Song of the chapter: Silence, by Marshmello ft. Khalid

I slightly stir, the light throbbing on the top of my head making me wrinkle my nose. I slowly open my eyes, the light blinding me.

I turn to my side, sliding over towards the edge of the bed. When it was empty, that's when I remember that everything from yesterday actually did happen—Ryker was here and he saw me break down.

My eyes snapped open, but the bed was empty. The room was empty, it was quiet. Ryker wasn't here.

My heart started beating too fast at all the possibilities that were playing in my head. Had he left after he saw what a complete mess I truly am? Did he finally realize that he could do better than me?

I swallow the lump in my throat, pushing my messy hair behind my ears. It'll be okay, Maddi. You're fine.

I open the door and walk to the bathroom, barely putting in any effort to brushing my hair before I brushed my teeth. I splashed some cold water on my face before I walk back towards the room.

In all honesty, I've barely been eating or sleeping since Marsha broke into my house that night. I was so scared that she'd find me here somehow...I just couldn't shut my mind off. But in Ryker's arms, I was finally able to just find peace and crash.

Now he's gone.

I crawl under the covers and fold them over my body when I hear footsteps coming down the hall. I knew Gran was just worried, checking in on me all the time. But she didn't have to so much.

"I'm fine, Gran. Not hungry."

"Bullshit, Maddison. Get your ass up."

My eyes widened at the sound of Ryker's voice. I turned my head to look at him. His hazel eyes looked down at mine carefully, gauging my reaction.

"What?"

"Phoebe and I had a long chat over breakfast." He pulls the covers off me. "Told me about how you've barely touched anything since you been here. Now that shit doesn't fly with me."

He pushes his arms under me and lifts me up, bringing me to his chest. I instantly wrap my arm around his neck as he tightens his grip on me. I stare at him as he turns around and walks me to the kitchen. He sets me on the counter, beside an already made plate.

"You need to take care of yourself, Maddison. No matter what shit is going on, you can't do this to yourself."

I frown as he cups my cheek with one hand, his thumb tracing the outline of my lips, which parted involuntarily. He leans in, as if to kiss me, but doesn't. Instead, he lifts up the plate of food.

"Eat."

His eyes are demanding, yet soft as they hold mine. I roll my eyes as I take the plate from his hand and slowly eat the toast. I make cut some sausage, lifting the fork to my mouth. When I look at Ryker, his eyes are trained in my lips. I swallow nervously as I chew even slower, then drink some water.

"Finished?" He asks, voice slightly strained.

I nod, setting my plate down beside me. I wait for his next move, knowing that he's dying to kiss me as much as I want to kiss him. But instead, he lifts me in his arms again, which makes my stomach flutter as he cradles me close to his body and walks me down the hall. I watch as he clenches his jaw before opening the bathroom door. 

Just how long was he awake while I was asleep? 

He releases my legs, first, before letting my body slide down his, slow. I feel my cheeks flush as he stares at me with that...hungry stare. He doesn't say anything; he walks around me and reaches for the lever, turning on the water. The shower turns on behind me, but I'm to entranced on him right now to care about anything else. 

The bathroom is small, with the shower right behind me, the sink at my hip and the toilet beside Ryker's legs. We're cramped in here, but it didn't matter to us. Not right now. He reaches his hand up and runs it through my hair, giving me a gentle smile. He looks at my lips, licking his own, but quickly takes a step back. He clears his throat and doesn't say anything as he shuts the door. 

With the door shut, I feel myself take a much needed breath of air. I grip the edge of the sink and shake my head. What, was I expecting some kind of shower sex? Was...was I even ready for that yet? Hell, I don't know. All I know was that I never wanted anything more than to pull him in that shower with me and see what he'd do to me. 

I flush at the thoughts and jump into the shower. The water was warm, not too hot, as I quickly wash my hair and body. It didn't take longer than ten minutes before I was shutting off the water and slinging open the curtain. I reached for the towel on the hook, wrapping it around my body. Of course, I'd forgotten to bring anything to change in to. 

I sigh, walking out across the hall. 

Ryker was sitting on my bed, legs on the floor, but back lying on the mattress when he heard my footsteps. He looked up at me, his eyes widening. I shift nervously on my feet, planted right where I was. 

"I, uh, need to get some clothes." 

"Right," he squeaks. "Sorry." 

I walk in, opening my drawer. He turns his head away from me as I grab my stuff. I suddenly felt that feeling again: rejection. Ryker would normally be all over me. Why is he being like this? I pull an old blue shirt over my head and slip black panties up my legs. I take the towel and squeeze my hair dry, looking at Ryker. 

"Are we doing this again?" I ask. 

He looks at me. "What?" 

I shrug. "You not wanting to touch me or whatever. Again. You did this the last time shit went down. It made me feel like..." 

He tilts his head. "Like what?" 

I sigh, looking to the floor. "Bad, Ryker. It feels like crap." 

Ryker stands up, taking the one step to stand in front of me, and grabs my hand. When he doesn't bring it to his lips or chest like he normally does, but to his hardness growing between his legs, it made my eyes widen. 

"Do you see how much I want you, Maddison? One look at you and I can't fucking stand it." He practically growls. "I give you space after shit goes down because I know that's how you cope. But that doesn't, for one second, mean that I'm any less turned on by you. Because that couldn't be any further than the truth." 

My chest was rising and falling faster at his confession, which his eyes dropped to. He shakes his head slightly as he looks back at my eyes. 

"You're it for me, Maddison. Bad days and all." 

I smile, twisting my lips. "I love you so much." 

"Say that again." 

I chuckle, pressing my palms on his chest. "I love you, Ryker. So, so much." 

He closes his eyes as he presses his forehead against mine. I can't help the smile that spreads across my face as he pulls back. His eyes are filled with so much love and admiration that it makes my heart jump to my throat. 

So instead of waiting for him, I grab his neck and bring his lips down to mine. He doesn't put up any fight as he kisses me sweetly, tenderly and innocently and rests his hands on my hips. But I needed more. 

I ran my hands down his sculpted chest and slide it under his shirt, which earns a slight hiss. I trail my lips across his jaw and down his neck as he starts to breathe heavy, his grip tightening on my waist. 

"M-Maddison. W-we're at your grandparents house." 

I suck the skin at the base of his neck, making him groan from the back of his throat, making the heat between my legs come instantly. 

"And? They're obviously not here." 

"Oh fuck," Ryker pants as I nibble on his skin. "But what if they do?" 

"Be quick." 

His eyes were wide and wild as they looked at me. I held his gaze, not backing down. He smashed his lips back down against mine, lifting me up so that I could wrap my legs around his waist. He pressed my back against the mattress as he devoured my lips, biting and nibbling and sending me on a pure high just with his kiss. 

His tongue slipped inside my mouth, which made me gasp when he pushed against mine. I reached up and tugged at the back of his hair, needing more of him. He ground his erection right between my core, which had me moaning in his mouth, and he swallowed them happily. His hands pushed the shirt I was wearing all the way up my stomach until it exposed my bare breasts. 

"Fucking art." Ryker marveled when he pulled back. 

My cheeks heated up before he bent forward and took one of my nipples in his mouth. My back arches as I moan out, his other hand kneading and palming my other breast. Ryker's tongue flicked and teased and his teeth grazed and nibbled, and I didn't think I'd make it. I was hot and ready to wither away right there. 

"Do you understand how much you mean to me? How much I love you?" Ryker's voice pulled me from my thoughts. 

I look at him, panting. "What?" 

"You know how much I love you?" 

I nod. "Yeah, Ryker." 

He smiles at me, giving me no warning before his hand dived right into my panties. I grip his shoulder, his eyes staring into my soul. 

"So wet," he mutters with a strained voice, like it's a good thing. "So beautiful. All mine." 

I feel his finger run up and down my slit, making my eyes roll to the back of my head. I don't know why I felt like I couldn't keep up today, but shit. I wouldn't last long. 

"Look at me." My eyes snap open and meet his. "You know that nobody else can ever compare to you, right?" 

"Wha-oh, God." 

I didn't even have time to question him before he pushed his finger into me. My eyes screw shut as my jaw slacks, feeling him pump in and out of me slowly. 

"Maddison, look at me." 

I don't know how he was always so calm during this. I couldn't keep my eyes open. I had to fight the sensation of my eyes closing to keep them open and look at him. 

"You're the only girl for me." He adds a second finger, making me moan louder. "You're the only person I've ever loved, and who's loved me. It's only you." 

"I-I," I nod. "Oh, Ryker," I moan as his pumps become more aggressive and faster. 

Ryker kisses my cheek, making my heart skip a beat. He holds my gaze as I feel the building pressure become tighter and tighter. 

"I love you, Maddison." 

"I love you more." I admit before I dig my nails into his shoulder. "I think I'm gonna-"

"It's okay, baby. I got you. Let go." 

I cry out his name as I felt my release. I close my eyes and lay my head on the bed, feeling in complete bliss. I can feel the bed dip beside me, then feel Ryker's hand snake around my waist. 

"You're angelic, even when you climax." 

"Ryker!" I snap my eyes open to look at him. 

"What?" he chuckles. "It's true. You just have to see it from my side. You're pure fucking perfection." 

I grab his neck, bringing him closer to my face. 

"You know, you looked pretty damn sexy when you were the one who couldn't stop moaning my name. Maybe we should just have a little refresher?" 

Ryker's eyes widen as I move my hand off his chest...but alas, the moment ended too quickly. 

"Ryker? Maddi? You guys here?" 

"Oh, por el amor de-"

"Yeah, just a second, Gran. Be right out." 

"Alright, dear." 

When I hear her departing footsteps, I sigh. I look at Ryker, who's still looking at me mischievously. 

"What?" 

"You're acting like a teenager who just had sex and is about to get busted." 

I whack his shoulder. "We kind of are, genius!" 

"Trust me, baby. I wouldn't have had your first time here." He shakes his head, which makes my cheeks flush. "That's not what I have in store." 

Feeling a little daring, I ask, "oh? So what do you have in store?" 

He smirks. "You'll have to wait and see, princess." 

I take my bottom lip between my teeth, his lips dropping to my lips instantly. 

"Maybe if we were home, we'd be able to finish what we started." Ryker's voice was a whole octave deeper. 

I push my hand through his hair. "Then maybe you should take me home." 

His eyes lit up and a smile grew across his face. "You got it, baby."

I smile, my stomach flipping at the sound of going home. When in reality, I was already home. Ryker is my home. 

But he doesn't need to know that. His ego's too big as it is. So for now, I'll just let him think that home is somewhere else. But as I watch him, talking and cracking jokes with my grandparents, helping out in any way he can...always sneaking loving glances over at me, I know it. 

He's my home.

A/N

We're coming close to the end of the AFWHI journey, y'all. I'd guess maybe another ten chapters, if that? Omg wow that's less than I imagined. I-

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