Page 142 of Power Play

I forced myself back into the kiss, but he was already pulling away. My heart dropped as he kept one hand around my waist and rested his forehead against mine.

His breathing remained rough, but something had changed in his expression. The heat was still there beneath a new wariness, and this time I understood it wasn’t his desire he was questioning.

“Someone might see us,” he said quietly.

The words made my stomach drop.

“I didn’t say that.”

“You didn’t have to.”

“I was surprised by the headlights.”

Ryan held my gaze. “You tried to let go of my hand when those girls looked at us. You called this hanging out when Evan asked if we were together, and every time somebody notices me touching you, your whole body changes.”

His voice remained controlled, but the truth had stripped the softness from it.

“I’m not embarrassed by you.”

“I didn’t say you were.”

“You’re thinking it.”

“No.” His jaw shifted. “I’m trying not to decide what it means before you tell me.”

The words carried more than the parking lot. For the first time all night, Ryan looked like the space he had opened for me might contain something sharp enough to reach him too.

“I don’t know what we are,” I said.

“That isn’t what I asked.”

“We haven’t told anyone.”

“Our friends already know something’s happening.”

“My parents don’t.”

Ryan went still.

The parking lot moved around us beneath engines, distant music, and headlights crossing the rows. His hand remained at my waist, but his fingers no longer moved.

“Is that what this is about?”

The question came carefully, like he already knew the answer could hurt.

“They’ll have opinions.”

“I know they will.”

“I’m not ready for them to turn this into something I have to defend.”

Ryan’s eyes held mine. “Me.”

“What?”

“You’re not ready to defend me.”

“That isn’t what I said.”