning strength.

  "Hot hell! I don't know if I've ever felt anything that good." He kissed her mouth a few more times before moving down her neck. "I need me inside of you."

  "Yes," Chrissy mumbled and released him before lying back on the bed. "I’ve something that feels much better than my mouth."

  "You are so freakin’ bad, girl. I'm going to have to get you for your dirty mouth." He wagged his eyebrows and moved onto the bed, carefully grabbing her knees and bending them a little. "Fuck, you look good."

  "Come here and stop talking or I'll get you."

  "Hell, you already did." He moved down and rubbed himself against her before flattening his chest on hers. "Come back with me to Boston."

  "What? No. I can't. Everything I have is here." She reached up and brushed her fingers through his hair.

  "I'm not." He pressed into her and she closed her eyes, her mouth opening in a silent scream of pleasure. He was right. The one thing she wanted most wasn't going to be in New York for much longer. The thought threatened to stifle the burning desire to ravage him. She knew the emotions mixing with her lust were what made the moment so right and so wrong.

  "So good," she murmured and lifted her hips, wanting more of him, always more of him. Her fingers dug into his back as he reached down and cupped her butt, pulling her against his deep thrusts each time. The pleasure burst from her stomach and spread like wild fire across her chest and out to her fingers. She screamed his name as she came, his soft sensual words driving her over the edge again. How he did what he did to her was a mystery, but it left her panting for him.

  "That's it, Chrissy. Ride it over the edge again. I feel you tightening around me. Work yourself against it and keep the high alive." He licked her throat, his rhythm picking up speed as she groaned and rocked against him.

  It didn't take long and he joined her in the sweet release of lust, his body spasming above her. She pulled back a little as he extended up, his face contorted in the most beautiful expression of pleasure. She pressed her hand to his chest and worked him harder from under him, wanting to keep him right where he was.

  He collapsed on top of her, his lips and tongue moving from her shoulder to her neck and stopping by her ear. His breath was hot and the lusty sound of his voice was delicious. "I'm going to take you over and over until I have to leave here again. I need to know that you're completely marked with my scent, my fingerprints, my desires."

  "Yes," she whispered and rocked her hips. He growled and took her hands, raising them above her and pinning her to the bed.

  "You vixen. Acting all sweet and proper and look at how sexy you are." He nipped at her as she smiled.

  "I'm still sweet and proper. It's you who does this. I’m blaming you for it."

  "I'll take it." He leaned down and rolled them over, careful with her knee. He rubbed on it softly before looking up at her. "Your turn if you can pull it off."

  "Hold on tight, Ryan. You might not survive this."

  "Who's cocky now?"

  Chrissy lay on her side, tucked up against him as she ran her fingers down his toned chest, his breathing getting deeper by the minute. "I don’t want to give you up. Or this crazy sex. We’ll never find someone this good for each of us again.” She winked at him. “I’m not giving up my scholarship, you can’t give up yours. We just need to figure this out."

  "I could get drafted early. Try out to get the Rangers or the Islanders interested in me. It’s going to be hard while injured. Ian Blacksten would be more than thrilled to see me go." Ryan laughed, but the sound came out flat.

  "Who's Ian?" Chrissy rubbed her good leg over his thighs, wanting to feel more of him against her.

  "He's a sophomore hotshot at Providence. He thinks his shit doesn't stink and where he's a really, really good hockey player, he's never going to make it as the leader of the team if he can't figure out that it's not all about him."

  "He's young still, like me." Chrissy smiled and moved to rest on her elbow.

  "Yeah, but it's different with him. He's been given everything and chicks throw themselves all over him. He's just one of those guys who's going to crash and burn."

  "He’s that good on the ice?"

  "Yeah. He's wicked good. I'd put my talent up against his any day, but where my dad taught me everything I know, he's been in training camps and with private instructors his whole life. He's spoiled rotten and everyone knows it."

  "That sucks."

  "For him. He's going to have me on his ass for the next year. I have the next two semesters to get him ready to take my spot."

  "Are you not playing your senior year spring season?"

  "No, you usually don't. I'll moonlight, but if the NHL comes a'calling, then I'll need to make sure I don't overdo it and hurt myself again. That would be a bitch. If they don't, then yeah, I'll be playing my heart out. Ian will have one year without me, but he's going to need it. I kid you not when I tell you he's like that pissy guy at the gym times ten."

  "Like Drew?"

  "Was that his name?"

  "Yeah... no more talking about him though. He's a total dick."

  "So is Ian."

  "I was talking with Maves about transferring and she mentioned that scholarships don't really transfer like that."

  He glanced down at her, pressing his lips to her forehead before responding. "Yeah, I talked to my dad about it too. It's not only the scholarship, but the fact that I have a lot of pros watching me right now. I could damage my chances of going somewhere with this thing."

  "I thought he was pissed you were at Providence in the first place."

  "He is, but I think now that I'm in my junior year and getting some attention, he's enjoying the fame if nothing else. He's an odd guy, Chrissy. I don't know what to tell you." He ran his fingers down her side, the action causing her to jerk and moan softly.

  "Do you want to go into the NHL?" She glanced up at him. He had to have been the most beautiful man she had ever seen. He was rugged and wore his 'I don't give a fuck' persona so well. It was nice to know that something loving and warm lay under the surface of that.

  "It's always been a dream of mine, but I think part of that is because I've always wanted my dad to love me. He loves hockey so much. He wanted his own shot at the pros, but he threw his shoulder out of commission for good."

  "Same shoulder as you?" Chrissy asked, reaching up to rub it softly.

  "Yeah. So many signs point to him being my dad and yet I don't know. I don't know if I ever will." Ryan closed his eyes as pain etched across his features. The awareness of it caused her heart to contract painfully. Her own childhood held the same level of devastation.

  "I don't want to be the reason that you're not running fast and hard toward your dreams. We can try the long-distance thing and see if it works." She stopped and pressed her face against his chest, not wanting him to go anywhere.

  "We have summers and holidays. We can visit in between. Have loads of phone sex too." He tilted her face toward him with the soft press of his finger to her chin. "We can do this."

  "We are not having phone sex." She laughed and moved from his grasp, taking her place on top of him and running her fingers along his chest as he reached up and p
almed her breasts.

  "Yes we are. I can't go two months at a time without hearing your sexy, needy panting in my ear."

  "I'm not needy."

  "Not anymore. I just fucked you for two hours." He laughed and pumped his hips, bouncing her.

  "You're corrupt," she whispered before leaning over and kissing him softly, her hair providing a curtain for the intimacy.

  "You love it."

  "I do." She arched her hips and took him into her body again, wanting the connection to last for as long as it could. Their days were numbered and she wanted to have something to remember long after he had left.

  CHAPTER 18

  The rest of the week they spent in the gym together, making love in various places and hanging out with Chrissy’s friends. As the time grew near for Ryan to leave, Chrissy found herself contemplating giving up her scholarship to join him. Jason would hear none of it and wasn't the support she hoped he would be. Her mother was a drunk, and her dad was gone, so she didn’t know how to make a relationship work. It terrified her that she might lose him.

  The New Year’s party with her friends had fantastic moments, filled with joy and excitement. The shocker of the night? Jani and Drew making out on the balcony at Ryan's dad's place. Coach Phillips had relented and given the house over for the night. He might be an ass, but the man was brave. Ryan and Chrissy slipped into rooms and closets whenever they had the chance. They couldn’t keep their hands off each other. Almost as if the New Year ringing in might turn their carriage into the pumpkin and the fairytale would be over.

  Chrissy finished getting dressed and turned as Ryan approached her from the bathroom.

  "You headed to the field to get in a workout before we go to the game?" He rubbed his hand over the curve of her butt as she bent over, tying her sneakers.

  "Yeah. I have to meet with Maves and Anderson on Monday. Two more days of pushing myself until they assess if I'm in or not for the indoor season." She let out a long shaky sigh before standing. Nerves threatened to tear her up from the inside out. Trying out for the team hadn’t been as stressful as trying to get back on it would be. Her knee was almost there and the muscles around it were strengthened, stronger. She could do this. She knew she’d be fine. What terrified her was doing the same thing and injuring her other knee at the first competition back.