From Lies to Promises (9 page)

  He clears his throat and says, “
The only recon I got from your sister was your number, and then she threatened me pretty much like your friends did if I hurt you.” Then he slides to sit in front of me. “So not only is the movie a definite coincidence, you have the grand knowledge that I would like to hold on to my balls. In which case means that you don’t have to keep on guard as much as you are when I am around.”

  “I am not on guard.” I catch a whiff of his scent and lean into it, “I just think you’re chasing something you don’t want, something you can’t understand.”

  “I don’t chase after anything. So the fact that I
am
chasing after you should be a good enough indication that I want you. If that isn’t good enough for you then I will have to keep trying and prove it to you. As for you not being something that I understand, it makes me crave you all the more.”

  Before I know what is happening Ryder’s lips are pressed to mine in a kiss that sets my whole body on fire. I part my lips as his tongue caresses my lips, begging for passage.
I swear my body is so hot by the time his hand comes up to grip the back of my neck, that there is literally lava pooling in my lower belly. When we break the kiss, I notice that we are both on our knees holding on to each other like we are scared the other is going to disappear. Neither of us say anything. I don’t because I don’t want to say the wrong thing and break the moment. I have no clue why Ryder doesn’t, maybe he has the same fear.

  His hand at the base of my neck slowly circles around till it cups my cheek. “Are you done telling me what I do and do not want?”
I manage to move my head in a small nod. “Good, let go and just have fun. I am going to get some popcorn. Do you want anything?”

 
“Will you grab me something to drink, please.”

  “Anything specific?” Ryder ask, getting up from the blanket.

  “Nope.”

  “Ok, I’ll be right back.”

  Let go and have fun. Have I always been so on guard with guys? It’s possible, I think it has more to do with Ryder and his uncanny ability to make me feel more than I have in forever. It terrifies me. That’s the main reason that I tried to avoid this date at all cost. Maybe Ryder is right though, I should just let go. I hope I can do it.

  I lay down and
survey the sky as the first hints of twilight break through with the bright pinks and blue hues coming off the fading sun. This is my favorite part of any day even knowing that it is only a sliver of time. Beauty beyond comparison shines, just before darkness takes over.

 
Ryder comes back and lays next to me just in time to see the last of light fade. “It’s beautiful isn’t it?” He asks.

  “That’s exactl
y what I was just thinking.” I turn my head to catch Ryder looking at me. I don’t think anyone should be allowed to be so drop dead gorgeous. His green eyes are lighting up the night, while his dark hair falls in messy locks all around his head. Both his arms are behind his head causing his shirt to raise just enough to tease my view with a hint of that famous ‘V’ that make women lose all hormonal control.

  “My eyes are up here, Katrina.” I slowly pull my eyes up his body, back to his. “That’s better, gran
ted I was really enjoying you devouring me with your eyes. I like the way you look at me afterward much better.”

  “Do tell. How is it that I look at you?” My interest is piqued.

  “Like you aren’t scared to try this.” Ryder answers as he rolled to his side propping up on one elbow over me. The way he said it however sounded more like he was asking me if I was going to give this a try. Taking his words from earlier I hold on to them.

  “Hate to break it to you, but I am scared of this. Frightened.
But, I am tired of feeling like that. So, I am letting go.” Before Ryder has a chance to react, I take his face in my hands and pull him down for a kiss. For a second he is still, then he kisses me back. This kiss isn’t like the first one, there is no holding back for either of us. I am giving myself over to be hurt, I know this. What’s the saying? Go big or go home. That’s what I intend to do. I ease my hands away from his face and around his neck. His elbow still supporting his weight, his other hand has made it to my hip. He grips it and pulls me closer to him, our bodies lined together perfectly. When his teeth graze my bottom lip in a soft nip, I can’t contain the moan that leaves me. Hearing it, Ryder deepens the kiss.

 
We come back to reality when the movie starts. Ryder pulls back, my body begging for more, and he has that damn grin on his face. “That makes me very happy.” I smile on the inside, I want to make him happy. To be the reason that smile takes residence on his handsome face. He sits up, “Come here.” I sit up and he pulls me between his legs, him cradling my back and he wraps his arms around my waste. “Now, let’s watch the movie.”

  I find it odd that being with Ryder, whom I only met
a week ago, I can feel normal. Something that I have tried so hard to reach but never have. It feels right, too. I’ve never believed in fate, or destiny and I’m not sure about whatever God is out there. I can’t. Not with everything that I have been forced to endure, but with Ryder I want to believe in fate. Like, somehow he was meant to come into my life. I place my hands on his arms that are around me, and a calm washes over me.

  Throughout the movie, he
randomly kisses the top of my head. Somewhere towards the end he remembers he had brought me a hot chocolate, which is no longer hot. It nor the popcorn was touched. When the credits start rolling on the screen, my heart sinks. I’m really not ready for the date to end, or for this happiness to go with it. Ryder untangles himself from me and stands. He offers me his hand and I take it. I bend over to pick up the stuff off the blanket when red hot pain shoots across my rear. I yelp and drop the popcorn.

  “Sorry, you put it right there, and it was too damn tempting not to give it a smack.”

  I know my mouth is hanging open but I don’t know what to say to that. Frankly, I am still baffled about the fact that it had turned me on as much as it did. He picks up the popcorn from where I dropped it and hands it back to me, shakes off what fell on the quilt and folds it. I take a handful of the popcorn and throw it at him.

  “Oh, I’m sorry. It was just so tempting.” I laugh out.

  A devious look crosses his face, “Darlin’, I bet you still look amazing covered in popcorn.” Before I can turn and run, he snatchs the bucket out of my hand and pours it over my head. “I love it when I’m right!”

  “
You really just did that. Wow.” I breathed as I start picking kernels out of my hair.

  “You started it,” Ryder mused. “I just finished it.” Tucking the quilt under his arm he says, “Here let me help you.”

  When he is confident that it is all out of my hair, I realize that the park has pretty much cleared out. He puts his arm around my shoulders and pulls me to his side. We take our time walking through the park. It is a wonderful night, not to hot or cold, and the stars are so bright against the black backdrop. I can’t help myself, I stop and tilt my head back to gaze at them. Ryder comes to stand in front of me.

  “You have the prettiest fucking eyes I have ever seen.”
He claims.

  “They’re brown, average.” I look towards where his car sits just a mere ten feet away. “Your eyes on the other hand, should have poems written about them.”

  His hand comes up to sweep some of my hair out of my face, then it travels down my neck. Holding the side of my throat, he uses his thumb to tilt my head towards him. “I have yet to find one thing about you that could be compared to average.” He leans down and kisses my forehead. When his warm lips leave my head he takes his hand from my neck and entwines our fingers. In the car, as Ryder goes to crank it he looks over to me and says, “Poems. Really?” We both let out a good laugh as we head to my house.

***

              With the car parked at the curb, where it was when he picked me up, he insists on walking me to the door. “The date isn’t over till you are inside, and I promised to be the perfect gentleman. I don’t break my promises,
ever
.”

  “Right. I don’t think I have ever met someone who could keep every promise they ever made.” I tell him as we round the back of the car headed to the driveway.

  “Now you have.” He says reaching for my hand. “What’s the point in promising if you don’t intend to keep it?”

  “I agree, but it has become such a normal thing to say, a lot of thought isn’t used when people say it anymore.” I inform him just as we reach the door.
Ryder lets my hand go and grabs my shoulders turning me to face him.

  With his hands cupping my face, he says,
“I don’t take a promise lightly. Remember, if I promise you something, believe in it.” He is so close I can feel his words fan my face. He nuzzles his nose to mine, in an effort for me to tilt my lips to his. Before our mouths can make contact the door swings open. Skeigh is standing there with her hands on her hips, Jamie right next to her.

  “You have impeccable timing, Skeigh.” I huff out.

  “You two were taking too long. Besides, we couldn’t see you right here from the windows.” She actually admits.

  “You were spying on us! Oh.My.God.” I cover my face with my hands.

  “We had to make sure he wasn’t getting all handsy with you.” Skeigh rectifies.

  “Creeper.” I hiss at her.

  “You love me though!” With that she heads towards the couch and flops down. I turn to Ryder. 

  “I guess I’ll talk to you later.” I say, but it comes out more like a question.

  “You guess? Did I blow the date?” He is hesitant.

 
“No! No, I had a great time.” It rushes out of me.

  “Good, because I was beginning to think
I might actually break a promise.” He looks away, and when his eyes come back to mine they are stern. “If I screwed up tonight, there is no way in hell I could stay the fuck away from you.”

  Stunned. Shocked. It takes me a minute before I respond, when I do, I think
it shocks him just as much. I step up to him before getting on my tip toes, lips touching his ear lobe and say, “Like I said before, being a gentleman will always get you further.”

             
Ryder told me goodnight, then places a swift kiss onto the top of my head before he leaves. It’s innocent, but still sends a rush of adrenaline pouring through my body. Just a few feet into the house and I am hit with question, after question. Lexi eventually gets them to calm down enough for me to tell them about my night, and how great Ryder is. I swear even before I was done, they had that look on their face. You know, the one where you just get through watching this amazing love story, and you are all like ‘I want a guy like that’. In real life, they really don’t exist. Ryder is an anomaly. I want to question why me, but I don’t. Just thinking it though, I probably already jinxed it.

 
After setting up the sofa bed for Jamie, and taking a shower, I am amazed at how tired I am. I nearly fall asleep as soon as I curl the covers under my chin. My phone has another idea as it signals I have a text.

Sweet dreams, Katrina.

Goodnight, Ryder.
I reply, and set my phone back on my night stand and close my eyes.

 
Foreboding washes over me in waves. I look around where I am, and I can’t see a thing it’s so dark. I walk around trying to find a light switch, something. Every direction I head is just nothing. A chill races up my spine making the hairs on my neck stand to attention. I stop my pursuit to find a switch. I am not alone. I turn in circles trying to see where they are, who it is, but it is useless in this darkness.

  That’s when I hear the footsteps. They are faint at first but gradually get louder as whoever gets closer.
My name comes to me in a whisper, over and over again. I do the only thing that I can think of, the only thing that I’ve ever been able to do in the dark and he comes to me. I sit down, wrap my arms around my knees and cry. They are silent tears because if I make any noise he always gets angry. My breath shutters as I try and keep calm and the footsteps stop. I slowly raise my head to see a figure of a man. He is still far enough away that I could run. But I have nowhere to run in the dark. He knows I won’t run. Then he continues his path to me. The closer he gets the more the darkness recedes. It’s as if he is bringing the light with him and scaring away any fear that I may have had.

 
Just before his face comes into view, I see the green eyes that make my heart work overtime in my chest. Ryder. He kneels in front of me with a look of concern on his face.

  “
I’m here.” He pulls me into him tucking my head in the curve of his shoulder and holds me tight. Safe. He makes me feel completely and utterly safe. When I pull back to see him, light so bright covers us both and bliss invades my whole being.

 
When I wake up, I feel at peace. I think back to my dream as I lay there, the sunlight drifting in my window. It seemed so real. My past and my future colliding into one. As I get ready for the day ahead, a permanent smile is on my face. I walk into the living room to see Jamie has already put the sofa bed back up and is sitting on the couch with her feet folded beneath her.