Stronger (The University of Gatica #4) (10 page)

"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 palmed 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.

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.

"I'm coming with you. I don't want to spend a moment without you." He pulled on a tight blue t-shirt and worked on the string in the front of his wind pants.

"I think I should do this alone. I'm feeling like a hot mess and I don't want you to see me cry or barf if I get too worked up." She rolled her shoulders, knowing that it was time to create a little bit of space between them. It was going to hurt like hell when he left, but maybe if she pushed a little now it would help.

"Fuck that." He walked toward her and stopped in front of her. "I'm with you no matter what. I want to be the one holding you when you cry or cleaning up your messes. That's me. I'm that guy."

His voice was rough and filled with the same emotions she knew she was suffering from. He hadn't been through what she had. Long-distance relationships never last. They were setting themselves up for a hurting that she wasn't sure she would survive. Telling him that they were over now wasn't going to happen, though. She couldn't imagine letting him go. She would have to let the distance between them tear them apart.

"Okay," she whispered, turning from him and jogging down the stairs of his father's large house as she wiped at her tears. She stopped at his sexy car and glanced over her shoulder, finding her courage again. "Hurry up old man, we only have so long."

The drive to the field was a quiet one save for the radio. There wasn't much to say and Chrissy was fighting a losing battle inside of her. She glanced over at him.

"I wish you could be here for my first meet. I know it's silly, but I'm so damn scared I'm going to jack it up. Last time was so embarrassing." She squeezed his hand in hers as he glanced over.

"I know you’re worried about us lasting this next year or so, Chrissy, but I'm not. I'll prove to you that I'll be here when you need me to. I'll fly back in for the meet. I can only stay that day, but I'll be here, baby." He squeezed her hand as she lifted it to her face, pressing her cheek against the roughness of his knuckles.

He would be there and that would be proof that they could do this. She would let it go for now and rely on him to keep his promises.

"Okay." She glanced over at him before letting out a long breath. Today was about fun and spending time with their friends. She was going to kill it on the indoor track and then they would head to the Pinstripe Bowl after a quick stop by the gym. It was locked, but Ryan still had his key.

"I'm so freakin’ proud of you." Ryan picked her up and spun her around, his compliments not stopping since they left the practice field. She ran at a good pace for a while and then picked up her speed, the wind in her hair and burning her lungs a much-needed reminder. She was Chrissy Harris and this track belonged to her.

She kissed him a few times and slid down the front of his body. "I'm just glad that I'm getting it back. I think they'll be impressed where I am. You?"

"I know they will, girl." Ryan opened the door and held it for her. Chrissy walked in and called out to see if anyone was there. The gym was dark and no one responded. She tugged her sweaty t-shirt off and walked to the women's locker room, glancing back as Ryan finished locking the door and walked toward her.

"I'll be out shortly." She turned the corner and stripped out of the rest of her clothes, a shower sounding perfect. She turned on the hot water and stepped in, whistling through her teeth as the heat coated her cold skin. She jumped as Ryan wrapped his arms around her, his body bare and pressed to hers.

"You didn't seriously delude yourself to think I wasn't coming in here with you, right?" He laughed as she turned around, sliding her arms around his taut waist. He was gorgeous and the sight of him in the barely lit shower caused her heart to thump harder in her chest.

"We only have thirty minutes until we need to get to the game." She reached up and ran her fingers through his thick dark hair, the softness of it causing her to groan.

"I'll take every second I can get with you." He leaned down and kissed her again, making love to her mouth before breaking it and turning her in front of him. He took her hands and pressed them to the wall in front of her, sliding them up as far as she could. The movement pressed him against her back, his arousal rubbing at her ass. She moaned loudly and rubbed herself against him.

"Mmmm... I've wanted this since we first came in here."

"Horny bastard," she whispered as she closed her eyes and prepared for him to fill her completely.

His hands bit into her hips as he pressed forward, his voice pinched with pleasure as he answered her. "Only for you."

"Where the hell have you guys been?" Jason asked, standing and extending his hand to Ryan and then pulling Chrissy into a hug. All of their friends sat around her brother in the stands at the game, the crowd going wild.

Chrissy took the seat beside Jason and leaned over to rub Elizabeth's knee after Jason sat down.

"I have a trial run with Maves and Anderson on Monday. I went to the field to make sure I could hit a good time on my sprints."

"And?" Jason asked, leaning back and wrapping an arm around Elizabeth. Chrissy smiled as she watched them. Something really great was on the horizon for her brother and her roommate. It was about time for both of them.

"She fucking killed it. No jumping just yet, but she's ninety-nine percent on her sprints," Ryan answered as he wrapped his strong arm around Chrissy. She leaned into him and rested her hand on his thigh. Jason reached over and took Chrissy's hand and put it in her own lap. Ryan laughed and Chrissy elbowed her brother.

"You're lucky it's just his leg I'm rubbing." She stuck out her tongue. Elizabeth laughed and snorted softly as Jason pretended to gag.

"Okay, just keep it to yourself. You're my sister, for Pete’s sake."

"Yeah, remember that." Chrissy sunk into Ryan's hold and looked out on the field as they announced Tyler's name. He was coming into the game. The stands around them went wild. Aileen stood up in the seat in front of Chrissy and yelled loudly, waving her arms as she bounced around. Chrissy and Jason reached forward to steady her should she fall in the midst of showing her love for the wayward guy on the field.

Chrissy watched Tyler stop at the edge of the field as he glanced toward them. He pressed his fingers to his mouth and lifted them toward us. It was for Aileen. It had to be. Tears filled Chrissy's eyes as she knew how much that meant to her friend. Jason stood and made sure Aileen got back in her chair before sitting back down himself.

"How do all of these great women end up with these crazy half-broken bastards?" Jason asked quietly.

"I don't know, but I'm sure grateful that's the way it keeps working out." Ryan sat forward, smiling over at Chrissy.

Jason huffed and leaned back, taking Elizabeth's hand in his. "Me too."

The game couldn’t have gone any better for Tyler. He led his team and broke the record for the number of touchdowns by a quarterback during a bowl game. He was easily named MVP. Chrissy, Ryan, Elizabeth and Jason met near Ryan's car after the game.

Chrissy watched Jason and Ryan talking cars and sighed.
Please let this last.

"You guys wanna grab something to eat? The diner at the edge of town is always serving up something tasty." Jason smiled and looked toward Elizabeth.

"Yeah, I'm not sure the little old waitress there is going to let Chrissy back in. She's a hussy you know." Ryan smirked and pulled Chrissy into him, wrapping his arms around her as he kissed the top of her head.

"I looked that up on google. I am not a hussy."

"No, but the old lady thinks you are." Jason laughed and lifted his hand in the air, giving Ryan a high-five.

"What's a hussy?" Elizabeth asked.

"Nothing you need to be concerned about, pretty girl." Jason extended his hand. "You guys coming with us?"

"Naw, man. I can't. I have a flight out in two hours. I'm going to tell your sister how much she means to me and get out of here. Take good care of her for me. Beat off the other men that try and take my place?" Ryan extended his hand as Chrissy moved back, letting him have a moment with her brother.

"You're not at all the man I thought you were, Ryan Phillips. Forgive me for pre-judging you?"

"Absolutely. You're totally the cocky bastard I figured you to be." Ryan laughed and shook Jason's hand.

"All hockey players are dude. You need to find your center. It's somewhere between cocky and bastard." Jason hugged Chrissy and promised to call her later. Elizabeth waved and walked off holding Jason's hand.

"Are they together now?" Ryan asked before reaching out and taking Chrissy by the hips. He pulled her to him, aligning her body with his as his hands moved up and down her sides. She slid her hands over his shoulders and pressed herself against him.

"What if I say you can't go?" she asked, looking up at him.

"Then I won't go. Is that what you want from me?" His voice was deep and filled with more emotion than she cared to uncover. It was enough that the lust between them was so strong, but if he loved her like she knew she loved him... she might demand him to stay with her.

"I love you too much to ask that of you." Chrissy watched him, his expression softening.

"And I love you too much to do anything that would hurt this. I know we can make it work, but you're going to have to trust me. I don't want anyone but you. That's not going to change. No distance or time or hordes of crazy screaming women would even begin to change that. You and me, forever, Chrissy Harris. Let's get through school and go build some kick ass dreams together. Say you'll try."

"I'll try."

He pulled her in tighter, leaning down and consuming her mouth. She let a soft sob go and pressed her fears into the kiss, her body shaking slightly at the fear of losing him before really getting to have him. He broke the kiss and brushed her hair back before kissing her cheeks, her chin, her lips and the tip of her nose.

"Are there really hordes of screaming half-naked women at your games?" She lifted her eyebrow as a tear rolled down her cheek.

"You added the half-naked part."

"I did, didn't I?" She laughed and he kissed her again, growling against her mouth.

"You're the woman I want to see naked or half naked, or at all. Mine. Tell me you’re mine." He licked at her mouth, one of his hands sliding down to cup her rear in a painful grip.

"I'm yours. Come back to me soon."

"Your first meet. Look for me. I won't disappoint you."