Song for the chapter: Only Wanna Dance With You, by Kesha

The weekend passed too fast. I worked through almost all of it, catching up with these assignments I had missed.

Ryker was no help, whatsoever, trying to pull me away for 'breaks', so I called up Karmiah and I met her at Treeline, where we stood almost all day. She was helping me finish the last part I was on, as well as the new one we needed to do.

I was so grateful that she didn't ask too many questions, so I didn't have to lie to her. She told me that Ben was being a bit distant, so I had pushed the homework aside and let her talk. She mentioned how she knows what she wanted, which was to get married and settle down, have a family. Not soon, but down the road. And Ben hadn't been able to answer her if that's where he saw them headed.

I honestly had no idea what to tell her, because if that were me, I'd be devastated. So I told her the honest truth, which was to sit down with Ben and have an honest conversation. Because if they're not headed in the same direction, they couldn't work in the long run.

After that conversation, we managed somehow to get back on track with our assignment and finish right before the shop closed. I thanked her as she drove me to my house. As nervous as I was to come back, I needed to spend the night alone, get some rest and be on track for my hours tomorrow.

When Kar dropped me off, I waved bye to her as I hurried inside. Once I walked in to my apartment, I locked the door and made sure all of the windows were locked, too. I sighed carefully and walked to my room.

I grabbed some random pjs and walked to the bathroom, turning on the hot water. I quickly stripped and stepped inside, letting the water engulf me. I lathered my hair, then my body. Once finished, I shaved my legs and armpits before I shut off the water. I wrapped the towel around my body and walked out towards the sink.

I dried my body and wrapped my hair up in the towel, pulling my pjs on my body. I don't even glance at myself in the mirror before I walk out of the bathroom, searching for my phone. When I find it discarded by the front door, I groan when I see Ryker's many missed texts and calls.

I call him back, not even one ring going by before he answered.

"Hello?"

"Where are you?"

I roll my eyes. "I just got out of the shower. Calm down."

"Shower?" He sounded confused. "Wait, are you at your apartment?"

"Yeah."

"Why? I-I thought you were staying here."

"Did you not see me take my stuff today?" I laugh. "I told you that it was only for a few days. The trials on Tuesday. I need to be ready."

"Without me."

"Of course not, Ryker." I huff. "I just...I feel like I'm too dependent on you. You were in your own element today, finally. I didn't wanna bother you."

Which was true. Ryker was so preoccupied with writing this morning he'd barely noticed when I was packing up my stuff. It was when I finally sat down to study that he was done and he tried to mess around.

"Maddison, you're not a bother to me. When are you going to realize that?"

I sigh, walking back to my room. I was suddenly tired, my eyes heavy. Maybe it was hearing him after studying so long and so hard, but I missed him.

"I miss you."

I hear his light chuckle. "So let me come get you."

"No," I grumble. "I'm tired."

"Maddison."

"Can you just talk? Your voice is soothing."

"Yeah?" I hear the smile on his face.

"Mhm," I collapse on my bed, crawling under the covers.

"You inspire me, Maddison." He sighs. "I was writing something, for you."

"Can I hear it?"

"Sure." I hear rustling on the opposite end as I lay on my pillow, the phone between my cheek and it. "Ready?"

"Yes."

"My love,
A thousand times I watched you go.
A thousand times you slipped through my grasp.
A thousand times I was too afraid to say a word.
A thousand times your soul called to mine.
A thousand times I missed the chance to grab your hand.

My love,
Do you see the way you ignite my soul on fire?
Do you see the way you've captured my heart and brought it to life?
Do you see the way you have made me yours?

My love,
You and I are woven together, bound by the hands of the Creator.
You and I are one, you are mine and I am yours.
You and I are a cosmic entity, brought together by the hands of fate.
You and I are an unstoppable force, for we are destined for greatness.

My love,
As long as I have you, I could face the worst storms,
I could face the mightiest fighters,
I could face the hardest of trials,
But you will always be my light home.

For you are my other half. And I am yours."

I didn't even know I was crying until I felt the tears hit my pillow.

"Baby, are you crying?"

"They're happy tears, I swear." I smile.

"I wish I was there to hold you."

I chuckle. "I love you so much."

"I love you, Maddison. Always."

* * *

My feet were killing me. By the time that Baxter Creek let Kar and I go home, we'd been there for six hours. It was two, we had to get here early. But still, it was a rush.

"I wore the wrong shoes," I chuckle at Karmiah.

"Same," she groans. "My feet ache."

"Mine, too."

We climb into her car and she starts it up. As she starts to drive, I look at her.

"Talk to Ben?"

"Not yet," she shrugs. "I'm going to, though. Just nervous."

"You're such a bad bitch, Kar." I smile. "You have no reason to be."

She smirks. "Please. Have you met you?"

I roll my eyes and look out of the window. I asked Karmiah to drop me off at Ryker's because I missed him. Especially after he read me that incredibly sweet and heartfelt poem he wrote me. I wanted to read it myself and hug him.

"Oh, shit." Kar says as we pull up.

I narrow my eyes as I see Ryker workin under the hood of a car. But that's not what upset me—what upset me was the blonde bimbo who was laughing, probably at nothing, and trying to grip his arm.

"Girl," Kar looked at me. "Get your man."

I snort as I get out of the car. I walk curiously over to the car, listening.

"...and she was like, 'no, Beth, you can't go skinny dipping in there! There's, like, sharks and stuff'."

I rolled my eyes. She's trying too damn hard. Ryker didn't even laugh with her as I leaned against the hood, earning a look from the blonde.

"Um, who are you?"

Ryker looks up at me, surprise filling his eyes. I smile at her.

"I'm Maddison."

"Okay?"

I turn to Ryker, who was wiping his hands on a rag. I smirk as I grab onto his unbuttoned shirt and brought his mouth down to mine. Now, normally, I'm against the whole PDA thing. But she was really trying to flirt with my man, and that's not okay.

So I kissed him, deep. I slipped my tongue in his mouth and pushed against his, his hand gripping on my waist, tight. I bit his bottom lip gently and pulled back, his eyes dark with desire.

I smiled at him. "I got off early and missed you so much." I peck his lips, which he obviously wanted more, but I pulled back. "See you inside when you're done."

I look at the blonde and raise a challenging brow. She just rolled her eyes and turned around. I flip my ponytail over my shoulder and walk inside. I chuckle to myself as I open his fridge and pull out a water bottle, twisting off the cap. I was downing some water when I saw the car pull out of Ryker's driveway, and Ryker came storming inside.

"Ryker? Wha—"

His lips collided against mine with such force, I stumbled backwards and my back hit the counter. I didn't have time to collect myself before he gripped the sides of my head, tilting my head back and pushing his tongue into my mouth.

I gasped as he did so, his tongue exploring every inch of my mouth before dancing against my own. I had no idea what was going on, but I wasn't complaining.

"You can't just do that to me, Maddison." Ryker mumbles against my lips. "Kissing me like that? In front of a customer? How am I supposed to get any work done, with a hard on, knowing you're right there, looking like this?

I furrow my brows. "I just got done doing a shift, I didn't do anything special."

"You're fucking beautiful to me, Maddison. All the time."

He reached for my hair and pulled the elastic, letting my hair fall loose. His eyes darkened as he looked at me.

"Fucking perfect."

His lips crashed down on mine again, eager and determined. Ryker's hands traveled down my legs, lifting me up so that I could wrap them around his waist. Our kisses were hot and passionate as he lowered us on the couch.

He was hovering over me as he looked at me. I waited to see what his next move was, which was reaching for my shirt. I sat up just enough so that he could pull it over my head and toss it, his eyes fixed on my chest.

I took my lip between my teeth, which snapped him out of his trance. I moved my hands under his shirt, which made him close his eyes and groan in pleasure as I ran my fingers down his defined stomach. I gripped the fabric and pulled, throwing it behind us once I got it over him.

I leaned up and kissed his shoulder. He shuddered as I placed kisses all around his collarbone, then placed one on his neck. I flicked my tongue and sucked gently which caused him to mutter a profanity.

"Maddison," he breathed. "Oh fuck."

I smirked against his skin, looking up at him. He gripped my neck, looking deep in my eyes, again.

"I love you."

"I love you."

He pressed his lips against my neck, so I granted him access. He dragged his lips downward, down my jaw and down my chest. He kissed the exposed cleavage and kissed down the valley of my breasts, then down my stomach.

He looked up at me as he got to the hem of my pants. I squirmed, but he held my hips. I felt my cheeks heat up as his warm hands slowly moved around my stomach.

"It's been too long since I've had a taste, Maddison." His voice was much more strained and raspy, which made my stomach tighten. "Can I?"

He looked at me again, kissing my stomach. I gulp, blinking. A taste? Oh my gosh...how is he so good and calm at this?

His finger moves between the elastic of my pants and my skin, moving forward and back slightly, all while looking at me. My jaw slacks as he does the simplest action, but seems to make my body hot.

"I know you want to."

"Y-yes. Please."

"With pleasure."

He hooks his fingers around my pants and drags them down my legs, my eyes widening as he starts kissing my thighs. I feel so, so embarrassed, but also so good. Ryker stops right beside my core, making me gulp.

"Let me make you feel good."

A moan involuntarily slips from my lips as his fingers move to my panties, his finger traveling the length of my slit over the fabric. I was losing my mind.

"You're so wet, fucking hell." He looks up at me, his finger never stopping. "Always so ready for me."

I grip onto the edge of the couch before Ryker's hand grips the fabric suddenly, pushing it all the way down my legs. I gasp aloud as his head immediately finds its way between my legs, pressing a kiss on my throbbing core before his tongue dives into me.

"Oh. My. God." I moan, my other hand fisting his hair.

I can feel his tongue darting in and out of me, the sounds coming out of me sounding almost foreign. I tightened my thighs around his face by accident, just trying to ease what I was feeling between my legs, but I felt him smirk against me. And I found that really, really hot.

"You're sensational," his hot breath fans against me, which makes me whimper. "And mine, all mine."

My back arches as his teeth nip at my clit, making me cry out. My vision was blurring and I sounded like I was running a marathon. Ryker had the ability to make me lose myself so fast, it was insane. But when he pushed his finger into me, too, I thought I was going to come apart right there.

"Ryker," I cry out.

"That's right, baby girl. Who's the only one who gets to make you scream like this?"

Just then, his finger plunged into me as he sucks on my clit, and I literally scream. I never knew that this was the kind of pleasure I was missing out on, but I wouldn't have wanted it from anyone else except him.

"Tell me, Maddison."

"Y-you, Ryker," I cry out. "Only you."

Ryker leans up, his eyes looking at mine. His fingers work feverishly in me, moving in and out in a fast and steady pace as he kisses my lips.

"I love you, Maddison. You're my entire world. You own my heart, you know that, right?"

I weakly nod. "You-you own mine, Ryker." I let out a moan as he moves faster and my legs shake. "Oh hell, I think I'm c-close," I pant.

Ryker kisses my cheek tenderly, affectionately. He moves up and pushes some damp hair off my forehead and smiles at me, his fingers never easing up their torturous assault.

"You're so sexy right now, baby. Glowing and moaning my name."

I moan at that, my head falling back further into the couch.

"Come, Maddison."

I cry out, feeling myself reach my high and release all over his hand. I pant and close my eyes, leaning my head on his shoulder. Ryker's placing soft kisses all over the top of my head, my forehead, and my temple.

My heart was full of love for him.

"Marry me, Maddison."

Everything in me froze. My breathing, my heart, my will to move. And I don't think that Ryker even meant to say it out loud, because he stilled, too.

But it was out loud, hanging in the air between us. And now, I didn't know what the hell to do with it.

A/N

Oof 🙈

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