RC.

Ch9 . A

As Ryan drives through the basement gates, the contrast between the darkness of the car park and the sun dazzles me.

I would have asked him all sorts of questions about our clandestine and hasty rendezvous but he didn't give me time.

We quickly climbed into his car to escape, like vagabonds.

R:"Bend down."

Faced with this sudden authority, I gape at him.

T:"What?! Why?"

R:"I'm going to bypass the building's entrance but there'll most probably be paparazzi posted all around.

R:"They've been hassling me ever since the shootout..."

R:"I Don't want them to see you in the car."

He probably wants to protect me and avoid exposing me again to magazines. I can see the headlines from here:"Ryan Carter runs away with the mysterious girl from the roof-top..."

R:"I don't want you to be in the spotlight again. The sooner they forget you, the quicker you'll be safe."

I crouch down as well as I can against him, but you can't say that his car is the kind of place for such a manoeuvre!

I let out a grunt as I bang my side against the dashboard.

T:"Racing cars may be cool for Mr. CEO, but we're a little cramped for room!"

I manage to force a smile out of him.

I am completely twisted on the side, my head resting on his knee. He tenderly brushes a hand through my hair.

R:"I'm sorry to put you through all this..."

T:"Confess that you like to see me in this position ..."

R:"See you like that in other circumstances, certainly ... But you shouldn't proposition me like that, I could lose control of the car."

Our ambiguous words steal a chuckle from me making me blush bright red.

R:"There they are... Well hidden as usuall..."

I can't see Ryan's features but I see his hands tense on the steering wheel.

(Where ?)

(Can you shake them off?)

My question is hardly out before he tugs on the steering wheel!

R:"We'll go this way..."

I fall onto his knees. I feel like a rag doll tossed from one side to the other!

I instinctively clench onto the fabric of his trousers. I feel the hard muscles of his thighs under my fingertips.

I must admit that, even if the situation is uncomfortable, there's somthing exciting about this strange closeness.

R:"Please refrain from tearing my trousers off just yet ..."

I can see his little grin from down here, he seems extremely pleased with himself. Even at moments like these, he finds ways of provoking me!

(Laugh.)

T:"Don't indulge in wishful thinking!"

I hear him let out a tender yet mocking laugh.

He suddenly presses down on the accelerator pulling out without warning! I'm thrown against his abs.

I have all the time I need to feel how firm and tense they are ...

T:"You're doing it on purpose aren't you?!"

R:"I think I shook them off..."

T:"Is it always like that ?"

R:"Like what?"

T:"All this palaver in order to escape from paparazzi."

R:"No. Only when I have a beautiful young lady to keep secret, for me alone."

(I don't ask permission to sit up. As I try to sit back up.)

I try to get up but he puts his hand on the top of my head.

R:"Hold on."

T:"But you said you shook them off!"

R:"I'd rather be totally sure."

We drive for a few minutes, in silence. I can tell that Ryan is concentrated. He's put his playful little air aside.

R:"Okay, you can sit up now."

I lean on his seat to push myself back up. My hair is dishevelled. I run a hand along my neck, frowning.

I look at him a little askance as he stares back at me, amused.

(Don't take offence, I don't say anything.)

His eyes soften and a naughty little glimmer shines in the depths of his ash-coloured irises.

R:"You're beautiful, with your hair like that."

T:"Oh? ... I'll note that down for later, not to spend half an hour blow drying my hair every morning, in order to look presentable for my sexy boss, seems as he prefers my hair dishevelled!"

He shakes his head, sighing. Obviously, he finds me very funny.

R:"We're gonna go by your house so you can fetch a few things."

(What for?)

I stare at him, a little surprised. What is he up to?

R:"We're going to a place that only I know, far form everything ..."

Ryan's features harden for a brief moment.

R:"Far from Jake, away from journalists and away from tabloids ..."

Is it really a good idea to leave now, just the two of us? I don't know the answer ... But Ryan's attention touches me.

And it doesn't take much else for me to be convinced ...