Page 24 of Straight to You

LOGAN

I ’ve never hated anyone as much as I hate Kyle.

He’s somehow conned his way into a position of trust and power, and the second those smug words left his mouth—‘we’ll see’—I wanted to put him through the fucking wall, but Ryder needed me more.

The look on his face after Kyle whispered in Ryder’s ear made my vision go red, especially because Ryder’s been right all along.

The law isn’t here to protect us—at least, not with this.

Not when your stalker is the one ‘investigating’ your case.

He’ll always be believed over us; it’s just the reality of our situation.

We’d need irrefutable evidence—something they can’t ignore, spin, or excuse.

But right now, I need to focus on getting him in the car. He’s gripping my hand like it’s the only tether keeping him from completely falling apart.

We don’t speak on the drive back to my apartment, but once we get inside, he collapses on the couch and clutches a throw pillow to his chest. The sight destroys me.

The fact that Kyle has managed to make Ry feel unsafe in his own home and in every area of his life makes me furious.

I want to fix it for him and take all the weight off his shoulders, but I know there’s nothing I can do to erase what’s already been done other than be there for him.

I miss the carefree, messy, slightly chaotic, always-late version of my best friend whose smile lit up everything around him. But even like this, I love him just as much. Maybe even more because I love how comfortable he is being so vulnerable with me.

Grabbing a bottle of water and making him a plate of food, I head back into the living room.

“Here,” I say, holding the bottle out.

He blinks like I’ve pulled him from a nightmare. Slowly, he reaches out and takes it, murmuring a soft, “Thanks.”

I sit next to him, close enough that our thighs brush. Hoping he can feel me there and that it’s grounding.

“You know,” I start, keeping my voice light and going for a hint of humor since that’s our best form of communication. “If this guy thinks he knows you better than I do, he’s seriously delusional.”

“Yeah? And why’s that?”

“Because I know your coffee order. Your favorite takeout. What you’ll get at pretty much every restaurant in town.

I know your go-to drink, the exact way you fold your towels, and how to get you to stop snoring.

I’ve survived years of your relentless teasing and chronic lateness, and even accepted your completely unhinged opinion that beans are not a crime against humanity. ”

The corner of his mouth twitches.

“They’re gross, Ry. Refried beans, especially. They’re like a plate of brown mush. You have to admit that. ”

And then finally, a genuine smile takes over his face, and he laughs at my extreme distaste for beans. It’s the best thing I’ve seen in days. Even if it’s quick, it feels like a goddamn victory.

“Guess that does make you an expert,” he says. “And beans are good.”

“Damn right it does,” I say, nudging his knee with mine. “And since we’re having a bad day, I’ll ignore the second part. But me knowing you so well is how I know we’ll figure this out, because no one, and I mean no one, knows you better than me.”

His eyes lift to mine, and something flickers there. Guilt, maybe. I don’t know.

“I hate that you’re caught up in this because of me,” he says quietly.

“Don’t do that,” I say, cutting him off before he can spiral. “We’re in this together. End of story. I love you and there’s nothing else I’d rather do than be here by your side, no matter what happens.”

Oh, fuck.

I just…

Did I make this weird by saying I love you?

We’ve said ‘I love you’ before, so many times over the years. But not since we started…whatever this is. Not since I touched his dick. Or introduced him to frotting. Or licked his cum off my fingers like it was frosting.

I still can’t believe I did that.

All of my chill has left me, apparently.

And I called him baby earlier. Why do I keep pushing him when he’s already dealing with so much?

Before I continue this spiral, his voice cuts through the noise in my head .

“I love you, too, Logan.”

Those five words make all the air rush back into my lungs, and I feel like I can finally breathe again.

It’s not an I’m in love with you admission, but I think it carries far more weight than all the ones that’ve come before, even though I’m falling harder and faster than I ever have in my entire life.

“Good,” I say, nudging him with a small grin. “Because I was gonna be real embarrassed if things got weird by saying that after we’ve touched each other’s dicks.”

He lets out a real laugh. “We’re way past weird, Logan.”

“Fair point,” I admit.

Then Ryder shifts, turning to face me on the couch.

“You’re my person, Logan,” he says softly.

I move to mirror him, and take his face in my palm. His breath comes out in uneven pants, but he doesn’t move. He looks at me, and god, I could drown in those big caramel brown eyes with golden flecks.

With his face still in my hand, I whisper, inches from his mouth, “You really mean that?”

Ryder’s lips part slightly, and he nods once. “Yeah,” he says, like there’s not even a shadow of a doubt. “I do.”

My hand slips from his cheek, trailing down to rest at the base of his neck, and I can’t deny how intimate it feels.

“You’re my person too, Ry,” I whisper.

We’re so close, both of us shifting forward just a smidge, and I feel his breath fan over my lips. For a moment, everything stills. I want to stay here forever, even if we never go further than this—just him and me, pressed close, breathing in sync—I want it.

Then, barely above a whisper, as if he can read my thoughts, his voice cracks through the silence, and he asks the question I’ve been dying to hear. “Can I kiss you? ”

Every thought I had before his question is erased and replaced by the thought of him kissing me.

Him. Kissing me.

My pulse hammers as I pull back enough to meet his eyes—and fuck, the way he’s looking at me…something opens in my chest and I don’t fight it. Not one ounce of me even wants to try. All I do is nod, and that one gesture changes everything.

He leans in, his lips meeting mine, and I’m kissing him back in an instant. The second I do, the world tilts on its axis.

His lips are soft and warm. It’s new, yet somehow familiar, and it’s the most magical thing I’ve ever felt in my life. I’m completely unsure how I’ve survived this long without ever feeling his lips on mine.

Ryder makes a quiet sound in the back of his throat, something between a sigh and a moan, and it sends a jolt of desire straight to my chest. Then he moves to deepen the kiss, and I meet him halfway, swiping my tongue across his bottom lip, and he lets me in.

Heat rolls through me like I’m burning from the inside out as his fingers slide up my chest and curl around the back of my neck.

I groan, tugging him closer until he’s in my lap, his weight settling against me like he belongs there—and I’m certain he does.

He’s heavy, but it feels exactly right as every one of my senses is engulfed in him.

His fingers thread into my hair, and he gives a slight tug that makes my breath hitch, and I tilt my head, deepening the kiss.

I can’t get enough, and from the quiet, needy sounds he’s making, he feels the same way.

He pulls back enough to whisper my name; his voice is so needy, I can’t help but kiss him again because I can’t not kiss him. Especially not when he sounds like that.

When we break apart again, his eyes drop to my hard cock that looks like it’s ready to bust through the seams of my pants.

“Can I…?” Ryder asks, as he hooks his finger into one of my belt loops.

He doesn’t finish the sentence, but I know exactly what he’s asking—and I want it. I want anything he’s willing to give me. Anything.

“You can do whatever you want,” I rasp. “Anything.”

He unbuttons my pants and tugs them down my thighs, and I lift my hips to help as he climbs off my lap.

His fingers brush against my skin, and it feels like I’m being electrocuted by a thousand tiny jellyfish in the best way.

My cock springs free, stiff and already leaking, and I don’t miss the way his breath hitches when he sees it.

“Ryder,” I murmur.

“Yeah?”

“You’re perfect.” I reach for him, pulling him back down next to me, and cover his hand with mine. “Anything you do, I’ll like.”

He kisses me quickly, then pulls back, and I watch as his hand wraps around me, and his first stroke feels so perfect I can’t stop the grunt that slips out.

His eyes widen slightly at that, his lips twitching into a smirk.

He loves it when I’m vocal, and I don’t want to deprive him of anything he desires.

“You like that?” he checks.

“Yeah,” I confirm, breath shaky. “Told you—anything. It’s so fucking good having your hands on me, Ry.”

He licks his palm and goes back to stroking me, his grip firmer now as he finds a rhythm. His thumb occasionally swipes over my slit through my precum, slicking me up like he already knows what I need.

“Ryder,” I groan, voice laced with want. “You’re driving me insane right now. It feels so good, baby. I love the way you touch me.”

His eyes find mine as I once again let the word baby fall from my lips, but all I see in his gaze is hunger. I need to get my hands on him before I lose it.

“Take your pants off,” I choke out.

He doesn’t hesitate. Just shoves them down in one hurried motion, revealing his hard, leaking cock, and I can’t stop the low groan that rumbles in my chest seeing him like this.

He’s gorgeous—long and thick, flushed deep red, with precum already pearling at the tip and trimmed hairs at the base that I want to bury my face in.

The curve of him is enough to make my mouth water, and I notice the way he twitches under my stare, like he’s both nervous and fully turned on.

I want to fall to my knees and praise him. Relish in how incredible it is that I get to have him like this.