One Million

Chapter Eight

They stayed like that for a while, his hand on her chin and their lips locked. Ryan's lips were soft and Skylar could only hope hers were the same. When Ryan eventually pulled away, Skylar immediately wanted Ryan's lips on hers again. Ryan touched their foreheads and noses together and looked deep into Skylar's eyes.

"Are you falling for me Skylar Tepburn?" Skylar smiled and leaned in, pecking Ryan on the lips.

"I believe I am." She whispered. Ryan smirked.

"Oh?" Skylar nodded. Ryan let out a short laugh and leaned in to kiss her again. Sklar felt like her heart was trying to beat out of her chest. It was crawling up her chest and into her throat. Ryan pulled away but immediately pulled her to his chest. Skylar nuzzled her nose into his shirt and wrapped her arms around his thin waist.

"Stockholm Syndrome huh?" Ryan said. Skylar blushed and buried her face deeper in his chest.

"Shut up." She mumbled. Ryan chuckled and ran his fingers through her hair.

"Your hair is beautiful." Ryan mumbled. "You are beautiful." Skylar pulled back to look at him. She was all at once captivated by his brown eyes and she knew that beside Ryan was where she wanted to be. Skylar leaned forward and planted her lips firmly against Ryan's. She pushed him back against the couch and climbed on top of him, straddling him. Ryan ran his fingers through her hair, tugging on it slightly. Skylar moaned into his mouth and bit down lightly on his lip. Ryan inhaled sharply. Skylar smiled and drug her hands down his chest and over his stomach. Ryan grabbed her hands and pulled back.

"Let's take this a little slower." Ryan said sheepishly.

"Humph." Skylar sat back and smirked at him. "A bit afraid of the legendary Skylar Tepburn?" Ryan chuckled.

"Something like that." Ryan muttered. Skylar sighed and glanced back at the movie.

"Are we going to finish that?" Ryan leaned over to look at it around Skylar. In response, Ryan picked up the remote and turned off the TV.

"You want to go to bed?" Skylar smirked and wrapped her arms around him.

"Only if you're coming with me." She smirked. Ryan chuckled and stood up, picking Skylar up surprisingly easily. Skylar wrapped her legs around his waist and allowed him to carry her to the bedroom. He tossed her down on the bed and went over to the dresser.

"Do you want some shorts to sleep in?" Ryan asked.

"Yes please, I'm tired of sleeping in these stupid jeans." Ryan chuckled and tossed her a pair of basketball shorts. He grabbed a pair himself and stepped put of the room.

"Too shy to change in front of me?" Skylar asked from her position on the bed. Ryan popped his head in.

"Yep." He said and went into the bathroom to change. Skylar frowned. He was really a shy guy. Most men she knew would jump at the chance to have sex with her. Skylar stood and slipped her jeans off, swapping them for the much more comfortable basketball shorts. Skylar climbed back into the bed and got under the covers just as Ryan came back in.

"Hello beautiful." He said as he turned off the lights. Skylar felt the bed dip as he climbed in beside her. He didn't move closer to her so Skylar crawled onto his side of the king bed and put her head on his chest. She was a little disappointed that he was wearing a shirt but didn't want to ask him to remove it. She figured he would sleep shirtless when he felt comfortable. Ryan wrapped his arm around her and absentmindedly stroked her shoulder.

"No good night kiss?" Skylar asked. She heard Ryan chuckle. He leaned down and planted a kiss on her lips.

"Good night Skylar." He whispered. Skylar shifted and smiled.

"Good night Ryan." She whispered back and fell asleep with a smile on her face.

***

Ryan lay in the bed staring up at the dark ceiling. He absentmindedly stroked Skylar's shoulder. Her heavy breathing clued him in that she was indeed asleep.

"What are you doing?" Ryan whispered to himself. He kidnapped this girl. She was his prisoner, he had no right to lead her on like this. It's not that he didn't like her, quite the opposite really. He didn't want to hurt her. She knew nothing about him and they were creatures of two separate worlds. She was a rich uptown girl and he was the leader of one of New York's most notorious gang.

Ryan rubbed his eyes. He glanced down at Skylar's blonde hair that was splayed out on his chest and sighed. He kissed the top of her head and he heard Skylar sigh in her sleep. Ryan chuckled quietly. Ryan looked back up at the ceiling. He would have to sever his ties with Skylar but he found that just the thought of it made his heart ache. As long as he didn't fall in too deep he didn't see an issue in it. Once one of them showed signs of wanting something more out of their relationship, Ryan decided he would cut it off. And with that, Ryan allowed himself to drift off to sleep to the sound if Skylar's breathing.

***

Skylar opened her eyes and sighed. It was morning already? She sat up. Ryan was absent. She stood up and walked into the living area and heard the shower running. Skylar sat down on the couch and flipped through channels until Ryan came out.

"Good morning." Ryan said and Skylar smiled as she flipped the TV off.

"Good morning." Skylar said. Ryan was in his typical jeans and t-shirt. He had a towel draped around his shoulders and no shoes on. Ryan took the towel and out it over his head, slowly rubbing his hair. "How was your shower?" Skylar stood up and walked toward him.

"It was good." Ryan said. Skylar walked up to him, looking at him expectantly. Ryan chuckled and kissed her quickly on the lips. Skylar smiled.

"Do you have to work today?" Ryan nodded.

"Yeah I do. I was thinking that I would leave you here with Flicker for today." Skylar's smile faltered.

"Oh." She said. "That's fine." Ryan put a hand in her shoulder.

"Things are probably going to get pretty intense today and I would rather you not be there for that. Okay?" Skylar nodded. She wanted to be near Ryan but she understood why he wouldn't want her there.

"So you're handing me over to Flicker huh?" Ryan rolled his eyes. He pulled the towel off his head and tossed it in Skylar's face. "Hey!" She said, ripping it off her face. Ryan took the towel and tossed it in the bathroom. He sat down on the couch and started putting his black hightop converse on. Skylar frowned. He seemed to be more distant than he was last night. Skylar walked over and stood in front of Ryan. Ryan finished tying his shoes and sat back.

"Well? Do I get a goodbye kiss?" He asked, smirking. Skylar smiled and leaned down, pressing their lips together. Ryan grabbed Skylar around the waist and pulled her down on his lap. Skylar cocked an eyebrow. "Get over here and kiss me." Ryan growled. Skylar chuckled and locked their lips. She felt Ryan's tongue grace her lips and she opened her mouth, deepening the kiss.

"Alright princess let's-" Flicker stopped mid-stride. "Oh. My bad." He said and backtracked out of the room. Ryan blushed a deep crimson and Skylar laughed.

"Why are you so embarrassed?" She said, pulling him into another kiss. When she pulled back, Ryan's face was only a slight shade of pink.

"Alright beautiful." Ryan said, patting Skylar's side. "I have to get going."

"Do you really?" She asked, running her hands up his chest and around his neck.

"Yes, I do." He said. He stood up and picked her up before giving her a quick kiss and then dumping her on the couch. "Flicker, you can come in now!" Sky watched Ryan disappear through the door and Flicker walk in a moment later.

"Hey princess." He said as he set down a bag on the coffee table.

"Hey Flicker. What have you got?" Flicker smiled. I brought some movies and board games. Figured we might get bored." Skylar smiled.

"Sounds good to me." She said. "So tell me, what did you bring?"