Broken Protector

Chapter 38: I am in love

A hand was grasping mine again when I woke up. "Keeva, baby," I hear Ryder whisper. "I'm sorry." I frowned, peeling my eyes open to see Ryder standing up. "Where are you going?" I croaked. Ryder freezes, hanging his head down.

"I have to go," he said stiffly. I sit up, "Not until you explain," I snapped, catching sight of a gold chain around his neck. "Keeva," he growls, frustrated. "No! How am I suppose to know you'll come back?" I shot back.

Ryder turns around in a flash, unclasping his necklace and throwing it at me. I gasped as I catch it, shocked by the intensity of emotion in his eyes. "I will always come back, Keeva Rose," he growls, towering over me.

When his hand comes up to cup my cheek, I turn my face into it, "You make stupid decisions that you believe are best for me," I whisper, "And sometimes when you leave, I still fear that you won't come back."

Ryder catches the single tear that fell from my eyes, "I," he kisses me, "love," again, "you." And again. My eyes flutter open to meet his golden eyes. "You are my everything," he murmurs, kissing me again.

Ryder groans as the door slams open again. Once again, Mom comes rushing in. "Away from my daughter!" She yells. I flinch back and Ryder clenches his fist. "Ms. Rose, I would recommend you be careful because you're the reason for Keeva's most recent attack," he growls.

Mom froze, horrified, "Keeva, is that true?" I lowered my head, squeezing tightly on Ryder's hand. "I-" my voice breaks making Mom sink into the chair beside my bed in shock. "Your hands and tone," I whispered, looking away from both of them.

"I'm sorry, honey," she says softly. I see Ryder roll his neck, grinding his teeth in frustration. When he sees me watching, Ryder grimaced, "It's okay, princess," he tells me. I shake my head, "You're stressed," I point out.

Ryder smirks, "My princess is in the hospital, what do you expect?" He murmurs into my ear making me giggle. My mom was scowling as she watches us. "Mom, I'm not breaking up with him," I hissed angrily when I pull away from Ryder.

"He's not good for you!" She protests quietly, sending a nasty look in Ryder's direction. I try not to grin when he simply chuckles and leans against the wall across from my bed. When he sees us looking, he raises a eyebrow, "Think what you will. I love Keeva and I'm not leaving her side, boyfriend or not," he drawls, smirking, "I could be on my death bed and still, I will not leave Keeva."

I suppressed another grin.

Ryder winks playfully at me, "Go ahead, smile, princess," he teases. Immediately, a wide grin breaks across my face and I blushed. Mom's scowl deepens causing me to roll my eyes, "You said you wanted me to be happy," I said, "He," I point to Ryder, "is my happiness."

"How do you know if he's even truly in love with you?!"

His head snaps up again at that, "I fell in love with Keeva the second she smiled at me for the first time. I fell in love with her again when she appeared at my school. Whenever she trailed after me, thinking I wouldn't notice. When she stared at me, across the dinner table with questions and curiosity in her blue eyes. I fell in love with the way she shies away from attention. Or blushes if she's given a compliment. When she grows flustered under someone's stare. The way her hair shines like gold in the sunlight."

Ryder didn't hesitate as he spoke, his eyes staring straight into mine.

"The way those blue eyes of her's can see into your soul and make you fall in love with them and her even if you don't want too. I fell in love with her, body and soul. Heart and mind. The second I stared into her eyes, I wasn't my own person. Even if Keeva isn't mine, I am her's. Completely her's. My heart belongs to her. My soul belongs to her. Every fucking part of me belongs to her."

His voice grew hoarse, "I am in love with your daughter. Nothing will change that," he finished, staring strongly and unwaveringly at my mom when he spoke his last words. I was full on crying, turning and burying my face in my pillow.

"Goddammit, Ryder!" I cried, "Why are you so perfect?!" I hear his shaky chuckle and than his arms wrapping around me, "I thought you were the perfect one," he whispered. "I love you," I whispered back to him, "And I'm completely yours."

Mom huffs making me tense up again before Ryder's warm hand that was rubbing circles on my back, forces me to relax. "Do you know how annoying it is, for you guys to act so cute that I can't even keep a straight face?!" She snaps, but she didn't sound angry, more like... happy.

"Baby, is your mom bipolar?" Ryder whispers in my ear and to which I shook my head. "Well your mom is jumping up and down, grinning madly." Confused, I lift my head from the pillow to see Mom doing just that.

"Mom?" I said slowly, eyeing her unsurely. "Oh, I'm so happy for you, honey!" She squeals. I recoil back into Ryder, "Who are you and what the hell have you done with my mom?" I deadpanned.

"She was faking," Carlisle suddenly says from the doorway. I frown at the handprint on his cheek. "Carlisle, what happened to you?" I question. He grimaced, his gaze on my mom. "She slapped me for intervening with your relationship," he answered.

Ryder lets go of me and stands up, "Keeva, I officially love your mom," he says to me, grinning cheekily. I shook my head, "You're ridiculous," I mumble. Ryder puts his hands on either side of my head, "And you love me for it."

I peck his lips, rubbing my hand over his light stubble. "You need to shave," I whisper. Ryder chuckles, "You have a habit of saying the strangest things at the wrong moment." I mock pouted, biting my lip.

His golden eyes darken and he takes a trembling breath. Ryder leans down and gently presses his lips to mine. I wrap my arms around his neck and pull him down more. His fingers ran though my hair repeatedly.

"God, I love you," he growls. I was already gasping for breath and I know Ryder wasn't done. The fact that Mom and Carlisle were still in the room didn't bother me. In fact, it was faded in my mind.

"Ryder," I moaned softly, leaning against him for support. Eyes half lidded with desire, Ryder pulls away too soon. I gaze up at him, still breathing hard while he smirks. "Bit breathless, baby?" He teases, leaning in again so his lips brushed mine as he spoke but still made me crave more.

"You are a fucking tease," I groaned, blushing beet red. My eyes drift close as his lifts drift across my own. "But you love it," he whispers.