It's needless to say the Madam Z threw a tantrum after that for being shamed, which led to her wasting good wine that left an angry Ryder with a drenched back, which led her to having some bad publicity since everyone was aware of the truth to her rumors. Not even my words could persuade the two males on my side otherwise when they threatened to kick her out if she put up anymore trouble. You'd think she'd listen. The last straw came when she claimed how much of a troubled kid I was and that I was better of in a loony bin with all the fights I get into before I kill myself or someone else and that taking in these kids would one day come to bite him in the ass taking account that he was just new money At that I was mad. And so was Tony and Ryder. I wasn't sure if it was only to me but the ladies beside her took an exaggerated step backwards.
"Never! Never ever talk about my kids like that. They may not be my own blood but they are my family, my life, so think again before you badmouth either of them," he said before Ryder and another male in a waiter uniform flanked her sides and I decided that I had to have a last word in the matter.
"Oh, Madam Z," I called out to the lady struggling to get out of their hold and she turned to me her eyes narrowed into slits. "If I wanted to kill myself, I'd climb up your ego and jump down to your IQ level. And you don't like me, it's unlikely I'll get close enough so.."
I said almost in a sing song voice and Ryder grinned shaking his head at my witty response before they disappeared into the crowd and I felt a presence beside me.
"Quirky, witty and smart, deadly combination," Mason called out and I turned to him surprised just as the music started up once more after Tony said everyone to enjoy themselves. "May I have this dance?"
He said holding a hand out at me and I looked at him curiously before giving the entrance a wary glance before taking his hand. Ryder would be mad but I had an idea this wasn't going to be just a dance.
"Wise choice."
"You are obnoxious," I blurted out and he chuckled as we started dancing. "What do you want from me?"
"Smart too," he replied and I tried not to roll my eyes.
"You already said that. I know who you are."
"And so do I?" He deadpanned but I was not amused.
"Relax, I just wanted to see the first daughter of the great Lucan," he said and I gave him a poker face. "Seriously nothing."
He said letting out a dramatic sigh.
"You're no fun. I just wanted to be your friend."
"I find that hard to believe. What good thing would that do me?"
"You talk like a business woman. Who knows even the next Lucan Mafia Queen," he said and for the first time I smiled.
Mostly due to surprise that I tried miserably to hide but I wasn't naive. Call the title lame but it belonged to the most important female in our family. The last was my grandmother, my father's mother. My mother couldn't make the cut because she didn't go through the rite. It wasn't that bad when you think about it but it had be done by the Lucan family daughters. I was the eldest of them hence I'd leave the States a couple of weeks before then. It was partially the reason I wanted to come here before then.
"And you are a charmer. You helped me because you wanted something. Out with it, already?"
"As I said, I want to be your friend. You've been living on enemy territory for four years now. I'd be a fool not to take the opportunity. You wouldn't be here alone if you couldn't handle it."
"I suppose. I guess I owe you. You've got yourself a new friend," I said and he nodded with a smile before he leant in closer to my face as if he was about to kiss me. "What are you doing now?"
"Testing a theory," he said and I looked at him confused before a hand shot out between us.
"May I cut in, now?" He said glaring daggers at Mason who looked smug.
"Not really. She promised me two more dances." Liar.
"I said now," he said and I refrained from rolling my eyes.
"It was nice meeting you Mason. Bye now."
"Okay then till next time," he said before giving Ryder a last glance as if some communication was passing between them before walking away.
"Come on let's go. Your jacket might have gotten the worst of it but wine isn't supposed to get in your hair," I said hooking my arm around his resisting the certain to pinch his cheeks knowing very well he was brooding. And pulled him towards the hallway away from the party.
"But I..." He started trailing off as he dug his heels on the ground and I turned, stepping on my toes to peck his cheek. It's crazy how tall this guy is.
"He knows I would have punched him if he did. You know one might think you are jealous," I whispered before stepping back smug and looking at him from head to toe pouting as he refused to play into my teasing. "How tall are you?"
"Currently 6'1. Why?" That explains it, I thought with a pout as he looked at me and started laughing.
"It's not funny," I said feeling embarrassed as he pulled me into his arms around rested his chin on my head. The heels might have helped me rise a couple of inches but he still has to bend his upper body a little.
"You are so short."
"Shut up."
"It's cute," he said with a chuckle as I moved away to look at him before he cleared his throat and took my arm. "I'll show you to my room."
"You have a room here?"
"On the fourth floor. (Of course there is a fourth floor. It was no longer a mansion rather than a freaking huge hotel, or so I tried to convince myself) It's not exactly my room but over the years people started assuming that the rooms they frequented are theirs. There is an unspoken rule that no one can enter without permission. Even the parents don't go in," he said before turning to me with a smirk. "You know, you could always share my room. You being a part of society and all."
He said putting quotes on society and I laughed.
"You really hate it, don't you?"
"I don't exactly hate the privileges but everything about it, is complete bullshit," he said turning to look at me.
One second I was on my feet the next I was in his arms, clinging onto his neck.
"Eek!? Ryder put me down!?"
"No you are having enough trouble as it is walking on those heels, or do I have to take care of them too," he said narrowing his eyes at me and that shut me up. I could but my toes were still sore from my encounter with Kyle.
"I can walk just fine. You don't have to carry me all the way."
"I know that." I just want to.
I heard the unspoken words and finding nothing to report against that I shut up watching him under my eyelashes. I knew I wasn't light but somehow I was impressed that he didn't seem out of breath at all even after going up four flights.
"You do know it's rude to stare," he said stopping in front of the door and I refrained from rolling my eyes.
"I thought you liked the attention."
"I do but you're one not to give it willingly," he said cocking his head at me in question as his eyes twinkled in amusement. "Does that mean you're beginning to like me?"
The bastard. How dare he ask me that?
"Of course not. Can we go in now?"
"Whatever you say babydoll," he said with a chuckle before asking me to open the door and he kicked it shut before turning on the lights and setting me down on the king size bed in the middle of the room.
A room, pfft. It was a frigg'ng suite. Almost as big as his own room, had a all kitchen and fridge on the side, the walls had some sophisticated blend of black and white that blended in well with the sheets, a huge flat screen mounted on the wall that I was sure he'd never touched, a comfy looking seat paced from the bed and by the window that I could picture him sitting on it reading or looking outside, given the couple of books on the side table.... and an unopened bottle of wine. Hmm, I expected something stronger. Still near the window on the opposite side of the seat was a desk where a laptop rested. And the obvious tell tale that he spent some time here was the video games and I almost jumped giddy before I felt his gaze on me.
"What?"
"Your face is all animated. You look like a kid in a candy store," he said and I crossed my arms at him letting out a 'hmmph' when I realized he'd already taken off my shoes alongside his and was seated on the floor watching me.
"I was expecting something stronger," I said pointing to the wine and he chuckled running a hand through his hair and grimaced making me laugh and he playfully glared at me.
"Armand la feur. Nana Stone was here," he said rising to check the bottle and I raised an eyebrow in question at him.
Nana Stone was his grandmother. In other words, a much worse older female version of Ryder. Or so I've heard from Kaylee and Ryder. I've never met her but she sounds...fun. in a weird sort of way. Last I heard she had flooded the elderly home she was in and was officially banned from all the elderly homes in the two states so far. According to Ryder, it's just the beginning. No one can hold her down.
"I'm not sure if I should be worried, mad or just content she's still going on strong."
"Give her some time. She'll settle down soon," I said wriggling my sore feet before standing as I made my way to the desk where more books were arranged neatly on the shelf above it and he let out a snort placing the bottle on the desk.
"'I'll rest only after my grandbabies have married and I've met my great grand babies.' If it were up to her we would have married. Want some?" he asked leaning against the desk watching me as he shook the bottle.
"Depends. Is it any good?" I asked and he grinned sauntering past me as he headed into the small kitchen searching for a glass before opening with the bottle with a pop and the fizzy liquid bubbled up invitingly as I propped myself near the desk.
"I guess you'll have to figure that out out yourself," he said placing the bottle and the glass beside me as his hands rested on the table caging me between his arms.
"Okay, just one," I said taking the glass and downing the fizzy drink not taking my eyes off the blue orbs that were still trained on me and all of a sudden warmth bubbled comfortingly from my stomach to every part of me and I let out a delighted hum before pecking his lips that had shifted closer to my own, not noticing how his eyes darkened with lust and desire till I reopened my eyes.
"Nana Stone definitely knows her wine," I let out almost breathlessly as he took the glass in front of me and replacing it with the bottle and took a huge swig before clashing his lips with mine, letting the fruity liquid flow into my mouth, his tongue explore the crevices in my mouth as if memorizing the feel and the taste before nibbling on my lips as if it was his favorite pastime. He repeated the action about two more times and despite being propped halfway into the table, my knees were weak and shaky as I held onto his biceps. I felt drunk. And not just in the wine.
"Ryder," I breathed out letting out breaths mingle before our lips tangled once more before the small thud reached my ears as both his hands latched on my waist pressing me into him. "Ryder the bottle."
"Let it be."
"The wine is pouring."
"I'll get another."
"But it will stain the carpet."
"I needed to get a new one anyway."
The battle of words was lost. Even if I won, I doubted it would be on top of his priorities right now as he spoke against my lips, biting my bottom lip harshly telling me stop talking and I did slipping my arms around his neck and taking fistfuls of his hair and he groaned wrapping his arms tighter as he sat me on the desk. It wasn't much but at least he didn't have to strain his back so much as he pulled away resting his forehead against mine.
"God, you are so beautiful," he let out in between harsh breaths caressing my flushed cheeks.
"Are you calling me God?" I blurted out not having a reign of my words and he chuckled kissing my cheek.
"Just take the compliment Diana," he said pressing another kiss to my other cheek, opening my eyes to look at him as he tucked the stray lock of hair behind my ear and I realized he had managed to remove the pin holding up the whole mass as he ran a hand through the naturally curly hair.
"Why silver?" He asked holding a lock of my hair up and I looked at him surprised. In all the 16 almost 17 years of my life, no one had ever asked that. Seriously, no one. "I'm sorry..you don't have to.."
"No it's alright," I said taking in a deep breath. "My brother. He was born with some sort of half albino gene that turned that had most of his hair white and he got bullied for it a lot so I got my hair dyed a shade closer to his."
"And here I thought it was smooth sailing into becoming part of the family. Any more brothers I should be wary about," he said nonchalantly and I let out a gasp slapping his arm and he laughed and I couldn't suppress the slight smile on my face. And yet I was wary as he dropped another kiss on my cheek. "Chin up. I'm a natural charmer. They'll accept me."
He said teasingly and I narrowed my eyes at him in anger. Though he'd said it jokingly, I knew it wouldn't be. I might have my freedom now but a boy in the picture would have me trapped again. And I wasn't the only one going to suffer. They would go after him too. And it would be exceptionally harder now than before. He didn't have to tell me or anything but I knew that the same need pulsing in between my legs was almost as much he was feeling and I was terribly sure I would have given myself to him tonight if he hadn't stopped. Those little kisses, gestures and make out sessions had slowly built up to this. Almost like he wanted me to want him before he took it further, I thought and all of a sudden I felt winded. I always had my doubts that he wanted me only because my smart mouth had gotten to him. Or maybe because every encounter had him leaving him high and dry. When he was brooding, I was waging a silent war. When he didn't show up for days on end I was practically insufferable. Even when he was being an asshole, namely being jerky and possessive, he cared in his own way, even when he deleted Jaime and Kyle's contacts from my phone. Obviously it didn't work both ways but he just cared. And yes, the deal breaker, me glaring daggers at every female who dare glance his way. Another silent war that I couldn't obviously win. Sure I could let out a couple of backhanded words that made some back off but I couldn't take out a whole lot of them. I wonder if he knew what I went through when he or the boys weren't around or he was just being ignorant. I didn't know. But before before I could air out all of my grievances, my stomach rumbled making him laugh even harder as he put me on my feet.
"I guess all that champagne worked up an appetite."
"It didn't and all they served was those little foods that. Any good stuff," I said straightening my dress as he took the place where I was just sitting.
"Good ol' ramen," he said and I raised an eyebrow amused. "I don't exactly do grocery shopping for two houses."
"I didn't say anything. Your shirt? It's gonna stain if it stays like that any longer," I said making my way into the kitchen and finding some ramen in one of the cabinets but he didn't reply still watching me. "What?"
The silence was not in any way uncomfortable as we watched each other, or at least he was watching me watching him because he watching me..yeah, that. Like many times we've been in some of these, neither of us willing to break off the stare until we decided on a truce. Maybe I should have reminded myself that life is mostly unfair and unpredictable. All it took was a slight quirk of his lips into a smirk and then next minute I could feel myself blushing as I looked away focusing on preparing the ramen when he finally pushed away from the desk and my gaze found his as he made his way from the desk and he disappeared into the bathroom. No words were shared between us and yet I found my feet taking me towards the bathroom where he was stripping the white shirt with some white telltale signs of the wine in his hair that had long dried and held it in one arm. I didn't miss the surprise in his eyes when he spotted me through the mirror as I leant against the frame.
The bathroom was just as extravagant as the bedroom itself. It was strange to think about how extravagant this place is. The colors had the more warm yet rich, sophisticated look. I'm pretty sure that bath tub could fit in two. It's a matter of how you look at it, and I'm not even surprised that is the first thought that came to my mind. The shower cubicle had those glass walls and I tried hard not to give it much attention especially when I saw his hawk eyes watching me intensely, reflecting the emotion in my own.
'Wanna join?' they ask and despite the my headstrong character, rather the ability I obviously thought I had, I couldn't say no. I didn't say yes either with because the words were lost in me. This were the few times I thought myself stupid and at times I wondered if he thought it too. Especially now as I ogled him mindlessly. He was a magnificent specimen that's for sure. More bulky than most boys in school but I know that's because he takes his physique very seriously unlike me. I ran to run, I trained to fight and I fought to find control. Again, it's a matter of how you perceive it and I didn't even drop some of the baby fat yet.
But not today. Slowly, I took a step forward, and another and others till I was standing right in front of peering into his eyes and he didn't drop my gaze as we had some unspoken communication. In all honesty, the idea was very tempting as my gaze drifted ever so slightly to the cubicle behind him. The image of me being pressed against the glass and taken ever so willingly from behind mocked me and I shuddered clenching my thighs in discomfort as he brushed his lips on my brow, trailing soft kisses all over my face and my closed eyes as his free hand cupped my cheek before kissing my lips softly.
"Don't overthink it," he mumbled against my lips and I visibly relaxed resisting the urge to run my hands over those rolling muscles at his every movement. God I needed to cool off. Maybe I should take up the cold showers after all.
Seeing as to where my thoughts were leading, I backed away from him and he was still impassive watching me. He was right. I was overthinking it. When it will happen, it will. At that I backed away before turning away once I was out of the door and grabbed my phone that had just began to ring and I got out into the hallway. The shower started running when I was barely outside.