Chapter 47 Chapter Forty-Seven
Raikin rubs my thigh, pulling me out of my thoughts. “You okay baby?”
I nod my head. “Yeah. I was just thinking about Christmas.”
“What about it love?” Raikin asks.
I shrug my shoulders. “I don’t know. I just want to make this year’s Christmas special. We all need a nice Christmas for once. I have never really had one, and you guys haven’t had one since your mom died. So, I just want us to make our own traditions this year.”
Raikin smiles, kissing the top of my head. “I like the sound of that baby. Let’s make this year amazing.”
“Okay.” I say tilting my head up to kiss him. I place my hand on his cheek giving him just one soft sweet kiss.
“You ready to go to bed baby?” Raikin asks. “You look sleepy.”
I rub my eyes. “Yeah, I am pretty tired.”
“Let’s get you to bed sweetie.” Reece says, coming over to help me get up off of Raikin’s lap.
I take his hand allowing him to pull me towards the stairs. Once we get to my bedroom Reece stops at my door. “Goodnight baby.” Reece says, giving me a gentle kiss. “I will see you in the morning.”
“Goodnight Reece.” I say, loving how sweet he is.
Reece opens my door for me, leading me to my bed. He pulls the covers back and I sit down on the bed, snuggling into the blankets. Reece brushes the hair back off my cheek, and I close my eyes. Loving his touch.
Raikin comes in next, leaning down to give me a lingering kiss, that makes me want more. “Goodnight sweetie. Get some sleep.”
“Goodnight Raikin.”
Ryder comes in last and I wonder if he will stay in here with me. Our parents will be back tomorrow, but I still want him to sleep with me. I have gotten used to being held at night. I love the feeling of his strong arms wrapped around me. Listening to the rhythm of his heartbeat, the steady pounding soothes me. Most importantly I love how warm he makes me feel, inside and out.
“Goodnight baby. I love you.” Ryder says kissing my cheek, and then my other cheek, then my nose, and finally my lips. Making me giggle and roll my eyes.
“I love you too Ryder.”
Ryder hesitates looking at the door and back to me. “I guess I better let you get some sleep baby.” He kisses my cheek again and turns to walk out of my room.
I grab his wrist making him turn back around to face me. “Will you stay in here tonight?” I ask giving him my best puppy dog look.
Ryder smiles. “I was hoping you would say that baby.”
I scoot over on the bed, patting the spot beside me. Ryder pulls his shirt over his head and slides into bed with me. We lay down, snuggling into each other. I put my head on his chest, rubbing the soft skin of his stomach. Which is a stark contrast to his hard muscles.
“Can I ask you something Ryder?”
Ryder kisses the top of my head, wrapping his arm around my shoulder. “Of course, baby. You know you can ask me anything, any time you want.”
“Do you think this relationship will work once Christmas break is over and your brothers go back to college?”
I feel Ryder’s body tense under my hand. That’s not a good sign. Ryder takes a deep breath, blowing it out slowly. “Baby, I honestly have no clue. I want more than anything for this to work. My brothers want it to work too. I’m not going to lie to you though. I can’t say for sure things are going to work out. I just hope it does.”
I nod my head against his chest, thinking about what he said. “Do you think they will do anything with, you know all the girls that constantly throw themselves at them, once they are back on campus?” I ask so quietly I could barely even hear myself. I hate that I even have to ask. I can’t stand my insecurities, but how am I supposed to feel after seeing all the gorgeous college girls they hang around.
Ryder doesn’t hesitate for a second. “No baby. Not at all. Listen, I know you are just getting to know them, and we are still getting to know you too. But they will never do anything to hurt you. If this thing between us doesn’t work out, it won’t be because they cheated on you. I can promise you that baby.”
I let out the breath I didn’t know I was holding. “I’m sorry I asked. I just, after seeing all those girls that they will be around all the time. I just don’t know why they would want to be with me, when they can have any or all of the girls at that party and more.”
Ryder tightens his grip around my shoulder. “You don’t have to apologize baby. You never have to feel bad for asking what’s on your mind. There is not one single girl on that college campus that can even compare to you baby.”
I roll my eyes, laughing. Why is it he can always make me feel better? He doesn’t even have to try. “I love you for saying that, but I know there had to have been at least one girl at that party that you thought was sexier than me.”
“Nope.” Ryder says without even thinking about it. “I didn’t even notice any of the other girls. I was too busy watching your sexy ass.”
I laugh. “You are funny. But thank you for making me feel better.”
Ryder kisses the top of my head again, making me smile. “I’m serious baby.”
“I wish we could stay like this forever.”
“Me too baby. Me too.” Ryder says.
“It sucks that our parents are coming back tomorrow. I would have loved another week of days just like today.”
“I bet you would have.” Ryder says laughing.
“Hey.” I say slapping his stomach playfully. “Don’t act like I am the only one that enjoyed our time alone, just the four of us.”
“Oh, trust me baby. I loved every single second of it.”