Broken Protector

Chapter 23: Just give me time

Ryder spins me around in circles, laughing quietly as he does. Everyone was sitting around the living room, chatting and hanging out. After me and Ryder patched up, we called everyone back in and Ayato's played some Christmas music to lightened the mood.

A few minutes later, Ryder had decided to sweep me off and started dancing with me. I giggle quietly as Ryder pulls me back into his arms. "I love you," he whispers as we sway with the music. I smiled, "And I love you too, Ryder."

He hums along with the person singing and I sighed happily. I was happy to be back in his arms and hear him whisper his sweet nothings in my ear.

And I'm pretty sure that Ayato happy that I'm okay again. He keeps grinning at me whenever I look over.

"I wanna take you somewhere for Christmas tomorrow, princess," Ryder murmurs in my ear. My eyes flicker up to him before flickering away, "We can't just stay in?" I mumble, trying not to make a bug deal of it.

Ryder trails a finger up my neck to my chin, tilting it up so I had to look at him. "What's going on in your mind, Keeva?" He asks gently, his golden eyes coaxing the truth from me. I swallow, "Before everything went wrong, my dad took me and my mom out to dinner for Christmas every year but we haven't done it since. Mom says it just didn't feel right and I agree," I explain quietly so no one heard but him.

Ryder's gaze softens and leans down to brush his lips against mine. When he pulls away, Ryder leans his forehead against mine, "Than let's start fresh. Just you and me," he whispers. "What do you say?"

I nodded at seeing the pleading look in his eyes. "For you, anything," I whisper, wrapping my arms around his neck. He cups my cheek with one hand, stroking the pad of his thumb across it. I turn my face into his hand, savoring the feel of his gentle touch against my skin.

"Thank you," he whispers, sliding his free and down my arm slowly until his fingers touch mine. He connects them, clutching at my hand. My eyes fluttered close as he leans in again.

Suddenly, we hear the click of a camera causing our heads to snap up and away from each other. Blake was standing in front of everyone, grinning with a camera in hand while Ayato was holding a video camera.

Feeling shy all of a sudden, I blushed and hide my face in Ryder's chest. "Is that really necessary?" Ryder growls at them. Ayato smirks, "Oh, I'm sorry, were we interrupting something?" He taunts. Ryder lifts a eyebrow and smirks mischievously making Ayato eye him wearyingly.

Ryder releases me and turns his body in Ayato's direction while I chuckles darkly behind him, "Ayato, my advice to you is to run," I advise sweetly, smiling innocently.

He does exactly that, spinning on his heel and darting out the door. Ryder blinks, before a malicious grin takes over his face and dashes after Ayato like a lion with his prey.

After watching Ryder disappear, I turned towards Blake but he was nowhere to be found. "Smart," I said approvingly, grinning when the rest burst out laughing.

******

I was walking into the living room when I'm suddenly pulled back from by a arm around my waist. My back hits a hard chest and I smile, knowing exactly who it was.

"Turn around," he whispers huskily. I do as he says, turning around in his arms. I peer up at him and he grins down at me. "Mistletoe," he says. Glancing up, I see that there was mistletoe above my head.

Ryder nudges my nose with his own making me giggle softly. I meet his golden eyes and he tilts his head, "So kiss me," he commands, his voice low. I wrap my arms around his neck and pull him down to me.

Ryder willingly lowers his head and presses his lips against mine. My eyes flutter close as he cups my cheeks, tilting my head up more.

When he pulls away, my eyes flutter open as a shy smile plays upon my lips. "Go on upstairs, I'll be up in a bit," he whispers, his breath fanning across my lips teasingly. Blushing, I step out of his arms, shivering at the sudden chill and dash past him.

Entering my room, I shed his hoodie and jump into my bed, drifting off in a few minutes.

****

I crept silently into Ryder's room and shut the door quietly behind me. Ryder was asleep in his bed as I approach it.

His hair had fallen more over his face, completely covering his eyes from view and he had a hand outstretched across the bed. I climbed into the bed and gasp softly when his outstretched hand flies up and grabs my wrist firmly before yanking me down on top of him.

I was frozen on top of him, waiting with baited breath as his eyes open just a bit, revealing his sleepy golden eyes. "I heard you come in," he mumbles sleepily. "What's wrong?" Smiling, I stroke the hair away from his eyes and relax into his arms. "Nothing, I just can't sleep and decided to come sleep with you," I explained softly.

His eyes blinked sleepily at me and he lets go my wrist to pull a blanket over me and snuggled me into his arms. I was wrapped in the blanket with his arms holding my body to his. He would occasionally rub my back as I sigh in drowsiness.

"Go to sleep, princess," he whispers, "I've got you now."  I press a hand against his chest, "Do we still have to talk?" I ask slowly.  Ryder opens his eyes again to look at me, "Don't worry. Just go to sleep," he commands. 

I sighed, turning over so my back was facing him. He scoots closer to me on the bed, throwing his arm around my waist and pulling me back into his chest. "Are you mad?" Ryder questions, taking a hold of my hand.

Closing my eyes as I mull over it, I spoke, "No, I just-" I paused, "It's just that I wish you weren't shut me out so much." Ryder stiffens, "Keeva, you have to understand how hard it-" I cut him off immediately, "I know how hard it is, Ryder," I hissed sharply, "I'm not oblivious to your insecurities and trust problems."

I knew I had taken him by surprise when he inhales sharply, "You see me as innocent, even though, you've seen me at my worst! You know what I've been through! Stop making excuses!" Ryder's grip was tight around me when I started squirming in his arms. "Let me go, Ryder!"

"Keeva, lay still!" He ordered harshly. I flinch at his tone and go limp instantly. His breathing picked up as he hover his lips above my ear. "If you think for a bloody second that I'll let you go than you're dead wrong," He whispers fiercely into my ear, "You are innocent! But not in the way you think that I see you in! I know that you've been through some serious shit! Princess, you have trust issues just like I."

Ryder nips at my earlobe teasingly making me shudder before he continues, "You know just how hard it is to let someone inside your walls, baby. I need time," he pleads, "One day, I will tell you everything. Just give me time." I can't help but cry out quietly at his broken and vulnerable tone.

"I'm sorry, Ryder. I shouldn't have pushed," I murmur, twisting in his arms to peer into his lost golden eyes. "Take all the time you need, I'll be right here when you're ready." Ryder enfolds me in his arms once again, letting me cry into his chest. "Why are you crying?" He asks.

I gripped his shirt, "Because I can't soothe your pain," I cried. I hear Ryder chuckle as he rub my back soothingly, "But princess, you are," he whispers, "Just by being here and loving me."