Song for the chapter: Your Biggest Fan, by Boyce Avenue

Ryker spent the past couple days at my place.

Well, not just staying there. But at the end of the day when I would come home and he'd finish his work over at Ben's, he'd ask to hang out. And since my dad wasn't here, I figured why not.

On that note, he left on Friday, and it's Wednesday, my birthday. He hasn't called to check in or anything. For all I knew, he could be dead in a ditch somewhere. But I also knew, with his luck, he wasn't. He was having the time of his life with his friends.

Was I stupid for foolishly waiting for him to call me today? Yeah, most likely. But I still held onto the decency he had when mom was alive, and how he was a good father then.

"Happy birthday." Ali coos next to me, again.

I glare at her as Brody looks at me. Brody started working with us this weekend; he's tallish, has Sandy brown hair and slightly tanned skin. He's got a pretty smile and beautiful pale brown eyes. He's cute, yeah. But he's no Ryker.

"It's your birthday?" He asks.

"Yeah, I just don't like to make it a thing." I shake my head at him.

"Oh," he nods. "Well, happy birthday, anyway." He gives me a shy smile.

"Thanks, Brody." I smile back, politely, as he continues walking on. Then I glare at Ali. "Announce it to the whole world, why don't you?"

"Sorry." She laughs. "It's kinda cool, being one of the only ones who knows your birthday. It's like your a spy or something."

I roll my eyes and chuckle. "Nothing that extravagant. Just private."

She wrinkles her nose at me and I turn my back to her, walking in the opposite direction. I only was on shift for about another hour, courtesy of our supervisor Mel. I think he did so because it's my birthday and I never not show up for work. Either way, I'm grateful.

When a customer asks me for a price check, I willingly oblige and help her. She thanks me and I nod, walking back out towards hardware when I see Brody again.

"Hey, Brody," I catch his attention.

"Hey, Maddi." He smiles.

When he stands close enough, I cross my arms. "I know you're new and all, but Ali seems to like you enough. I'm throwing her a surprise party this weekend at the Ivy, wanna come?"

"You're getting her into the Ivy? That place is new, and super cool."

"It's been in the works, Brody. You in or out?"

"Yeah, sure! I'll be there."

"Great," I smile. "I'll text you the details. Ali has your number, right?"

"Yeah." He nods.

"Awesome," I smile.

"Maddi, I—" Brody starts, but my attention isn't on him anymore.

I turn my head and instantly see him, Ryker.

He was walking in from the second entrance and had dark aviators on his face. He had a dark, leather-looking jacket on over his grey shirt and dark pants with black shoes. His dark hair was messy, his hand was running through it. He looked good.

Almost as if sensing my presence, his eyes scanned the crowd until they landed on mine. He pushed his glasses up his face and into his hair, eyes moving between me and Brody.

Hypnotized by his magnetic hold, I walked towards him. He has a hint of a smirk on his lips as I stood before him, staring up at him. He cocked his head to the side and crossed his arms over his chest.

"Well, well. You didn't tell me you worked here, Maddison. Right under my nose the whole time."

I twist my lips. "It never came up."

He grins. "Guess I'm just gonna have to start coming here a lot more often, then, huh."

"And why would you do that?" I ask.

"You see," he lowers his head down just a bit, my eyes narrowing. "There's this blonde girl who works there and I can't stop thinking about her."

I smile. "Really?"

He nods once. "It's a problem."

"Hm. Maybe you should figure something out. Seems unhealthy."

His smile widens. "Maybe we should just go out?"

I lick my lips, raising a brow. "Ryker Brooks, are you asking me out on a date?"

"Indeed I am."

I smile, because he doesn't even have to ask me. I'd willingly go anywhere with him. But he did, which makes me feel special.

"Alright." I agree.

"I can finish up at Ben's in a couple hours. Pick you up at your place?" He smirks.

"It's a date."

He smiles and takes his lip ring between his teeth. My gaze lowered to it, making me wanna grab his face and be the one to tug his lip ring...but I'm at work. And I can't risk that.

Ryker left and I went about the rest of my shift. When I clocked out, Mel wished me a happy birthday. I thanked him and gave him a small wave as I grabbed my stuff and walked out of the back room. Ali and Brody also said bye as I walked out of the store.

I had an extra pep to my step as I walked home. My smile still on my face as I felt my phone vibrate.

Ryker: You made me leave without what I came in for.

Maddi: Oh, so you didn't come in to score a date?

Ryker: ...the second thing I came for.

I laugh as I walk down the street to my house. I unlock the door and shut it behind me, rushing up the stairs and into my room.

I decided to take a quick shower, just to take all the day's work off me. I scrubbed my body quickly with my soap and shut off the water, wrapping my towel around myself. I walked out, towards my room and quickly threw on a matching pair of blue bra and panties and a t-shirt with jeans until I got my makeup done.

My phone vibrated, making me grab it.

Ryker: I'm here, can I come in?

I flew down the stairs and opened the door. Ryker was still wearing the same thing as earlier, just effortlessly beautiful. His eyes were shining as they took me in. I can safely say I was never breathless, until this moment.

"Hey."

"Um, hi." I gesture for him to come inside. "I'm not done getting ready yet, so just, give me two seconds."

I dart for the stairs.

"Maddison," Ryker's amusement is clear in his voice. "You look beautiful right now."

I scoff as I turn the corner and walk into my room. Of course, Ryker was two steps behind me as he leaned against the doorway.

"Aren't you supposed to look your best for a date?" I ask as I reach for my makeup bag.

I try to unzip it, but Ryker's hands cover mine, stopping my movements. I look up at him and he has a sincere smile on his face.

"You're beautiful to me in every moment, Maddison."

I hold his gaze, my heart swelling. There's no way he truly meant that...did he?

"Yeah, right." I snort and divert my eyes away from his.

"Maddison."

Gosh, did he always have such authority in his tone? It never failed to make me snap into attention when he called me like that. I looked back at his eyes; he took the bag from my hand and set it down on the dresser and cupped my cheek.

"You're the most beautiful girl to me, Maddison. Just like this," he grabs the scrunchie from my hair and tugs, letting my hair flow all around me. "Oh, yeah. Just like this." He smiles.

I stare up at him, unable to find anything to say. He just smiles and gently grabs my neck.

"You don't have to doubt that."

Sometimes I swear his words are too perfect; like, there's no way that someone as physically perfect as Ryker could want...me. Me, Maddison James, who's still four sizes too big and who hasn't ever been loved before. Who truly doesn't know how to overcome this inner battle with her head and her heart.

But then I take another glance at him and see how sincere his eyes look, how much he's confided in me and how he's always telling me how I need to trust him and I realize...he's right. I just need to freaking trust him.

I push my hands through his soft hair and give him a gentle tug, bringing his lips down to mine.

The electric current that surges through my body is alarming, but also amazing. I exhale, relief flooding my system at the touch of his lips on mine. I tighten my grip on his hair and kiss him deeper, knowing we've both needed this.

His hands on my neck angle my head back as his tongue swipes across my bottom lip. The coolness of his lip ring against my skin was driving insane, but nothing compared to when he slipped his tongue inside my mouth and touched it to mine.

Experimenting a bit, I push my tongue back on his, making a growl escape from deep in his throat. It makes goosebumps spread across my skin as he grabbed my waist and then I felt my back hit the wall.

He broke the kiss, his eyes dark and watching me. My lips were parted as I waited for him to make the next move.

"What do you want, Maddison?"

I swallow. "What?"

"What," he moves closer to my jaw and places a hot kiss there. "Do you want?"

His hot breath on my skin made me shiver. I ran my hand up his chest and gripped his shoulder.

"I want you, Ryker." I beg.

Ryker's mouth crashes on mine in a very exhilarating rush; desperation, passion and need was spoken through every kiss and I felt my head spin. His hands traveled down my body and to my waist. He hoisted me up, making me wrap my legs around him.

Ryker's lips moved from mine as he trailed down my neck, making my insides twist. When I opened my eyes, I noticed he lowered himself on the bed to where I was on top of him. I wrap my arms around his neck as he applies more pressure on the spot between my neck and collarbone.

I let out a harsh gasp when I feel his teeth nibble at my skin, the coolness of his lip ring pressing against my neck. Ryker's hands move to my lower back, pressing me closer to his body. I moan involuntarily when he lifts his hips and almost grinds against me.

I pause, slightly embarrassed, and look at him. He just smiles, pushing my hair back.

"Don't be shy with me, baby. I want to hear it all." He kisses my neck, which of course makes me tilt it so he can have more access. "Every sound you make for me," he places another kiss. "Every moment we share—that's us. Nothing else matters right now."

I chuckle nervously as he tugs down the fabric that was covering my shoulder and exposed it before placing a tender kiss on it. When he reaches for the bottom of it, I freeze.

"Ryker." I grab his hands.

"What? What's wrong?" His eyes were full of concern as he looked at me.

I look down, using my hair as a shield from him. But he grabbed my chin and gently moved my face towards his. I blink several times, feeling completely and utterly ashamed.

"I told you I'd wait forever for you, Maddison. If that's what this is about—"

"It's not that," I shake my head. "I-I want to. I just..."

He looks down, then back up at my eyes. "Baby, do you realize what you do to me?"

I furrow my brows and he chuckles, adjusting me on his lap so I can feel his very prominent member right between my legs. I blush, eyes wide.

"Yeah. You realize that only you have this affect on me, right? Your beautiful, curious mind about the stars and the universe and everything it comes from. Your infectious laugh. Your dazzling smile. Your fucking sexy body, and the things you do that drive me insane."

"Ryker," I breathe, face hot.

"Like how you gasp in pleasure at my touch, or sigh in relief when our lips touch. How your skin dances with goosebumps when I put my hands on you. Your innocent blush when you're embarrassed, but also turned the hell on."

"Ryker!" I choke.

He smiles before he gets a mischievous look in his eyes.

"You know how many times I think about that day in my room? Or in my car?" He pushes my hair behind me so he can grip my neck. "How just the thought of you turns me on?"

I gulp as he leans is towards my lips, stopping just before they touch mine.

"You also seem to forget that I've seen you in a bikini, and that shit is permanently engraved in my mind." As my eyes widen, his grip remains firm as he keeps me in place. "Every sexy curve, the dip in your back, your glorious br—"

I pressed my lips on his, mostly to shut him up, but also because he's got a way with words that make me feel a certain way.

But he's right, and I can't believe I forgot about that. That was when we were in such a different place, and now we're here. It feels like two separate lifetimes: pre-Ryker and now. He's invaded my life and I can hardly remember a time before him.

Ryker flips us over so my back is against the bed and he's positioned between my legs. Our kisses were now wild and hungry, and we both seemed to be taking whatever we could get.

I nipped Ryker's bottom lip and tugged it between his teeth, a deep moan coming from his throat. He was grinding against me, his hardness pressing deliciously in between my legs and making me gasp at the contact.

Our hands were all over one another, trying to get closer than we were without crossing the very present invisible line. But at this point, what the hell else mattered except for him?

"Maddison," Ryker breathes heavy as he pulls back to look at me.

I stare at him, he stares at me. Our stares were both holding back unspoken words, mine begging me to tell him how much he meant to me and how much I wanted him, but too afraid to say a peep.

Just as Ryker opened his mouth, the doorbell rang. I looked towards the door, then towards Ryker. I desperately wanted to know what he was going to say, but the doorbell rang again.

"Shoot," I mumble, pushing Ryker off me. "Just stay here. I'll be right back."

He smiles at me as I fix my shirt and head down the stairs. I didn't think anything was coming, so unless it was a neighbor, I'm not sure who was there.

But the least thing I expected was for her to be waiting for me on the other side when I opened the door.

A/N

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY, LOVES! Enjoy some Raddison as a treat 😌 mwuah

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