The Scars of Us (27 page)

My eyes moved down, scanning over the beautiful artwork inked on his chest and arms. I wanted to trace over them with my fingers, commit them to memory, but I didn’t want to wake him when he was so peaceful.

After several minutes, he began to stir before stretching lazily like a cat as he opened his eyes. When they met mine, a sleepy smile spread over that sexy mouth. “Good morning, beautiful,” he said, his voice still thick with sleep.

“Morning,” I murmured back.

He leaned forward, eyes on my lips, but I pulled away. He gave me a questioning look, to which I replied, “I haven’t brushed my teeth.”

Laughing, he threaded his fingers through my hair as he said, “I don’t care about your breath, baby. Before I do anything else, the first thing I want to do is kiss my girl.”

Damn, he just gets better and better.
I smiled before conceding, “Okay, but closed lips until I brush my teeth.”

He chuckled again, the sound vibrant and full of life. “Whatever you say, Warrior.”

Leaning toward me again, he pressed his lips to mine. Even just that small kiss sent tingles throughout my body.

When he pulled away, he rubbed my back. “How’d you sleep?”

“Surprisingly well.”

“You didn’t think you would?”

“Honestly no. I have nightmares, and I don’t sleep well, even at home. I definitely didn’t think that I’d get any here, but that was the best sleep I’ve had in a while.”

“Maybe you should stay over more often,” He raised his eyebrows suggestively.

“Maybe I will,” I replied teasingly. “If you’re lucky.”

Ryker gave me a playful grin before he pounced on me. Pinning my body beneath his, I squealed as he tickled me. Our laughter filled the room as I squirmed under him, trying to free myself from his grasp.

“I’m going to pee if you don’t stop,” I warned, still laughing.

Relenting, he propped himself on his elbows, framing my face between his arms as he gazed down at me. His lips parted to say something, but he closed them and stayed silent as he brushed some hair back that had fallen across my face and kissed me again.
I wonder what he was going to say.

My internal thought was forgotten as the kiss deepened, the feel of his almost naked body atop mine so alluring that I didn’t care whether I brushed my teeth or not. When his tongue parted my lips, I eagerly reciprocated, twining mine with his as he pressed his morning erection into me.

Ryker’s hands pushed the shirt I was wearing up until it came off. I slipped down his boxer-briefs as he moved my panties to the side, just like last night. His hard shaft pressed against my slick entrance, slowly pushing in as he stretched me. His mouth captured a moan that escaped me as he cupped my face in his hands, passionately kissing me.

Ryker slowly pumped his hips into me, gently thrusting in and out of my sex. The delicate way he was touching and fucking me was so different from the way we normally had sex, but it was just as amazing. The emotion he was creating within me was unlike anything I’d ever felt before, connecting us in a way I’d never experienced with anyone else. In that moment, I knew no one would ever compare to Ryker—my body was made for his, and his for mine. He completed me in every sense of the word.

Pleasure swarmed every nerve from his touch, filling me with molten fire. Electricity began to build in my core, radiating through my body as my orgasm approached.
How does he do this to me?

My hands knotted in his hair as he continued to rock into me, possessing all of me with his sinful mouth, inked hands, and divine cock.

Arching against him, he sank further inside me, my walls molding to him as he caressed them.

“Fuck, baby, I love your pussy,” Ryker growled against my lips before slipping his tongue back in my mouth.
Fuck, so good.

I could only moan in response, my mind already lost in oblivion from Ryker pleasuring my every cell.
Almost there, almost there.

Pushing deeper each time, Ryker repeatedly thrust into me. After a few more strokes, my orgasm found me, trickling through every limb and drowning me in bliss. One hand tangled in my hair, softly pulling the long tresses as the other stroked every curve of my body. He stilled above me as warmth coated my core and his cock throbbed inside me.

Panting breathlessly, Ryker hovered over me as he stared down at me. Sweat glinted over his golden skin and dampened his messy hair as he smirked at me.
I could get used to this every morning.

He gave me one last kiss before we disentangled ourselves. As I made my way to the bathroom, my phone rang. I went back to grab it, and saw Kamden’s face and number on the screen.
Shit.

I answered the phone to hear Kamden’s enraged voice, “Where the fuck are you, Ky?”

“Good morning to you, too, Kamden,” I greeted sarcastically.

“Morning? It’s almost one in the afternoon, Kaiya. Where are you?” he gritted through the phone.

“I’m at Ryker’s,” I snapped back, immediately regretting it.
Fuck, I shouldn’t have told him that.

“What? You stayed the night at Ryker’s?” he exclaimed angrily.

“Yeah, I did. I’m a grown woman for fuck’s sake.”

“You could’ve at least called me—I’ve been worried sick.” His voice was strained, but it was more with concern than anger. He was still upset, but I could tell that he was relieved that he was hearing from me.

I sighed, feeling like shit. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to worry you. I’ll be home soon, okay?” I said, softening my tone, as well. I should have been more considerate—I’d only spent the night at Nori’s before, and I called him beforehand to let him know. I felt like such a jerk for worrying him over something that could have easily been avoided.

After we said our goodbyes, I hung up the phone and turned around to go to the bathroom.

Ryker stood against the door, looking concerned as he asked, “Everything okay?”

“Yeah. Kamden was just upset that I didn’t let him know I was staying here.”

“He’s protective over you,” Ryker commented.

“He’s been like that since the whole thing with Kaleb.” I still couldn’t believe that I had told him that Kaleb was my brother the day before.

“I would be, too if something like that happened to my sister.”

Reaching him in the doorway, he blocked my path before tugging me in his arms. He must have sensed my unease about talking about Kaleb because he stated, “He’s never going to hurt you again, Ky. I’ll kill him if he tries.”

Our eyes had locked as he spoke, and the warmth normally present when he looked at me was gone—he was completely serious. I knew without a doubt that he meant what he said, and that both comforted and scared me. If Kaleb ever did get released, he’d come after me. And that meant Ryker would protect me, and possibly get hurt. Kaleb always hurt people I got involved with, and I didn’t want that for Ryker.

I didn’t know how he found me—I hadn’t told anyone at home about the party. They all thought I was spending the night at Nori’s house.

One of the varsity football players, Liam, and I were upstairs. It was his best friend’s party, so he let us use his bedroom to hook up.

We were both pretty drunk, and had been all over each other the whole night. By the time we made it to the bed, lust had gripped us in full force, and most of our clothes were off.

Liam ripped a condom open with his teeth and fumbled to slip it on. I needed him to be faster, wanted him to rid me of Kaleb’s touch and replace it with his; anything to make me forget, at least for a little while.

Finally, he entered me, flushing out my thoughts and filling me with sensation. I couldn’t focus on anything else except the intimate tangling of our bodies, and that was exactly what I wanted; to lose myself, if only for a short time.

Noise filled my ears, like a door slamming, but it didn’t completely register, my mind lost in sexual oblivion as it closed off the outside world.

Only when I felt the loss of Liam against me did I start to comprehend what was happening. Kaleb was atop Liam on the floor, repeatedly punching him.
Shit.

“Kaleb, stop!” I screamed as I pulled the blanket to cover my naked body.

Hand raised in the air, ready to throw another punch, he stilled before turning to look at me. He had that look in his eyes, the one that I had come to fear, the one that there was no reasoning with.
Fuck
.

I clutched the comforter tighter to me as he approached. Sitting next to me on the bed, he pried the covers from my hands and pulled them away, exposing my bare flesh to him. I cringed as he began to trace his fingers down my skin, trembling in fear for what he might do to me, how he would punish me.

“Kaleb, don’t,” I whimpered.

His fingers dug into my thigh as he snarled, “So, he can touch you, but I can’t?”

Flinching, I cried out, “You’re not supposed to touch me like that, Kaleb. You’re my brother!”

His other hand came up to roughly grab my jaw, squeezing it painfully. “Yes, and that means that you’re mine! No one else’s! You let him fuck you, gave him what was mine,” he accused angrily.

There has to be something wrong with him. He shouldn’t be this way with me. Or maybe there’s something wrong with me.
Maybe I’m crazy. No one else makes their brother act this way.

“Look at me, Kaiya!” he yelled as he gripped my jaw harder.

My eyes snapped open to meet his, which were identical to mine. Same unique shade of blue, but I hated them. Tears trickled down my cheeks as he let go of me and roamed his hands over my breasts down to my sex.

I pushed his hands away and prepared for the backlash, clenching my eyes shut. Noise of footsteps and talking from outside the door caused them to snap back open. Kaleb stood up and backed away. Thank God.

Kaleb made his way for the door, glancing over his shoulder as he said, “This isn’t over. I will take back what’s mine.”

I zoned out after that, pretending that I didn’t hear his words, and wishing that my life was different.

“Ky? You with me, baby?” Ryker asked, cupping my cheek, bringing me back to the present. His eyes were brimmed with concern as he searched my face.

“Yeah, I’m fine. I get lost in my head sometimes.” I smiled weakly.
Too much.

“Don’t get too lost up there. I want to be able to find you,” he said as he grazed his thumb softly over my skin.

I couldn’t stop myself from speaking what I felt in my heart. I’d always been strangely drawn to Ryker, like iron to a magnet, unable to stay away from him, even from the beginning. There was no way I’d be able to now. “I’ll always find my way back to you.”

Ryker brought my body into his as our lips joined in a tender, passion-filled kiss that made my knees feel like quicksand. When we finally separated, I wavered a little as I braced myself against him. He grinned cockily as he steadied me before smacking me lightly on the butt and letting me pass him to go into the bathroom.

After I finished getting ready, Ryker drove me home. He walked me up to the door, but I didn’t want him to come in, afraid that he and Kamden would get into a fight because of last night. I really couldn’t deal with that right now. I was trying to hold myself together after my flashback of Kaleb.

“See you at class tonight?” I asked as I tiptoed to kiss him; kissing him always chased away the darkness that threatened to swallow me.

Wrapping his arms around my waist, he placed his hands on my lower back, deepening the kiss before pulling away seconds later, way too soon. My lips tingled and I immediately missed the warmth of his mouth on mine. “Yeah. See you later, Warrior.”

His smirk tightened my stomach, making me think about the morning and night before. My hand clumsily fumbled for the doorknob, and I slipped slightly as I missed it. Blushing profusely, I gave him an embarrassed smile as I found the handle and turned it. “Bye.”

“Bye, baby,” he replied, still wearing that grin. Turning, I entered my apartment and shut the door before leaning against it and letting out a breath.
The things he does to me.

“Have fun?” Kamden questioned, notes of anger still lingering in his voice from earlier.

Really? Is he still mad? I thought we worked things out over the phone.

I pushed off the door. “I did, actually. Thanks for asking,” I replied as I walked past him down the hallway.

“Kaiya, we need to talk.”

“About what?” I asked as I stopped.

He approached me with his arms folded over his chest. “You and Ryker. Since you didn’t take my advice and stay away from him, we need to talk about things.”

“What things? Our relationship is none of your business, Kamden.” I didn’t understand why I was being so abrasive—I knew he was only concerned about me, but I hated that he was so adamant that Ryker and I not be together.

“Why are you acting like this? I’m just worried about you.”

Sighing, I replied, “I know, but I’m not a kid anymore. I don’t need you to protect me.”

Kamden looked pained as he responded, “I didn’t protect you when you needed me. It eats at me every day, Ky. Every. Single. Day. I just don’t want you to get hurt again.”

My eyes watered. I hated that he felt responsible when it wasn’t his fault. If anything, it was our parents’ fault for not paying more attention to their children. I set my hand over his crossed arms. “It wasn’t your fault, Kam. We were just kids.”

His mouth set in a hard frown as he inhaled deeply and shook his head. “You’re my baby sister—I was supposed to protect you from anything like that ever happening.”

I’d never be able to convince him otherwise, no matter what I said. We were both stubborn in that way. Once we got something in our head, there was no changing our minds. “You’ve more than made up for it by taking care of me and supporting me. I would’ve never made it without you,” I replied sincerely.

He gave me a weak smile. “Yes, you would’ve. You’re stronger than you know.”

I rolled my eyes—I was the weakest person I knew. Having breakdowns and being afraid of your own reflection didn’t equate to being a strong person in my book.