I walked towards the punching bags, slid on my gloves, and started hitting.
I don't know how long I was punching for. I just felt two strong hands on my hips steering me away from the bag. I turned around and leaned my head on his chest. He chuckled and wrapped his arms around me.
"You know you’re all sweaty," Ryder said after a moment.
"So? I’ve had to deal with your sweaty ass more than I can count," I replied.
"Just admit it. You like me all sweaty."
I groaned, hiding my face in his chest. He chuckled and picked me up. I wrapped my legs around his waist.
"Don't hide from me," he said, capturing my lips with his.
I can't seem to get enough of his kisses. Each time it feels like the first kiss. Electrifying. It gives me this warm and fuzzy feeling.
"I love you," he said, pulling away.
I took his face between my gloved hands and smiled at him. "And I love you," I replied, pecking his lips.
"Let's get out of here," he said huskily. I chuckled at him.
"Can't—going out with the girls tonight."
He pouted at me and I laughed. "You will see me tomorrow, the day after tomorrow and the rest of the week."
He smiled, placed a kiss on my nose, and placed me down back on my feet. "So…what are you girls going to do tonight?"
I smiled. "They want to go clubbing," I said.
"Your mom as well?" he asked.
"You bet."
***
"In one, two, three!" Amy yelled and we downed the shooters.
"God, that burns," I said, placing the shooter glass on the counter.
"Hmm, but delicious," my sister said.
She was back from her honeymoon and wanted a girl's night out.
"How was the honeymoon?" Mom asked and Amy smirked.
"Like a honeymoon should be."
I let out a laugh and Mom looked at her, shocked.
"Come on, Mom. What else do you do on a honeymoon?" she asked.
I have never before seen my mother blush. I burst out laughing and everyone followed.
After a few drinks we decided to dance. My mom was on fire—for her age, she could move those hips.
"How are things between you and Ryder?" my sister asked.
"It’s good," I said.
She smiled. "Heard you guys are dating now."
I nodded.
"Have you guys…?" she probed, leaning forward.
"What is it with you and sex?" I asked.
"It’s something I’m good at," she said, shrugging.
I burst out laughing.
"So?" she persisted and I nodded. "Is he at least good?"
I almost chocked on my drink. "Lee…" I whined, making her smile.
"That good, huh?"
My god.
After dancing and getting really drunk we decided to go home.
In my drunken state I decided to go over to Ryder's house. I entered the house and kicked off my shoes. I then tip toed down the hall towards his bedroom. I think it was a mistake that he made me keys for his house. I opened his bedroom door and saw him lying in bed asleep. He was lying on his chest; sleeping in just his boxers.
I crawled onto the bed, my legs on either side of his sleeping form. I placed kisses on his neck. He groaned. I rubbed my hands up and down his sides.
"Alex?" I heard him ask.
"You know it," I answered. Then I giggled as he turned around and I fell onto my back.
He switched on the light and I covered my eyes.
"Alex, what are you doing?" I heard him ask and I pulled my arm away.
"I wanted to visit you," I said in a pouty voice.
"At two in the morning?"
I nodded and pulled him down so I could kiss him. I felt his hands on my legs and I smiled against his lips.
"I want you," I whispered against his lips.
He shook his head. "Not in a state like this. You’ll only regret it," he said.
I shook my head. "I don't regret anything with you."
He chuckled. "I love you for that, but no."
I smiled when he helped me up, then helped me out of my dress. "I thought it was a ‘no’?" I asked, smirking.
He slipped a shirt on me.
"As much as I want to, I don't want to do it when you’re like this," he said.
I smiled. "Why do you have to be such a gentleman?" I asked, feeling suddenly sleepy.
"Because you deserve a gentleman."
Chapter twenty-seven
I lifted my head with a grunt. My head was so heavy and it felt like a bird was pecking my skull. I dropped my head back on the pillow and decided to be strong and open my eyes. I shut them again as the sharpness of the light made it worse.
How much did I drink?
I felt the bed dip and my eyes shot open. Ryder was on all fours, smiling at me.
"What the…?" I asked, confused.
He chuckled, making me groan. I closed my eyes and cradled my head in my hands. I felt his hands on my sides. I slowly opened my eyes and found him hovering over me.
"Hey, gorgeous," he greeted me, making me moan.
"Not so loud." I was still cradling my head.
He chuckled and handed me some aspirin and water. I made myself comfortable on his chest as we laid back in the bed. I noticed we were in his room.
"Ryder?" I asked, confused.
"Hmm," he mumbled, playing with a string of my hair.
"How did I get here?"
He snickered. "You don't remember anything?"
I shook my head.
"Well, you came in here, almost raping me. I had to shield myself from you," he said and my eyes went wide.
"Tell me I didn't," I groaned.
"You were quite whiny because I didn't want to give you any," he said.
I shut my eyes. "Not helping Ryder.”
He chuckled again, and then softly turned me onto my side so I was looking at him.
"I loved seeing you like that. A side where you can also be reckless. And the fact you came to me makes me feel important."
He captured my lips. I sighed as I felt his warm, soft lips against mine.
After I’d recovered from my hangover we got up and Ryder fed me. I felt better after some food, and the rest of the day we just relaxed. Ryder was in the pool while I just had my feet in the water. He was stalking towards me, wading, and all the warning lights went on in my head. But do you think I would listen? I stayed where I was, waiting for him to do whatever he was planning in that head of his. I smiled when he stood between my knees.
He rested his elbows on each side of my leg. "The water is great," he said, pecking my lips.
"Hmm, I can feel," I replied, nibbling on his bottom lip.
"Why don't you join me?"
I smiled. "I don't have any swim clothes."
He smirked. "Nothing I haven’t seen before."
I rolled my eyes and slipped out of his shirt. I threw it somewhere behind me before jumping into the pool. I surfaced and saw Ryder watching me with a smile.
"You want me to strip for you?" I asked.
He chuckled. "That’d be something I ‘ve never seen."
I smiled, shaking my head as I unclipped my bra. I placed it over his shoulder, laughing at his reaction. I then wiggled out of my panties, leaving them on the bottom of the pool. I felt his hands on my sides, softly traveling down to my bum.
"Eager are we, Mr. Cane?" I moved closer to him so we were chest to chest.
He crashed his lips against mine, tightening his hold on me. I had no time to respond as he asked for entrance. I tugged the drawstring of his shorts, grabbed the edge of them, and pulled them down. I felt him smile against my lips.
"Eager are we, Miss. Anderson?"
"You have no idea," I breathed, wrapping my legs around his waist.
I took him in my hand and guided him in. I was in no mood for fo
replay. I wanted it and I wanted it now. I moaned into his neck. I was clinging to his body as if this was my last time. I felt my back hit the side of the pool, each stroke deeper and harder.
"I'm so close," I moaned into his ear. He let out a grunt and followed me. I dropped my head on his shoulder, catching my breath.
"I can't seem to get enough of you," he whispered into my ear, softly biting my earlobe.
"You have no idea," I breathed, pushing my head up. I placed a kiss on lips. "That was my first time doing it in a pool," I said.
"Join the club," he said, kissing me back.
We pulled apart. Ryder found his pants and I found my underwear. Not that I could wear them again—they were soaked. Ryder helped me out and handed me a towel and I sat on his lap as he dried off my hair. I looked at him—really looked at him.
He had a dimple on each side of his plump and soft lips. There were light freckles spread over his nose, which was a little crooked (probably from fighting). His eyebrows were thick, but not caveman style. His blue-green eyes had a light brown line around them.
"Are you done checking me out?" he asked.
I smiled. "It’s the first time I properly taken a look at you."
"And what do you think?" he asked.
"That you’re beautiful."
He looked at me with admiration. "Have you looked at yourself?" he asked. When I shook my head he told me: "You are the most beautiful woman I have ever met. Your brown eyes look like honeycombs. I can get lost in those eyes of yours. When you’re happy they sparkle like stars in the sky. When you’re sad, they look darker and dull."
I smiled at him.
"I love everything about you,” he continued. “You are beautiful from the inside out. Not one single thing I would change," he said, placing a kiss on my shoulder.
"Not even my big feet?"
He chuckled. "Not even your big feet… Come on, I am starving."
I followed him to the kitchen.
I let out a yelp when I saw his mother sitting at the counter, looking at us.
Oh god.
"Don't you have any shame?" she asked and I rolled my eyes.
Take a deep breath, Alex.
I ignored her and went upstairs to take a shower. I slipped on one of Ryder's shirts and some shorts and headed back down. Ryder was nowhere to be found, probably taking a shower. I found his mother in the living room.
"You know, you are not good for him," his mother said.
"And why's that?" I asked genuinely interested.
"I know girls like you," she said, twirling the glass between her fingers.
"And what is that exactly?"
"Pretend to love him, pretend to be a loyal girl—when all you want is his money and fame," she said.
I burst out laughing and she raised an eyebrow, apparently not thinking it was funny. I took a step towards her and crouched down in front of her.
"Let me make one thing clear between us," I said slowly. "If you do your homework correctly, you will apologize for judging me so quickly. I am not dating your son for his fame or money. I am dating him because I truly love him with all my heart. And if you do not believe me, that's your problem, not mine." I pushed myself up and walked towards the kitchen.
I ran my hands through my hair and paced back and forth, saying the meanest curse words I knew. I stopped when I heard Ryder clear his throat. I looked up and I saw the confusion on his face.
"What's going on?" he asked as he walked over to me.
"Your mom thinks I’m not good enough for you," I told him.
"She is just jealous that she can't make me this happy." He took me in his arms.
"I know mothers-in-law are bad, but your mother is worse than a monster-in-law."
That made him laugh. "At least I am not a momma's boy," he said, pecking my lips.
"I should hope not," I grumbled.
"Like I’ve told you before. I love you, and nothing will ever come between us."
Chapter twenty eight
"When did you start feeling like this?" Amy asked, pushing a cup of tea towards me.
"Yesterday. I can't seem to keep my food down. And the smell of fish just turns my stomach," I said, holding my head in my hands.
"Don't you think you should get a test?" she asked.
I looked at her, shocked for a moment. Shit! I forgot. We’d had sex a couple of times without a condom. I looked at her, gaping. I must have resembled a goldfish with my mouth opening and closing.
"You think I could be pregnant?" I asked.
She shrugged.
"Oh shit," I said, shooting up from my seat.
She looked at me with wide eyes. "Did you forget?"
I sighed. "I haven't done it in… how long? And things like that just don’t come to mind when you are busy doing it," I said, and she sniggered. I threw her a cloth at her, which didn't help as she burst out laughing. "He is going to kill me and you’re laughing about it!" I growled and she stopped laughing.
"Why would he kill you?" she asked.
"I don't know. We just started dating and it has only been like six months." I was starting to freak out. What if he leaves me? What if I’ve messed everything up between us?
Amy must have seen my expression because she jumped up and took me in a hug.
"What if I’ve messed everything up?" I sobbed and she hugged me tighter.
"He won't leave you. I’ve seen the way he looks at you. You’re just paranoid. Get some tests and make sure before you jump to conclusions," she said.
I nodded.
Leave it up to Amy to be the mature one.
***
"Please, please," I prayed, standing in front of the mirror holding the tests in my hands.
I opened my eyes as the alarm on my phone went off. But I didn't get a chance as the bathroom door opened and Mr. Cane himself walked in. I stuck the evidence behind my back, smiling at him.
"Ryder, what are you doing here?" I asked.
He looked at me, confused. "I’ve been trying to call you but you didn't answer and you weren't at the shop. No one knew where you were," he said. "What are you hiding, Alex?" he asked, folding his arms.
I closed my eyes and let out a sigh. "Please, don't be mad," I said, bringing the tests out of hiding. He unfolded his arms when he saw what was in my hands.
"What does it say?" he asked, taking a step forward.
"I don't know. You burst in just when I wanted to look at it," I said. "Well, here goes nothing," I whispered, turning them around.
I shut my eyes and let out a breath. "Negative," I said as I sat down on the toilet seat.
He crouched down in front of me, taking the tests in his hands. "Hey," he whispered, cupping my chin. I bit my lower lip, looking at him, trying to fight back tears. But, hell, looking in his eyes made everything more difficult. I couldn’t lie, or hide anything from him.
Tears started making their way down my cheeks. He took me in a hug after dropping the tests. After I’d composed myself he picked me up in his arms and carried me to my room. He sat down on the bed with me on his lap.
"Why did you hide it from me?" I heard him ask.
"Because I was afraid. I was afraid that this was too soon."
"You thought I would leave you?" he asked and I nodded. He made me look at him. "How many times do I have to tell you, I ain't going nowhere. If you were pregnant, we would deal with it. To have a family with you is a gift, Alex. To not have you in my life is a nightmare. I don't want to lose you, Alex. You are my future. Nothing else matters. I would have been the luckiest man if you were pregnant. Don't hide that from me," he said.
***
"He wasn’t mad?" Amy asked with a full mouth.
I nodded, icing cupcakes for an event of mine.
"Wow, he really wants a future with you," she mumbled.
I rolled my eyes. "That doesn't mean anything." I slapped her hand away as she tried to steal a cupca
ke. "Steal one more cupcake and I swear I will bend you over and whip your ass with a butter knife," I warned.
Everyone started laughing and she smiled at me. "Kinky." With that, she took another cupcake.
"Amy!"
She smiled sheepishly. "Sowwy, but your cupcakes are, like, the best. And you never bake for us at home."
"Yes, I do. You just keep on stuffing your face full," I replied, taking the cupcakes away from her.
Her smile fell. "You are one bad person. I can't believe I call you my friend."
"I feel your pain.”
Her mouth fell open and I snickered.
"Cupcake?" I asked, holding up a nice chocolate cupcake with caramel and chocolate twirls.
"No," she said, folding her arms.
I shrugged and took a huge bite. "Mmm, that is so good," I said, taking another bite. At least I tried to, but she ripped it from my hands.
"Tease," she muttered.
"You don't want me any other way, babe."
She shook her head. "You're unbelievable."
"Eh."
When we headed home, Amy bought us some wine and some Chinese. We were still joking around about the whole pregnancy thing when we saw a figure standing in front of our house. I recognized it as Ryder's mom.
"What the…?" I muttered, walking up the stairs towards her. "Miss Cane?" I asked and she turned around.
She looked me up and down unapprovingly. "I need to talk to you," she said.
Amy looked like a tiger ready to attack her prey. "I will see you inside." She stared at Ryder’s mother before disappearing inside the house.
"What can I do for you?" I asked, folding my arms.
"I want you to break up with Ryder."
Chapter twenty-nine
"No."
She raised an eyebrow. "No?"
"You heard me, I said no."
"I heard about your little fiasco," she said, motioning to my stomach.
"Yeah, so? It happens to everyone," I replied harshly.
"Not to my boy."
I rolled my eyes.
"Oh, please. It takes two to tango. And you don't even love your son. You only want his money and fame. Don't even deny it. You are just jealous because he doesn't want to share anything with you."
Tough Girl Page 12