I turn back around after solving the equation on the board just as Ryder sneaks in and sits in the same spot he did last time, with his feet again on the table like he is the king. King of my heart maybe but I am sure that knowledge would go right to his big head if he knew.

"Anyone have any questions?" I ask the students as they finish scribbling down what I just wrote.

Two hands shoot up but before I can call on either of them the jock in the back interrupts. "Question?" he calls out, ignoring the students who probably have real questions and want to learn.

"Answer," I smile even though I should scold him and move on.

"How do you expect these fine scholars to learn with that distraction?"

"What distraction?" I look around the room trying to figure out what I missed that could have been distracting my students for the last two hours. I am a little annoyed that after 12 weeks of knowing me they did not speak up about this. It is a waste of both my time and theirs if they aren't paying attention to review.

"You," he replies as his eyes trail down my body taking in my outfit. He is no longer lounging in his chair but sitting up and leaning on the desk watching me like an animal stalking its prey.

"Oh," I gasp as some of the male students in the room nod in agreement while the female students whisper, probably about Ryder's bold statement. I tug at the oversized jersey I am wearing with just knee high boots. Of course I have a pair of shorts under the jersey but you can't see them because of how far down my legs the jersey comes.

"Anything else?" I rush trying to earn back my students' attention. I can feel my cheeks heating up but try to keep my outward composure as best I can.

Archie's hand shoots up. He is a nice boy, always at review and my office hours. He talks to other students but I can tell most of the time they are just using him because he is by far the smartest student I have. I am almost sure that he could lead this review himself if he wanted to. "Archie?"

"Is he your boyfriend?" he asks innocently.

"No," I practically yell while Ryder literally falls out of his chair because he is laughing so hard. "Carson," I scold as he manages to pick himself off the floor.

"Alright review is over, if you have a question email me," I huff as I quickly gather my backpack and stalk over to the distraction barely holding himself upright. "I hate you."

"Mmmm, no you don't," he counters as he grabs my backpack and slides his arm around my waist.

"I am wearing someone else's jersey this weekend just for that stunt."

His arm tightens around me almost painfully tight. "Don't joke about something so fucking stupid Francesca."

I am no expert but I know jealousy when I see it and Ryder is definitely jealous. Tingles shoot up my spine as I revel in the fact that I can make someone like him jealous. He is the star hockey player, a straight A student, and has an amazing body, doesn't he realize any girl, including me, would sell their soul to wear his jersey to one of his games?

The car is quiet as Ryder starts it and I fidget nervously. "I was kidding, you know."

"Even if you weren't I'd ruin whatever jersey you did wear so you'd have no choice but to wear mine."

"Possessive," I tease even though inside I am screaming. There is no reason for that to be so hot and yet it is.

When we arrive at the house the party is already in full swing. I leave my backpack in Ryder's car and we both walk up the back walkway to the back door. It is warm today so some people are outside talking or smoking. No one from either of our teams is there because we get drug tested pretty often so we just continue into the house.

The kitchen is more packed than usual but Ryder's presence has everyone moving out of the way so he can reach the counter cluttered with drinks and chasers and tubs of jungle juice. I let him mix me a drink while I stand off to the side greeting a few people I know. When he returns he hands me the drink and leads me through the house, making our rounds saying hello, before finally ending up on the dance floor.

By the time we reach the dance floor I have ditched my cup so I can hold onto Ryder instead. He is way more willing to dance and nowhere near as nervous but still shy enough that he needs a little reassurance.

The music is loud, as usual, and the DJ is switching between more recent popular songs and older songs from our childhood that get people insane. I am pressed up pretty closely to Ryder tonight because the house is so crowded. There are probably double the amount of people here than usual and most of them cram onto the dance floor, which is just the guy's empty living room, as Toxic begins to play.

"A guy like you should wear a warning," I sing as I grind against Ryder.

His eyes follow my body as it moves against him. His hands slide down my back and move to my ass, squeezing gently. I roll my hips as I gasp at the contact. I don't know where this flirty handsy guy came from but I want more of it; actually no I need more of it.

"Too high can't come down," I continue.

"It's in the air and it's all around," Ryder sings back as his hips move with me. His leg manages to push between my legs and the contact sets my body on fire instantly.

"Can you feel me now," I pant as his hands squeeze my ass even harder pushing me into him. My leg brushes the crotch of his pants and I can feel that I am not the only one turned on right now. Looking down the slight boner isn't noticeable but every time I brush against the area I can feel it slowly growing.

I drop my hands from Ryder's shoulder as we both try to get as much contact as possible and drag them down his chest. The song continues as I hook my fingers into the belt loops of his jeans keeping a consistent pressure. I am grateful I am wearing shorts underneath because if not I would be worried I am wet enough I might leave a mark on his jeans.

The song ends but the sexual tension between us doesn't lessen even as a less sensual and more upbeat song comes on. I recognize it instantly and grab Ryder's shirt collar, pulling his face closer so I can sing it to him. "Here we go again, I kind of wanna be more than friends."

Ryder swallows before singing back to me. "​​You're just a cannibal and I'm afraid I won't get out alive."

"Oh, Oh I want some more, oh oh what are you waiting for," we sing loudly to each other basically yelling in each other's faces. We are both gasping for air as we sing, unable to catch our breath. Everyone around us is dancing and singing freely, totally unaware what is going on between us.

I feel like my entire body is on fire as I move my face closer and Ryder does the same. I can feel his heart hammering against my chest as much as I am sure he can feel mine. Every part of me is molded against every part of him. It is hard to tell where my body ends and his begins because we are so tangled up together on the crammed dance floor.

We continue singing the verses back and forth then coming together to sing the chorus together. For the first time it is painfully clear this is not one sided. I am still not sure what exactly it is, lust or something more, but my attraction to Ryder is equally matched by his attraction to me, at least physically.

"Hush, hush the world is quiet," I sing softly. Ryder can't hear me over the crowd but I know he knows what I am saying because his eyes are trained on my lips. My lips feel dry so I drag my tongue along my bottom lip to bring some of the moisture back.

Ryder's lips are parted slightly as he watches me before he picks up the next line. "Hush, hush we both can't fight it," he sings. The words are inaudible but I know exactly what he's saying.

I tilt my head slightly and move closer so there is barely any distance between my lips and his. He leans in as well but doesn't close the gap. I can see the fear in his eyes as we both make eye contact. It is dark but I can see his pupils are dilated almost completely.

I recognize he won't make the first move without a little more convincing so I brush my lips against his just a little. My hands have left his shirt collar and are now tangled around the back of his neck. His leg is still between mine but the grinding from earlier has stopped. Ryder's eyes flutter shut and just as his lips are finally going to press against mine Maya's scream slices through the music.

"Fuck," Bray yells as Ryder and me fly apart like a bomb just detonated between us. I am too short to see what is going on over the crowd but Ryder must see something because he begins pushing through the crowd. I follow him as the music cuts off and people try to push to see what the commotion is about.

We make it to the middle of the circle where two guys are on top of each other fighting. I can't exactly make out who it is since it is dark but Maya is screaming as Bray tries to get in between the two. The guy on the bottom, the smaller guy, isn't faring so well but he is holding his own. I hug Maya trying to be comforting as Ryder tries to help Bray.

The guy on top in an attempt to keep fighting the other dude manages to elbow Ryder in the face, causing his nose to bleed. Now Maya isn't the only one yelling for help as more of the hockey players jump in to break apart the fight. Bray and Ryder manage to get the guy on top restrained and held back while a few others pick up the other guy.

"Holy shit," I curse as I realize who it is. Alex is pretty beat up but his dimpled smile is still recognizable as he smiles as Maya. Pman is in better shape but given the looks he is getting from his teammates that may not be for long.

Maya breaks free from my hold and runs to Alex looking at his face trying to determine what is bleeding. Ryder says something to Pman and then pushes him toward the steps. He doesn't protest and quickly scurries up the steps, probably to his bedroom.

I run to Ryder and turn his face toward me. "Are you ok?" I ask my voice laced with concern as I inspect him.

"I'm fine Beck," he huffs, rolling his eyes as I gingerly touch his nose to see if it is broken. I don't think it is but Ryder's next words confirm my suspicion. "It isn't broken, I have broken mine enough to know what that feels like."

Parker, who I assume was getting Luna and Tristian, shows up and looks over his boyfriend carefully. Bray doesn't have a scratch on his but Parker still seems shaken up. Tristian and Luna are trying to figure out what happened but it is difficult without Maya or Alex around. I ignore my friends and tug on Ryder's hand. "Lets go clean you up."

He doesn't argue with me as I lead him up to his bedroom. I was hoping to have some privacy up there with him but our friends seemed to have missed the memo as they follow us up.

When we reach Ryder's room the two couples make themselves comfortable while I pull Ryder into the bathroom. I leave the door open as Parker begins to explain what he saw. "So Stan and Maya were just sitting on the steps talking when Pman got in her face. Bray ran over to jump in while I came to get you both since I figured it would be time to pack up and go. Fryder I have no idea where you guys were honestly so I didn't even bother searching."

"Shirt off," I instruct. His shirt is pretty bloody and instead of ruining a towel I have him take it off and use it to wipe away the blood on his face.

"Bray what did P say to her?" Ryder asks, trying to get the whole story.

"Things we aren't repeating," Alex says as he and Maya enter the room. Maya did a decent job cleaning him up and it looks like besides a cut on his eyebrow his injuries aren't so bad. I am sure he will be bruised tomorrow but he will still be able to play hockey thankfully.

"Do you want me to bring this to Coach?" Ryder asks Alex as I finish cleaning him off. He walks into his room in just his jeans and I follow planting myself on the bed between Luna and Parker.

"No, we have 4 games left and as much as I hate to admit it we can't lose him. He is one of the strongest players on the second line."

"Maya?" Ryder asks, ignoring his best friend.

"No, Alex handled it just fine," she says, smiling up at Alex like she's never been so turned on in her life. For someone like Maya, who loves movies like 10 things I hate about you or To All The Boys, this is almost like a dream. Alex took multiple punches to the face to fight for her honor, it doesn't get much more romantic than that.

"I think it is time to go," Luna says before Maya can rip his pants off right here in front of us all.

Everyone agrees and begins leaving. Since Tristian didn't drink I decide to ride home with my roommates instead of making Ryder drive me. Everyone slowly files out leaving just me and him alone in his room.

Neither of us seem to know what to do but the courage I had to kiss him 10 minutes ago is completely gone and I am back in my own head wondering if I dreamed all that stuff earlier. "Night Beck," he sighs, giving me a hug like he normally does.

"Night Ry," I say, returning the hug. We let go of each other but I don't make a move to leave. Instead I put my hands on his shoulders and push up onto my tippy toes. I place a kiss against his cheek before backing away from him. "See you at your game."

I quickly run from the room before he can react to me kissing his cheek. As I exit the back door I welcome the cool air that wraps around me. Finally something to extinguish the fire that has been growing steadily since Ryder walked into my review.