The Ice Alpha’s Mate (Aria and Ryder) novel Chapter 69

Chapter 69

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ARIA

Ryder and I pull apart and stare into each other’s eyes for several breathless seconds.

I ask myself if I’ll ever get enough of this feeling that makes me feel like my stomach’s full. When I’m not in his arms like I am now, all I can do is think about this. Kissing him and being with him occupies my mind 24/7.

We’ve been meeting in one of the abandoned laboratories on campus. It needed to be renovated some years back, but according to Ryder, his father used the money to improve the ice rink instead, since it’s the most important aspect of Ironclaw U anyway.

There’s another laboratory on campus. Smaller than this one, but it’s really all that’s needed since not many people go healing arts.

for

1

So, this is a safe place for us to meet whenever we have a chance. It’s far away from all the classes, and nobody will hear us. Plus, Ryder aways makes sure to drag a broken cabinet in front of the door. If anyone sneaks in here, we’ll definitely hear them.

We could’ve

gone

elsewhere far away from campus, but we can’t leave for too long.

Also, we can’t risk getting caught.

“I only got to see you for ten minutes yesterday,” he murmurs against my lips before taking my chin between his fingers. I melt every time he presses his lips against mine. It sends a fluttery feeling all through me that has me wanting…more. More of this.

More of him.

So far, we’ve only ever kissed. Though I don’t have much experience in the sex department, I know that it’s something that’s done between two people who have feelings for each other the way we do. Not that strangers can’t do it, too, but that’s not the point.

Every time we’re together, I think about it. I have this desire to take things a step further with him. But Ryder never initiates anything and when we part ways, I feel relieved that I didn’t make a hasty decision that I might regret.

I don’t think I’d regret having sex with Ryder, per se, but the timing is definitely off, and I wouldn’t want it to be on the dusty floor of an abandoned lab.

I shrug. “Ten minutes is better than nothing. Don’t you

think?”

“Is it bad that I don’t think that?”

I scoff lightly. “Would you have preferred it if we didn’t see each other?”

“No. I would’ve preferred to spend the entire day with you.” Ryder presses his lips against mine and our tongues meet in a slow, sensuous dance. Even just kissing him is the most amazing sensation ever. Ryder’s kisses alternate between deep and light, intense and sweet. I let him guide me because he knows what he’s doing and for the most part, I don’t.

But one thing I find fascinating is how naturally everything comes to me. I don’t have to think about how I’ll touch him when we kiss, or how I’ll position myself. Everything just…flows. And happens.

Ryder lets out a grunt as he deepens the kiss, and I have to adm that I feel it right between my thighs. This drives me to inch closer to him so my breasts are pressed against his hard chest. His arms tighten around me, and before I know it, I’m straddling his lap.

Ryder’s hand moves from my side all the way to my back. I feels warmth even through the blouse I’m wearing. Goosebumps spread all over my skin, and I grow needier. I move my hips slightly, grinding against his pelvis. A sudden

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Chapter 69

burst of pleasure has me moaning in his mouth, and Ryder pulls away.

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He peers into my eyes intently. His pupils are dilated and he has a hungry look to him that makes me want to be devoured. Our lips are touching, but we aren’t kissing.

“Aria,” he murmurs.

He says my name like it’s a plea and a warning at the same time. only stare back at him, realizing that the choice is mine. If I decide to take it far, he’d likely follow my lead.

But do I want that?

There’s a part of me that’s really scared about how things can go. Intimacy…it’s not something I ever gave much thought to until now. Until all of this started happening. And though, physically, I want it, I don’t know if I have what it takes mentally and emotionally to give in.

Ryder senses my hesitance, and it’s time to bring our make-out session to an end. I climb off his lap, and he stares at me almost sheepishly. I try not to look at his erection, and he tries to cover it as best as he can by bringing his legs up to his knees.

And, as always, we don’t talk about it.

I wonder if he’s holding back too like I am, and if so, why. I want to ask him this, but I don’t even know if I’m right about him feeling the same way as me.

“What’re you going to do today?”

“Not much,” I admit. “We have practice and that’s it.”

Ryder lowers his head and I have this sudden feeling that he wants to say something to me, but then he decides against it. I see him change his mind. We’re so connected that it’s easy for me to notice these things about him. “Yeah. I guess it’s the same for me.”

“Are you going to be staying at the dorms?”

His eyes meet mine. He knows what I’m getting at without saying all the words, and I don’t want to say them either because they always seem to ruin our mood without fail.

He has asked me for time, and I promised to give it to him, didnt 1?

“Yes.”

I lower my eyes and stare at my lap. I guess thats that, then. He’s staying. He won’t be spending more time with his fiancée. I should be relieved, but I’m not.

If anything, it’s a reminder of the things that would lead to whatever this is never working.

“Tell me what you’re thinking.”

I sigh. “You know what I’m thinking.”

Ryder scoots closer to me. I rest my head on his shoulder and he throws an arm around me. “I just…I want to find the right time. I know how difficult this is, but I’m going to need you to trust me. Alright? Will you trust me?”

I joke, “Maybe you care about her and I’m the other woman.”

Ryder takes

my words very seriously and grabs my face with both hands. There’s a furrow between his brows. “No. I don’t. She means nothing to me, Aria. I swear it.”

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Chapter 69

I place my hand over his. “I know. I was just joking. Maybe…I shouldn’t have.”

Ryder surprises me by grinning. “Joking, huh?”

“Did the words come out as desperate as they sounded?”

“Just a little.”

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I swat his chest and he pulls me into his lap. This time, we don’t kiss. He just holds me, I inhale his scent and try not to worry about things too much, but it’s pretty hard and I’ve been trying for the past few weeks now.

Do I trust him, though? I ask myself this question every single day.

And the answer? It’s always yes.

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