Chapter 14 Lily
Lily
“That can’t be real,” I protest. “It looks so fake!”
“The background is fake, but that’s really me,” Ryder says.
I shake my head. “I don’t know how you do any of these stunts.”
He shrugs a shoulder. “I could teach you.”
I snort a laugh. “Yeah, right.”
“Seriously. A step vault is no big deal. Anyone could do it.” He stands, walks around the back of the couch, then does a cool move that launches him over to the front.
I clap for him, genuinely impressed.
“You could do that,” he says.
“Uh, remember who failed at cartwheels?” I point at myself. “I’m seriously uncoordinated.”
He waves a hand at me. “It’s unrelated. Come on.” He holds his hands out to me, patiently waiting for me to stand.
Hesitantly, I put my hands in his, feeling that same rush of warmth, and let him pull me to standing.
He drops my hands and steps around the couch, and I follow him.
“Okay, you’re going to step up to the couch, put one foot on top and the opposite hand resting here”—he demonstrates the position—“then pull your other leg through.” He hops through to the front of the couch.
“You forget that your legs are way longer than mine.”
“Come on, you can do it.” He walks back over to me, standing behind me as I face the couch.
I sigh. There’s no convincing him that I’m not able to physically jump over the couch, so what else can I do? I rest my right hand on the couch, then heft my left leg so my foot is propped on the back of the couch, and raise my eyebrows in surprise.
“I guess I could reach,” I say.
“See?” he says from behind me. “Now swing your right leg through. Here, I’ll help.” His hands settle on my waist, sending sparks through my belly. I can only imagine what it would feel like to have him pull me to him, my back flush against his chest. “Ready?”
Absolutely not. Can we stay like this for another minute, please?
“Lily?”
“Uh, yes.” I shift my weight onto my left foot and right hand, and with Ryder’s help, push myself forward, swinging my right leg through. I’m still propped above the couch as I say, “Hey, I did—whoa!”
I guess I forgot about the part where I’d have to put my foot down and land. My leg buckles under me on the seat cushion of the couch, and I roll off, hitting my arm on the little coffee table and landing on the floor with a THUD.
“Lily! Are you okay?”
“Ow,” I moan, lying on my back and holding my elbow.
Ryder rushes over to me, crouching over my body. “Where are you hurt?”
“Everywhere,” I groan. I punctuate it with a giggle so he knows my injuries aren’t too serious.
But Ryder doesn’t seem to get the hint, and his hands touch my shoulders, moving down to my upper arms, then my elbows, my forearms, and finally my wrists and hands.
Everywhere he touches leaves a trail of fire, stopping my giggles.
This isn’t funny, but it’s also not the medical checkup I’m used to.
His fingers and hands grip my body, firm but gentle, and my heart pounds in response.
“Does any of this hurt?” he asks, his eyes intent on my body. At my silence, his eyes lock on mine. “Lily?”
I suck in a breath, unable to look away from his gray eyes piercing mine. His body hovers over mine, heat radiating from him and filling me with all kinds of desire. It feels dangerous, wanting him the way I do, but at the same time, it feels so right.
His eyes soften, and I swear his head leans down toward mine, but a sound from the staircase makes me widen my eyes.
Footsteps.
Agatha’s coming.
“Hide!” I hiss.
Ryder jumps to his feet, grabs his jacket from the couch, and looks around the room before he darts under my bed. Thankfully I don’t keep anything hidden under there, and he shimmies underneath. I prop myself up to sitting just as Agatha opens the secret door.
“Lily!” she cries, rushing over to me and crouching down in front of me. “Are you all right? I heard a crash and came up as quickly as I could.”
“I’m fine,” I reply. My heart is pounding in my chest, unused to the physical exertion, the fall, Ryder’s checkup, and now nearly getting caught by Agatha.
I figure it’s best to stick to a slight variation of the truth.
“I couldn’t sleep, and I was watching a movie, and then I guess I got a little… carried away.”
That should be enough. She can fill in the gaps.
She tuts and pats my cheek. “Oh, Lily. We really need to get you out of here.”
“Yeah. I guess so.” I stand, dusting myself off, and Agatha follows. “I’m so sorry I woke you.”
“Oh, I wasn’t asleep,” she replies. “I was watching television.”
“But it’s…” I look over at the clock. “Nearly one in the morning! You never stay up this late.”
“Yes, well, I got caught up in a documentary about a murder investigation.”
I wrinkle my nose. “I can’t understand your fascination with those.”
Her eyes widen. “This one is so intriguing! The husband is the main suspect, but—”
“Okay, Aunt, any more details and I won’t be able to sleep.” I guide her toward the door, eager to get her out before she finds Ryder. “Feel free to finish your series, but I’m going to bed.”
“Fine, fine. I can see when I’m not wanted.” When we reach the bookcase, she turns and gives me a little hug. She pulls back and looks me in the eye, a solemn expression on her face. “Be safe, Lily.”
I swallow hard. Does she have a double meaning? Does she know about Ryder?
At my silence, she tips her head to the couch. “I don’t want you breaking your arm. Adam will claim I’m unfit to be your guardian.”
I snort a laugh, relief filling my chest. She just means to be physically safe. “You have my word.”
She nods and exits the room, and I shut the bookcase behind her. I count to one hundred before heading over to my bed and bending down to see Ryder.
“She’s gone?” he asks.
I nod. “You can come out now.”
He sighs and squeezes himself out. I don’t know how he fit under there, with all his height and flirtatious muscles, but I’m not about to ask questions since Agatha didn’t see him. He stands and brushes the dust off his all-black outfit, shaking his head.
“Here, you have a little…” I gesture up to his head where a small piece of spiderweb has latched onto his hair. Instead of trying to brush it off himself, he bends down and puts his face in front of mine so I can get it for him.
I reach a hand toward him and pick out the web, keeping my eyes on his hair but with the prickling awareness of his eyes on me.
After I’m done, I press my fingers into his scalp and drag my hand through his hair.
I don’t know what I’m thinking. I don’t have an excuse, other than the fact that I haven’t touched anyone outside my family for a year and a half, and now that I have the opportunity, I need to know if his hair is as soft as it looks.
And sadly, it is.
With my hand still in his hair, Ryder sucks in an inhale, and my eyes meet his. I can’t read them, but my imagination tells me they’re full of desire and longing.
Instead of leaning into my touch, he straightens and runs a hand through his hair. “Got it?”
“Mm-hmm,” I reply, turning around before he can see the blush on my cheeks. Stupid overactive imagination.
There’s a pause. I wonder if he felt the same crackling electricity between us, or if he’s just feeling awkward.
“Do you want me to leave, now that Agatha’s been up here?” he asks, his voice a whisper behind me.
I shrug a shoulder but still don’t turn to face him. “I’m good either way.”
He doesn’t move, and I realize with sudden dread that I don’t want him to leave. Especially not like this, not because we were interrupted by Agatha and it’s awkward between us.
I paste a smile on my face and turn to face him. “We never watched your stunts in Starting Tomorrow, though.”
A slow grin spreads across his mouth, and he tips his head toward the TV. “Then let’s do it.”