"No, I mean yes, you're right. I'm not as weak as they presume me to be. And I won't give them the satisfaction of thinking so."
I had no idea what the Wallaces were thinking when they set this up but I was not going to be used as a pawn in whatever schemes they had. Never.
"That's all I needed to hear babydoll," he said with a toothy grin that I returned before I realized the beauty of where we were as I turned my body around.
"It's beautiful," I said as I watched the breathtaking show of lights.
"Yeah... enough for merit to a New Yorker's eye?"
"Doubt it, but in my eyes it's a close second," I said before I heard him him and he nuzzled my neck gaining my attention as I turned to him a smile on my face.
"Come on, let's get more comfortable, babydoll," he said before getting off and helping me off the bike and my clumsiness chose to step in at time. Or rather the ground was too soft for the heels. "What the..? Fuck!? On my back you go."
"I don't think that's necessary.." I started but he was having none of it not letting my feet touch the ground before grabbing the shoes and snapped the heels off. "Ryder!?"
"It's not like you could walk with them anyway," he said dismissively and I groaned.
"Kate is gonna flip when she sees them."
"Well maybe she should have thought twice before sending you on that blind date," he said and I let out a sigh deciding not to dwell on it as he approached the tree I hadn't quite noticed before and had me sit on his lap as we watched the city quietly.
"Something's bothering you," I stated and I could hear him freeze for a second or so before I looked at him. "You've sighed like five times in the last five minutes."
I said and he looked embarrassed for a brief moment and I bit back a laugh.
"Were.. were you considering it? Being his girlfriend I mean?"
"No, I was being too mad I had been brought into the middle of that."
"That?" He asked and I told him about my thoughts about his father and honestly I was glad someone else shared my anger.
"But would you in other circumstances?" He asked and I mused quietly. I hadn't actually thought about it.
"No, I don't think so. I mean I've been like on two 'dates' with the guy and the first couldn't have even been a date, and you see how the second turned out. Why? Jealous?" I said jabbing at his chest and he suddenly sputtered out a cough making me laugh. "You're cute when you pretend to be jealous."
"I am many things but I am not ever not direct with what I want," he said and I looked at him curiously.
'And what's that?' I wanted to ask but knowing that was something I wanted to put away for as long as I could and I dropped my gaze.
"You know the way you're fondling that tie anyone would think you have a tie fetish," he said change the subject entirely and I was glad, despite the weird grounds we were treading on.
"Who knows maybe I do," I said pulling him closer by his tie and he looked a little caught off guard as I straddled him, finding myself loosening it from his neck, my eyes never leaving his. "What I can handle myself just fine. Don't you like it rough?"
I asked cocking my head at him curiously as he watched me slightly dazed and I leveled my gaze with his as I grabbed his hand, following whatever crazy ideas drunk Diana had as I felt my eyes flutter close as I brush my lips against his.
"I guess I do," he said a little shakily and thinking with my hands and my brains probably out the window, I'm already pinning his hands behind his back and pulling the tie into a knot as first as I could.
For a moment his eyes widen in alarm looking at me shocked and I gave him an innocent look.
"Isn't this what you meant?"
"Fuck no!?" He growled and I giggled agitating him even further as he tried to free his hands.
"No?"
"No," he answered curtly as I regarded him coyly before he let out a groan. "Ugh, don't give me that look. Diana!?"
"No babydoll?" I asked and he looked at me wide eyed before he grinned.
"I thought you hated the name?"
"I never said I did. I just told not to call me that."
"Why?"
"Because."
"Because?"
"Because," I said proudly and he raised an eyebrow at me.
"Babydoll, are purposefully being annoying?" He asked and I faked a gasp in horror.
"Me!? No way," I said and he burst out into laughter seemingly letting the tie be as he watched me amused.
"A mean drunk. I should have figured. Okay, I'll humour you. You have me under your control," he said and it was my turn to raise an eyebrow at him.
"And you'll just let me?"
"Somehow, the way you asked that makes me wary."
"So if I told you I'd ride you right here, would you still be wary?" I asked confident in my words and I could here his breath hitch as I ran my hand teasingly on his collarbone.
"Okay time's up. Let me loose. You are obviously not to be left in charge when you're drunk," he said and I grumbled under my breath in annoyance but nevertheless did his bidding before resting my head on his shoulder feeling slightly embarrassed but I waved it off snuggling further into his chest.
*********
"Are you sure?" He asked looking at me skeptically and I tried hard not to roll my eyes as I got out of the car that had somehow replaced the bike when we stopped for breakfast at a nearby cafe on our way back.
"Yes, Ryder. I can walk on my own," I said but he still came to my side making me cock my head to the side in question. "You know, at this rate anyone might actually think you care for me more like you care to admit."
"Don't flatter yourself babydoll. I'm just on high alert. When you finally break, someone needs to keep the knives and all blunt objects away from your reach," he said and I scoffed crossing my arms.
"Of course, only you would want me to get blood on my hands. Okay fine, I accept your terms. Besides the kill would be satisfactory then," I said and he regarded me shocked.
"Are you sure you were not some sort of predator or assassin in the past?"
"Who knows? Can we go in already? My skin feels itchy from all this sun?" I said placing a hand on my forehead and I could hear him mutter something about vampires but I didn't mind it as I pulled him along, or at least I tried to. "Ryder?"
I groaned out annoyed but he only chuckled and I crossed my arms at him.
"What!?"
"You are not gonna kill anyone in there right?" He asked looking at me bemused and I shrugged.
"I could care less about what they do to me. No one I care about got hurt or anything. I'll keep myself out of jail for a few more years. What? I know of some people ready to make me miserable," I explained narrowing my eyes at him and he chuckled ruffling my hair as he wrapped an arm around my shoulders and I let out a sigh. "It's not like I can run forever, right?"
"You'll figure it out," he said and I looked at him incredulously. "What? Cody is the one blessed enough to deal with this encouragement stuff."
"And here I thought you were the charmer of the group. What a shame," I said feigning pity and he pulled me against him with a smirk.
"So you think I'm charming?"
"You are the most charming, handsome guy in the whole world?" I said and he grinned pleased, loosening his grip. "Is just other people's opinion."
I said darting from his reach and he scowled at me annoyed grabbing my arm and yet his eyes told another story. But before another word was uttered, his hand was ripped from mine and all I could see was him stumbling backwards with a bloody nose.
"Ryder!? What the hell is your problem Kyle?" I asked miffed at the male being held back by Logan as I held back Ryder whose face and gaze had turned extremely murderous but my question seemingly fell on deaf ears as they stared at each other down.
For a moment, I forgot how to breath and not the good way. It couldn't be because of me right? They had their own rivalry didn't they? Before I came along...? It must have been that because I've never seen Kyle so mad, or this violent.
"Ryder? Let's just go inside," I said tugging on his sleeve and he turned to me wide-eyed as if he'd forgotten I was there and his gaze softened as he put his hand on the small of my back before letting me pull him inside and without a second glance at the people standing by the door or at Kyle who looked like I'd betrayed him.
"I'm sorry," I said quietly once we were in the haven of my room and he raised his eyebrows at me surprised as I knelt in front of him with the first aid kit.
"Why are you apologizing?"
"If it weren't for me, your... wouldn't be as bad as it is now?"
"Babydoll, if you start feeling responsible for every fight I enter, I'm afraid you might give into.."
"What?"
"Nevermind. Now unless you are planning to join the rest of the world and conserve water by sharing the shower, you should probably get in there. You look terrible."
"Well no girl should hear that from a guy," I muttered under my breath and he raised an eyebrow at me.
"Are you fishing for a compliment from me?"
"No."
"Really 'cause your blush says otherwise," he said cocking his head at me and I didn't give him a backward glance as I moved towards the shower leaving him to tend to himself.
When I came back from the shower he was laying comfortably on my bed seemingly lost in thought as he stared at the ceiling and I halted for a brief second. He seemed more peaceful than I've ever seen him, despite the slight dip in his furrowed eyebrows showing the intensity of his thoughts. It was times like like this I thought his lone wolf act was probably just a cover. He probably has his flaws, ones that I'm pretty sure I haven't been exposed to but he seems perfectly fine. It's still a wonder why people give him such a hard time about his past.
"Did you wear those for me? I'll say, it's an upgrade from the hello kitty pajamas," he said and I immediately flushed knowing very well that he had caught me checking him out and I scoffed keeping my emotions under wraps.
"I can appreciate good clothing. And have you already forgotten those hello kitty pajamas weren't really mine? I think they belonged to some entitled asshole.. Ryder was it? Do you know him?" I mused out loud and he groaned.
"I was 14. And they were a present from Kaylee. I never wore them."
"Uh-huh? I can't believe you were so scrawny," I said laughing and he grumbled expletives under his breath as I grabbed the kit to put it away. "What?"
"You are way calmer than I expected you to be."
"There's no point in getting angry now. It's just what it is, business," I said turning to him only to find he had closed the distance between us.
"You deserve better."
"Doubt it." It's true. Even if I was daddy's little girl, one day I'd end up a pawn in his business.
"But you do. He's a douche."
"Tony or Kyle?"
"Both," he said pressing his forehead against mine as he pushed me into the wall and I could feel heat pooling between my legs as I pulled my arms around his neck steadying myself against his tall frame.
"Why do I get the feeling that's just your opinion?" I let out and he chuckled pressing his frame against me as he dragged my back up the wall and instinctively I wrapped my legs around his waist.
"Because it probably is. What do I have to compete with the golden boy of the school?" He said and I didn't fail to notice his bitter tone.
"Probably everything but that's just my opinion," I said and his eyes widened a fraction before he stuck his head in the crook of my neck and I shuddered feeling his tongue dart on my skin as he dug his fingers into my flesh.
"Ohh.."
"Hmm, I wonder if the rest of you tastes just as..." He started and I covered his mouth feeling the tips of my ears grow warm like the rest of my face.
"Not another word," I scowled and he chuckled nuzzling my cheek when I removed my hand.
"But you are so sweet," he whispered and as if to prove a point he bit down on my neck but instead of the shriek I had thought coming, I let out a moan instead.
It was no doubt proof of the pent up frustration of the past week. All that frustration and no release had been bound to show up one way or another. Though I had to admit the last thing I expected was that it would be because I'd been once again subjected to this biting and licking torture this soon as he peppers kisses along my jaw and back onto my neck.
"Oh, Ryder," I moaned out as he bit harshly yet erotically on the soft flesh of my breast, before his warm mouth wrapped around the hard mound peeking through the thin material of my favorite nightwear feeling his skin scalding hot on my inner thigh and before putting his hands and my robe and tugged at it exposing my shoulders.
His fingers hooked through one of the straps and pulling it onto one side exposing my breast in one slick move but I don't mind the fact swirling around in my mind. He must have had lots of practice...but fuck! That was hot. I thought as another wave of heat passed through my body and I shivered visibly when his eyes darkened impossibly and he brushed his thumb over the hardened areola and continued kissing his way down. My breathing was getting heavier as I threw my head back eyes closed pretty sure he can feel my wetness as he strokes me through my panties as his mouth hovers over the mound before taking it into his mouth no doubt pleased at my reaction. I squirm writhing in pleasure feeling my nerve endings on high alert as he alternates between licking, biting and suckling my breast that I doubt I can face him after this. Though before I can venture further into these thoughts he pulls me to face him and presses his lips against mine possessively and I swear I almost climax right there before we pull away for oxygen staring at each other like we had at the club and I press a hand to my brow before staring at the ceiling dazed as he presses a kiss to my collarbone his fingers still tweaking my nipple in some sort of odd fascination.
Bang bang bang.
"Didi!? Are we still going out?" Darius asks innocently and almost immediately my body tensed hard that it came as a shock to me. With how lax I was, I didn't think it was possible as Ryder raises his eyes back to me his fascination with my breasts gone as we look at the jiggling doorknob beside us and I push Ryder away red faced as I fixed my clothes ignoring his smug face as I unlocked the door and a small body ran into me.
"Didi, are we still going?" He asked as I picked him up.
"Of course," I said pecking his cheek and I swear the little rugrat pouted before he saw Ryder behind me.
"Are you still trying to get a kiss from my girlfriend?" Ryder asked and I tensed visibly wondering when this had become a thing. It was just Darius being cute as always, I thought before narrowing my eyes at him when his words sunk in but he seemed unfazed.
"If you hadn't been born first, she would have been my girlfriend," Darius jabbed back and I burst out in fits of coughs as I tried to bite down my laughter, and embarrassment. Clearly Ryder was not expecting such a response, not that I was either.
"Hey, don't I get a say in the matter?" I asked and he raised an eyebrow at me.
"And what would be your say?"
"The most obvious choice. The most handsome of you two," I said and he smirked at me. "Just look at my little boyfriend. Aren't we the perfect match?"
I said and Darius squealed hugging me before sticking out his tongue at a shocked Ryder and I laughed before he ran off once I put him down.
"You'd rather be a ...cougar," Ryder whispered dramatically as he recovered from his smirk being wiped off his face and I smiled.
"And a beautiful one at that," I said and he chuckled before his phone rang and a frown made it was on his face for a brief moment before he turned to me. "You have to go. It's okay."
"I.. right? But I'm only leaving once you fall asleep," he said surprising me and I raised an eyebrow at me.
"Is it not important?"
"Barely," he said holding his arms open for me and I walked into them letting him take me to bed.
"What if I don't fall asleep?"
"Then I might as well stay here."
"Somehow it sounds like you don't want to go," I said as he wrapped his arms around me but he didn't answer, not that he too anyway as I lifted my head and pecked his cheeks. "Thank you for being there for me."
"You don't have to thank me," he said but I shook my head before laying my head on his chest and breathed in that musky woodsy scent with a tinge of vanilla. I didn't explain. I doubted he would understand anyway.