After her final tremors subside, I slip my hand out of her panties and reluctantly do back up her pants. A small breeze kicks up making her shiver and I watch goose bumps break out over her soft skin. I know I should put her shirt back on but I’m not ready for her to be covered from me just yet. So instead, I wrap my arms around her waist and pull her bare body up to my chest and hold her close.
I see her expression soft and sated, yet also uncertain. “What are you thinking, Em?” I hope I didn’t rush things for her.
Her hands go to my face again, her ice blue eyes focusing just to the left of me, like usual. “I’m thinking that I like the way you make me feel, and I really liked it when you touched me.”
I release a breath I didn’t realize I was holding and press a soft kiss to her lips. “I liked it too. A lot.”
“I just…”
“What?” I ask as she trails off into a whisper.
“I don’t know what I’m supposed to do now.” She clears her throat. “Am I supposed to return the favor?”
I smirk when her cheeks flush pink with embarrassment. “No, baby, you don’t have to return the favor. That was just for you.”
Her cheeks turn pinker. “Sorry, that probably was a stupid question. I just don’t know what I’m supposed to do, or how I’m supposed to act since I have, uh, never done that before.”
My amusement vanishes at the uncertainty in her voice and I cup the side of her face. “No, it wasn’t stupid. Whenever you’re uncertain how to act, Em, just be yourself and then you can never go wrong. Because you’re perfect.”
She gives me a genuine smile and wraps her arms around my neck, bringing herself that much closer to me. “In case you didn’t already know, I like you, Ryder Jameson. A lot.”
“I had a feeling, Emily Michaels.”
She giggles then rests her forehead on mine. “And,” she whispers, her lips only a breath from mine, “you make me feel beautiful.”
I grind my teeth, hating that she’s never felt it until now. It’s the only thing I resent about her blindness – that she doesn’t get to see how incredibly beautiful she really is, and to know her mother is full of shit. “Jesus, Emily, you have no idea how beautiful you are, every single part of you, especially your eyes.” I lean in and kiss the corner of one eye before moving to the next. Showing her that what her mother thinks is a flaw, I think is beautiful. Her eyes fall closed and a single tear drops to my lips, which makes me feel like someone punched me in the throat.
After holding her for a few minutes, I reluctantly say, “We should go. I want to make sure we make it back in time before the bell rings.”
She hugs me tighter. “I wish we could stay here forever, just like this.”
“Me too, baby.”
After I help her get her clothes back on, I get her situated on the bike again, then take off. The entire way back to school I try to think of ways we can make this work when I leave for college, because I can’t lose her. I’ve never wanted anything or anyone as badly as I want her.
We arrive back at the school with ten minutes to spare. I park down the street then help her off and begin walking her back. Panic starts to strike me, not knowing when the next time will be that we will get to be alone again, but I do know that it won’t be soon enough. Just as we get a few feet from the school grounds, I stop and pull her against me before taking her lush mouth in a heated kiss. Her arms go around my neck and her soft body melts against my hard one. I meant for it to be a quick kiss, but the longer I hold her and taste her, the more my panic eases.
“Well, well, well, what do we have here?”
I tense at the familiar cocky voice, and my blood instantly turns hot with rage. Emily starts to jump back but I keep her close, not wanting to give the asshole the satisfaction. I turn to see Prescott with some of his buddies from the football team, all of them wearing smug smiles at busting us. Well fuck, this isn’t going to turn out good at all. He’s always a cocky prick, but even worse in front of his buddies, which means I am going to have to shut him up.
“This isn’t your business, Prescott, so I suggest you get the fuck out of here before I have to embarrass you in front of your friends.”
He doesn’t acknowledge me, only Emily, and my blood burns hotter at the way his eyes sweep down her. “I have to admit, Emily, I would have never guessed you were the type to go slumming.”
I take a step toward him but Emily holds me back, her hand trembling on my chest.
“Shut up, Kyle. Ryder is right – this isn’t your business. Now leave.”
“Actually, it is my business. I told your father I would keep an eye on you. What is he going to say when he hears about this?”
“I don’t need you to watch out for me and I do not care what anyone has to say about Ryder and I seeing each other. That includes my father.”
“Better yet, Prescott,” I jump in, “keep your fucking mouth shut or I will shut it for you.”
The prick finally swings his eyes from Emily to me. “You need to stick with your own kind, Jameson.”
“And what kind is that, asshole?” I shout, taking another step toward him. “Come on, say it, I fucking dare you. Say it!”
Emily has both hands on my chest now, trying to push me back. “Stop it now. Kyle, leave before this gets out of hand.” I halt my pursuit at the fear in her voice, stopping only a few feet from the asshole, but my body vibrates with the violence I am trying so hard to rein in.
The prick’s smile turns more smug, thinking he has me and I won’t come at him because of Emily. “You know, I have to say, Jameson, it surprises me you’re wasting your time with her, not only because she’s blind, but the bitch is also locked together at the knees. Believe me, I’ve fucking tried… Hard.”
My control snaps. Emily’s arms forgotten, I rush toward him, and for a split second his expression resonates pure fear, just before I take him to the ground. He tries blocking his face but I don’t hold back, my fists rain down on him blow after blow. “You motherfucker. You don’t know when to shut your fucking mouth!” He manages to bring his own fist up and clips the side of my jaw, but I feel nothing, only the violence that rushes through my veins.
“Stop it! Ryder, please stop!” Emily’s desperate and fearful pleas sound distant to my ears. I feel arms try to pull me back but my fury make it impossible. I know I need to stop, that I am going to seriously harm him if I don’t, but my rage has me losing all common sense.
Suddenly, I’m plowed to the side by two bodies. I’m just about to start beating the shit out of whoever they are when one person quickly stands and holds their hands up. “Easy, man, take it easy. Johnson and Thomas are both coming.” With my breathing heavy and my head starting to clear, I stand and realize it is Jimmy Newman. I look around and quickly notice a crowd forming around us, and people piling out of the school. Prescott struggles to stand; his face a swollen, bloody mess.
“Ryder?”
At the sound of Emily’s tearful voice, I search through the crowd then rush over to her. “I’m here, baby.” I pull her trembling body against me. “I’m sorry I left you.”
“What is going on here?” Mrs. Thomas pushes her way through the crowd with Johnson following behind her. Everyone clears a path for her, and when she gets a look at Prescott’s face she halts and gasps. “Mr. Prescott, what on earth happened to you?” It takes her no time to search me out, and her eyes widen briefly when she notices me holding Emily.
“Is someone going to tell me what happened?” When no one speaks up she looks back at me. “Mr. Jameson?” I offer her no response, which really pisses her off. “Fine! I want both of you in my office, right now.”
“But it wasn’t Ryder’s fault…” Emily tries speaking up but I shut her up by pressing a quick, hard kiss to her mouth, tasting the saltiness of her tears.
Shocked whispers fall around us, but I ignore them and wipe her tears away with my thumb. “It’s okay, Em. Just go home and I’ll call you later.” I search the crowd for Cece and see her make her way over to us.