Chapter Twenty-Six: Bubble Wrap

Ryker Fox

Ryker's Bedroom

As I stared at Emma's ringing phone, the words 'DO NOT ANSWER'  under the numbers contact name seemed to tease me..tempt me.

Even though she was my girlfriend now, I felt weird about answering her calls. I certainly wouldn't want to upset her or cross some kind of boundaries. I honestly wasn't sure if she would care or not, I was new to this whole 'relationship' thing. But I did know that I always hated it when girls tried going through my things. For some reason though, the thought of Emma  doing it didn't bother me.

I don't want to come across as the jealous boyfriend monitoring his girlfriend's phone calls. But on the other hand, if she clearly doesn't want to talk with him and he's still calling..shouldn't I come to her defense?

I guarantee I could put an end to this real quick..but shouldn't it be Emma's decision if she wants me to step in? God, I'm so conflicted right now.

I suppose there was a jealous part of me that wanted to 'size him up,' though I hated admitting I was that basic. I just didn't like the idea of him thinking he can call my girl to what..'win her back?' Haha..hahaha...hahahaha over your dead fucking body, asshole.

As I was caught between doing the right thing and doing the petty thing, the call was sent to voicemail. I breathed a slight sigh of relief. That settles that, I suppose. Emma  should probably be the one who decides if she needs help dealing with this prick anyway.

Just as I started to walk towards the bathroom to join Emma  in the shower, her phone went off again. This time, a text message. Then, another one..and two more after that. I turned around and stared at the phone in disbelief. What the fuck? This guy better pray all those notifications aren't from him.

I felt myself beginning to get overheated and claustrophobic as my anger was getting the best of me. I walked back over to her phone and picked it up, this time not caring about minding my business. If Emma  gets upset, she can punish me later. I'll even provide her with the whip. Rawr.

As luck would have it, Emma  hadn't set a password to unlock her phone. I should really talk to her about setting one, you never know what kind of crazy fucker is going to go through your...oh, right.

I decided I was just going to check his text messages, make sure he's not being disrespectful. I wouldn't go through snooping through anything else, just check the texts and head out. Somehow that helped me lie to myself enough to believe it made it a little less sleezy.

Sure enough, four unread text messages. I took a deep breath, trying to brace myself for whatever I was about to read.

DO NOT ANSWER

Hey, can we talk?

Emma, I saw the pictures. Are you trying to embarrass me?

Seriously?! You're just going to pretend I don't exist?! He'll get tired of you, just like I did!

I don't know why I expected more from you. You looked like a whore in those pictures, you know that?

Fuck you, Emma! No wonder your dad bashed your head in a fucking windshield.

My hands were shaking and I quickly set her phone down like it was on fire, afraid I would lose it completely and throw it against the wall.

Fucking prick.  If he wasn't on my shit list already he just got violently dragged to the number one spot. I paced the room panting and huffing like like a mad man.

I felt a desperate need to find a way to track him down and show him exactly what it's like to have your head bashed through a windshield. How fucking dare he know what she's been through and use it as a way to hurt her because she didn't reply to a stupid text. Is this how he spoke when they were together? God, I was so pissed off.

Just as I was searching for something in the room to throw, Emma  walked in the room wrapped in a white towel. Her hair was still wet, and her eyes got as big as saucers the moment she saw me.

Emma Riley

"Whoa, what's wrong?!"  I walked in the room and saw Ryker  in a whole new light. His face was flushed a hot red, veins popped up in his neck and arms.  He was pacing and breathing so heavy he was starting to hyperventilate.

My first reaction was panic, mixed with a little fear. Not that I thought he would ever hurt me, but he was even more intimidating than usual. What the hell could have happened while I was in the shower? He seemed fine earlier.

"I..he..well..arghh!" He attempted to speak but was too angry to form a sentence together. He grabbed his hair with his fists like he was going to rip it out.

I cautiously took slow steps toward him, keeping my hands up defensively and avoiding eye contact like I was approaching with a wild animal.

"Ryker, maybe you should sit down. Take slow, deep breaths." He was so angry he looked disoriented as I gently took his hand and led him to the bed where we both sat down.

I rubbed my hand up and down his back while he tried to get his breathing under control. Whatever happened really did a number on him. I certainly pitied anyone who ever finds themselves the source of that rage.

I spoke in a soft, calm tone..trying to sooth him. It seemed to be working, at least enough to where he stopped hyperventilating. "Whenever you're ready, just tell me what happened."

He briefly made eye contact with me before awkwardly looking away. He started studdering and I quickly realized that whatever it is, he was nervous to tell me. Which of course set the panic back in my heart.

Since he was already upset, I tried to keep myself calm and not freak out yet. He was just starting to resemble a sane human being again, I didn't want to make it worse.

"Well, okay. So the thing is, your phone kept going off. As in, several times in a row. It was just laying there and everything, so.." His voice trailed off as he got a guilty look on his face. I slowly started to get where this was going. He went through my phone, and something he saw obviously upset him. But what?

"Go on." I prompted him to continue, listening intently as I tried to decide the best way to react to this.

He seemed to be seriously pondering something as he suddenly got quiet. I got the feeling he was trying to decide if he should tell me the rest.

"Ryker, what is it? Are you afraid I'll be mad at you or something?" My nerves was starting to cause me to lose my patience as I tried to urged him to spit it out.

"Well..I mean, that's partly it. But there's something else." He nervously rubbed his neck and I let out a frustrated sigh. He was taking longer to get to the point than I would like.

He said something about my phone, so whatever is bothering him must be on there. I decided to just walk over to my phone and check for myself.

Ryker  seemed to panic when he realized what I was doing and chased after me, grabbing the phone out of my hands. Now, I was switching gears from worried to annoyed.

"Ryker, give me my phone. I'm a big girl. Whatever it is, I can handle it." I reached out to take my phone and he took a few steps back. I threw my hands up in confusion. "What the hell is your problem?!"

Ryker Fox

I could tell I was starting to piss her off, and I understood why. After all, it was her phone, and her text messages. It was more than just being afraid she would be mad at me.

I didn't want her to see those hurtful text messages. She didn't deserve to be talked to like that, and I swear to God if I see her start to cry I will lose it completely.

I knew I was fighting a losing battle though. Of course I had to give her the phone, it belonged to her.

"I just..want you to be prepared." I said cautiously, still holding onto the phone for dear life. "You might not want to see it." She looked at me suspiciously, before something changed in her face. A look of realization of what I was getting at.

"He texted again, didn't he?" She sounded perfectly annoyed and covered her face with her hands in frustration before flipping her wet hair back out of her face. "Let me see it, please."

The part of me that would do anything to keep her from getting hurt wanted to just straight up refuse to give her the phone. But there was another part of me, that knew I couldn't protect her by wrapping her in bubble wrap.

She was a strong, incredible woman who had her fair share of pain. She can handle some needle dick prick throwing a fit for not getting a reply. I knew that. But that didn't mean she should have to handle it.

She still had her hand out waiting for me to place her phone in it. Her face told me all I needed to know, she was entirely done with my stalling. In fact, one more moment and she might drop kick me.

Reluctantly, I handed her the phone back. She looked from the phone to me, seeming nervous about what she was going to find. "Emma, maybe you shouldn't look. It will only upset you, and he's not worth it." I decided the best thing to do was let it be her decision. But I wouldn't be who I was if I didn't also say what was on my mind.

She thought about it for a long moment. I tried desperately to read her face, and try to decipher what she was thinking. But her face was unreadable as she clinged onto the phone with both hands.

"It must be pretty bad if it comes with a warning label." Emma  finally observed, a sort of sadness in her voice. I pressed my lips together and looked away, not sure how to respond to that. But she seemed to accept my silence as some kind of answer in itself.

Finally, she surprised me by putting her phone down on the dresser and turning back to me. She put both of my hands in hers, before giving me a quiet smile. "Why would anything a boy has to say interest me, when I have a man by my side?"

There she goes, melting my heart again. I grabbed her by the hips and pulled her into me, devouring her lips with mine. As I grabbed a hold of her still damp hair and deepened the kiss, a moan came from the back of her throat.

She wrapped her arms around me, digging her nails into my bare back. The towel she had wrapped around herself started to fall down past her breasts and I helped it the rest of the way by taking the towel off her body and toss it onto the floor.

My hands explored all her curves while we covered each other in kisses. A gasp leaving my throat briefly broke our kiss when I felt her hand grip my shaft.

She threw her head back in ecstasy when I grabbed her breast and put her nipple between my teeth. She moaned as she began to stroke my dick in her hands, slow at first. Until I sucked on her breast harder, then she began to speed up the rhythm..her moans getting louder.

I almost started protesting when she took her hand away until she grabbed two handfuls of my hair and pulled my head up to eye level with her.

She looked at me in the face, a hungry look in her beautiful eyes that drove me insane. "Fuck me." She demanded it through gritted teeth as she threw herself on top of me and we landed on the bed behind us.

That was all she needed to say. If she wanted me to fuck her, I was more than happy to comply.

Emma Riley

Ryker's Bed
Sometime Later

Ryker  and I both laid on the bed staring up at the ceiling, trying to catch our breath. I was beyond exhausted, but in the best possible way.

It was all such a new feeling to me. This intense connection Ryker  and I have. I'm pretty sure I've had more sex in my short time with Ryker  than I did my entire relationship with Sam. Much, much hotter and more satisfying sex at that.

Speaking of which, I'd be lying if I said those mysterious text messages weren't still in the back of my mind somewhere. Curiosity killed the cat  as they say, and my curiosity was definitely killing me.

Ryker  was just so angry..I had never seen him that angry before. It made me wonder what exactly was in those text messages to get him so riled up. Though part of me knew that I probably didn't want to know. Knowing Sam's  strong ability to hit a person where it hurts, I can imagine.

He always did have a mean streak, but only those who really knew him knew that. He always had a quiet and laid back vibe when you first meet him. In fact, I remember thinking how easy he was to get along with after our first date. But all that changed, and after a while you learn that there's a side to him that's extremely different.

I need to just move on. Ryker  thinks the texts will just cause me unnecessary stress, and he's probably right. Actually, I know he's right. The best way to deal with Sam  is to continue to ignore him. He'll get bored and move on..eventually. The pictures online just embarrassed him somehow and put him in a mood, is all.

Maybe I have too much time on my hands. Let's face it, I haven't been very productive lately. Ever since I lost my job, I haven't even tried to look for another one. I pressed my lips together, feeling slightly guilty.

I was always independent, I prided myself on it. I never wanted to be the type who is capable of working but instead just sits around living off their boyfriend's money. Yet here I am, doing exactly that.

"What are you thinking?" Ryker  pulled me out of my thoughts, I looked at him to find him staring at me, studying me. My face must have spoke volumes because he looked confused. "Did I do something wrong?"

His genuine concern he had upset me somehow was super cute. I moved closer to him and planted a soft kiss on his lips, putting my hand on his cheek.

I smiled at him when I pulled away, and he smiled back. One of his perfect, dimpled, million dollar smiles. There were women all over the world who would kill to have Ryker Fox  smile at them like that, and it was me on the receiving end. How crazy is that?

"You didn't do anything wrong, Ryker. You've been doing everything right." I said, laying my head back on the pillow. "I wasn't cracked up about the going through my phone thing, but I understand you were worried." He developed a sympathetic look on his face, and still seemed concerned.

"I'm sorry about that." He finally said awkwardly. He sounded sincere but there was an edge in his voice that told me he was still angry about whatever he saw. "So, what are you thinking about then?"

I sat myself up in the bed and he did the same, listening intently. "I was just thinking, as much as I love doing this, we need to find a way to do something with our lives besides hang out at your penthouse and have sex." I told a half-truth. That was partly what I was thinking, but I didn't want to admit to him I was still thinking about whatever those text messages said. He was so angry about it, I didn't want to rile him up again.

He looked at me with his eyes narrowed and a sarcastic smile on his face like I was making no sense. "What could possibly be more important than having you in my bed?"

I just stared at him, trying to decide if that was a serious question. After a few moments of silence, I shook my head in disbelief and laughed..deciding he actually was  serious.

"What's more important? Really? Like..your career? Or, I don't know..my ass finding a job to replace the one I lost for example?" I shrugged and continued to shake my head, not believing it needed to even be said. When I turned back to look at him, he looked like he was dealing with a mad woman.

"A job?! What for? I paid your rent for a year, remember?" He pointed it out like it was somehow all the permission I needed to slack off.

"Ryker, I really appreciate that. You know I do. I still can't believe you did it." I could hear the awkwardness in my voice, still embarrassed by the grand gesture. "But I still need a job. My rent isn't the only bill I have to worry about paying." Which honestly should be obvious to anyone who knows a thing or two about bills.

He got a thoughtful look on his face and tilted his head to one side. "Okay, fair enough. Other bills like what?" He sounded serious, and I was starting to wonder where he was going with this.

"Um..car insurance, gas, cell phone, groceries, I have a few maxed out credit cards I'm trying to get paid off..." My voice trailed off as I began to feel a little pitiful, the reminder of my ongoing bills stressing me out. I really have been slacking.

I'm usually so on top of these things and am actually fairly good at paying my bills most of the time. I can't tell you how many times I went without food just so I could keep my bills up-to-date.

Gina  on the other hand was more of a 'fly by the seat of your pants' kind of girl and she thought I was crazy to go without eating just so I could pay a credit card bill or something. But there was a certain pride knowing I was slowly working towards pulling myself out of debt.

That was before I lost my job and then became too busy with my new boyfriend to care about my responsibilities. Now I was once again reminded, I still had no idea what I was going to do.

"Why didn't you just say so?" Ryker  threw his hands up like I was missing something obvious. "Consider them paid."

My jaw dropped as I tried to process what he just said. Was he actually offering to pay all  my bills?! He acted so casual about it, too.

I shook my head in protest. "No way, Ryker. I could never ever agree to that. You should have known that before you offered." He connected his palm to his forehead and mumbled something about me being stubborn.

"Why not? I have plenty of money and you're my girlfriend. I'm not about to sit here and watch you struggle, what kind of man would I be if I could help you but I didn't?" He crossed his arms over his bare chest and stared me down, looking very determined to not budge.

I took a deep breath and prayed I could find a way to make him understand so he would drop it. "I really appreciate your kindness. But just because you can pay my bills, doesn't mean you should have to." He rolled his eyes at me, obviously not buying it so far. So I continued. "You paying my bills so I can sit around and have sex with you all day makes me feel like a prostitute." I pointed out, embarrassed. His face changed and he looked like I had just offended him.

"I'm not offering just because of that, Emma. I want to help. You don't have to go out looking for a thankless minimum wage job that treats you like shit. Not ever again. Let me take care of you." He almost sounded like he was begging at this point, and while I was really touched he wanted to make my life less stressful..I had to laugh at the irony.

Here I was, arguing with my handsome and rich celebrity boyfriend about him wanting to financially support me. How this became my reality, who the fuck knows.

"Ryker, it's not just about my bills. You have your acting. I could see it in your face when you were going over that script how passionate you are about it." I beamed when I thought of watching him go over his script. I really loved seeing him in his element like that.

"I want to find something I'm passionate about, too. So I have something to do with my life while you're off winning a truckload of Oscars." I winked at him and he laughed, though I wasn't joking. I really did believe he would have a truckload full of Oscars someday. I could feel it in my bones. The sky is the limit for him if he applies himself.

"It's..it's important to me to not be that person, Ryker. That vapid, spoiled person with no real goals or aspirations besides spending her days going shopping on her boyfriend's dime. We both deserve more than that, don't we?" A smile came over his face as he studied me for a long moment.

Our fingers were interlaced and he stroked the back of my hand with his thumb. Looking in his eyes, I could tell he was finally beginning to understand. 

He leaned in close to me, until our faces were inches apart. Gazing into my eyes and stroking my cheek with his free hand, I was taken back by his sudden sincerity. "You're the most amazing woman I've ever met, Emma Riley. How did I get so lucky?"

He pressed his lips against mine before I could respond. When our kiss began to deepen, I knew where this was going. He looked positively disgusted when he felt me pull away which almost made me laugh.

"Ryker, this is what I'm talking about. Literally all we do is have sex with each other." He blinked a few times like he still didn't understand the problem, so I continued. "I need to apply at a few jobs before it gets too late, and maybe you should go over that script some more for your audition tomorrow." He sighed like he wasn't happy with that idea, but seemed to finally give in.

"Where are you going to apply? Can't I at least give you some kind of allowance until you figure out your next move? Please?" He clasped his hands together and put his lips in a pout, begging. Ugh. He just does not give up.

"I don't know yet, and I'll think about it." I mainly promised to think about it so we could stop arguing about it, but I had no intention of accepting. He doesn't have to give me some kind of allowance for being his girlfriend, that's ridiculous.

He seemed to accept that answer as he reluctantly got up and started to get dressed. I started to do the same and when I looked up at him, he had stopped in the middle of putting on his shirt to watch me dress.

He had a smirk on his face I now recognised as meaning, his mind was currently in the gutter. I shook my head and continued to dress, avoiding eye contact. "Stop being such a pervert." I mumbled humorously.

He laughed as he finally finished putting on his shirt. "Can this pervert give you a ride home?" He smiled, and I nodded in agreement. I didn't have my Durango here since I never went home from our date.

He unplugged my charger and phone from the wall and handed it to me, a thoughtful look on his face. I realized we were both thinking about those text messages and I quickly put the phone in my pocket, as if it would help eliminate those thoughts somehow.

"Ready to take me home?" I asked, forcing a smile. He shook his head, as if saying no.

He stepped towards me and brushed the hair out of my face. "If it means saying goodbye to you, I'll never be ready. Even if it's only for a little while."

Ryker Fox

A while later
Ryker's Balcony

I had dropped Emma  off at her apartment as requested, and I was man enough to admit that I missed her already. I couldn't help but shake my head at myself as I put out my cigar and walked inside. I suppose this is what is lovingly referred to as being 'whipped.'

I decided she was right about one thing though, it wouldn't hurt to go over that script a few more times. I had to nail that audition because I really wanted this role...badly.

But just as I was walking down my hallway towards my office,  I heard the doorbell ring. I wasn't expecting anyone, so this shocked me a little. I had hoped it would be Emma, though I was sure it wouldn't be her already. My best guess would be Dexter. Who else could it be?

When I reached the front door and swung it open, I froze in place. My heart sank and I couldn't keep my jaw from dropping. It was not Dexter.

I felt my shock turn to anger, and my hands were shaking. "What the fuck are you doing here, Sheila?!"

Author's note: If you enjoyed this chapter please don't forget to vote :)

Bạn đang đọc truyện trên: AzTruyen.Top