I nodded in agreement, an all-too-familiar fluttery feeling arising in my stomach at his words. “Tell me about it. I’m glad you’re back.” I smiled at him before softly pressing my lips to his again.
“I have to go now before I drag you back into my car and take you in your driveway.” A wicked grin spread across his face.
“Ryder.” I gasped, smacking his chest at the same time. He just laughed and walked away. Boys!
“See you in the a.m., love,” he called as he drove away, leaving me standing there staring after him like an idiot. I couldn’t help but feel happy, though. That little comment and that kiss were enough to reassure me that I at least meant something to him. I just hadn’t quite worked out what yet.
“So?” My mother raised a questioning eyebrow at me when I walked back into the kitchen. I coughed again and lunged for the glass of water still resting on the breakfast bar. “Ryder’s back.”
“Yes,” I deadpanned. I didn’t want to give anything away.
“You were awfully late home.”
“Sorry. Time just got away from us.” I smiled, hoping I looked apologetic.
“Uh-huh.” She tilted her head and eyed me carefully. “I’m not stupid, Bailey.”
“Never said you were.” I gulped down the last of the water. She knew, and she was waiting for me to admit it. It wasn’t going to happen, though. As laid back as she was and as close as we were, I was not telling her about my sex life. That would just be way too weird.
“Okay, just as long as you’re okay with everything and you’re happy, then I am too. You’re eighteen and a grown up, but just don’t rush anything, okay? I’ve seen the way you two are together. It’s intense. I don’t want you to get hurt.” She gripped my hand briefly, and I simply nodded, not knowing what to say. “Now, go and put Indie’s top back on properly.” She laughed and turned back to the stove.
Chapter
Twenty-Two
Ryder knocked on my door early. Far too early for school.
“Uhm, hi. You’re earl—” I began to say but was cut off when Ryder’s mouth crashed against mine with such force that I stumbled backwards a couple of steps.
Taking advantage of my momentary lack of balance, Ryder’s hands, which were gripping low on my hips, pushed me back further, steering me in the direction of the stairs until my back was pressed against the wall. His hands came up and cupped my face, tilting my head back slightly so he could deepen the kiss. I felt his tongue invade my mouth as my hands wound themselves into his hair, pulling him closer. I could never seem to get him close enough, though. I was in way too deep already, and it was only going to lead to trouble.
We were interrupted by the sound of someone clearing their throat. Ryder pulled his mouth away from mine but still kept me pushed against the wall as we both turned to look up the stairs. My mother walked down with a smirk on her face.
“Good morning, Ryder. You’re here rather early. Morning, Bailey.” She raised an eyebrow at us as if to question what we were doing kissing against the wall at six thirty in the morning.
“Morning, Mrs. M. Sorry, but I wanted to take Bailey out to breakfast before school.” He smiled at my mother.
“Oh, that’s a lovely idea.” She smiled back, her eyes briefly dropping to where our hands were linked.
“I have a seminar in the city, so I’m leaving now and won’t be home until late. You’ll have to organise your own dinner.” She kissed my cheek before picking up her bag and walking out the door.
“What exactly does your mother do anyway?” Ryder asked, bringing our linked hands up and pinning them to the wall on either side of my head. His closeness made it hard to think straight.
“Uhm…well, she’s…” I stuttered as Ryder’s lips pressed against the base of my throat, trailing soft kisses up to my jaw.
“Hmmm?” he hummed against my skin, making me tip my head back so he had better access to my neck.
“She’s a…a…yo…” I couldn’t even form a coherent sentence. Ryder’s mouth was making me lose my mind. I felt him press his hips into mine, and I tried to move my hands so I could touch him. Anywhere. His hair. His face. His chest. I just wanted to touch him, but he wouldn’t release his grip on my wrists.
“She’s a?” he prompted, grazing his teeth along my earlobe. That action made me gasp and arch my back to press my body against his.
“Yo…yoga…medit…med…it…at…or…” I finally managed to stutter out half an answer to his question. “She’s a…”
“Shhh. No more talking,” Ryder said, finally bringing his mouth to mine again. He released my hands and lifted me up, wrapping my legs around his waist. Before I could even come to my senses, he was carrying me up the stairs and heading directly for my room.
Once we stumbled into my room, he threw himself down on my bed, pulling me down on top of him. His fingers trailed up my spine and threaded themselves into my hair as he brought my lips to his, wasting no time in slipping his tongue into my mouth.
“Ryder,” I gasped, trying to pull away. As much as I wanted to stay right there and continue what we had started, I still had to get ready for school, and I could hardly go for breakfast in my shorty pyjamas.
“Ryder, I have to get ready so we can go.” I laughed when he grumbled at me pulling away and sitting up in his lap.
“I don’t want to go, Bailey. I just want to stay here.” He looked up at me and rubbed his hands over his face. It was only then that I realised how tired and drained he looked.
“Hey, are you okay? What’s up?” I asked, pulling his hands away from his face so I could see him better.
“I just want to stay here. I don’t want breakfast. Please? I had a horrible night. It was late and just all kinds of messed up.” He sighed, removing his hands from my grasp and placing them on my hips.
“Want to tell me about it?” I asked, trying my best to ignore the tingling sensation his fingers were leaving on my skin. I didn’t really expect him to answer, because he still wouldn’t tell me what it was he had been dealing with, but I could try. I wanted him to know I was there for him.
“Maybe I can help.”
“No. Not yet at least. I just need you, Bailey,” he told me, pushing himself up to a sitting position. The combination of his fingertips on my skin and the look in his bright green eyes was impossible to resist, and I found myself pulling his shirt over his head without a second thought.
***