SWAY (Part 1) Read Online Free PDF Page A

breathed. The pounding in my chest was now in my brain. My blood surged, moving so fast through my veins that it numbed me.
    “What’s really keeping you from me, Annie?” his voice rich and warm, his eyes determined. I didn’t want to answer him. I was afraid that if I opened my mouth my brain would betray me. He was too close. My resistance was weakening, threatening to crumble completely as Ryan began tracing inside the V-neck of my t-shirt with the tips of his fingers, still not breaking our stare. Goose bumps appeared in the imag inary line he created on my chest, killing the numbness. I closed my eyes, memorizing the sensation of Ryan’s skin on mine, forcing myself to continue breathing.
    Things weren’t going well for me and I felt too weak to do much about it. I tried to save myself by using an acute tone, al though we both knew it was too late. Ryan had already gotten what he wanted. Proof that he could get to me.
    “I have a rule about that,” I informed him as I reopened my eyes, trying to look unaffected.
    “Well, you know what they say about rules, Annie,” Ryan murmured.
    “I don’t call boys,” I rushed the words. “I don’t have to.”
    Ryan stared at me critically as he moved even closer, his eyes focused on my mouth, making me dizzy. I closed my eyes again, this time in hopes that I might disappear.
    Ryan’s cheek grazed my lips as he moved to whisper in my ear, “I bet you’ll call this one.” His fingers swept down my arms, and then I felt as if my breath had been sucked away from me. I knew he was gone. His scent was less pronounced, but still lingered. I reached for a piece of my shirt and pulled it to my face. It smelled like Ryan. I breathed in deeply, smiling wider.
    Then I abruptly came down from my high, realizing I was allowing Ryan Mullins to seduce me. What he’d just done should have had me furious instead of fascinated.
    I felt the heat of anger rising, rushing through my insides, fo llowed by a tidal wave of embarrassment. I quickly subtracted my smile, shoved away my amusement, and reminded myself of Ryan’s arrogance and sense of entitlement. I decided what he’d just done to me had to have been standard practice for him—teasing a girl into a frenzied mess, making her weak in hopes of taking advantage of her.
    I somehow made it through softball practice. I don’t know how, though. I was completely distracted by Ryan’s stunt, which had to have been the point. It didn’t help that I could still smell him on me, which I subconsciously enjoyed. It made me angry that I seemed to lose myself when Ryan was around. Like I was replaced with an awestruck little girl on Christmas morning.

 
     
     
     
     
     
    5
     
    Saturday, Justin and I went downtown to hang out on the square. I knew that being with him would shove Ryan right out of my head. We visited Pam at her boutique. As soon as she saw me, she began dragging me around, pulling clothes from the racks for me to try on. We’d only intended to stop and say hi, but Pam wasn’t having it, so Justin told me to meet him at Ronnie’s Sporting Goods store when I was finished.
    Almost an hour later, Pam allowed me to leave. I had three bags of clothes she refused to let me pay for. When I got to Ro nnie’s, Justin wasn’t there yet, or he had already gone. I wasn’t sure. Either way, I needed a new pair of batting gloves. My old ones were almost completely worn through between my thumb and index finger.
    I got the gloves, a new pair of cleats, and a good bat that was marked down. Justin still hadn’t shown up, so I decided to go outside and call him. I pushed the door with my back because my hands were full, but it felt too easy, as if someone was pulling the door as I pushed it. I felt myself falling and was bracing to hit the concrete sidewalk behind me. But I didn’t. Someone had caught me.
    I shut my eyes tightly, praying that my mind was playing tricks on me as the arms I was in steadied me, but that scent was