15. Chapter 15

Chapter 15

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 the door. 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.

"Fuck, Scar," Ryder says.

I see the regret in his eyes, and it causes panic inside of me. Is that regret for kissing me? For knowing I wanted to take things slow? My mind reels with the limitless possibilities.

"We shouldn't…" I go to say, but Ryder grabs me around the waist and places a finger to my lips, hushing me.

"Don't say it, Scar," he pleads with me. "You are the most breathtaking woman I have ever seen, and the tragedy of it is, you have no idea how beautiful you are. I can't and won't stay away from you. I told you I would be your friend, but I can't promise that I won't fail at not kissing you. My body craves you, and I will take you; however, you let me," Ryder states.

"Ryder, I feel the same way, but it's dangerous to jump into something right now," I cry out.

"Then let's take it slow," he urges, his firm hands massaging my waist.

I know I should tell him not to leave and forget he ever met me. But I can't.

"Why me?" I whisper through my tears.

"Why you?" he asks me, wiping a tear away with his thumb. "I want you because of your heart. You love hard, and I see that in everything you do. You are beautiful beyond belief, both inside and outside. When I am with you, I feel like I can be the real Ryder Raven. Not the racer or the celebrity-- just me. I can laugh and smile with you, and I don't have to be someone I'm not," he finishes, his eyes brimming with tears.

My heart swells, knowing he feels this way about me. I have waited my entire life for someone to confess these feelings to me. Not even my ex, Josh, stated such genuine and sincere feelings. As I stood there, looking at Ryder, I realized I had lost the battle to hold up my walls. Here stood a man, a damn good man, who wanted me. And I wanted him, too. Why was I trying so hard to fight him and his feelings for me? I was tired. Tired of running away from my heart and tired of running from what I knew I wanted and needed.

"Ryder, kiss me," I breathe.

Without thinking twice, Ryder pulls me against his chest, and I feel his hardness push against my thigh. I smile as his lips crash down on mine.

As he kissed me, I felt the heaviness of my own fears start to dissolve. I needed Ryder, and he needed me. Maybe, just maybe, we could make this work.

As we moved over to the couch, I realized I didn't want this moment on my living room sofa. Taking his hand, I led him toward my bedroom, and the amazement in his eyes almost made me giggle.

"Scar, I want you, and if you take me in your room, I won't be able to stop," he warns.

"I'm tired of fighting, Ryder," I say, kissing him again as we enter my bedroom.

We move as one until we hit my bed. We fall onto the soft comforter, and I can feel Ryder drinking me in with his hungry gaze.

Ryder didn't hold back any longer. Taking his fingers and trailing them down my stomach, Ryder began to finger the hem of my pants. I took the opportunity to lift his shirt over his head and start working on unbuttoning his jeans. He kicked off his black, biker boots, and I pulled my shirt off, tossing it somewhere in the room.

Pushing two fingers into my panties, he licked his lips as he felt my wetness. His eyes went wide with excitement as I looked up at him with desire in my eyes. I nodded, permitting him to move further.

Sliding his fingers inside of me, I let out a moan from the sweet pleasure. He began teasing me, moving slowly in and out of me as he purposely drove me wild.

"Fuck, Scar. You are so ready for me," he stated.

Biting my lip, I tried to contain my pleasure before climaxing too soon. Truth be told, I hadn't been with a man since my ex and I hadn't realized until this moment how much I had missed a man's touch.

He moved faster inside of me, and I gripped onto his strong, muscular arms and screamed out his name as my first wave of ecstasy hit me.

Something about hearing his name slip from my lips sent Ryder into overdrive.

We went from hot to heavy to steamy in a matter of seconds. Our hands were roaming over the other's body as if we had never touched anyone else before. Ryder was sexy and dangerous, so different from any other guy I had slept with before. He was reckless yet gentle. It was all so tantalizing it drove me mad.

I reached into my nightstand and pulled out a foil packet. Ryder watched with blazing eyes as I unrolled the condom and placed it over his extensive length. Letting out a huff, Ryder moaned as my hands groped over his sensitive skin. The act was careful, yet erotic all at the same time.

Once I had finished my task, Ryder thrust into me without any warning. Screaming out in pleasure, I dug my nails into his back as his rhythm became a constant motion, and I couldn't help but buck my hips into him, begging him for more.

"Oh Ryder," I moaned, as I couldn't control my actions any longer.

I had been with more guys than I cared to admit, but none had ever given me this level of high before. I felt like we had waited forever, but at the same time, we were rushing too fast. With each thrust and movement, Ryder sank deeper and deeper into me. My body molded to him as our breaths began pants as we raced to reach our climax together.

"Damn, you feel so good," Ryder moaned, as he kissed my neck.

"Shut up and keep kissing me," I demanded, as I felt myself reaching closer to my release.

I wasn't one to talk during sex, especially when it felt this insanely wonderful. When I finally felt like my body couldn't take any more pleasure, I found my climax and screamed out as I lifted higher and higher into glorious oblivion. Maxing out, Ryder moaned one last time with a deep thrust before collapsing next to me on his bed.

Later, we lay wrapped in one another's arms as the stars began to sprinkle the sky. I stared out my bedroom window, listening to Ryder sleeping beside me. Moving a strand of his black hair out of his face, I watched him with carefulness. If I wasn't careful, I could fall in love with Ryder Raven.