Page 27 of Ryder

Scarlett

After my intense night at Ryder’s house, I had decided to take a few days to distance myself from Ryder. It was clear there was a sizzling spark of sexual chemistry between us, and it was growing much harder to avoid the temptation.

When Ryder texted me, I pretended as though I didn’t see the messages. When my phone rang, I allowed it to go to voicemail.

I had even told the boys if he stopped by, I was busy and couldn’t come to hang out. I knew there was only long before Ryder would eventually find me. I had agreed to go on a trip with him, and now, I wasn’t sure if that was still a good idea.

Allison had been on my case all week about giving Ryder a call and giving him a definitive answer about my going with him on the trip to Hollow Cove.

I had finished a shift at All Our Children and had just made it into my apartment when I heard a knock at my front door. Thinking it might be the UPS Deliveryman, I rushed to thedoor. Upon opening, I was stunned beyond belief to see Ryder standing at my threshold.

“Well, she is alive,” he says, moving past me into my apartment.

“Don’t worry about being invited in,” I say sarcastically, behind him. “By the way, how did you know that I was home?” I ask. I didn’t always work the same days each week, so it was a little strange that he knew exactly when I would be home.

“I went to All Our Children. Allison was leaving, and I asked her to tell me where you were,” he says like it isn’t creepy at all that he is hunting me down.

“Wait, you asked Allison to tell you where I was? How in the world are my whereabouts any of your business?” I ask, crossing my arms across my chest in defiance.

“Are you serious right now?” Ryder asks, throwing his hands up in the air. I can feel the steam coming off of him as he stomps his booted foot on my carpet. “Scar, you and I shared a fucking mind-blowing kiss, and then I don’t hear from you or see you for over a week. Now you want to act like I don’t have a right to find you?” he snarled at me.

“You are stalking me. Maybe I just needed space, did you think of that? You don’t own me like you own all those other women that flaunt over you,” I yelled, narrowing my eyes at him.

“I don’t think you have a right to be mad,” Ryder began, turning his tumultuous eyes on me. “I have been calling and texting you for over a week. You have completely ghosted me. You also must think I am stupid to think you are too busy to come to see me when I am at All Our Children. Having the boys lie for you is low,” he stated, a rumble of anger bubbling in his voice. “And for your information, I may not own you, but that’s only because you won’t let me.”

Guilt washed over me as he gave me a knowing look. There wasn’t any way that I could fib my way out of this. He was right; I had been ghosting him.

“Ryder, let me explain,” I say, holding my hand up to stop him from saying anything further.

“Yeah, you have a lot of explaining to do,” he mused, sitting himself down on my tan couch.

Looking around, I realize how small and homely my home feels compared to his massive and elaborate one. Embarrassment fills me as I hope he doesn’t think less of me for it.

Rolling my eyes, I move over to the couch and sit next to him. I remind myself that Ryder is my friend, and I internally chastise myself for being so cold to him the last few days.

“Alright, after the other night, I just needed some time to think about everything,” I began, making sure I had his full attention.

His features seemed to soften, and his eyes held a sadness that made my heart start to crumble.

“Shit, Scarlett,” he began, running his hands through his black hair. “I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

Placing my hand on his knee, I smiled over at him. “It’s ok. We are both adults, I didn’t do anything that I didn’t want to do, it’s just that…” my words trail off as I struggle to figure out how to say the next part. “I really like you, and that kiss blew me away. But right now, it’s just not in the cards for me to get into a relationship. I am trying to move up at Future Leaders, and my heart is still healing. I have been thinking over your invite to Hollow Cove,” I say.

Ryder cuts me off, shaking his head angrily as he jumps off the couch. “Don’t back out of our trip now,” Ryder seethes. “I promise I won’t do anything else to make you uncomfortable. I will be a perfect gentleman,” he assures me, his eyes locking on mine.

His breathing is rapid as he stands before me. I just don’t understand any of this. Nothing about our friendship or sexual attraction to one another makes any sense. He is a celebrity, and I’m just me.

Standing, I face Ryder head-on. “It’s not just you. I can’t seem to wrap my head around any of this. You could have any beautiful woman out there, why me?” I yell.

My anger is rising, and tears fill my eyes, threatening to spill over.

“I’m tired of you running from me...from us,” Ryder states as he stands tall before me.

Ryder stalks over to me, a predator's stance overtaking him. Placing my head in his hands, he kisses me with an urgent kiss. I go to push him off of me, but instead, my hands move to his neck and then into his unruly hair. Our need is like a raging inferno as our hands roam over the other, and our tongues begin to dance.

The heat filling me is almost too much to handle. Everything inside of me knows this is wrong, but with Ryder, it’s like my body always finds a way to betray me. He pulls me into him like a magnet, and I become unable to resist him.

When we finally break free, we are both panting as we struggle to catch our breath.

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