Chapter 32: Not So Easy

To my own astonishment, I actually considered his request very seriously. Under normal circumstances, I would probably have dismissed it immediately, but in truth, I didn't want to be away from him either. I wanted to stay. I wanted to feel like this forever. I wanted to see where this would go.

But I knew where this would go... And while there wasn't much point in delaying the inevitable, I also felt that there wasn't much point in rushing it either.

"I can't," I whispered, the words hard to say as I fought between two conflicting parts of myself. There was logical Katelyn, who liked to plan everything out, and then impulsive Katelyn, who liked to take chances and let the chips fall where they may.

"Yeah, you can. It's getting late anyway. Just stay, Kate. We have loads of spare bedrooms. Nothing has to happen. Just stay here with me," he repeated. He didn't sound desperate, but there was an underlying neediness that rang through.

"I can't, Ryder. I don't..." I hesitated, uncertai