Chapter 19

Ryder

“What were you saying?” I asked.

“I called you yesterday but the call wasn't getting through. I hope you don't mind Dave staying here” she said. 

“You should have told me before bringing a stranger into the house” her brown etched in a frown at what I said.

“Dave is not a stranger, and this is my house as much as it is yours; I can entertain anyone I want to,” she said all in one breath, her tone sharp.

I raised a brow, studying her and she looked down. “I want to finish up the cooking,” she said dismissively and turned away from me before I could respond.

She was behaving differently, like she was on the edge. She was not meeting my eyes, nor was she attempting to make conversation with me like she usually does.

At least she isn't in my space. Instead of feeling that relief, I felt something different and it gnawed at Me. Shaking off the thought, I went to my room to freshen up. My eyes were heavy, so I decided to sleep for a few minutes but I eventually slept for hours. 

I put on a shirt and left my room. I walked to the living room to find the TV playing with Ophelia and Dave watching a movie. Ryan was already sleeping in Ophelia's arms while Dave’s arm rested casually along the back of the couch, his body angled toward her, and something about the picture set my teeth on edge.

Before I could realize what I was doing, I went behind them and bent down, hugging Ophelia's neck from behind. She froze while I dipped my head on her neck. 

“Why are you still up?” I whispered but it was loud enough for Dave to hear. 

Ophelia was still frozen in her place at my touch, her entire body rigid. “You didn't tell me you wanted to watch a movie,” I continued. 

I don't know what I was doing but I surely liked her scent. Her scent, warm vanilla with a faint sweetness, enveloped me, and I inhaled her deeply and savored her scent. For the first time, I noticed how intoxicating her presence was.

 “Ryder,” She whispered, Her breathing rash, “what are you doing?” she asked.

“Stay still” I murmured against her neck, my lips grazing her skin. I heard her take a long deep breath causing her breath to hitch.

I heard Dave clear his throat. “I’ll take Ryan to his room,” he said, standing up.

I didn’t bother responding. My focus was on Ophelia, who still sat frozen under my touch.

When Dave disappeared, she finally pushed me away, her eyes wide with disbelief.

“Stop Ryan” she demanded, standing abruptly.

“What?” I asked.

“What was that?” She asked and I walked to her front.

“Watching a movie with you,” I said casually, sitting down beside her.

“When did you start watching movies?” she scoffed, her tone laced with sarcasm.

I patted the spot next to me. “Now. Sit.”

She looked at me in disbelief, eyeing me warily before turning to leave. But I reached out, grabbing her wrist, and she stumbled, falling against me. Her brown eyes widened and locked on mine, flickering with something between surprise and anger.

“Let me go,” she wrestled on me, trying to break free from my hold. “Leave me”

“Stop wringing” I grunted 

“I don't want you to say I am seducing you, so please let me go now,” she said, and I couldn't help but stare at her.

“I would never say that” 

“You hate me already, why can't you say that?” She asked and I could see the hurt in her eyes. 

“I-” words failed me at this point. I have always hated her but I haven't for once thought she was trying to seduce me. I never even saw her like that.

“I thought as much,” she said and was about to get up when I saw Dave coming from the shadows. I sneaked my hand around her waist and pulled her closer to me.

For a moment, I forgot to breathe. Her lips parted slightly, drawing my gaze. She bit her bottom lip. It was soft, red, and impossibly tempting. My control snapped when I looked into her eyes. It was not the normal brown orb again, it was laced with green, and I finally lost it.

I leaned in, pressing my mouth to hers. Her lips were warm, soft, and sweet, just as I had imagined. She froze for a second before melting into the kiss, her hands on my chest.

The last strand of control I held on went loose when I opened my mouth to take control of the kiss. I wanted more so I deepened the kiss, moving my head to the other side.

She wasn't experienced, but she caught up quickly, and she pulled on my hair, making me make a low grunt at the back of my throat.

She stopped and repeated the action. I shifted, lowering her onto the couch with my body hovering over hers. 

Her breath was shallow, her chest rising and falling against mine. This was dangerous, reckless but I couldn’t stop.

I attacked her lips again with much passion and she responded with the same. A loud moan sounded from her as I trailed my finger on her exposed skin and her eyes opened in panic. 

She pushed me off and sat down immediately. “What have you done?” She asked in horror as she placed her fingers on her lips.

“What?” I was confused. Her eyes have returned to her normal brown orbs and it was like nothing ever happened except from her lips. It looked swollen and properly sucked.

“I am sorry,” she said before running from the living room, leaving me behind, confused and hot.

Fuck.