Because of you (14 page)

“
Here,” he says, opening a closet, “you can put your things in here. Make yourself at home.” Brushing a lock of my hair behind my ear, I look at him.

“
Thank you, you’re very kind.” His lips turn up in the corners, flashing me his pearly whites.

Ryder

She’s so beautiful.
The thought echoes in my mind as I watch her sleep. About half an hour ago, she fell asleep which is not surprising since she was in shock from everything that happened. I’ll never be able to erase this image out of my mind—her long blonde hair spread over the pillow and her perfect lips slightly parted, begging for a kiss. A kiss. What if I kissed her? Maybe it wouldn’t wake her up. I’d run my hand through her thick hair, across her face, I’d pay some attention to her full breasts, and then explore the rest of her body. I quietly moan, putting my hand on the bulge that’s growing in my pants. I close my eyes, overwhelmed by the desire to empty my load. When I open my eyes again, her crystal blue eyes are watching me from the bed. She licks her lips, slowly gets up and approaches me seductively. I instantly get even harder. She gets rid of her shirt and opens the button on her pants before coming close to me. My eyes walk all over her gorgeous body. I reach out my hand to grab her hips so I can pull her onto me. Her breasts are at my eye level as she’s standing in front of me and her eyes are filled with lust, but she’s still silent. I rub my nose over her breast through her bra, and the sexy groan that escapes her throat sets me on fire. I don’t bother opening her bra, I simply pull it up and start
nibbling
on her nipples.

“
Ryder,” I hear her moan. She sinks her hands into my hair. “Ryder, Ryder,” she’s still calling my name. “Ryder!” she loudly exclaims as she is shaking me by my shoulders.

“
What?” I ask in surprise and open my eyes. “Huh? What is happening?”
Aaliyah, completely dressed,
is standing in front of me, giving me a sideways look.

“
Are you okay? You were making weird sounds in your sleep, so I woke you. You have practice in an hour anyway and you have to get going.” I blink a few times, looking at her. Shit. It felt so real. I can still feel a raging boner in my pants that dreams about her caused.

“
Damn it,” I whisper, but she still hears me.

“
Are you sure you’re okay? You look like you’re in pain. Perhaps you should skip practice today.” If only she knew. Of course I’m in pain – I’m hard as a rock.

“
No, no, practice is exactly what I need right now,” so I can clear my thoughts after those vivid dreams, “I’ll just grab a shower and then I’m out of here.” I have to make sure I won’t be too tense at practice and shower is the only way to relieve myself of the tension that’s been building inside me ever since I met her.

Aaliyah

It’s been fourteen days since our room has been broken into. After two weeks, they finally let us back in. Now, everything is put back in its place, and we had to buy some new furniture and things since the old ones were completely destroyed. I brought my stuff back from Ryder’s house and I’m sleeping in my own bed again. I miss his smell on my pillow that gave me a sense of security—I slept better because I knew he was near. But back in my dorm room, there’s still a danger of Caden coming back, perhaps hurting Addison if I’m not there. I now know he’s capable of anything. Until he killed Hope, I still had a sliver of hope that he could change, but he’s too far gone now. I may seem strong, happy and full of laughter, but I’m only keeping up appearances. On the inside, I’m a frightened girl, always on tenterhooks and cautious of my surroundings, looking over my shoulder and checking if I am being followed. I don’t know why I haven’t received any more of Caden’s messages, but I have a feeling this is silence before the storm.

“
Are you coming with me?” I ask Addison as I am tying the shoelaces on my white-and-black running shoes. I’ve decided to go run a lap on the track before work. And since it’s Saturday, I know the club will be full, because it’s karaoke night.

“
Have you ever seen me run?” Her voice is laced with sarcasm. “I really don’t see the point in running, I know a better way to get sweaty,” she wiggles her eyebrows and I shake my head.

“
Yuck, too much information, Addison. I’m not interested in details from your sex life.”

“
But Jackson is so yummy, I cannot resist him.”

“
As I said, TMI,
though
I’m happy you love each other so much.” She comes closer just as I am putting my hair in a ponytail.

“
Well, you know the feeling when you’re in love and you can’t stop thinking about that person—I am always thinking about him, and when I’m not with him, I desperately want him by my side.” She says dreamily, while I shake my head.

“
I wouldn’t know, I’ve never been in love.” Okay, I liked two guys in high school, but I was too afraid to give either of them a chance because of the situation at home.

“
What? How? You mean you’ve never had a boyfriend? You’ve never…?” I look her in the eyes, shrugging. “Oh my God, you’re still a virgin. I can’t believe it—I was sure you left at least a few broken hearts in your wake.” Nope, not me.

“
Nobody ever really caught my attention.” Until now, I should’ve said, but I bite my tongue instead. “It never got that far. Happens,” I shrug again.

“
Wow, I admire you, I’m still completely shocked by your admission, wow. That’s why you always blush when I mention sex!” I can feel a blush creep on my cheeks again. “Ha, here it is again,” she says, playfully pinching my cheek.

I step outside
where I am
greeted by warm autumn air. I’m slowly increasing the tempo.
Pink
and her big hit
Just Give Me a Reason
, which I like very much, blares through my earphones. I’m running past the student campus toward the park that has a gravel path, which is great for running. A runner jogs past me, comes to a halt three feet in front of me and runs backwards. He catches my attention so I look at him.

Ryder.

“What are you doing here? Are you following me?” I ask, surprised.

“
Well, well, someone has a mighty high opinion of themselves,” he winks at me, and I am overwhelmed by embarrassment when I realize what I just said. Why would he follow me? I mean nothing to him.

“
Oh, sorry, you just surprised me, that’s all.”

“
Hey, don’t take it so seriously, I was only joking. Do you mind if I join you?” I shake my head, suddenly too weary to respond. Ryder is wearing white basketball shorts, that are hanging low on his hips, and I can see every defined muscle on his stomach through his T-shirt. Sweat running down his neck and arms is everything my mind can focus on in this moment. Licking my lips, I think about tracing the same path with my fingers.
Breathe, girl, breathe, he’s just a man, why are you overreacting?
We cross the park, people are sitting on the benches, a few kids are feeding the pigeons that have gathered in the middle of the park, some people are talking on the phone and lovey-dovey couples are strolling down the path. I look to my right, to a fast food cart, and almost stop in my tracks. None other than Caden is eyeing me, piercing me with his gaze. He’s smoking a cigarette and throws it on the ground. I’m still running, but much slower, and I don’t watch where I’m going as my eyes are still fixed on Caden. I don’t notice a tree root and I stumble over it. With a cry of pain I fall down and grab my ankle.

“
Damn it,” I exclaim in anger, holding the injured ankle. Ryder immediately comes to a halt when he notices I’m not following. He kneels down, offering me his hand. I throw a glance at the cart again, but Caden is gone.
Was I only imagining seeing him? Am I losing my mind?
As soon as Ryder helps me to my feet, I let out a cry of pain. “Ouch,” I say when I try to stand on my leg, but the pain is still unbearable and I can’t put any weight on it yet. “Ugh, how can I be so clumsy?” I groan as Ryder sits me down on a nearby bench.

“
Sit and let me take a look at the ankle.”

“
It’s okay, my leg just buckled, I’ll be better soon, don’t worry,” I say, trying to get up.

“
I said sit down and let me see if you broke anything.” Without further protests I sit back down. He puts his big, strong hands on my ankle and studies it.

“
Ouch, that hurt!” I yell, quickly removing my leg from his hold, wincing from the pain his touch only increased.

“
It’s swelling up, we have to put some ice on it soon. I don’t think it’s anything worse than a sprain, but we have to find ice. My house is the nearest, can you walk there?” I nod. It’s embarrassing something like that happened just as he’s with me. To make a bigger fool out of myself in front of him. I put some weight on my leg and want to take a step, but pain shoots through my ankle, bringing tears to my eyes.
Damn it, I can’t do it.
Ryder looks at me and without warning lifts me up, one arm under my shoulder blades, the other under my knees. I let out a surprised shriek.

“
Are you crazy? You can’t carry me all the way to your apartment, it’s too far away. I’ll try to walk on my own.”

“
It’s okay, you’re not heavy,” he winks at me as he carries me through the park. I feel sorry for him for having to carry me so long, but on the other hand, I am enjoying being so close to him, pressed tightly against his chest, and feeling his biceps flex every time he makes another step. Every inch of his body is covered with muscle.

“
Oh, God,” I put a hand over my eyes, remembering how sweaty I am in his arms.

“
What is it?” he asks, his voice laced with worry.

“
I’m sorry, I probably stink from the run, I’m all sweaty. How embarrassing.” He just laughs.

“
On the contrary, pretty girl, on the contrary.” I hide my head in the crook of his neck and chastise myself.

“
How can you say something like this? You’re weird,” I playfully poke him with my finger.

“
What? You do smell nice. I don’t know why you’re worrying over nothing.” Out of breath, he puts me down on the bed. “You’re heavy,” he says, rubbing his sore arms.

“
No, I’m not,” I poke him in the stomach with my elbow and pretend to be offended, but a smile on my face gives me away. “It’s not my fault you’re so weak—you’ll have to work on your muscles more, mister.” I put my hand on his bicep and squeeze it. When I realize I’m touching him, I quickly remove my hand as if
it's too hot
. We stare at each other for a while, and then he clears his throat.

“
I’m going to get ice, wait here.” Huh, like I could’ve gone anywhere with that ankle. A minute later a giant pack of ice is on my ankle, Ryder carefully massaging it. He’s holding my calf, with a thumb gently grazing the skin of my leg. He’s crouching and I’m sitting on his king size bed. Because he’s tall, our eyes are at the same level. I watch how absorbed he is in massaging my ankle. We’re quiet for some time, when he suddenly raises his dark eyes to mine. The hand that has been brushing my leg, stops, and Ryder focuses all his attention to my eyes. I bite my lips and his eyes drop to my mouth, then
return
to my eyes. There’s tension in the air, lust, longing. With the tip of his tongue he traces his lower lip before he leans toward me. He brushes his fingers against my cheek.

“
Can I kiss you?” What?

“
Why?” I ask him. Why? Seriously, Aaliyah?

“
Because my heart and mind are telling me I need it.” I nod shyly, and his lips touch mine. I feel like I’m floating. His kiss is like fireworks on the 4th of July, like a bomb that just went off. It’s magical—that’s all I can say—the way his warm and soft lips connect with mine, like it’s the only thing they needed. I feel something shift inside me. This is something nobody will ever be able to take away from me. One kiss that marked me forever. I close my eyes, and just as I am about to open my mouth inviting his tongue inside, the door screeches open.

“
Yo, dude, you got any condoms?” We quickly jump apart as Jayden barges into the room, coming to a halt when he notices us. “Whoops, I’m sorry, didn’t mean to disturb,” he turns around and he’s gone. I bow my head in embarrassment, and I believe I’m
as
red as a tomato.

“
Okay,” Ryder gets up and scratches his neck. “That’s just like Jayden
,
to come in at the wrong moment.” His smile indicates he was also affected by our kiss.

“
Umm…ugh… I think I should leave.” I forget the pain in my ankle and step on my leg with full weight. “Ouch,” I blush, his kiss completely bewitched me. I cautiously limp to the door, careful not to step on the injured leg with
too
much force.