Venom

15

Ezras tired eyes focused on the water pouring out of the shower head. Her body shook as she backed away from the shower. Hitting her back into Ryder, Ezra was forced to stop moving.

"The water won't hurt you," Ryder said, rubbing the girls shoulder.

Ezra shook her head no as she tried to exit that bathroom. Ryder chuckled as he closed the door. Pleading eyes looked up at the man, but he shook his head.

"I'll be there with you."

Ezras heart beat faster at his words. She shook her head more as panic filled her veins. Taking a step back, she tried once more to leave. Ryder held her in the bathroom until she stopped struggling. Though, her body continued to tremble as she stared at the water.

Ryder stepped in front of her, blocking her view of the shower. Slowly, he took his shirt off, throwing it to the floor. His hands reached for the hem of Ezras shirt, but her shaking hands shot out to stop him.

"Ezra, we're getting in this shower wether you like it or not."

His harsh tone scared the girl into letting him pull the shirt over her head. Her arms wrapped around her chest while Ryder went to remove his pants. Ezras eyes stayed on his shoulders to avoid looking down.

Grabbing the waistband of Ezras pants, Ryder pulled them to her ankles. The girl stepped out of them without looking down. Ryders eyes met her own before he grabbed her hand. Keeping her arms across her chest, Ezra allowed Ryder to take her towards the shower.

Stepping in backwards, Ryder let the water rain on his back. He pulled Ezra into the large shower before shutting the glass door. Heavy breaths left Ezra when she felt the mist bouncing off of Ryders skin. 

Ryder places his hands on the girls shoulders before slowly flipping them. Ezras hands shot up to grip Ryders wrists. Closing her eyes, Ezra felt the water pelt the skin on her back.

"You're alright," Ryder said softly.

Ezra shook while the warm water coated her skin. She wondered if at any moment Ryder would push her head back and try to drown her.

"Ryder," Ezras shaking voice spoke. "I can't do it."

Seeing her unease, Ryder moved the two again. Ezra stood with her back to Ryder while he stood under the water. Grabbing the shampoo, he put some into his hand. Ezra stood still as he washed her hair.

Her shoulders slouched as she began to relax. His fingers massaged the shampoo into her scalp. Stepping to the side, Ryder let the water pour on the girls hair. Once the shampoo had washed out, he added conditioner. After rinsing it out, Ryder grabbed a loofa and put body wash on it.

Feeling Ryder scrub her shoulder, Ezra jumped. She stepped away from him, covering her chest with her arms. Turning to face him, Ezra held her hand out for him to give her the loofah. Ryder hesitated, but handed it over.

Turning away from him, Ezra washed her skin. Looking over her shoulder, she saw Ryder washing his hair. When Ezra was done, Ryder moved to allow her to step into the stream of water. Ryder washed himself as Ezra rinsed. Ryder then rinsed and turned off the water.

Ryder stepped out of the shower and grabbed two towels. He tied one around his waist before wrapping the other around Ezras shoulders. Her eyes stared at the tile floor, her face red with embarrassment.

She was finally coming out of the shock from her experiences with water. Her face burned at the memory of her sobbing in front of Ryder. Not being able to take the uncomfortable feeling in her stomach, Ezra ran out of the bathroom.

Ryder ran after her as she hurried across the hall to her room. Slamming the door, Ezra leaned her body against it to keep Ryder out.

"Open the door love."

"I need time," Ezra said quietly.

"After you change come back," Ryder said, knowing he wouldn't convince the girl to open the door.

Ezra waited a few moment before she heard Ryder walk back over to his room. Sighing, Ezra went to her suitcase and grabbed clothes to change in to.

After she had changed, Ezra sat on the floor next to her bed. She waited, knowing Ryder would walk over when he got annoyed of waiting. It was only a few moments before he did exactly that.

"Why didn't you come to my room?" He asked with an angry tone as he crouched in front of her.

"I didn't want to be by you," Ezra admitted.

"Why?"

Ezra scoffed. "You hurt me."

"I only do that so you'll learn your place," Ryder said seriously.

Ezra shook her head.

"You drive me insane."

"You make me crazy," Ryder said with a smirk.

"Why me?" Ezra asked flatly. "Why did you have to chose me?"

"You're the best tracker in the world."

"I know there's another reason," Ezras tone got louder. "All of those pictures in the file were not just because you wanted me as your tracker."

Ezra was now standing, looming over Ryder. The man quickly stood, getting closer to Ezra. Instead of answering her, he inched closer. Ezra gasped as the space between them was closed by his lips meeting hers.

She stayed still until he pulled away. Ezra stared at him wide eyed, not knowing how to react.

"Since the first time I saw you, I thought you were the most beautiful girl in the world," Ryder admitted. "After our first encounter, I knew I'd make you mine."

"We only met after you decided you wanted me in your gang," Ezra said confused.

"We met before that," Ryder explained. "A few months before you were at a club tracking down a man named Harry Wells. He joined your gang to get information for mine. I had gone to America to get this information, but you had already figured out he was a traitor."

Ezra thought back to that night. She remembered it because of how much pressure Dan had put on her to do it right. It had been difficult to get Harry to the back of the bar. She remembered him looking around the entire night.

"He was looking for you," Ezra said as her eyes widened. "You were going to meet up with him that night."

"We planned to meet coincidentally the same night you had planned to get to him. You just happened to get to him first," Ryder explained. "Good thing he was trained not to talk because I didn't expect him to get kidnapped by Daniel."

"We never met that night though," Ezra said, trying to understand.

"It had to of been after you had come back into the club. I was sitting at the bar where you left your purse. You grabbed it and I offered you a drink. You rolled your eyes and declined," Ryder chuckled. "Then you had gone out to dance with random girls and I remember seeing you laugh and sing along to the songs. Later you left and I followed you. When I saw you get into the car with Daniel, I connected the dots about who you were."

Ezras eyes widened as she began to remember the encounter. It was several months before the first time she had really met Ryder. Ezra sat back on the bed as she comprehended his words.

"I followed you for the next few days. When I had to go back to London, I had some of my men keep an eye on you while I did my research."

Ezra felt sick knowing that for months she was being followed. She wanted to lash out at Ryder. She wanted to tell him off for stalking her, but she sat in silence.

"I've decided you're staying in my room from now on," Ryder said cutting through the silence.

"What?" Ezra yelled.

"Your stuff will be moved to my room tonight," Ryder quickly left without another word.

Laying back in her bed, Ezra comprehended all that had happened moments before. Rage filled her, but she kept it inside. She knew better than to scream and cry. Instead, she enjoyed her last moments of freedom in her bed.