Song for the chapter: Hands to Myself, by Selena Gomez

I stirred awake the next morning, feeling surprisingly good. Almost instantly the moments of last night are replaying in my mind, making the butterflies erupt before I even fully open my eyes.

That's when I notice the heavy weight around my waist.

I blink several times before I turn my head to the side, seeing Ryker's resting body beside me.

What?

I try to slide off the bed, but he just tightens his grip on my waist and does the cutest little grumble noise I've ever heard in my life. I bite my lip, attempting to slide out of his grasp again.

I successfully manage to slip free and look around his room; it's barely sun up, but it wouldn't matter being that everything in this room is black. Black walls, black sheets, black sheer curtains. Everything was just dark. My frown was evident as I looked at the sleeping boy in front of me.

I tiptoed around the room and opened a door, which was a closet. I walked to the other door that was closed and sighed with relief when I saw it was the bathroom. I walked in and immediately went pee. Once I finished and washed my hands, I saw the folded shirt and boxers Ryker had on the countertop. I looked at it carefully.

Should I risk doing anything here? Or should I just go home? I mean, it's right there.

But the thing was...I didn't want to leave. I wanted to stay right here, I wanted to wear his clothes. So like a creep, I walked to the shower and turned on the water. I stripped and tossed my clothes into a pile and stepped into the warm water.

Since Ryker stole my scrunchie again last night, I had nothing to keep my hair from getting wet. So I just used the shampoo that Ryker had—which smelled so husky and so much like him—and his body wash. When I finished, I grabbed the towel that was folded on top of the metal rack and wrapped it around my body.

I grabbed the tub of toothpaste and put some on my finger, doing the best I could to wash my mouth and kill any trace of morning breath. I rinsed my mouth clean and slipped on Ryker's boxers, first. Then I just put his shirt over my head, not wanting to wear a bra after sleeping in one.

I ran my fingers through my tangled hair and used the towel to dry it up as much as possible. When I finished, I draped it over the rack and folded my clothes. I set them on the counter and opened the door. Ryker wasn't in bed, which made me raise a brow.

I walked, trying to find my phone. I knelt on the bed, my hands scanning the bed.

"Fuck."

I turn my head, Ryker standing halfway in the room, no shirt on, staring at me.

"Oh," I swallow and sit, scooting off the bed. "Sorry I kinda just invaded your space. I just needed to shower after being in last nights clothes still."

Ryker's eyes were wide as he dragged them down my body slowly, then back up.

"Don't be sorry," his voice was deep now as he stepped towards me. I took automatic steps back. "You look better in my clothes than I do."

I snort. Ryker's shirt was so big, half of it was hanging off my shoulder.

"Yeah, right."

"I'm not joking," he was dead serious as my back hit the wall. "You look fucking sexy."

I gulp, literally gulp as he places both hands on either side of my head. His eyes go down my body, making me squirm. He leans forward, his nose trailing down from my ear to my neck.

"You smell like me." His husky voice hit my skin. "Why is that such a fucking turn on?"

I almost pant at those words as I ball my fists at my sides. Ryker kissed the exposed skin, right between my collar bone and my neck, making me shudder.

"You drive me crazy, Maddison."

My name coming out of his mouth when it sounds like that...it made my head spin. When he looked up at me with dark and dangerous eyes, I froze.

"Touch me."

My brows furrowed. "What?"

"I need you to touch me," he begs, but demands. "Please."

He takes my fists and places them on his bare chest. He breathes, almost like a sigh of relief, when my skin touches his. His hands return to the wall beside me as I flatten my palms.

"I don't..." I shake my head.

"I know," he shakes his head. "This is all I need."

I tilt my head as I trail my hands up his neck and grab it. My thumbs lightly stroke his jaw, a small smile on my lips.

"I like how you see me, Ryker."

Confusion flashes across his eyes before I stepped on my tippie toes and pressed my lips against his. It was true; as confusing as it was, Ryker saw me and he liked what he saw. I don't understand, but he likes it. And it excites me to be seen, to be wanted to such a degree.

Ryker's lips were quick to claim mine as he moves his hands into my wet hair. He angled my head, deepening the kiss as his tongue swept across my bottom lip. My lips voluntarily parted for him, his tongue dipping into my mouth. I couldn't stop the moan when his touched mine, which happened quite a few times.

His hands moved back and slid down the wall, but paused. He looked at me, both our rough breaths mixing together.

"Is this okay?"

I feel my cheeks heat up under his intense gaze.

"I just don't wanna pressure you into something you're not ready for." He moved both hands to my face and cupped my cheeks. "I can wait. For you, I'd wait forever."

At that, my heart skipped several beats. The right guy, my mom would tell me, won't pressure you into doing something you're not ready to do. He'll value your virtue and treat you the way you deserve to be treated. He'll see your worth, even if you don't.

I smash my lips against his, not wasting another second. He moved his hands to my waist, holding me gently. I ran my hands down his broad, bare back and pressed him closer to me. The groan that came from his mouth was immaculate, fueling me to continue. So I took a play from the Ryker handbook and took that lip ring of his between my teeth and nibbled gently before I tugged.

"Fuck," Ryker breathed out.

Ryker's big hand traveled down my waist and to my thighs, moving to my knees. He used one arm to lift me up while using the other to hook my legs around his waist.

I held onto his shoulders as he sat down on the bed, deep hazel eyes boring into mine.

"You have no idea how beautiful you are." His voice is just above a whisper as his hands play with the hem of his shirt.

"Ryker—"

"Extremely fucking beautiful." His voice cut me off as he kissed my jaw. "Exquisite." Another kiss. "Tender." He said against my skin as he kissed my neck. "Soft."

As he said that, he applied a bit of pressure as he sucked the skin on my neck, making me suck in a deep breath. I tightened my legs around his waist.

His hands moved under the material hanging loose on my body and I felt his rough, warm skin on my stomach. He shivered as he kissed my neck, then looked up at me, a desire in his eyes that made my stomach flip.

His hands traveled upward, my breathing picking up. My eyes, wide as saucers, were stuck on his beautiful, hunger-filled hazel ones as he inches higher and higher. I swallow hard as he pulls his lip between his teeth.

An uncontrollable hunger took over when he did that; I pressed my lips against his and just attacked. I was kissing him in a way I never had before—it was foreign, it was new, and it was exhilarating.

His hands moved up more, his thumb caressing the sensitive skin of my breast. I let out a gasp at the feeling, the new sensation overcoming me. His thumb brushes over my nipple and my eyes try to roll to the back of my head as I moan.

"You are so," Ryker's voice is rough and sexy as hell. "Fucking beautiful."

Ryker takes the same nipple between his fingers and rolls it, making me want to scream. How is it that something so simple feels so damn good?

"You have no idea how good I can make you feel," he whispers in my ear.

"Oh my God," I mutter under my breath.

Did I say that out loud? I don't care. The way he expertly moved his fingers was clouding my mind. When he moved his other hand to palm my other breast, squeezing and muttering faint profanities under his breath, I felt weak.

"Ryker," I moaned, embarrassingly loud.

Ryker crashed his lips against mine, his gentle assault on my breasts never easing up. His kisses were passionate, demanding, lustful, needy. He needed me just as I needed him, and for some reason, that made me feel...happy.

"Fuck, Maddison," Ryker said against my lips as I accidentally bit his. "Shit."

"I'm sorry." I mutter.

"No," he smirks. "It's just really hard not to take you, right here and now, and really make you scream my name."

My eyes widened. His hands were still in my shirt, gently stroking the sides of my breasts. I could feel him between my legs. So...

"Why not?" I ask, breathless.

"Maddison," he moved his hands and grabbed my face. "I don't want you to think you have to do anything you're not ready for because of me." He gives me a soft smile. "I already told you I can wait."

"But what if I am ready?"

Even as I said the words, I knew I wasn't. I wasn't ready for Ryker to see the ugly scars I hide, to see me the way I see myself in the mirror. He'd run away, I know it.

"You'll know when you are, baby." He kisses the tip of my nose. "And I'll wait, however long it takes."

I try not to focus solely on the fact that he just called me baby, and appreciate the fact that he had said he'd wait for me to be ready. I just wish I knew how long that was going to take.

Instead of answering, I just wrap my arms around his neck and press my forehead against his warm skin. I don't know what to say without sounding too insecure, and insecurity, my mom always assured me, was a turn off for a man if you showed him too much. So I opted for saying nothing instead and just hugging him.

He held me close, running one hand up and down my back slowly. We stayed like this for a few moments before we heard the doorbell ring.

"Oh," Ryker smiles slightly. "I forgot to tell you my uncle and his wife were coming by for a bit today. I hope you don't mind."

"Ryker!" I scramble my thoughts. "I can't meet them like this!"

"Why not?" He grins mischievously. "I think you look perfect."

I roll my eyes and rush to my feet. I run into the bathroom and shut the door. I quickly grab my clothes from yesterday and slide them up my legs. There was no way I was meeting a part of Ryker's family in his boxers. I also slipped my arms through his shirt and clipped on my bra, slipping it up underneath. I didn't feel like parting ways with this shirt just yet.

I looked in the mirror; my eyes still had a wild glow, cheeks flushed, hair a bit messy from Ryker running his hands through and gripping onto it. I bit my lip and tried to rid myself of all the thoughts trying to come back up from just moments ago.

I try my best to run my fingers through my hair as I walk down the stairs and follow the voices traveling through the hall. I turn the corner and see two tall figures, then Ryker.

Was everyone in this family freakishly tall?

"Maddison." Ryker smiles. "This is my uncle Vinnie, his wife Yolanda. Vinnie, Landa, I'd like you to meet Maddison."

I extend my arm out; Vinnie was tall, buff, and had a long beard. He has pretty green eyes and a kind smile as he shook my hand.

"Well, hello there. You're prettier than Ryker mentioned."

"Vinnie!" Ryker looked at him.

"Don't mind him, love." The woman beside him cooed. She was beautiful, with dark skin, brown eyes, short brown hair that fell in waves to her shoulder. She had the faintest trace of an accent, but I couldn't tell from where. "I'm Yolanda, his wife."

"Hi," I smile as I shake her hand.

"Ryker is right, though: you are very beautiful.

I blush and Ryker throws out his hands. "Thanks a lot, you guys."

Yolanda looks at Ryker with a smile. "Why don't you and I go whip up some breakfast, yeah? I'm sure your lovely guest is starved."

"But—"

She didn't give him any time to say anything, just pulling him away to what I assume is the kitchen. I watch with a small smile as he glances at me over his shoulder and disappears behind a wall.

"You know," Vinnie catches my attention. "Landa and I met in college."

"Really?" I smile.

"Oh yeah. It was at a house party, I'd been drinking and just messing around with my friends. I turned to the side and saw her just sitting there, like an angel. I mean, she literally took my breath away." Vinnie sighs.

"Sounds romantic." I lean against the wall.

"Oh, I was a bit of a romantic back in the day. Still got it," he grins. "I walked up to her and laid out my best pickup line."

"Which was?"

"I said, excuse me ma'am, do you know CPR? And her eyes got all wide and she, of course, thought someone was in trouble. But I, all smoothly, said, because you've taken my breath away."

I couldn't help it, I busted out in laughter. Like, real, genuine laughter that made me throw my head back.

"You know, she laughed at me the same exact way," Vinnie blushed, shaking his head. "But I knew she was the one."

I tilted my head. "Just like that?"

He nodded. "Right off the back. Of course, she made me work for it. But I proposed a month later and she said yes."

"Only a month?" I dropped my jaw.

He smiled. "Yep. And it's been the best twenty years of my life."

How in the...twenty years? And he proposed to her a month later? And knew right off the back? I've only recently started to like Ryker, admitting to myself that I have deeper feelings for him. How can I know that it's meant to be more than that? How do I know, without a shadow of a doubt?

"Ryker's had a shit hand dealt to him." Vinnie sighs, breaking my thoughts. "He's been through a lot, no thanks to his parents. But he's still an alright guy if you ask me." He looks at me with a small smile. "You just gotta give him a shot."

I felt my stomach flutter as I thought on his words, trying to process my feelings, as well as be present in the moment with Ryker's family. But all I could think about what the possibility of a potential future with Ryker.

A/N

Don't worry, y'all. The chapter kinda continues in Ryker's POV next chapter, I just didn't wanna make the chapter too long 👀

Thanks for reading, lovelies! Don't forget to vote, comment, etc!! <33