Broken Protector

Chapter 34: Breathe Baby

Ryder's hand curls around my neck, pulling me up against him as he deepens the kiss. I'm hoisted upwards and immediately wrapped my legs around his hips and arms around his neck. Ryder had trailed his hand downwards from my neck and both of his hands were currently holding me against him.

I was panting heavily against him, gasping between kisses. Ryder tightens his grip around me, pulling me away for a moment, "No, baby, you're the infuriating one," he murmurs huskily, before pressing his lips back down onto mine.

"Oh come on! This is a fucking kitchen!"

With a yelp, my feet drop back onto the ground and me and Ryder jerk away from each other. I was flushed, head to toe, and quickly buried my face in Ryder's chest when I saw a scowling Blake.

"Eat shit," Ryder mumbles, pressing his lips to my forehead and glaring at Blake. I let out a soft giggle and step away from him. "I'll see you upstairs," I whispered to him before walking away.

"Princess!" Ryder complains loudly, coming after me as I dashed outside instead of upstairs. Giggling, I smashed some snow into a ball and threw it at him as he steps outside. "Oh, now you're gonna get it!" He threatens playfully.

I gasped when snow hits my cheek and launched the next snowball at him. The boys must have heard us because moments later, everyone is outside and picking teams.

It was Me, Annabelle, Ella, and Ayato against Ryder, Carlisle, Riley and Xavier. Blake couldn't play because he was sick so he just sat on the front porch, watching us.

I giggled again when Ryder tackles me into the snow. He straddled me, smirking as I laid underneath him giggling and wiping snow from my face. "Hello, princess," he taunts before smashing a handful of snow in my hair.

"Bells, I need some help over here!" I screamed. Annabelle perks up and stops from dumping snow on Xavier to jumo on Ryder and knock him off of me. "Oh, shit!" He yells as he lands on the ground.

"Payback!" I roared, giggling harder as I tossed snowballs at him. Ryder jumps to his feet and runs towards me, smirking mischievously. Immediately, I dropped my bucket of snowballs and take off in the opposite direction. Everyone paused to watch Ryder chase me around the yard, "Get back here, you little devil!"

Arms suddenly wraps around my waist and I stumble. Ryder turns us before we hit the ground so he took the fall instead of me. He lands on his back with me on top of him. I peer down at him, smiling.

He smirks lazily, "Got you," he whispered huskily. Not even caring that everyone was watching us and I was freezing and that we were outside in the snow, I laid my head on Ryder's chest and closed my eyes, "Yeah, you did," I whisper back.

**********

Later on, after Ella and Annabelle left for home, Carlisle sits me and Ryder down, saying he wanted to talk to us. We were currently seated in the living room.

I sat next to Carlisle on the couch while Ryder was sitting on the chair next to the couch. "What did you want to talk about, Carlisle?" Ryder questions. Carlisle awkwardly clears his throat, "Please stay calm, Ryder, when I say this," he starts, making Ryder tense up, "Ella is concerned about you and Keeva's sleeping arrangements."

I frowned in confusion while Ryder scowls, "What do you mean?" I asked. Carlisle looks at me, "You and Ryder are always sleeping with each other in the bed," he says bluntly, "She's scared that you guys aren't being responsible."

Ryder groans in annoyance, cradling his head in his hands. "Are you fucking serious?!" He growls. Carlisle shifts uncomfortably, "Ryder, its-" Ryder's head snaps up, shutting Carlisle up immediately. His golden eyes pierce into me, making my breath hitch.

"Keeva, come here," he orders in a low, dangerous tone. Carefully, I stood up and walked over to start beside him. Ryder raises a hand and starts lifting my shirt up making me tense, "Ryder, stop!" I protested, raising a hand to stop him just as his fingers brushed the skin of my hip.

Carlisle was alert, watching Ryder's every move. It was pointless because as soon as I protested, Ryder stopped and pulled me down into his lap. "You see now, Carlisle?!" Ryder growls angrily, "If I can't even lift up her shirt or touch her like that without her getting tense than there's no way in hell we would be able to have sex, unless I chose to rape her!"

I flinched at his words, "W-what?" I stuttered. Ryder winces, "Sorry, baby," he apologizes. I trembled gently and bury my face in his neck as he rubbed small circles on my back. "When we're sleeping on the same bed, that's the only thing we do! Is sleep!" He than spats at Carlisle.  

I was as tense as a coiled spring and clinging tightly to Ryder, my mind still processing his other words that were causing memories to spring up. "Shit," he mutters. "Keeva, breathe, baby." Processing his words, I followed him as he breathes in and out to coax me to do it.

His golden eyes search mine, "You good?" I nodded swiftly. Ryder breathes out in relief, gently kissing my forehead after, "I'm sorry, princess, I shouldn't have said that." I stay silent, laying my head on his chest.

"Are we done here?" Ryder growls at Carlisle. "Yes, but Ry-"Carlisle gets cut off by Ryder as he gets to his feet with me still clinging to him and carry me upstairs. When he enters my room, he sets me on my feet and slowly backs me into the closed door.

We stood there staring at each other for a few seconds before Ryder closes his eyes and with a single breath, his head dips to rest in the crook of my neck. I shiver as his nose trails across my neck, leaving a path of heat in its trail.

"I love you," he whispers quietly, so quiet that I barely heard him. "Don't- don't ever doubt that." His hand gently trail up the sides of my body, caressing lightly as they creep up my back.

Ryder raises his head to look me in the eye and my own eyes trail to his cheek that had a bruise in the shape of a handprint. I wrinkled my nose as I remember slapping him and gently kiss his bruised cheek, "I'm sorry for hurting you earlier," I whisper.

He smiles sadly at me, "I kinda deserved it for the words I said to you," he murmured softly. When I looked away, Ryder inhales sharply again, "Can I hold you, princess?" He whispers softly, his voice vulnerable.

I lift my arms to wrap around his neck, "Of course, Ryder," I murmur gently. Ryder immediately hoisted me up into his arms and carries me over to my bed. He lays down and I curl into him. My head laid on his chest while my body lays by his side. He tenderly enfolds me into his warm, secure embrace.

"Sleep, my love," he whispers into my hair, "I've got you." Silently, with a small breath falling from my lips, I drift off to sleep as I lay in the arms of my broken bad boy.