Ryder
I want to talk to you guys.
That was the text that woke me up from my nap and I paused for a moment with a frown. If it were anybody else I would have shrugged it off but this was Kaylee. If something was urgent, she'd have called directly but she didn't. It made me nervous for some reason.
Where?
Alteir. That small cafe Diana works. My treat.
Is everything okay?
Yeah. 2 pm.
Somehow that did nothing but intensify that dreadful feeling and I tensed. I could feel my mind racing forming all the possible scenarios in my mind till the form beside me shifted and my body relaxed at once realizing I had disturbed her sleep and unconsciously a smile made its way onto my face. We'd shifted in our sleep resulting to me spooning her as she hugged my arm tightly while using it as a pillow almost as if she was afraid I was going to leave her and I chuckled. And she says I hug her as if she's a living teddy bear. Not that I didn't but there is no doubt she'd deny this if I ever pointed it out. But that was the least of my concerns as I watched her adorable expression as she slept and I could feel my heart skip a beat as my blood rushed under my skin giving me a feeling close to needles prickling my skin. And no, it wasn't from blood rushing through my semi-numb arm she was currently hugging as she snuggled closer. This particular feeling had only intensified since the day she crashed into me and I wasn't dense to think of it as mere infatuation. And I was pretty sure everyone close to me had noticed.
It didn't bother me as much as the next person that everything I do seems to revolve around her but it did make me wonder how things would have turned out if I never worked on getting to the bottom of those feelings. Originally, I did think it was just mere attraction since I'd kissed her impulsively that night until I found myself showing up at school just to glimpse at her and my heart would rest easy. Or following behind her whenever Ethan would give me a heads up that she was sneaking out of her house for those damn walks on the beach. Or even when I missed school and the first day I couldn't bear not seeing her and I had spent the better part of my days making sure she'd went to the cafe and back home safe and sound as I watched from a safe distance. By the time, I realized I'd advanced far in my stalking career, I had resorted to just sleeping in her room on some nights and leaving early. And it had only been after I'd met her at the club that I understood the depth of my feelings for her as I aimed to claim her, even in front of that douche of a friend. I had no doubt I'd have killed that bastard if Cody hadn't reminded me to think about her.
If that hadn't convinced me enough of my feelings, then the two obvious attacks in the past two days did. It didn't matter if she gave Heather the benefit of doubt but the fact she has done nothing but attack my woman ever since she came back destroyed whatever shred of trust I gave her given our families were close. I might be holding back because Diana wants to take care of her herself, but I promised to intervene when things went too far. Especially when Zoe sent someone to 'cause maximum damage as possible'. I definitely was going to hold that grudge.
"No one is allowed to hurt you babydoll. Not even me," I said kissing her cheeks making her nose crunch up in irritation making her look like an aggrieved kitten who just got her nap disturbed and I couldn't refrain from biting her nose lightly.
"Ugh..Ray...what happened?"
"Other than the fact I'm being a selfish boyfriend for waking you up for my own perverse needs," I said entranced by those cherry lips jutting out to form a cute sad pout and I couldn't hold it anymore as I kissed the tip of her nose before indulging her lips in a kiss. "Well, I guess..I missed your lips is a good way to put it."
I said and she chuckled lightly as she let go of my arm and wrapped her own around my neck kissing me back with vigor. Her responsiveness was surely something I'd never tire of. Especially when this girl is nothing but cold, aloof and unresponsive to anyone else but a handful of people. And yet here she was, mine and resting in my arms.
"So, babydoll? Are you planning to spend all day in bed?" I asked curiously as she seemed to think it over.
"Yeah, let's do that," she said rubbing her cheek against my shoulder and I chuckled brightly amused by her antics.
Ironically enough, as much as I could deem her behavior cat-like, she was deathly allergic to cats.
"Sorry babydoll. I have to cancel. Knox and I are meeting Kaylee for lunch later," I said watching her sighting small traces of disappointment before she beamed a smile at me.
"Okay, you go do that. Meanwhile, I'll be hogging the bed for all its worth."
"Uh-huh. I'm not leaving any time soon so how about stay here with you?" I asked cheekily watching her eyes widen, clearly startled as she blushed not meeting my gaze.
"Hmmph, who said I want you to stay? Maybe I want to be alone," she scoffed looking away from me.
The rosy hue didn't recede. As a matter of fact, it seemed to increase greatly and I chuckled inwardly kissing her cheek.
"If you say so," I said starting to get off her when her long limbs wound tightly around me and I refrained from laughing. "What? Don't you want to be alone?"
"You... why have you got to be like that?" She asked that sad pout making its way back on her face as she eased her koala like grip and hugged my neck instead, snuggling into my chest and I smiled faintly.
"You could always come with us?"
She didn't respond immediately that for a while I thought she might have fallen asleep once more.
"No. I mean wouldn't I be imposing? She called the both of you. Could be a family matter," she said and that gut wrenching feeling returned before dissipating as quickly.
"I believe Wilder and Kaylee would agree you are part of the family," I said staring into her eyes as she pursed her lips into a thin line.
I was well aware she didn't believe that but I'd never lie. There were many people you could know for a very long time and still be strangers just like there are those strangers that you didn't know and yet you'd still feel like you've known each other for a very long time. I could attest to that and at the thought something flashed in my mind but disappeared without a trace and I shook it off covering her lips with mine.
"You don't believe me, do you? Very well then. We'll just have to prove it to you," I said and she quirked a perfectly shaped eyebrow that might as well read pure mischief in bold letters and I could feel blood rushing to my head.
"What are you planning?"
"Who said I'm planning anything?" I said and suddenly she seemed unnerved. "What!?"
"Rest assured if something happens to me, I pay back tenfold," she said her eyes blazing in anger but for some reason it just made her eyes shine brighter emphasizing just how adorable she looked still when she roused. With the slight traces of baby fat on her face, I now understood why Kaylee and Alice liked pinching her cheeks. I could attest, they were just as soft as marshmallows and I couldn't resist biting them. "Ray..!?"
She whined looking rather wronged and I couldn't stop smiling as she gave me a pitiful expression rubbing her cheek, pouting at me. Moments like this, I just wished I could tuck in my pocket and hide her from the rest of the world.
"You're so cute," I said pecking her lips and the rosy blush returned. She wasn't all that tanned or fair skinned and yet the faint traces of pink made her look like a ripened fruit. It wasn't really helping my case to control my urges, especially given the fact that she was trapped beneath me, her warmth and scent coating me in a thin layer. I wanted her with every fiber of my being, I thought deepening the kiss as she dragged her fingers onto my back and into my hair.
But then just as things were getting interesting, my phone rang interrupting the quite romantic atmosphere and I let out a groan in frustration. There was only one person who could call at a time like this and I was going to clobber him. If Alice thought she was a cockblocker then she clearly hadn't met Wilder. I could ignore if for what it was worth but she wasn't going to let me. Fortunately for him, the call ended just as I finished the thought and my attention was back at her as she looked at me with a dazed expression and I chuckled brushing her lips with my thumb. But just before I leant in again, my phone rang once more and I glared at the measly device.
"Why is it that every time you decide you want to annoy, you somehow manage to interrupt my time with my girlfriend?"
"Girlfriend..? You should introduce her to the family sometime."
Came the voice on the other side and I cursed silently feeling my eyes dim at the sight of the number on my screen. I should really personalize ringtones for these numbers so I know when to ignore them, I thought grumpily as I put the phone back to my ear.
"No fucking way."
"But..."
"No."
"Just humor me."
"No."
"Not even a picture?"
"Forget about it," I said through gritted teeth feeling myself getting angry but I suppressed the feeling as my gaze fell on her face and neck and a bitter feeling spread within me tugging at my heartstrings. The urge to hide her away grew tremendously.
"We are your family. Are you ever going to stop pushing us away? You have to involve us in your life some time?" Came the other person I pursed my lips my mood dampened that all I wanted to do was lash out. It went on to say just how much an important place she had taken in my life and I intended not to lose any of that time.
However before I could let out the torrent of frustrations, all physical and emotional, pent up inside me, a warm pair of small hands cupped my face before soft curvy and pillowy lips covered my own in a short yet tempting kiss and a buzzing sound reached my ears as I blanked out. Dazed, I didn't even register she'd slumped back on the bed closing her eyes as if she was asleep or that in the minute span of that kiss, my anger had fizzled out leaving only a warm fluttering feeling as my heart skipped a beat and I could help but feeling like I'd just been electrocuted. It's pointless to say that I forgot I was even on the phone.
"...Ryder!? Are you even listening to me?...Ryder!?.."
"I already said no," I said curtly hunging up and put my phone on silent before flinging it to the futon on the side and turned to the form feigning sleep beneath me with a smile.
I must have been staring for too long or rather she must have felt my peculiar gaze on her because the next minute she stiffened her eyelashes trembling slightly and I bit back a grin brushing my fingers crossed on her bare waist and if possible she tensed up even harder.
"Babydoll, are you trying to act cute with me?" I murmured brushing my lips against her ear and she shivered slightly but nevertheless kept her eyes shut adamant on pretending to be asleep.
Under the light, her skin looked soft and delicate. Her eyelashes long and dense that they reminded me of butterflies as they fluttered slightly and I smiled peppering small kisses across her jawline only to find her biting the inside of her cheeks so hard I was worried she'd break the skin.
"Stop that," I warned poking her cheek lightly and she pried an eye open before throwing me a dirty look. Not that it bothered me as I was focused on tugging at that soft pink pillowy bottom lip with me teeth. However I couldn't help myself and wholesomely devoured her lips, loosening her hair from the headscarf holding it's mass in a messy ponytail.
"So... aggressive."
"Babe, you like it rough," I replied cheekily with a wink and she pouted as I pecked her lips all over again when she made to speak.
"What about Kaylee?" She asked, her words caught in between our entangled lips as I pinned her arms in embrace, pinching the pebbled nipples under her clothes and she moaned.
"Kaylee who?" I asked only to find her glaring at me but I wasn't fazed. "We'll see her when we see her. Now will you shut up so I can kiss you."
"Why ask when you'll do it either way?" She asked giving me a wry smile.
"Just courtesy. You wouldn't be able to resist even if you wanted to."
"Why, you arrogant son of a bachelor!?"
"Babydoll, it's not arrogance when I'm just confident," I said smugly pinning her legs down successfully before she remembered they could be put to use, but that was the least of my concerns. Watching her turn different shades of red from embarrassment to anger, I could refrain from grinning as she shot me a dark look, before her temperament changed and I looked at her curiously wondering what she was upto.
"Babe, if you keep giving me that look, I might just devour you.." she said in a low coquettish yet playful voice that suddenly had my blood pumping as I shot her a bewildered look at her.
"I'm looking forward to it.. " I whispered and her eyes lit up suddenly.
"Is that so?..Ray, you should really stop seducing this little girl."
"But I can't help it with you... and besides, you are in no way little," I said looking her over and she winced before giving me a pitiful expression.
"Ray, I'm not sure my twin would be so willing to give me his heart. You are just really bad for my heart."
Despite myself, I chuckled, but I couldn't help but feel that it was the most sincere confession I've ever heard as she gazed at me with a wronged expression and I kissed her forehead.
"No worries. Mine belongs to you anyway... So babydoll, are you going to eat me up now?" I asked after a brief pause and she cast a helpless glance at me before letting out an embarrassed smile.
Incredibly pleased by her reaction, never would I have expected the words that short out of her mouth next.
"So you use your hips and I'll use my lips?"
"Hmmph, do you really think it's going to be as easy?" I said awkwardly my hand wrapping around the back of her neck, trying to ignore how she had suddenly wrapped her legs around me, her warm core passing warmth onto my erect crotch, with me realizing I'd lost her from my grip. And she called me the seducer. I was being seduced.
"Of course not."
"Oh yeah," I asked curiously as my fingers brushed against the expanse of her elegant neck to her exquisite collarbone turning a blind eye to the oversize checkered shirt, that was no doubt from my closet and had turned into hers in the span of half an hour, and that I took my time unbuttoning.
It was not doubt and she looked unbelievably frustrated. She was definitely not appreciative of my teasing. And soon enough once I eased my grip on her, her tender lips clashed with mine as she pushed me onto my back her exposed chest soft against mine as she unconsciously started grinding her hips against mine and I couldn't help but grab her lower waist to control her motions with one hand propping myself briefly into a sitting position as she wrapped her arms loosely around my neck, pulling away breathless.
"Is this how you want to play babydoll?" I asked equally breathless as she continues to rock against me at a steady pace as she let out soft pants as her lustey gaze caught mine and I didn't try to stop her.
"Oh, I'd there another way I'm not aware of?" she asked teasingly and my breath hitched at my throat at her seductive smirk before pulling her closer crashing my mouth against hers, swallowing all her moans feeling a soft material as I shift to embrace her.
Sinking into me, my lips drag from her lips to her chest, along the skin riddled with a never-ending wave of goosebumps and I let out a small smile, reaching for both her arms, chuckling inwardly when the silly girl didn't resist. When I finally pulled away from her flushed body all she did was blink at me blankly before she realized her predicament and pouted at me.
"Gatita, while you were busy purring I managed to bind your arms," I said flicked her forehead and she pursed her lips tightly realizing her hands were tightly wound behind her back just like she had done to me a couple of days ago.
"You... A petty way to carry out a revenge," she said disgruntled but I suddenly had the faintest idea she wasn't really as mad as she appeared. And my speculation was confirmed. "I'm still going to ride you aren't I?"
She asked with what I could describe as child-like excitement and I watched her wide-eyed as she continued her grinding motion placing a chaste kiss on my neck before sucking on my earlobe and all at once my body flushed in excitement. I was still a hot blooded male. Any male in my position would have already taken advantage of this but I didn't. And not because I didn't want to or that I couldn't. As a matter of fact, all I wanted to do was finally imprint on her till I would be so integrated into her bones that she'd never want any other man and yet..I hesitate every darn time.
"Is physical indulgence that important to you?" I blurted out in a brief moment of confusion and she flinched pulling back to stare at me.
"What? No. Why would you..oh?" She asked and a brief moment of awkward silence past between us and as seconds passed by I saw her face flush and not in the arousal kind of way as she looked deep in thought.
"Diana,. I...?" But before I could touch her she visibly flinched despite her trying to play it off and a sharp pain hit me hard in the chest and I looked at her speechless as she lowered her head.
"Sorry," she said in a low voice and I pushed away the brief heartache in fear that she'd misunderstood but before I could speak I heard the lock on the door turning and a few seconds later the sound of glass breaking as we both watched the door.
Heather. With all the blood seemingly drained from her face. Sigh. This day had started out perfectly.