I feel his jaw clench under my hand and feel guilty for upsetting him. “I know, Em, and you don’t have to be sorry about it. I told you I’m used to it, but the thing is, no one is going to be okay with it. Our sides… they don’t mix – not ever.”
I get angry thinking about how divided our worlds are. “It’s stupid and I don’t care what anyone says, not even my parents.”
He wraps his arm around my waist and pulls me in closer. “Yeah, baby, it’s fucking stupid, but it’s the world we live in. Here anyway. I don’t want to cause problems for you, Em, or me for that matter. So let’s tread carefully and keep shit on the down low… for now.”
“When will we ever get to see each other if we can’t be together around school?”
“I’ll find a way,” he whispers before trailing his warm lips on my neck again. “And believe me, Em, when I say nothing, or no one, will fucking stop me.”
A shiver travels down my spine, both from pleasure and fear. Because I know if we get caught then all hell will break loose, but I have a feeling losing Ryder would be worse than any wrath my father could bring us.
Hours later, after more talking and lots of heavy kissing, Ryder takes me back to my house. Thankfully, he’s able to drop me off right at my door since my parents are out of town. After giving me a very long kiss goodnight, that leaves my body aching and my heart content, I reluctantly walk in. Closing the door, I lean back against it with a sigh and touch my lips.
I’m so lost in my post bliss that I don’t hear Rosa until she says: “Emily, who was that?”
I smile and straighten from the door. “That, Rosa, was Ryder Jameson, the most amazing guy I have ever met.”
“The boy who helped you with Kyle?”
I nod, a smile still gracing my face. I hear her let out a worried sigh and know what she’s going to say. “Oh, Emily, you have to be careful, honey. We talked about this, if your father finds out…”
“I don’t care what my parents say. I can’t stay away from him, Rosa, and I don’t want to either. He makes me feel things I’ve never felt before. He- he makes me feel beautiful.”
I sense her move closer to me then feel her familiar, warm hands frame my face. “That’s because you are beautiful.” She pauses. “I’m just worried about your father, please be careful, Emily.”
“I will. We are keeping it quiet, for now.” I smile again. “Did you get a look at him?” I ask, wanting to know what she thinks.
“Yes, I did, and I must say he is very handsome.”
Before I can stop myself, I giggle like a giddy little schoolgirl. “Rosa, he’s perfect.”
“Oh, dear girl, you are starting to scare me. Come on, let’s go to bed.” She takes my hand and I let her lead me to my room, even though it’s not necessary.
Her worry does nothing to take away from the wonderful feeling I have flowing inside of me, because I meant what I said. I don’t care what anyone says. I don’t care where Ryder comes from. All I care about is when I get to see him next, and feel his perfect lips against mine again.
Chapter 5
Ryder
The hallway is empty as I wait for the one girl, who has plagued my every waking thought for the last three fucking months, to walk out of the classroom. The same girl I should have stayed away from because she is way too good for the likes of me, but as it turns out I have no control or common sense when it comes to Emily Michaels.
I left the classroom quickly so I could wait for her while everyone headed to their next class, but she’s taking longer than I expect her to and I start wondering if somehow I missed her. But as soon as the thought emerges she finally walks out, and even though I was just sitting behind her, the sight of her still hits me like a punch to the chest. Jesus she is fucking perfect.
My eyes roam down her beautiful, slender body the closer she gets, taking in her no-nonsense, classy sweater that I’m sure her bitch of a mother forced her to wear, but I can’t complain because it hugs her in all the right places. Her designer jeans mold to her like second skin, and are paired with the sexiest fuck-me boots I’ve ever seen. I watch as she drags her delicate fingers along the lockers, and her perfect lips move slightly as she counts. Lips that I’ve been aching to taste. She falters the closer she gets and I know it’s because she can sense me. I have no idea how the fuck she does it, but she always does.
“Ryder?” she whispers, worrying who is around to hear.
“Yeah, baby, it’s me.” Not being able to hold back another second, I pick her up around the waist and blow through the janitor’s door. I swallow her gasp of surprise as I slam her up against the wall and kiss her like I’ve been aching to. And fuck does she taste good. I swear no one in the world tastes as good as this girl. Like strawberries and innocence. The strawberries is from her lip-gloss she wears all the time, but the innocence – that is all her. Who the fuck knew innocence had a taste.
It takes her no time to respond. Releasing a whimper that spikes my cock to full intensity, she wraps her slender legs around my waist, and her body goes from cold to hot in a matter of seconds.
“Damn, I’ve fucking missed you.” In reality it’s been less than forty-eight hours since I last got to touch her, but it feels longer than that. Much fucking longer, and lately I’m finding that I constantly need to be around her or I feel like I can’t fucking breathe. I can’t explain it, all I know is this girl does shit to me that no one else ever has, makes me want things I never thought I would. Things I have no business feeling for a girl like her.
“Me too. I always miss you.” She mumbles into the kiss, “I’m tired of hiding, Ryder.”
The sad note to her voice has me pulling back to look at her. Reaching up, I rip the fucking sunglasses off her face and unveil the prettiest ice blue eyes I’ve ever seen, ones that make my chest constrict with something I can’t name. I stare into her innocent expression that’s soft with sadness and wish I could change this. That I could change our situation, and all the political bullshit that we live in.
“Let’s get out of here.”
“What? But where? And what about school?” she rambles, clearly caught off guard at my suggestion.
“Fuck school. For today let’s leave all this shit behind us. We’ll go grab lunch in Fairfield, where no one will recognize us, then come back and go park at the cliff.” I watch her contemplate it and can tell she wants to say yes. I lean in and rest my forehead against hers. “Say yes, baby. I want to be alone with you.”
She relents on a sigh. “Okay. I just have to make sure I’m back in time to leave with Cece.”
“I promise I’ll have you back by then.” I give her a brief kiss, making sure not to linger or we won’t be leaving this closet for a while, and let her down to her feet. “We’ll go grab your coat then leave out the side door.”
Swinging the door open, I look both ways before taking her hand and leading her to her locker. I turn back to see her quickly slide her sunglasses back into place, which pisses me off but I decide to leave it for now since she will need them on when we ride anyway. After grabbing her jacket we slip out of the school quickly and easily.
Once we get to my bike I put my helmet on her and she lets out a resigned sigh. “I really wish you wouldn’t be without a helmet, Ryder. It’s dangerous.”
I roll my eyes. “I’ll be fine, Em. Now get your pretty ass on the bike.”
Giggling, she takes my hand and lets me help her. Once she’s situated, I get on in front of her and my cock jumps to attention when she comes flush against my back. Her legs hugging mine in a way that I have dreamed about, only in my dreams they are bare and reversed.
Damn, I need this girl in the worst way, but I’ve been treading carefully. Not only because of how innocent she is, but also because I know, when the day finally comes that I take her, it’s going to fucking change me in every way imaginable, and that scares the living shit out of me.
*
After eating lunch at the small diner in the next town over, I pull up to the cliff and park in our usual spot. Rather than getting off the bike, I reverse our positions so she’s in front, straddling me.