Song for the chapter: Anyone Else but You, by Anthony de la Torre and Lana Condor

When I woke up the next morning, I half expected Ryker to be in the bed next to me. After the most intimate moment of my life, I thought he would be.

But he wasn't.

I guess when I dozed off last night, he opted to not waking me up and carrying me up to his room. And he also chose to stay in another room. Again.

I willed myself not to cry at that; no way would Ryker just do something like that with me and just...detach or something. But then he was gone all day, and it made me wonder, what the heck?

I showered, cleaned up the messy kitchen a bit and sat aimlessly on the couch. It was my day off and I kinda hoped we could spend it together. But he was gone and didn't say where. I didn't wanna start calling and texting, seeming like I'm super clingy after last night.

But then again...I kinda am.

I went to bed at, like, nine so I didn't keep overthinking. I knew Ryker, and I knew he wouldn't do this to me.

The next morning, I walked into the kitchen and saw him eating cereal. I smiled and said good morning, and he gave me his breathtaking smile. I sat beside him and silently begged him to say something about us, but he didn't. Instead, he told me that Ben texted and said a part came in for the car he was working on, so he needed to go in.

I forced a smile and nodded. When he leaned over, I puckered my lips. But he bypassed me and kissed my forehead. He said he'd see me later and left.

This was when I really started to overthink—was Ryker genuine? He fought so hard to make me see that he was different, and now that I've opened up to him, he's retreating. Was it all a lie? Did he mean it? Maybe I was right the whole time and Ryker was after one thing, and now that I'd given it to him, in a way, he was bored?

I didn't wanna cry, so I climbed up into Ryker's treehouse and laid on the floor. I stared up into the beautiful sky and tried not to think about him, but at this point, it's useless. Ryker's consumed every thought I have and it's pointless to fight it.

I remember the day he brought me here, and how he was so vulnerable. I remember the night I'd caught him arguing on the phone and how he begged for me to kiss him, and I was helpless not to. I remember our first kiss ever, and think back to how I tried to suppress how I felt for him. But again, pointless.

Then I think back to before all of this; I remember all of the times I'd start to walk to work, and he'd be outside and look over at me. I'd see that cocky little grin form and it'd irritate the living shit out of me. Or when he'd say 'hey neighbor,' every once in a blue moon, making me roll my eyes at him but he still had that smirk on his face.

Ever since he's moved in, there's always been a small, magnetic pull to him—something always tying us together. It was unspoken, but profound. And now...now, he's become this important person to me.

So I decided to trust him, like he's always telling me to. I needed to, because if not, I'll second-guess everything and I don't wanna think about that.

Ryker texted me around eight, telling me that him and the guys from the shop were going out for drinks. Something to celebrate about the car. Agitated and annoyed, I went to bed and left it at that.

The next day,  I went to work, thankful I had an early shift at Joe's. I did my long hours and Ryker had barely texted me, barely kept the conversation going. I wanted to ask him what was going on, because I could tell he was hiding something from me. He was guarded and not open, like he normally is. It threw me off, sending me spiraling into a sea of doubt.

In the small time between Joe's and Lowe's, I did some research, found some really cute apartments that had just been listed. The best one, of course, was the most expensive per month. But I'd do anything right now to get out of this awkward situation with Ryker.

Maybe staying with him is what's causing this? This sudden closed version of Ryker I wasn't ready for. Especially after sharing such an intimate moment with him. It just made it worse for me, because he saw me in a way nobody else ever has.

What killed me was when Ryker said he'd be out late tonight. I tried to sleep, but I missed him. And I hate that I've become so dependent on him. Like suddenly someone's stolen the sun from my sky and now it's just grey.

It was way past midnight when I was in the kitchen, in the dark, drinking some water when Ryker came in. He had a hood on, his bag slung over his shoulder, and he quietly shut the door and turned the corner to go to the guest room.

After I witnessed that, I wasn't able to sleep. Why would he need to be sneaking around this late? What was going on? Why was he doing this to me? Did he have someone else now? Was he secretly involved with another girl because I wasn't what he expected? And now temporarily living together made it painful obvious?

No. I wasn't gonna wait around for him to break my heart.

I called a realtor right at eight and scheduled some showings for next week. It was my next off day and he'd be able to make it work, for all four places I wanted to see. I knew I'd take the more expensive one, because it comes fully furnished and has a great view from the small balcony and newly remodeled. Plus, it allows pets. But I'd still give the others a chance.

I pulled my hair up, shoving all of my stuff into my bags I had thrown around Ryker's room. I angrily zipped it up and slung one over my shoulder, carrying the other. I grab my phone and wallet, heading down the stairs.

I tried not to alert Ryker, but my duffle got stuck on the railing, and I tried to pull it free. I almost fell backwards when I finally managed to pull the ripped fabric off, but had to throw the other down the rest of the stairs—which caused Ryker to walk down the hall.

"Maddison? What's going on?" He looked at me, then to my bags, then back to me.

"I'm leaving." I huff. "I think it'd be better if I just stayed somewhere else until I find a place."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa. Hold on." Ryker follows me down the stairs. "Why?"

I literally freeze mid-step. Ryker walks around me and stands in front of me, of course shirtless. I scoff in his face.

"You're joking, right?"

"Why would I be joking?"

"It's been four days, Ryker. Four days since..." I feel my face flush. "Since the party and you haven't even had a full conversation with me since. And before that night? Three days of the same thing." I bite my lip to avoid fresh tears. "So, I'm just gonna go. Obviously my being here isn't everything you thought it'd be."

I tried to walk past him, but he reached out and pressed his palms against my shoulders. I felt the electricity shoot through my whole body, reminding me how much I missed him.

"Wait, you think I don't want you here?"

"It's pretty obvious, Ryker." I hear my voice and I hate how pathetic it sounds. "Maybe the night with my dad or in the car just..." I shake my head. "Who knows. But I'm not staying for more of this."

"Maddison."

Ryker tries to grab my waist, but I twist in his arms. I try and fight him, but it's useless. Because as much as my head is telling me to go before he hurts me, my heart is leaning to his touch.

"Maddison, stop." He demands, raising his voice slightly, and I stop fidgeting. "Listen, I know how it seems, but—"

"How it seems?" I scoff. "Like I'm some kind of game? Offering me to stay here and making me feel things for you that I never have before? Then-then do what we did and just...ignore me after?" I was getting angry. "How it seems is that I never really meant nothing to you."

"That's not true." He shakes his head.

"How it seems is that you got me to trust you and believe all your stupid little lies and look at where I ended up," I almost growl. "Used and hurt."

"I never—"

"How it seems," I push him off me. "Is that you got in way over your head and you're regretting it. And it seems," I push him again. "That you got your wish by ignoring me. I'm leaving."

I push my shoulder past him, lugging my bags with me. But the moment Ryker grabs my waist and pins me against the wall, I drop them and become hypnotized by his gaze. He's furious, sad, and who knows what else.

His arms are on either side of my head as I stare back at him. Maybe it was all the time we've spent apart, or maybe just that I've been craving this since the night he touched me and made me feel alive, or maybe I'm just being stupid. Because I can't stop myself from smashing my lips on his.

His hands are on me instantly, relief flooding my body. I needed him, and I hate needing him so damn much. My fingers run through his hair, pulling gently as his grip tightens around my waist. I bite his lips, then bite his lip ring, earning a low moan to escape those heavenly lips.

Ryker's pressing me against the wall, his body against mine, making me run my hands down to his broad, bare shoulders. I dig my nails into them as he grabs my legs and hooks them around his waist, grinding against me.

"Oh," I gasp. "Ryker."

He looks at me, his eyes on fire and full of want, but also full of doubt. That's the openness I'm used to.

"You have to believe me when I say I don't want you to go."

"Could've fooled me." I say, breathless.

He kisses my cheek, lips lingering. "I don't, Maddison. I want you here."

"You ignored me, Ryker." I frown.

"I know, I'm a fucking dumbass. I thought leaving you to deal with everything with your dad was what you wanted, and then the other night..." he stares deep in my eyes. "I was scared you'd regret it."

I move my hands to the back of his neck, him still holding me on the wall. I kiss his bottom lip and look at him.

"That night was one of the best nights of my life," I admit with a whisper. "And you made me feel like it meant nothing to you."

He pushes his hands through my messy hair. "It meant everything to me, baby. It's different when it's with someone you—" he searches my eyes. "When you feel this way about someone."

"Then why—"

He quiets me with his lips. I melt into his tender kiss, lips lapping each other until I can't breathe.

"I'm sorry, Maddison." He breathes across my lips. "I'm so sorry. Please forgive me."

When I stare at him, he kisses my nose and then my forehead.

"There's nobody else I want but you, Maddison. You're the only thing that I think about, every fucking hour of the day. You said you need me to want you? I've wanted you the moment I laid eyes on you. I've always been yours, we just didn't know it." He laughs. "There's no one other than you."

I feel my heart beating a million miles a minute. I press my lips back on his, kissing him because he's the only one for me, too. He consumes me, body, mind and soul. And it's a scary thought, to let someone have this power over you. But he does. I've always been his, too.

Ryker's tongue slips in my mouth, colliding with mine. I press back against his, making him groan. He moved his lips, trailing kisses down my cheek and jaw. I feel myself pressed against something much softer, and open my eyes enough to see the couch in Ryker's living room.

He was hovering over me and the sight of his bare chest over me was gonna send my mind to places it shouldn't be. His fingers grabbed the bottom of my shirt, making me breathe heavy.

"Can I see you?"

His voice was husky and deep, laced with desire, but also...was that admiration? It was so to the point I found myself nodding yes.

He lifted me up, pulling the shirt over my head. My hands immediately went to my body, covering my chest and my stomach. But Ryker grabbed my wrists, looking at me.

"Don't hide from me, Maddison." He kisses my bare shoulder. "Because there's nobody else for me to look at but you."

I shudder, letting him lift my hands away from my body. I was always ashamed of my body—my stretch marks, my flab, the ugliness of it all. But the way Ryker's eyes dilated as he took me in made me feel almost beautiful.

"You are," Ryker whispers and kisses my chest. "The most stunning woman," he hovers over me as I lie back, kissing my stomach. "I've ever seen."

I feel tears in my eyes as he continues to kiss around my stomach, but when I look, it's because he's kissing every single stretch mark—small, long, deep and wide, he's kissing them all.

"Ryker," my voice broke into a sob as he lifted his eyes to mine.

He moved up, lips brushing against my cheek. He kissed my freaking tear.

"You're perfect to me, Maddison. Don't you see that?" He shakes his head. "Every part of you."

I kiss him because I was feeling something I never had before—something much stronger than lust or desire. But a deep, emotional feeling that I'd never come close to, ever.

Love.

I freaking love Ryker Brooks; the boy next door who seemed like he didn't care about anything, but in reality, cares so deeply. He sees me, and I see him. I love him for who he is and what he has to offer in life, and I know he's going to achieve so many great things, even if he doesn't see it yet.

I love him for seeing something ugly and bringing it back to life. Because that's what Ryker did: he brought me back from always feeling dead and made me wanna live.

I rake my nails down his back, pressing him as close to me as possible. He's using his arms to keep his weight off me, but I craved to feel it, feel him on top of me. I needed more of him.

"Ryker," I whisper against his ear as I pull away, breathless. "Touch me."

He froze for a second before looking at me. "Baby, I—"

"Please?" I beg.

Ryker's lips are on mine again, savoring and devouring, as his hands slowly trail down my stomach. When he reaches the top of my sweats, he looks at me.

"You're sure?"

I nod eagerly. "Please."

He kisses my lips before I feel his hand slip into the fabric of my underwear, making me gasp.

"So soaked," Ryker groans and kisses my neck. "All for me."

His fingers move up and down my slit, teasing, making me dig my nails into Ryker's flesh on his back. His thumb flicked my clit, rubbing in circular motions, making me moan out in pleasure.

Without any warning, Ryker's fingers pushed into me, making me gasp and moan all in one. His fingers pushing in and out of me felt euphoric and I needed it to keep going.

"Tell me you're mine," Ryker demands.

I close my eyes as his fingers pump in and out, faster then when he first started the other day.

"Tell me there's nobody else for you, either."

I opened my mouth, but a moan came out instead. I pant, digging my nails into his back.

"Tell me, Maddison."

I open my eyes and see his eyes on me, begging for reassurance. I managed, somehow, to stop digging my nails into his back with one hand and grab his neck.

"You're it for me, Ryker."

His movements became faster in and out of me, rough, as he kissed my neck, going down my chest. I arch my back, feeling like this pressure in the pit of my stomach is about to explode.

"Oh, fuck," I moan, the profanity slipping from my lips. "Shit, Ryker."

"That's right, baby. Tell me how good it feels."

I pant, his words driving me crazy. I would've never guessed the moans filling this room right now were mine, but they were all coming from me as Ryker's fingers pushed in and out of me, making my legs shake.

"R-Ryker," I moan, my back arching to him.

He kisses my cleavage spilling out of my bra, his tongue swiping across my skin.

"That's it. I'm the only one who can make you feel this good." He mutters on my chest and I'm about to explode. "Go ahead, baby. Come for me."

I'm panting like a maniac as his fingers continue to pump in and out of me for a few more moments until I feel Ryker's breath on my neck, pressing a soft kiss against it, and it drives me over the edge, releasing all of me all over him.

My visions blurry as I try and catch my breath, Ryker moving his hand and crawling up towards me. He kisses my cheek several times as I come off the high he just gave me.

"You good?"

I nod, smile on my face. "I'm great."

He smiles and kisses my chin. "You're so fucking beautiful, Maddison. So pure," his fingers linger around my chest. "So captivating."

"Shut up," I laugh as he looks up at me.

"Will you stay? Please? Don't leave me."

I push my hand through his hair and smile softly, remembering just how much I care about him—love him.

"Of course." I nod. "I'm not going anywhere."

A/N

Omg y'all can't imagine my STRESS for the past couple days with this chapter. But of course, I owe all my confidence to Kayc for always pushing me to see what I don't 🥺❤️

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