12

Ryan

Princess Style Across The Threshold

Was that really a question? The idea that Kassie was wearing anybody else's jersey made my hands tighten into fists. She wasn't just Kassandra Ragar anymore. She was my Kassandra Ragar. My girlfriend. Her wearing anyone else's jersey couldn't happen.

"It was ten dollars cheaper." Kassie shrugged. "And this starts a conversation."

Other people at the party forced their way into the inches behind us, trying to get to the outdoor bar. I'd run out of space and her legs rested on either side of me while I was up against the counter. She was so warm to the touch, rubbing against my denim.

"This wasn't the conversation I wanted," I admitted.

Something new flickered across her face. "We can't have everything we want, can we?"

I rubbed my jaw. "No."

Eye contact had never been something I'd mulled over before. It was like breathing. Something you don't think about until you need it. I'd never thought about it before but I did at that frat party, in those sparkling eyes of hers.

Against all reason, against every good idea in the world, I placed my left hand on the counter. She wasn't even far away. Maybe half an inch. Warmth radiated off her, and I wanted to move in a little closer. No doubt about it, it wasn't an innocent move. I wasn't taking up my own space. I was taking hers.

"We're leaving, Kassie."

"Are we?"

"Yes."

Her lips parted. "Now?"

"Now."

"I hate to break this to you, ball dribbler." Kassie shrugged, all inhibitions stripped away. "But I'm pretty sure I'm too drunk to get off this counter."

Light flashed behind me.

I should've expected the cameras. I should've been counting them and taking stock of the situation for Cleo. That would've been the rational thing to do, but I wasn't feeling exceptionally rational. I had to resist the urge to shield her from prying eyes. Every camera flash was a win I could've measured, and I'd forgotten that.

The party didn't matter. Just what we could earn from it.

"I'll help you down," I decided. "Lean on my shoulder."

"Use your muscles for the greater good. Carry me."

My lips twitched. " Carry you?"

"Yep. Princess style across the threshold." Kassie snapped her fingers and held out her arms. Her eyes were glassy. "Come on, Igor. Give me the full treatment."

I raised my eyebrows. "Are you fucking with me?"

"A little. Yeah."

"You're wearing my friend's jersey and expect me to carry you?"

"Absolutely."

It was a good thing she had her eyes closed. I grinned hard.

"I'll carry you, art girl. You want to start a conversation?"

"All the conversations," she sighed. "All the dialogues. All the TEDTalks—"

"Alright. Fine. Fuck it. Let's start a conversation."

Dipping down to Kassie made her eyes flutter open. I cut the distance between us and there she was, her thick eyelashes, the curve of her lips, and the scent of her that made my mouth water. At first, the surprise was evident. She'd been kidding. But that expression vanished the moment I looped my arm around her waist. It took her too long to figure out what I was doing.

With a swift pull, I slung her over my shoulder. Those swimsuit edition legs kicked against chest, but they didn't stop me from pushing back to take my exit.

"Ryan!"

"Don't throw up," I grunted, taking another knee to the chest.

"RYAN!"

"Seriously, don't throw up. People are taking pictures."

"You're going to drop me!"

"That's funny, art girl," I said, patting her thigh.

" RYAN! "

We could've had a spotlight shone on us and it wouldn't have made a difference. The crowd parted as much as they could, and everybody laughed while Kassie struggled to right herself. I made my way towards the lone bush that Zariah staggered around.

"Home?" Zariah hiccuped and eyed the legs dangling over my shoulder. "Is that Kass?"

"He's lucky I can't walk!"

Zariah snickered and followed after us.

I made my way back into the frat house again, battling past gawking partygoers and people barely stepping out of my way. Morons. All of them. I was six-foot-two, and they were six shots past. Drinks sloshed to the floor, and they didn't have the common sense to duck to the side.

Kassie pushed herself up, elbows digging into my shoulder blades. " Ryan ."

"Yeah?"

"You still haven't apologized."

I paused. "Apologize?

"For standing me up."

"I didn't stand you up."

"It's ten. You half stood me up." Kassie patted my back like I was a pet dog who didn't understand when I'd misbehaved. "Honestly, I think you owe me."

My lips twitched again. "I owe you?"

"Yeah. You could…stop being such a hardass."

"No."

I tried to pass a couple desperately making out against the back of a couch. Shouldering past them didn't work. So I shoved my way between them, ignoring the protests. If they wanted to double-park, they couldn't be mad if somebody keyed their car.

As we made our way to the entry, the doors swung open. A group of skinny guys in khaki shorts topped with smug grins flowed through. They were laughing about something, something I didn't bother listening to. The one closest to me, the biggest of the bunch, caught sight of us. His eyes lit up the moment he spotted the pair of legs I was carrying to my car.

His hand reached up. Before I could do a damn thing about it, he smacked Kassie's ass on his way to the kitchen.

All my thought processes came to a screeching halt.

"Hey!" Kassie shouted out. "What the fuck?"

In a fluid motion, I carefully set her down to the floor and a disgruntled look met mine. She knew exactly where that came from and she was pissed about it.

Kassie tried to stomp past me. "Hey! Jackass! Get back here, pussy!"

I held out a hand and stopped her. "Are you okay?"

"What?" She blinked. "Yeah, of course. That asshole—"

"Hold on."

Walking to the group of frat guys, I dug my hand into the meat of the left one's shoulder and yanked him back. The sounds of the party died instantly. The frat guy had the nerve to look as pissed as Kassie did before he saw exactly who summoned him back into the entryway.

"Cr—Cross?" The word stumbled out of his mouth, and his eyes flickered down to my hand.

"What was that?"

"Yeah!" Kassie tried to pass me. "Can't keep your—?!"

"One second." I motioned for Zariah to hold her back. I didn't want Kassie to get hurt. A dull ringing echoed in my ears and I flexed my fingers. Answers were needed. I shifted back.

"I've got a quick question. I might be wrong here, but did she ask you to slap her ass?"

The frat guy blinked at me. "What?"

My voice dropped an octave. "Did she ask you to slap her ass?"

"Cross. Ryan." The frat guy laughed incredulously, leaning back to glance at his friends, wondering what the hell I was doing. "I love the Romans, man. We've got the posters upstairs. We go to every game. You're among friends."

"Did she ask you?"

"You're at my party." He took his place in front of me. "It's not a big deal. You need to calm down."

"I'm going to ask you one more time."

"Don't threaten me."

"Did she ask you—?"

The frat guy shoved my hand off. "You're at my fucking party, asshole."

His smug smile wavered when I cut the distance between us. It left entirely the second my fist connected with his jaw.