We lay there, wrapped up together in silence. The AC unit in the room kicks on, and I realize how hot it is in our tiny room. I run my hand up his back and feel his shiver at my touch.
"You alright, Blondie?" he asks into my neck.
"Best. Day. Ever." I smile.
16
Ryker
We wake later than we planned, but when you stay up too late having the best sex of your life and eating cookies, what do you expect?
I woke her up a couple of hours before our alarm went off for another round. When her alarm finally rang, we snoozed it. Just a few times.
We've been on the road home for a few hours, and our drive is much the same — music, talking, but this time around, a lot more touching. Seems as if I've awoken some kind of sex kitten; Zella can't get enough. I have to admit, it makes me really fucking happy. Not that she wants me so bad, but the fact that I woke something up inside her.
She's scrolling through her phone when she gets a text.
"That was Cam. He said Wells has been trying to get a hold of you." She looks up from her phone. I look around for my own phone. "Now that he mentions it, I haven't seen you on your phone in days. Did you lose it?" Her expression is full of alarm.
"Nah, I put it on do not disturb the other morning. I wanted to take a break. Since we've got the GPS in here, I thought I'd disconnect for a couple of days." Truth is, I needed this. I needed to take a couple of days off from my phone, potential jobs, and the dark web. I still love hacking shit, but it’s refreshing not being on my computer. I admit, my fingers are itching to hit my keyboard.
"I was wondering about that. I haven't seen your computer the entire time we've been on the road. Did you even bring it?" she asks, looking over her shoulder into the back seat.
"Yeah, I don't go anywhere without my computer." I actually have a hidden compartment under my seat that you can access from the back. I slide my messenger bag into it when I need to. That's where it's been the whole trip, minus the night my car was in the shop.
She snickers at my response but goes back to her phone. I start to think about why the heck Wells might be trying to get a hold of me. Did our loft burn down? Surely, Cameron would have relayed the information to Zella if it were an emergency. As the minutes tick on, I struggle with the decision to dig my phone out of my pocket and turn it back on. For the first time in my life, I actually turned my phone off last night. I'm curious as to what Wells wants, but at the same time, this trip with Zella is nearly over. We have only a few more hours together, just us, before it's back to real life.
I'm caught up in my struggle when Zella puts her phone down in her lap and turns toward me. I can feel her staring at me. I glance her way, and she's got the biggest grin on her face, but she's also fluttering her eyelashes, and she's got the equivalent of puppy dog eyes going on.
I chuckle at the sight but get my eyes back on the road. "What's going on, Blondie? I get the feeling you're up to no good."
"Ryker. I like you, like really, really like you," she states, and I glance at her again. I see no nervousness or worry etched on her face. Whatever she's about to hit me with, she's confident about. It's sexy as fuck, and before she continues, I know I'll give her whatever it is she wants.
"Yeah, I really, really like you too, Blondie." Her smile is sweet, and her cheeks tinge a tiny pink color at my words.
"That's wonderful news." She nods, still smiling.
"It really is," I offer.
"With that all being said, I think it's a good time to define what this is." She motions between us. Damn, she's cute when she thinks she's calling the shots. Whatever it is she wants to call us, I've been hers since the first day. "I'd like you to be my boyfriend, and me, your girlfriend."
She's so matter of fact, almost business-like; I hold back my smile and play along.
"Are we exclusive?" I ask.
She doesn't even think before answering. "Absolutely." I nod in thought, still keeping my eyes on the road. Damn straight, we better be exclusive. I'm not going to share her with anyone else. Cameron should consider himself one lucky bastard.
"I don't expect you to pay for everything, like when we hang out and stuff," she adds.
"They are called dates. And I'm not sure I agree with you on that, but if it's something you're passionate about, I'll allow it. Occasionally." I risk a quick glance. Yup, still business mode. I bite the inside of my cheek.
"Good. And my last order of business, the ball. I know it isn't your thing, but I'm going. I already have tickets, and I don't want to go alone. I can't very well go with someone who isn’t my boyfriend, so it seems as if your only option is to go with me." She takes a breath.
That sneaky little pixie. She knew exactly what she was doing when she gave me those puppy dog eyes.
I bark out a laugh. "You play hardball, Blondie. I fucking love it." I reach over and grab her hand.
"So, do you agree to my terms?" she asks seriously.
"I agree to the exclusive relationship and occasionally letting you pay for shit."
"Yeah? What about the last part?" I can see her out of the corner of my eye, and she's so damn hopeful.
"Yes, I'll take my girlfriend to the damn dance. But you owe me, big time." I growl my disdain but add in a wink.
"Anything you want." She pulls my hand into her with excitement. I wiggle my eyebrows, and she gets the hint and giggles.
"So do we need to shake on this or something?" she asks so innocently. A laugh erupts from my belly. I can't handle her cuteness right now. I want to bury my face in her neck and kiss her stupid.
"How about a kiss instead?" And before I take my next breath, she's leaning toward me and placing an excited kiss on my lips. It's a struggle to keep my eyes on the road, but I manage it. She's laughing as she sits back in her seat, and I'm cursing under my breath.
I'm driving a fucking car right now and not able to give her a proper kiss in return.
The relationship conversation was good. It was enough of a distraction that I forgot about my turned-off phone in my pocket. At least for a little while. With a groan, I maneuver the phone out of my pocket and power it on. I slide it under my thigh while I give it time to welcome its self back to life. All too soon, my phone feels like a damn vibrator with the constant notifications as it plays catch up.
Shit. Something's going on.
I'm not about to try to read my messages while I'm driving, nor ask Zella to read them to me, so I check the next mile marker sign and see that we are less than ten miles from an exit. I'm hoping there's a gas station.
Sure enough, we're in luck.
After getting gas, I pull the car up to the side of the station and finally peek at my phone.
I've got a half a dozen texts from Wells, plus two calls. What surprises me more than the few missed calls from an unknown number is that I have four missed calls from my uncle.
Pulling the phone up to my ear, I listen to the only message he left me. "Ryker, this is the last time I clean up your fucking messes. I'll see what my lawyers can do, but you might be shit out of luck."