Rory laughed. "I like that you're a nerd." He put his arm behind me on the chair and scooted a little closer to me. "How many weddings have you been in?"

  "Five. I was a bridesmaid four times and I was Emily's maid of honor. What about you?"

  "Just one. I was Connor's best man."

  "How long have you two known each other?"

  "Since fourth grade."

  "That's adorable."

  Rory laughed. "I'm not adorable."

  "I hate to break it to you, but you're super adorable."

  He leaned toward me. "I thought you said I was super sexy?" he whispered in my ear. "I prefer that over super adorable."

  I turned toward him. Our faces were only a few inches apart and I could smell the aroma of cinnamon wafting off of him. "I think you're super sexy and super adorable. I like that you're both." The way he was looking at me made it hard to breathe.

  "I'm pretty sure the things I've done to you aren't adorable."

  "No. But the things you do with your wolf pack are. You guys are quite adorable."

  Rory laughed. "Is that what you call us? I like that so much better than what Jackson calls us...a threesome of big strong men."

  I couldn't help but laugh. "I'm so sorry, but I have to ask. Is Jackson gay?"

  "What? No."

  "Are you sure? Because sometimes he says...well, the gayest things."

  It was Rory's turn to laugh. "Geez, he really does, doesn't he? But no, he's just like metrosexual or something. Trust me, he likes women."

  "Okay," I said skeptically.

  "Keira, just because he doesn't have a crush on you like the other members of the wolf pack doesn't mean he's gay." He gave me one of his smiles that made my knees weak.

  I swallowed hard. Rory has a crush on me? Rory has a crush on me! That was all I needed to hear. I put my hand on his knee. "Well, thank you for making me an honorary member of your weird wolf pack metrosexual group." I looked down at his lap.

  "I should really be thanking you for that."

  "Have there been any other honorary members of your group?" I kept my hand on his knee. I wasn't sure why I wanted to know the answer to that. I was basically asking him if any girl that had sucked his cock had ever gotten along with his friends before.

  "Really just Connor's ex wife."

  I tried not to sigh out loud. I was the only girl that he liked that had gotten to know his friends. For some reason that made me feel better. It also meant that his ex girlfriend hadn't gotten along well with his friends. I wondered if that had something to do with their break up. "What was Connor's ex wife like?"

  "She used to be really cool. I was always third wheeling with them, ever since high school. Cindy was one of my best friends too. I still don't get what happened. One day she just started being really cold. Connor put up with it for as long as he could. I know he wanted to make it work." Rory shrugged.

  "That's sad."

  "I think you're a better honorary member anyway. But maybe that's just because you're mine."

  Mine? Is that how he thinks of me? I so badly wanted to be his. Maybe I already was. I didn't need him to say anything else. That was all the commitment I needed. Him calling me his and admitting he had a crush on me was the best feeling in the world.

  "Well, you'll be happy to know that you're my favorite member of the group," I said.

  "You're becoming my favorite too."

  I just stared into his hazel eyes. That was it. He liked me just as much as I liked him.

  "I'm sorry, I don't mean to interrupt you guys."

  We both turned to the girl next to Rory. She was sitting next to a guy that looked like he'd rather be anywhere else in the world. Awkward.

  "But you two are like the cutest couple here," the girl said. "Besides for Becca and Jeremy, of course. How long have you two been dating?"

  Rory pulled his arm off my back, picked up his wine glass, and took a big sip.

  I wanted to cut in and tell her we weren't official or anything, but I was curious to see what Rory would say. He had just said such wonderful things to me. Maybe his response would be different this time.

  "Oh, no," Rory said and laughed awkwardly. "We're actually..."

  "Aw, are you engaged? Congratulations!" the girl said.

  What the fuck is everyone's problem here?

  Rory coughed and spit his wine back into the glass. "Oh, God no." He set his glass back down on the table. "We're not even dating."

  The girl made a strange face and I looked down at my lap. Rory wasn't just acting like he was scared of commitment. The tone he was responding to people in made it seem like I was the problem. As if he just couldn't possibly see a future with me. He almost sounded repulsed every time someone asked if we were a couple. And even if that wasn't what he meant, it still embarrassed me every time he said it.

  I didn't even know that girl. It would have been cute and funny to just pretend we had been dating for years. What was Rory's problem?

  "Now, for the first time ever, Mister and Misses Rogers!" said the DJ into his microphone.

  I stood up and clapped as my friend and her new husband walked into the room. And I felt like crying. The first few weddings I had gone to after college were okay. They were actually fun. But four years later, it wasn't fun anymore. I was falling so far behind. And Emily was having a baby. Her kid would be like ten before I had my first one. We had always talked about our children being best friends too. I took a deep breath.

  "How about we go find that closet," Rory said as he wrapped his arms around me.

  He seemed to be thinking along the same lines I was. Not about falling behind, but about how he hated weddings. Although he probably hated them because he hated commitment and he hated me. I rolled my eyes at myself. I was being dramatic. Rory didn't hate me. But I still didn't want to give in to him. Despite our conversation earlier, I was still worried that sex was all he wanted from me. Maybe sleeping with him so soon had been a mistake.

  He pushed my hair to the side and kissed the back of my neck, sending chills down my spine. I may have slept with him too soon, but I definitely didn't regret it.

  I tilted my head back. "They're about to serve dinner. And I'm starving." I removed his hands from me and sat back down. I hated that this was somehow still a game between us. All I wanted to do was tell him how I felt. But if strangers asking if we were dating freaked him out, I didn't want to know how he'd react to me telling him that I was in love with him.

  Chapter 31

  The music started before I had even finished my overcooked dinner. I turned to Rory. "Everything you've cooked for me has been so much better than this."

  He smiled at me. "It's harder to cook in large quantities. Everything I've cooked for you was made specifically for you." His thumb ran along the back of my neck.

  "Well, you could totally cook for a place like this." I still wanted him to confess his ambitions to me. Maybe he just needed a little push.

  "I really like my job right now. It gives me lots of free time."

  The way he was staring at me made me blush.

  He stood up and put his hand out for me. "Let's dance."

  A slow song had just started. I put my hand in his and let him lead me toward the dance floor. He grabbed my waist and pulled me close.

  The anger I had felt earlier seemed to completely disappear when he looked down at me. I wanted him to stare at me like this forever. Like I was the only girl he saw in the entire room. Like I was the only thing in the world that mattered to him. I clasped my hands behind his neck and smiled at him. I so badly wanted to tell him how I really felt. "I'm glad you came tonight," I said instead.

  The scruff along his jaw line brushed against my cheek as he brought his lips to my ear. "Keira, you haven't made me cum tonight. I think it's about time we changed that." His hands drifted to my ass.

  I laughed and moved his hands back to my waist. "You seem awfully eager." My voice didn't hide my own eagerness at all. I wanted him so badly.

  "Well, I'm pretty sure I was promised that I'd get to fuck you in a closet if I agreed to be your plus one."

  I laughed again. "You agreed to come with me two days ago. I only just told you that I've made out with guys at weddings a few hours ago."

  "Hmm. I remember it differently."

  The music changed to a faster paced song, but Rory kept his body pressed against mine. I wouldn't be able to resist him much longer.

  "Keira!"

  Becca and Jeremy had just walked over to us.

  "Congratulations, Becca!" I said and gave her a hug. "You look so beautiful. That dress is gorgeous."

  "Thank you! You remember Jeremy," Becca said and gestured to her new husband.

  "Of course. It's great to see you again. Congratulations." I shook Jeremy's hand.

  "And is this your boyfriend?" Becca asked. "It's nice to meet you." She put her hand out for Rory to shake.

  Rory laughed. "Everyone at this wedding really likes to jump to crazy conclusions. We're really just roommates."

  What the hell? Just roommates? It felt like he had slapped me. I could feel myself gaping at him. I turned back to Becca. "Congratulations again." My voice caught slightly. "I'm so happy for you guys." As I hugged Becca, I could feel the tears welling in my eyes. "If you'll excuse me." I quickly walked off the dance floor and past the tables full of happy couples. I felt so stupid. I walked out into the foyer where the cocktail hour had been. Where is the bathroom in this stupid place anyway? I just needed some time to regroup. Or a place to climb out a window and run away.

  "Keira!" Rory had followed me out of the reception hall. When he reached me he was smiling.

  Why the hell was he smiling? Couldn't he tell that he had been hurting my feelings all night? Just roommates? I wanted to punch him.

  "Your friends are all so ridiculous."

  "Ridiculous? You're my date to a wedding. Why is them assuming we're dating so ludicrous? Is it really that horrible for people to think I'm your girlfriend?"

  He laughed. "It's really no one else's business what we are or aren't."

  "It's not funny, Rory. Every time someone asked if we were together you made it seem like you didn't like me at all. Am I really that repulsive?"

  "You know I don't think that. You're..."

  "I'm what, Rory?" I asked, cutting him off. I hated the way my voice cracked. And I hated the way he was staring at me. It was like somehow I had hurt him instead of the other way around.

  "You're..."

  "What? Your friend? Oh no, wait, don't let me jump to any crazy conclusions." I poked him in the center of his chest. "You're just my roommate, right?" Fuck you.

  He gave me a pleading look.

  "Exactly. We're just roommates. Goodnight, Rory." I stormed off toward the exit. But before I could reach the door, he grabbed my wrist.

  "All I was going to say was that you're overreacting."

  "Seriously? Rory, we're sleeping together and all you see me as is your roommate. Don't you see how that kills me? You know that I like you. Obviously I like you. I don't think I could have made it any more clear."

  He ran his hand through his hair. "This is all I know. I told you that I wasn't what you wanted. I didn't want you to get hurt. But you didn't listen to me."

  "Then why did you say you wanted more? I'm like everyone else in there." I pointed to the reception hall. "I thought more meant more than just sex."

  "It does." He let go of my wrist and ran his hand through his hair again. "I agreed to come to this wedding with you, didn't I?"

  "Well thanks for the favor, Rory. I really appreciate you coming here and insulting me all night."

  "God, you're driving me crazy."

  "I'm driving you crazy? Look, stay. Hook up with some random girl. I'm going home."

  "I don't want to hook up with anyone else, Keira."

  "Really? You were just on a date last night, weren't you?" I had been wrong last night. I was so mad at him. I was mad at him for leading me on, when it was clear he never wanted more than just sex.

  His eyebrows lowered slightly. "How the hell do you know that?"

  "So you're not even going to pretend to deny it?" What an asshole.

  "What, did Connor tell you or something?"

  "Fuck you, Rory."

  He grabbed my wrist again before I could turn away. "Yes, I was on a date, okay? I agreed to go before we started whatever the hell this is. And you'll be happy to know that I had a horrible time. It was the fucking worst."

  "What, do you want me to feel sorry for you or something? Fine. I'm sorry that she didn't put out on the first date. I'm sorry she wasn't slutty enough for you. I know how much you like easy women. Better luck next time, roomie."

  "Would you just let me finish?!"

  "I don't want to hear what you have to say. I can't do this anymore." I tried to walk away from him again.

  "Damn it, Keira." He pushed my back against the wall so I couldn't move. "The date sucked because I couldn't stop thinking about you."

  For the first time since we had come out here, I locked eyes with him. The only sound in the room seemed to be my heart pounding out of my chest. He seemed just as upset about this fight as I was. I didn't like seeing him hurting. I loved him more than I even realized. "I can't stop thinking about you either," I said breathlessly. I grabbed both sides of Rory's face and kissed him.

  He pressed my body against the wall and deepened the kiss. I didn't care that we were in public. All I wanted was more of him. But he pulled away far too soon.

  "I know that we're more than just roommates, Keira."

  "So...friends?" I smiled at him.

  "Come with me."

  I'd follow him anywhere. I slipped my hand into his and followed him to the closet we had found earlier.

  He pulled me inside and quickly closed the door. All I saw was a mop and a bucket before darkness engulfed us. Instead of finding the light, Rory pressed my back against the door. "Let me show you how I feel in the best way that I know how." He kissed me again, slower and more passionately than before.

  I liked his version of what more was.

  He grabbed my ass and lifted my legs around him. He walked over to a table in the corner and gently placed me on the edge. "You don't realize how hard it's been for me, living with you." He moved his lips to my neck.

  "I do." I moaned when he lightly nipped my earlobe.

  "All the teasing. You've been torturing me." He kissed my shoulder and slowly left a trail of kisses down my arm. He placed a kiss on my palm and then moved to my other shoulder. "I find everything about you irresistible."

  Each kiss down my arm made me want him more and more. My whole body seemed to shiver when he kissed my opposite palm.

  "So if you want more, I'll give you more." He kissed the inside of my ankle.

  With each kiss he placed up my leg, I felt the familiar pull in my stomach that only he could seem to give me. That desire so deep down that it was all I could focus on. God I wanted him. I had never wanted him so badly.

  He slowly repeated the process with my other leg, torturing me. He pushed my dress up and kissed the inside of my thigh.

  "Rory," I panted.

  He stood up and put his hands down on either side of me on the table. "One day I'd like to own my own restaurant. Definitely Italian cuisine. I don't know if that'll be in five years or twenty, but eventually it would be nice. That's what I really want."

  I smiled at him, even though he couldn't see it in the dark. "I knew you had dreams."

  "And what do you really want, Keira?"

  For you to love me back. "I want to write articles that are actually meaningful, instead of fluff pieces. I want to inspire people to change and take action. But I like the idea of working toward happiness, like you said before." I took a deep breath. "You make me happy, Rory."

  He didn't say anything for a few seconds. "You make me happy too."

  It was like he was confessing that he wanted me to be a part of his future. I grabbed his tie and brought his lips back to mine. He was kissing me like he loved me back. I buried my hands in his hair. I didn't care that there was a wedding going on outside or that we were in a custodial closet. All I cared about was him.

  He pushed my dress the rest of the way up my thighs. I lifted up my hips as he hooked his thumbs in the sides of my thong. I could just make out his hazel eyes in the dark. They were the only eyes I ever wanted to look into again.

  His fingers traced the insides of my thighs as he slowly pulled my underwear down my legs. "Maybe we should go to a hotel." He kissed me along my clavicle bone. "The smell of bleach isn't very romantic."

  "No." My voice sounded so needy. "I want you to fuck me right here."

  He pulled the zipper of my dress. "Keira, I'm not going to fuck you."

  What is he going to do to me then? The straps of my dress fell off my shoulders and his experienced fingers quickly unhooked my bra in the dark.

  He pushed something off the table behind me and it clattered to the floor. The smell of fake lemons filled my nose. It smelled like the cleanser I used to mop my floor. His lips on mine brought me back to him. He let one of his hands slide to my breast and he squeezed it as he lowered my back down on the table. His lips wandered from my mouth, down my neck, and onto my other breast. I felt his teeth lightly tug my nipple, and it was as if the sensation was somehow reflected in my groin.

  "Rory," I moaned.

  "I love when you say my name like that." His fingers brushed against my clit, making my whole body shiver. "And I love how wet you always are for me." The tip of his index finger slipped inside of me, making me moan again.

  I wanted more. No. I needed more. My hips rose, trying to meet his hand, but instead, his hands fell from me. I was about to protest when I heard the rip of foil. A second later he spread my thighs and brushed his fingers against my clit again.

  "Rory," I panted.

  He grabbed my ass and pressed the tip of his massive erection against my wetness. "And I love how tight you are." He slowly began to slide his length into me. I wasn't sure what I had been thinking last night. There was no way I could ever quit him. I loved every single inch of him.

 

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