Page 77 of Hate To Love You

“He got married. He got married and didn’t even invite me to the wedding. I mean, that’s messed up right?” I sniff as Ryker watches me with furrowed brows.

“I don’t get it. He was so different when I was growing up. We laughed, we played… it was good. Normal. Now he can’t even remember I exist,” I say through gritted teeth, throwing my pillow across the room. It hits the wall softly before tumbling to the ground.

I bring my hands to my face and groan loudly.

“Wow, Rebel. What’d that pillow do to you?” Ryker teases, probably trying to lighten the mood but there’s no way to make this situation any less shitty. I scoff.

My thoughts are all over the place and tears sting the back of my eyes.

“Why wasn’t I enough?” I ask, not really looking for answer. I hate being this vulnerable, especially in front of Ryker. I never wanted him to see this side of me. The side that shows I have actual feelings. When you have feelings, they’re easy to hurt. People see you as an easy target to screw over.

For some reason though, I don’t think Ryker will.

Ryker’s eyes darken slightly, and then soften when they meet mine which are now full of tears. He brings his hands up to cup my face, forcing me to look at him.

“Don’t ever say that again,” he demands, looking like he wants to punch something. His eyes are on fire, and I’ve only seen him look like this one other time. The time he found out Ashton threatened me.

“You are more than enough. Gwen, you are…” Ryker rolls his lips, his eyes darting around the room as if he’s searching for his next words. “You are everything. And anyone who can’t see how fucking perfect you are doesn’t deserve you. Your dad is a fucking dick, and I’m sorry he made you feel like you’re anything less than amazing.”

My breath catches as Ryker’s words wash over me. The tears have subsided, thank God, and all I can do now is stare at Ryker in awe because what the fuck?

His eyes dart down to my bottom lip before running the pad of his thumb across it. When his eyes land on mine, there’s a fire in them. Desire, lust, and longing begin to cloud my thought, and I can’t believe I’m going to say this, but I think I’m actually starting to fall for him, which is incredibly dangerous.

“Because, Gwen, you are extraordinary,” he seems desperate for me to believe him, and I want to so badly.

“You may be infuriatingly frustrating, stubborn as hell, and a total brat more than like, eighty percent of the time, but you are also the smartest, most beautiful woman I’ve ever met. And I’ve met a lot of women,” he winks. I elbow his side and he has the decency to at least act like it hurt.

My heart is pounding, and adrenaline is taking over my body as I watch Ryker, this sexy, arrogant man, sitting in front of me after just telling me that he thinks I’m the most beautiful woman he’s ever met. A genuine smile crosses my face for the first time in a while, and Ryker’s eyes focus in on it.

“Fuck, Rebel,” he growls under his breath.

“What?”

“That smile. You’re perfect.”

Butterflies let loose in my stomach and suddenly, I don’t feel so sad anymore. I just want him.

Sitting up a bit straighter, I reach up to pull Ryker’s hands away from my face, holding them in my lap as I look down at them, embarrassed since I’ve just cried and spilled my drama to him.

Ryker’s grip on my hands tightens, causing me to look up. His eyes darken with desire.

“I’m going to show you just how fucking perfect you are, baby.”

Before I know it, Ryker’s lips are crashing against mine in a breathtaking kind of kiss.

Our tongues dance together, and Ryker's hands begin to roam over my body, gently caressing every inch of me. He pushes me back and my head hits the pillow below me as he spreads my legs and leans over me, deepening the kiss.

His hands slide down my side and over my hip to grip my ass, and I’m silently thanking myself that I changed into a baggy t-shirt and no pants. I think Ryker is too because he growls and says something incoherent under his breath.

Ryker’s teeth sink into my bottom lip lightly causing me to let out a moan. My hands tangle in his hair, and I can feel his hard erection pressing against me sending a thrill through my body and making me ache with need. Breaking the kiss, Ryker trails hot kisses down my neck, sucking gently as he reaches the sensitive spot below my ear, eliciting a gasp from me.

“You have no idea what you do to me, Guinevere,” Ryker murmurs against my skin, his breath hot and sending shivers down my spine. “I want all of you, right now. I’m going to worship this incredible body and make you feel so good you won’t ever question if you’re enough again.”

I whimper at his words. I’m not completely sure what they mean for us. I don’t know if this is how he talks to every girl he’s with, or if it’s just me.

I really hope it’s just me.

Ryker smiles against my neck before pulling my shirt over my head and gently kissing a path down my body, pausing to pay attention to my breasts, circling my already pebbled nipples with his tongue before taking them into his mouth and sucking gently.

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