15. 15 Tori

Chapter fifteen

15: Tori

I t’s been a week, and at no point am I left alone. I’ve had to shove Ryder out of the bathroom a few times. I don’t care if he’s seen it all already, I don’t want him in there when I’m trying to take a shit.

“Let me in, KitKit.” I can hear him playfully scratching at the door with his finger, his forehead more than likely leaning against the wood.

“No!” I yell out from the toilet seat. “A girl needs privacy.”

And pads apparently. Fucking period.

I knew it was coming. I started cramping yesterday, but I was hoping maybe I could stay perpetually stressed enough to never have one again. The whole thing with Nico and the Niners has had us all on edge the last seven days. I’m not sure Blaze has even slept, finding him at times with his eyes closed at his desk. On our days together, he’s like a shadow, silently attached to me.

He hasn’t spoken to me since he walked in on Thorne and I, and honestly, it’s driving me insane. I never thought I would miss his attention, his taunts, and cruel words, but I fucking do. I want him to say something to me, even if it’s something mean.

“Please!” Ryder pouts, sounding so much like a small child.

It’s too fucking cute considering who it’s coming from.

“Go away,” I reply, folding toilet paper over and over and over again until I have a nice thick cushion to place in my underwear until I can get one of these idiots to take me to the store.

“Aww, come on. I know you like it when I watch you.”

I laugh, pulling my panties up and flushing before I wash my hands. When I open the door, I find him leaning against the jamb with a wide grin. “I knew you couldn’t resist me.”

“I mean, I wasn’t going to stay in the bathroom all day.” I shake my head lightly as I make my way to the closet. “Do I get a day with you today?” My eyes are trained on my clothes, but I can feel the body heat radiating off him from behind me, so close, I’m sure if I take a step back, I’ll bump into him.

“You'd like that, wouldn’t you?” He plays with my hair as I try to find a baggy shirt, feeling too bloated to want to wear any of these tight fitting tops.

“I think you’re the one who would like that.” I push past him, ignoring his advances because I know he hates it when I do.

He growls, grabbing me by my throat in that delicious way that only his hand necklace can, stopping me dead in my tracks. He pushes me against the wall, the blue in his eyes shining brightly with a heated gaze. “Admit that you wish I could stay with you today,” he demands, his voice low as he leans in, lightly brushing his lips against my own.

“No,” I whisper back, challenging him.

You sure like being punished, don’t you, Tori?

“Don’t lie to me.” He nibbles at my lip, melting me into him as I grip his wrist around my neck.

“Who says I am lying?”

His eye twitches in fury, biting my lip hard. “I do.” He presses his hard muscles against me, pinning me fully against the wall as he pushes his thigh between mine. “I know you want to rub yourself against me. I know you’d love it if I stayed and fucked you all day long. I bet you’d even beg me for it.”

“Actually,” I pause, holding my index finger up by his face. “I really wouldn’t want any of that today.” I smile, tapping his nose with my finger, which drives him absolutely wild. His grip on my throat tightens so tight, it cuts the sound from my voice.

“You’re going to regret saying that.” He lets me go with a light shove, sulking out of the closet.

Not the reaction I thought I would get.

God, these guys are as hot as lava one second, then and as cold as a glacier the next.

I am not going to go chasing after him just because I told him the truth. Period sex is not my favorite. I always end up cramping worse. And although I love me some pain mixed with my pleasure, that pain is different.

No, thank you!

I roll my eyes, shaking off the annoyance that Ryder left behind as I head to Thorne’s room, his door fixed and closed. I don’t bother knocking, opening it to find him buttoning up his shirt, getting ready for work.

So, if he’s leaving, and Ryder says it’s not his day, then…

Time to get Blaze to talk to me.

“Oh, yeah, sure, come on in,” Thorne throws his sarcasm my way, being crabby as usual. Well, more so since the whole casino visit. Should I even really call it that?

“See? I knew you wouldn’t mind.” I close the door behind me, leaning against it for a moment as I admire his chiseled chest, pecs I want to run my hands over. I bite my lip for a second, forgetting myself .

“What do you need, Vic?” He’s annoyed, ready for me to leave already, pushing past our banter.

“A shirt please,” I smile at him, batting my lashes with big eyes.

“You have a whole closet. Why do you need mine?” He arches a brow at me.

“I want something loose.” I step away from the door, grabbing his wrist and helping him button his sleeve.

“Should I feel honored that you want to wear my shirt when you’re on your period?” he asks, his eyes searing into mine as I look up at him.

“How’d you—” I start to shake my head, deciding I really don’t care how he knows it’s that time of the month for me. “I say you should feel honored.” I wink at him, letting his hand go to grab the other and button that sleeve. “So, can I have a shirt?”

“Since you’re asking so nicely.” His wrist slips out of my hands as he walks to his dresser and opens the bottom right drawer. He pulls out a shirt that looks like it’s seen better days. It lands on my head as he tosses it at me, obscuring my vision for a second. Pulling it away, I hold it open, recognizing it as the shirt he lent me the night he took my virginity.

“You still have this?” I’m doing my best not to grin from ear to ear, arrogantly thinking he kept this because of that night.

“It's special.”

Oh, shit. We’re sharing a moment.

All my sarcasm and teasing flies out the window, my smile fading as I stare into his dark eyes. I see it there, the love he speaks about that I try to deny. My heart flutters, skipping a beat as I inhale deeply, smelling his woodsy cologne from across the room.

“I’ll let Blaze know he needs to take you to the store. But, Vic, do me a favor?” He’s gone serious again, breaking the silence as he steps closer, bursting my personal bubble. “Wear pants under this when you go out.”

His index finger hooks under my chin, tilting my head back so that I’m looking up at him. Slowly, so goddamn slowly, he leans in, brushing his lips against mine, chastising them with his touch. He leaves me with a tickle, exiting his room without me. I’m so stunned, I don’t move, blinking a million times as I tap my fingers to my mouth.

My heart is still fluttering, flying so high, I’m scared of the way it’ll break when it falls. Swallowing down the love that threatens to grow inside of me, I change in his room, leaving my pajamas and my bra on the bed for him.

Thank you for the shirt—here’s a little present.

I finally emerge from Thorne’s room, dragging my feet down the stairs as the aroma of fresh coffee wafts through the air. Not only do I need the caffeine to wake the hell up, but I also need it to survive the hellish cramps that are hitting me like a freight train.

With a groan, I lay my cheek against the cool tile of the counter, enjoying a brief moment of relief. The sound of the coffee pot gurgling fills the silence, but Ryder is in his own world, scrolling through his phone, completely oblivious to my suffering.

Great, just what I need—another grump to deal with.

“Here,” Thorne’s voice cuts through the haze, and I lift my head slightly to see him placing a bottle of painkillers and a glass of water in front of me.

“My hero,” I mutter, grabbing the bottle like some junkie going through withdrawals. My fingers fumble with the cap, and I feel a wave of frustration.

Thorne leans against the counter, arms crossed, watching me with a mixture of concern and amusement. “You going to be okay?” he asks, eyebrows raised .

“Just peachy,” I reply, forcing a smile that probably looks more like a grimace as I manage to get the bottle open. I chug the water, trying to ignore Ryder’s presence as I swallow the pills. My stomach twists, and I lean against the counter again, closing my eyes for a moment.

When I finally open them, I catch Thorne’s eye. “Thanks,” I say, my voice softer now.

“Yeah, well, someone has to look out for you,” he replies, shrugging with a smirk. Just then, I hear a chair scrape against the floor as Ryder finally looks up, his expression shifting from indifference to concern.

“What’s going on?” he asks, his tone more serious now. I can feel the weight of his gaze on me and the way Thorne’s teasing has suddenly turned into something more protective. I take a deep breath, ready to bite his head off for leaving my room in a huff earlier, but deciding it's better if I don't.

“My dreaded Aunt Flow has come to visit. The first day is always the worst.”

Ryder’s eyes soften, and I can see the gears turning in his mind. “Oh,” he says, realization hitting him. Without saying more, he steps closer and gently places his hands on my lower back, applying soothing pressure.

“Do you need anything?” he asks, his tone earnest as he leans in slightly. “I can grab a heating pad or something.”

The warmth of his touch eases some of the tension, and I feel a wave of comfort wash over me. “I think I’ll survive with the ibuprofen for now, but thanks.”

He nods, his focus now on providing gentle support. “I hope you know I don't mind blood,” he says, his fingers moving in slow, comforting circles as his eyebrows wiggle suggestively.

“I'm sure you don't—but I do,” I reply softly, lightly laughing at his antics with a shake of my head.

“You know where to find me if you change your mind.” He kisses the top of my head, leaving me longing for his touch as he walks away.

“Try not to poke the bear too much while I'm gone, alright?” Thorne holds my gaze, waiting for my answer before he heads out.

“No promises.”

He rolls his eyes, but there's a light smirk on his lips as he licks them to try to hide it. “If you're good, I'll bring back your favorite chocolate.”

“Mmmm, tempting.”

He leans down, kissing my neck before whispering in my ear. “Be good.”

Just like that, I'm left alone in the kitchen, the silence I was once comfortable with seemingly so lonely now.

You're meant to be tearing them apart, not falling in love with them.

Tomato, tom-ah-to.

Without so much as a peep, Blaze suddenly appears at my side, keys in hand. His eyes are on me, assessing, hiding the anger he's bottling up. Nothing is said as he taps the counter, catching my eyes before he walks off.

It takes me a second, but when he turns to look at me over his shoulder, I realize I am meant to follow him. Oh. He opens the butterfly doors to a blue maserati, climbing in way before I'm even near the car. It's quiet as I take my seat and the doors seal themselves, encasing me in a deafening silence that makes my ears bleed.

Two minutes into the ride and I'm ready to scream. My mind rattles when there's nothing to distract it from its millions of thoughts. Unable to take it any longer, I lean forward and turn the volume up, hearing ‘My Type ’ by Bryce Savage is halfway through.

I lift a brow in surprise, not having pegged him as a fan. I'm ready to poke fun when he turns the volume back down immediately. At first, I think it's because he's embarrassed, but when I look at him, finding not a shred of embarrassment, I realize he's doing it to be conniving. He doesn't want me to have anything I want, not even the reprieve of music.

We're breaking the knob today, because I am listening to music, Blaze.

I turn it back up, glaring at him as I do so, challenging him to turn it back down. He waits, but within five seconds, he turns it down, not even bothering to look my way while he does it. The entire car ride, his eyes have been glued to the road, and normally that's a great thing, safe driver and all. In this instance, however, I know that's not why he's doing it.

We're playing with the volume the entire car ride over, eventually stopping when he parks, turning the volume down, and shutting the car off immediately, so he ends up winning the war. That's cheating.

I look up to find a convenience store. I jump out of the car and run in before him. My feet angrily stomp their way to the feminine hygiene aside, finding what I need, gaining concerned looks as I huff in annoyance.

“That bad, huh?” an employee asks, pausing with merchandise in his hand as he stops stocking to look at me.

“What kind of stupid question is that?” Blaze appears, making me jump as he answers for me, looming over my head.

You poor guy. You're probably shitting your pants now.

Trying to save the unlucky employee, I push past Blaze and towards the register with my item in hand. I don't wait for him to follow, scanning my item at self checkout and paying for myself as he comes up to me.

I'm roughly grabbed by the arm and pulled back towards him, crashing against his chest before he pulls me out of the store. The Maserati doors automatically open with a push of a button, and Blaze takes the liberty to roughly push me inside the car.

You're being a child, Blaze. Grow up.

I'm seething as I glare at him through the windshield, watching him round the hood of the car.

When he enters, I keep my eyes trained on him, searing holes into the side of his face, daring him to look at me. He doesn't. I'm so over this game, of him pretending I only exist when he wants.

Okay, Tori. Thorne said don't poke the bear, but that's exactly what we're doing.

I take the phrase literally and jab my finger into Blaze's arm. He doesn't react, so I get upset, pull my finger back, then dig it into his cheek instead. For the next two minutes straight, I poke him repeatedly in different spots.

I lift my finger up to do it once more, stopping as the car swerves, pulling off the road into a dirt patch on a low traffic road among the trees. His fingers wrap around my wrist firmly, holding my hand away from him, finally meeting my eyes.

“About fucking time,” I snap, not flinching even though his eyes are as hot as fire penetrating deep inside me.

“What is your problem, Victoria?!” his fury is high as he yells out my legal name—no Doll, no Icky, no nickname at all.

“Mine?” I pull at my arm, trying to free my wrist from his grip. “What's your problem?”

“My problem is you poking me while I'm trying to drive! You could make me wreck!” His voice is not quite an irrational yell, but more like a frustrated shout.

“I wouldn't poke you if you stopped pretending like I don't exist,” I pout, snapping right back in his face. My breaths are rapid as my anger escalates my heart rate, making my head spin. We're so close to one another that I can feel the warmth of Blaze's breath as he speaks.

“If I don't pretend like you don't exist, I'll lose my fucking mind.” All the fight in him suddenly simmers away as if the heat's been completely turned off. His features soften as he sinks into himself, loosening his grip on me. This would be my chance to break free, but I find I don't want to.

“What are you talking about?” My heart stabs with pain as I see the hurt in his eyes. Something has been bothering him, but what?

What could possibly be eating him up?

“You ran right back to him. I kissed you with everything I had, and you acted like it was too much, only to go and fuck Thorne a few hours later.” He clenches his teeth, his jaw ticking in a mixture of anger and hurt.

I never thought my rejection would hurt him like this, but it makes sense. He's right. I kissed him, stopped him from doing anything more, and then ran right back to the person who made me not trust Blaze to begin with.

I stretch my arm out, sliding his grip up my arm as I cup his face gently. “Save the best for last, right?”

I don't wait for permission, climbing over the middle console and onto his lap.

Wait, will he care that I'm all bloody?