Save Me

Realizations

-Lex

I was curled beside my bed, back pressed against the wall, knees drawn up to my chest. My arms wrapped around my legs tightly and my forehead rested atop my knees. I held off the tears downstairs, but upon reaching my room I couldn't any longer. I completely and totally broke down like the day at the pier. A soft knock sounded on my door, but I ignored it. It was probably my mom ready to give me some kind of pep talk. Well, I wasn't in the mood.

My sobs grew slightly louder as I began to completely freak out. In seconds my door flew open, banging against the doorstop roughly. I jumped, but otherwise didn't move from my spot on the floor. I didn't hear the footsteps approach over my cries and I definitely didn't heard the rustle of clothes as the person sat on the floor next to me. Suddenly, within a matter of seconds, I was lifted from my spot and pulled into a lap. Panic overwhelmed me for a second and I struggled in fear, but then a familiar scent surrounded me. It swooped around me, filling my senses, and calming my fight.

Ryker.

A calloused hand soothed my hair, pulling it away from my face. A muscled arm curled around my back, holding me tight against him.

Ryker.

A hardened chest supported my head. A head bent to murmur in my ear. A thundering heart calmed my sobs.

Ryker.

He was here, there, and everywhere. He was enveloping me in heat. He was wrapping me in a security blanket. My sobs faded to soft whimpers and I could hear him whispering softly to me. One of his hands smoothed my hair, playing with it soothingly, the other rubbed circles gently into my back. The gesture was heartwarming and a month ago I would have never imagined him being so sweet. But now? Now I knew him, I knew who he really was, and I'd be lying if I said I didn't like him. It was moments like this the true Ryker came out, someone the world never really sees. How had I gotten so lucky? How had I gotten him?

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-Ryker

I hurried up the stairs, anxious to try to bring some sort of comfort to my Lexington. Trying to respect her privacy, I knocked softly on the door. However, when heart wrenching sobs met my sensitive ears I lost all control. I flung the door open, creating a loud crack as it met the doorstopper, luckily it wasn't locked or I would have just broke it down.

In a matter of seconds, I was across the room and crouching in front of the tormented woman. She hadn't moved or acknowledged me in anyway apart from a jump at the sound the door made. Her lack of awareness concerned me and I began to fear for her mental health.I had to calm her. Now. Just like that day in the pier I found her hurtled in a ball, muttering about a man. Little had I known the man she was so scared of was her own father. I felt my jaw clench out of anger, God help that man if I ever saw him face to face.

Taking a deep breath to calm myself, I carefully pulled her on to my lap. The action caused her to freak, she struggled desperately trying to get away from the person who held her. Determinedly, I cradled her tighter against. Within a few moments she began to relax, recognizing who I was. Her body seemed to sink into my hold instead of stiffening against it as it realized I was not a threat.

Delicately, I caressed her dark curls, pulling them away from her tear streaked face. My other hand rubbed her back soothingly, my arms hugged he closer to me. Slowly her violent sobs turned to soft whimpers, the pitiful sound was almost worse, the sheer brokenness of it killed me. How could one person suffer so deeply? How has she not gone completely and utterly insane?

And then she caved entirely, all stiffness left her body as she melted against me. Her cheek pressed firmly into my chest, leaving no space between us. Her small hands fisted fiercely in my shirt, clinging to me as if I would disappear. I sat cross-legged on her floor with her short legs draped over my left thigh. We were entirely pressed together, clinging to one another in a desperate hope.

Bending my head slightly, I pressed my cheek to the side of her head, inhaling deeply. Her lovely scent being forever engraved in my mind. My lips, right next to her ear, whispered soothing words to reassure her. I would walk through fire and back again if it meant ending her pain. In that very moment I realized there wasn't a single thing I wouldn't do for this beautiful girl in my arms. There wasn't a single person I wouldn't take on to protect her and there wasn't a single thing I wouldn't do to make her happy. With those thoughts bouncing in my mind, I came to a startling, heart-stopping realization.

I loved her.

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