The Ice Alpha’s Mate (Aria and Ryder) novel Chapter 20

Chapter 20

RYDER

As soon as I open my eyes, I realize that I have to get away from her.

Like right the fuck now.

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I’m not sure how it happened, but our bodies are pressed together, and I have an arm around her waist. My nose is pressed right against the back of her skull, and every breath I take is loaded with the sweet smell of her hair. Of her.

The scent is fruity and exotic, maybe pineapple, and there’s a trace of that other scent-the one that keeps me on her tail, needing to get another hit of it like a drug addict.

Aria stirs, and her body moves against mine, grinding right into me. I lengthen against my thigh, knowing that if she wakes up, she’ll be aware of what’s happening right behind her. Teeth clenched, I try to create some space between us, but she shifts again, a light moan leaving her lips in her sleep.

My heart starts beating faster. Aria turns to lie on her back, and then she turns on her side again, facing me, all with closed eyes. I stare back at her in surprise, knowing she’s asleep but still finding the situation funny in any case.

I study her features, from her eyebrows to her pretty nose and her beautiful lips. Her skin is smooth, like the dolls the girls in elementary school used to play with. I used to break those dolls, mostly because I was a menace who loved making girls cry, but that was a long time ago, and in any case, I don’t know why I’m thinking about any of it now.

My thoughts are scattered. I should face away from her so my face isn’t the first thing she sees when she opens her eyes, but at the same time, I can’t look away.

It’s like I’m in a trance of some kind. Her scent is coming through and my wolf stirs.

In any case, I did pull away. I’m not the one doing the grinding here.

Moments later, her eyes are wide open and the first thing I see is the accusatory look in them. But I don’t pull away, and neither does she. Our eyes remain locked for several moments, and something passes between us, something as real as the wind blowing gently through her hair.

I don’t know who moves first-is it me, or her? The point is that our lips are merely inches apart, and I have this sudden, inexplicable urge to claim her. My wolf is almost growling inside of me. He’s calling her name.

My lips just touch hers and electricity courses through me, gathering in the base of my spine and spreading through my veins like wildfire. I strain against my pants, wanting her in ways hat I’ve thought of before, but never really paid attention to until now.

Aria reacts like she’s been shocked and throws herself back, putting distance between us with a single jerk of her body.

And the moment comes to an abrupt end.

It’s like every wild thought I had quiets down, and all I’m left wit is a killer hard-on that I do my best to keep hidden. Aria sits up and I do the same, trying to forget just how close we were just now.

Though she doesn’t say a word to me, I can see how red her faces and it makes me smirk. She might not ever acknowledge what happened, but it did.

For some reason…I don’t know how that makes me feel.

“We should head back,” she suddenly says in that bossy voice of hers that drives me fucking crazy. “I have a lot to do today.”

“Do you?” I question, rising and dusting my pants, all while trying to keep my hoodie in place. If it raises been a little, she’ll see exactly what that little thing between us caused. “Like what?”

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10:20 Wed, Feb 18 DB.

Chapter 20

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The look she gives me is an angry one. It has no business pleasing me the way it does. It’s like, at this point, I want any reaction from her-be it good or bad.

It’s slowly morphing into an obsession and I know that I don’t have any space in my life for something like this. What’s wrong with me, anyway? I’m not like this at all.

The problem is that Aria Murdock is doing inexplicable things to me. I don’t know where this part of me is coming from.

We start to head back, and I take the lead like I did yesterday. The only difference is that she’s not in my arms. The reason why she couldn’t see well in the dark crosses my mind briefly. What could it be? There are many possible answers, but they’d all need serious questions, and right now? I don’t see the point of it at all.

I can hear her behind me, and this time, she’s putting an effort into keeping up. I wish I could turn back and look at her. Many times, I think of something to say to her, then decide against it.

I should be ashamed and not say a word to her anymore. I don’t know why I’m still trying when she’s made it clear that she doesn’t want anything to do with me.

So, why can’t I quit this? Quit her?

It’s pathetic and it’s so unlike me.

My jaw is tense, hence clenched, the whole walk back. At last, we reach the edge of town, and it’s a part that’s familiar to her because I know Coach Murdock lives around these areas and shes not in the dorms.

We both stand near the edge of the road. I’m not looking at her, but I’m aware of her presence and everything she’s doing. Every deep breath. Every slight movement.

“Here we are,” I announce pathetically.

Aria glances at me and I meet her gaze. I can see she’s struggling to find the right words, and then she blurts out, “Thank you,” before turning on her heel and walking away from me.

I don’t take my eyes off her for a second. I just lose sight of her when she walks around the bend that leads to her neighborhood.

I shake my head helplessly, then continue on my way. I cross the street and venture into the woods again. This time, I’m aiming for the university grounds. The whole time, I’m thinking about Aria and the time we spent together. It all feels surreal now that it’s over.

When I reach the campus, I’m surprised to see my car already waiting for me there. Zach is leaning against it and when he sees me, he jogs to meet me. “Ryder! What the fuck happened?”

“Car broke down and I had to take the woods,” I explain briefly. I don’t feel like telling him anything else. “You left the beach party early?”

“Yeah. There was this cold as shit current that ruined everything for everyone. We just got back. I knew I couldn’t leave your car there.”

Ah, the current. I didn’t think they would experience it too. I guess I thought that it was something that happened only to me and her. “I see. That’s a shame.”

Zach’s looking at me in a way that confuses me, so I ask him, “Is everything okay?”

Zach clears his throat and scratches the back of his neck. “Well. I guess it’s just that everyone’s talking about the Omega. How you left the bonfire to give her a ride.”

I immediately get angry. “It’s not what anyone thinks and I don’t want to hear anything about it again. Are we understood?”

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10:20 Wed, Feb 18 DB

Chapter 20

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Zach raises his hands and I angrily make my way to the dorm’s building. When I reach my room, the first thing I do is head into the shower. The water’s freezing cold, but that’s exactly what I need to cool my head and my body.

Shit.

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AD