by K. C. Lynn
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.
“No, I don’t want to leave you.”
“I’ll be okay, I promise.” I give her one last kiss on the forehead before walking off. I feel Prescott follow behind me, and that familiar rage begins to build again but I rein it in.
“I’ll take Ryder in my office,” Mrs. Johnson says, speaking up now.
Thomas doesn’t seem keen on the idea, but reluctantly agrees with a nod. “Then I will take Mr. Prescott to the nurse.”
Before she takes him away, I point at him. “That was your only warning, Prescott. You stay the fuck away from her or next time I won’t be gentle.”
“Ryder, enough!” Mrs. Johnson snaps, pulling my arm and dragging me into her office. It’s the most pissed I’ve ever seen her. Under most circumstances I wouldn’t give a shit if a teacher is mad at me, but she’s different. She’s been the only teacher to ever give a shit about me. She helped me work my way to a full academic scholarship. A scholarship I probably just blew to shit now, but thinking about what that prick said about Emily, I know I would do it all over again.
I take a seat just as she slams the door. “Are you crazy, Ryder? What were you thinking?”
I try to keep my temper reined in because I respect the hell out of this lady. “The asshole deserved it. I warned him to keep his mouth shut and he didn’t. I will take a lot of insults, but no one fucking insults Emily and gets away with it.”
She doesn’t scold me on my language, it’s another thing I’ve always liked about her. Her face softens with worry now rather than anger. “Ryder, out of all the girls in the school did it really have to be Emily Michaels?”
I glare at her. “What the hell does that mean?” I know I’m not good enough for Emily, I know where I come from, but I’m surprised that she thinks it too.
“Not what you’re thinking. I think in any other circumstance Emily would be lucky to have you. But don’t you realize the problems this can cause for you? You have worked so hard, Ryder, don’t throw it all away on a girl that you don’t have a future with.”
“Says who?” She rears back in shock, and I’m not sure if it’s by my shout or the fact that I want a future with Emily. “Do you really think I am risking all the shit I’ve worked so hard for because of some chick I just want to screw around with for a while?”
“How are you going to have any kind of relationship when you are going off to college in just over a month?”
“I’ll deal with it when the time comes. I’ll find a way.”
She looks doubtful but I don’t really give a shit. “What if I told you that you could leave sooner?”
I narrow my eyes at her. “What are you talking about?”
She releases a heavy sigh. “You and Emily may have gone unnoticed by a lot of people, but not me. I know you care about her, Ryder, I can see it, but you have worked too hard to have everything ripped away from you for this, and we both know her father will do it when he finds out.” She moves to stand in front of me. “I talked with m
y friend, who is the Dean at the University of Florida. He has set up a dorm room for you; I think you should take it and leave soon.”
“What the hell are you talking about? I’m not even done this semester and I have two finals I still have to pass.”
She nods. “And we both know if you challenge them you will pass. It’s also something I have requested from both of your teachers, and they complied. Even Mrs. Thomas agreed.”
I stare at her in shock and try to tamp down the panic that threatens to take hold of me. I shake my head. “No. I’m not leaving Emily earlier than I have to.” And if I have my way, I won’t part from her at all.
“Ryder, please consider this. If you stay here any longer I may not have any power to help you out of the trouble her father and Kyle’s will cause you.”
Her words have me feeling angry and helpless, which makes me lash out. “No!” I stand up and knock the chair back in my haste. “I’m not fucking leaving her, and you better hear me now – no one will keep me from her. Not you, not her fucking dad, and definitely not fucking Prescott.” With that, I storm out of her office and make my way to my bike.
The entire way to work a million emotions plague me: anger, resentment, helplessness and most of all fear. Something I am not used to feeling. I’m fucking terrified of losing Emily, that I won’t be able to stop the politics of the world we live in, and it will divide us.
Chapter 6
Ryder
The next night I’m on my way home from work, feeling no better since walking out of Johnson’s office yesterday. I miss Emily like fucking crazy. Other than a few texts and getting to see her in class this morning, I haven’t gotten the chance to be alone with her.
So far nothing has come up with her father and I’m hoping that’s because Prescott decided to keep his mouth shut, but I have a feeling that’s not the case. I know it’s only a matter of time until the asshole strikes. I just wish he would do it already. It’s like waiting for your impending doom and it makes me feel fucking helpless. I have exhausted myself in trying to come up with ways to make everything work out and I have come up with only one. I’m just hoping Emily will go for it.
I shake myself from my thoughts, feeling too fucked up to think about it any more tonight. As I park in front of my piece of shit, run-down house I realize my mood is only about to get worse when I hear the sound of shattering glass and my father yelling. I debate whether to just leave and come back when I know they will both be passed out from whatever bottle they drank from tonight, but decide against it when I hear my mother start to scream. Fuck, I did not need this tonight. My mother’s screams escalate so I rush into the house just in time to see my father backhand her, knocking her to the ground. Something that has happened many times before.
“You fucking whore! How many times do I have to tell you?”
When he begins to drag her back up, I rush to stand in front of her and intercept his efforts by pushing him back. “Back off!”
His eyes widen in shock before they narrow in hatred – the only thing I have ever received from him. “You mind your own business,” he seethes, pointing at me, “or I will fuck you up worse than her.”
That may have been the case years ago, but not any more. This drunk asshole used to rain his fists down on me almost daily, but then, one day, I grew up and fought back. It was the last time he ever used his fists on me. Tonight though, he seems more fucked up than usual, so that may change.
“Not any more, old man, and we both know who will be the one to come out on top if you do. Now get the fuck out and sober up before coming back.”
It was clearly the wrong button to push. “You worthless piece of shit.” He charges at me, throwing a right hook, clipping the side of my jaw. “You don’t kick me out of my house!”
All the pent-up rage and helplessness I have been feeling over the last two days unleashes. When he comes at me again, I meet him halfway and run into him with enough force that we fall to the ground with me on top and I don’t hold back. I hit him with all the strength I have and feel his nose shatter under my fist.
“Ryder, stop it!” my mom screams, of course – wanting to save the prick.
I do stop, but only after a few more shots. I stand up with my lungs heaving from fury and adrenaline. I point down at my father, whose nose is busted and face is bloody. “I fucking warned you to never hit me again.”
My mom pushes me out of the way and crouches down next to my father to help him. She looks up and glares at me. “What the hell are you thinking? You know better. You need to stay out of things that aren’t your business!”
I shake my head, not surprised by her blaming this on me. “You’re right, I do know better. I’ve known since I was a kid. I guess I should have just stood by and watched him beat the shit out of you, like you used to do with me.” With that parting comment I storm out of the house, slamming the half-broken door behind me.
I hop on my bike, needing to get the hell out of here and away from this shitty life. Normally, when I feel like this I park at the cliff, but right now I’m feeling even more fucked up than usual, like there is no end in sight. I need something more, or rather, someone.
Emily
I’m laying in bed with Summer next to me, my arm over her neck and her face close to mine, soaking in her comfort. Ever since everything went down with Ryder yesterday, my heart has been heavy and my anxiety uncontrollable. I’m terrified for what my parents are going to do when they find out about Ryder and me. Though as nervous as I am for their wrath, I’m more nervous about losing Ryder. Just the thought has agony striking my heart. No, that won’t happen. I will not let my parents dictate who I see. I’m suddenly startled out of my thoughts when I hear a ruckus at my window. What the… Summer jumps from my bed and starts to growl. My heart stops when I hear my window lifting.
I shoot up and am just about to scream with everything I possess when a familiar, deep masculine voice penetrates the silence. “Easy, Em, don’t be scared it’s just me.”
“Ryder?” I whisper both in shock and relief. “Are you freaking crazy? You do not sneak into a blind girl’s room, not ever,” I scold, even though I am really not upset, if anything I’m thrilled he’s here, and maybe a little scared at getting caught.
“Sorry,” he apologizes, sounding different. There’s something in his tone I can’t quite name but it has me worried.
I fix my nightgown, making sure I’m proper, before turning and letting my feet hang off the side of my bed. “Ryder, are you okay?”
I feel him kneel in front of me a moment later, just before his strong arms wrap around my waist and he buries his face into my stomach. “I just needed to see you. I need to hold you.”
My heart clenches at the vulnerability in his voice, something I’ve never heard from him before. He’s always so strong and seems so unaffected, but right now the air around us is so thick with whatever is tormenting him that it’s almost suffocating. I wrap my own arms around his neck and run my fingers through his soft, messy hair, trying to offer him as much comfort as I can. “Do you want to talk about it?”
I feel him shake his head. “No, I just… I just need you, Em.”
“You have me. Always,” I whisper thickly, my heart breaking at the sound of his voice. What on earth happened to him?
He lifts his head and I feel him rise a little higher on his knees before taking my mouth with a desperation I’ve never felt from him. It sets my body on fire and distracts me from my worry. His tongue strokes mine intimately, his incredible taste and scent infiltrating my senses. I twine my fingers in his hair as I kiss him back just as desperately; getting lost in the passion we always create together.
His rough hands slip under my nightgown, sliding up the outside of my thighs until they are grasping my hips possessively. He breaks the kiss to trail his mouth down my throat, while I take in lungfuls of much needed air. I hold him close, never wanting this to end. His mouth doesn’t stop its descent, making its way down my chest un
til he finds my nipple through the thin fabric of my nightgown. I release a whimper and my need spikes to a whole new level. I begin rocking my hips against his stomach, desperately seeking relief from the throbbing between my legs.
He groans and starts pulling up my nightgown. “I need to touch you, Em,” he states, but stops at my ribcage waiting for my permission.
“Yes,” I approve breathlessly, quickly remembering the pleasure he brought me yesterday. He wastes no time ridding me of my nightgown, and cupping my breasts in his large, rough hands. I moan and arch into his possessive touch.
Leaning in, he takes one of my sensitive nipples into his hot, wet mouth, and sucks with enough pressure that my head falls back on a cry. “Ryder, it feels so good.” He goes back and forth, tormenting me and making my body burn so hot it becomes almost unbearable. But my heart yearns for more, craving an intimacy I’ve never wanted until him. I reach for his shirt and start dragging it up his back. “Take this off, I want to feel you against me.”
He leans back, breaking contact from my breast and I hear him shed his shirt just before I feel his hard, bare body envelop mine. He pulls me flush against him and electricity shoots through every part of my body. We both moan at the skin-to-skin contact. It’s a connection that steals my breath, and has me wanting to burst into tears but I hold back, not wanting to look like a lunatic.
“Fuck, you have the softest skin I’ve ever felt, Emily.”
My hands roam his back, my fingers getting lost in the grooves of his muscles. He feels so hard, yet smooth. I continue my exploration, wanting to know every part of him, but it’s not enough, I want more. I want to get lost in everything we are rather than everything we aren’t. “Ryder?” I whisper softly.
“Yeah, baby?” he asks, running his mouth along the side of my jaw.
“I want you to make love to me.”
He tenses then leans back. I feel him stare at me and I bite my lip nervously, my heart racing in fear of his rejection. “I didn’t come here for that, Em, I swear. I just wanted to be with you. To hold you.”
