Undeniable Chemistry

Ryder's POV

The worst thing about secrets is that they never stay hidden.

I just hated the fact that I had to learn it the hard way. Because mine was currently standing across the room, laughing with Ethan, my bodyguard, like we didn’t just sin last night.

"So tell me about you... I’ve only heard stories online from my father. I want to hear it from your lips," I asked Lira.

"Your father or you searched it online?" Lira queried. She was seated in front of me at a table. We were getting to know each other.

"Fine, you caught me..." I raised my hand in surrender.

"Well, uhm... what do you want to know about me?" Lira chuckled softly.

God, she was beautiful... but she wasn’t the one I wanted.

"Ryder?" She snapped her fingers in my face, calling me back to reality.

"Yeah, pardon me. I was lost in your beauty for a second," I teased, and I watched her face flush before continuing, "So what did you study in school?"

"It’s easy... Marketing. What about you?"

"It’s not a fancy course and I feel—"

"Color me curious, Ryder..."

"You have to promise me you won’t laugh."

"I promise," she said calmly.

"Fine art," I whispered.

"No way!" Her brows shot up in shock... Not the kind of shock I was expecting. "If you read Fine Arts, why aren’t you trying to forge your own path? Why do you want to continue from your father?" Lira seemed concerned, and I didn’t really know how to react to it.

"Uh... my brother. He—He’s late. So I uh... have to step up," I stuttered, avoiding her gaze, and then my eyes locked onto Darian, who I believed was purposefully trying to get my attention.

"I’m so sorry about that," she apologized.

"Yeah, let’s change the topic," I responded, my eyes still fixed on Darian. It was as if there was a magnetic pull, drawing me towards this young man. Maybe it was his eyes or his—

"Hello?" Lira snapped her fingers in my face, dragging me back to reality. "I kinda lost you again..." Then she turned toward my eye direction, then raised a brow. "Have you met my brother before now?"

"No..." I scoffed, rubbing the back of my neck.

"I can’t help but notice you staring at him. Why’s that?"

"What? No..." I sighed, "I’m not staring at him. I’m just surprised to see my bodyguard laugh that hard. Ethan barely laughs," I lied.

"Oh, that? Darian has a way of making people do what they don’t want to do."

Yeah, I give him that.

"So," she cleared her throat, "tell me, what do you like about me?"

Now that felt like a trick question. Didn’t she know that all of this was an arrangement? Didn’t my father tell her? I thought all of this was handled?

Did she think I was in love with her? Shoot!

"I uh... I have to use the restroom, been holding it in for a while. I’ll be right back." I panicked, and before she could blink, I had left the room and was headed to the restroom.

"Get yourself together, Ryder," I said to myself, taking deep breaths. And when I felt calmer, I unbuckled my belt, and just as I was about to pull out my cock, the door was pushed open.

"Who the..." I swallowed the rest of my words when I saw who walked in. Darian.

"I’m sorry. I was just looking for the restroom," he apologized.

"Yeah, you’re in the right place, but you have to knock before you push a door open," I responded.

"I’m sorry about that." He bowed with a sly grin on his face and was about to leave, but I called him back.

"Wait, Darian."

He stayed back.

I eased myself, washed my hands, and walked up to him. "I want you to know that last night was a mistake. I was drunk, and I can barely remember what happened. So the two of us—we don’t know each other, and nothing happened between us. Is that clear?"

"It’s fine if you feel that way, Ryder..." Hearing my name being called with his lips made my heart skip a beat. "But I’m the one to say if it was a mistake or not."

"I think—"

"It’s not up for conversation, Ryder." He did the name thing again. "So tell me, why do I feel like you don’t really want to use the restroom... that you’re only here to take a break?"

"I uh... your sister asked me what I liked about her. I panicked, 'cause I know nothing, so I excused myself," I answered.

"Oh, that’s simple. Tell her you love her personality and her eyes. You’re welcome."

Now, this was weird. Shouldn’t he be worried that I was getting married to his sister even though I just had sex with him last night?

Why did it feel like there was more to this marriage, and I was the only one who knew nothing about it?

"Thanks, but why are you helping—"

He leaned closer and took my lips in his. He kissed my lower lip softly, slowly teasing me to give in.

Suddenly, his hands met my cheeks, pulling me closer, and I found myself melting into his touch.

God help me, I kissed him back.

I held him by his shirt as we kissed, his tongue brushing against mine, sending signals across my body.

His lips left my mouth, but just as he kissed my neck—FLASHES.

I remembered him gripping my thighs, my clothes hitting the ground back at the hotel, the sound of his moans, my moans... the cries, and then I pulled out.

"What’s wrong?" he queried, stepping closer and trying to meet my lips again, but I flicked.

"I made this clear before, and I’m making it clear again. Last night was a mistake, and it should never happen again." I raised my voice, even though I could taste him on my lips, but I had to act like it meant nothing.

"Okay." He responded calmly.

I walked past him, my shoulders brushing against his slightly, and just as I was about to head back to the ballroom, I bumped into Lira.

"Where have you been?" she asked.

"I went to check something in my room. I’m sorry I kept you waiting," I lied again.

"Okay..."

"Are you missing me already?" I tried to act flirty, though I was yet to recover from Darian’s kiss.

"I like that you think that. Honestly, I felt you’d ditched me."

"No, I can’t, can I?" I chuckled. "I was only—" I heard footsteps behind me. It was him, Darian.

"Where are you coming from?" Lira turned her attention to Darian.

"Isn’t it obvious? The bathroom," Darian answered, but Lira squinted her eyes. She didn’t believe him.

"So, you went to the bathroom, and he went to his room, and you both just happened to come out at the same time?"

"I—"

"Ryder!" Ethan called my name, saving me from the awkward situation.

"Excuse me, Lira." I took the cue and went to speak with my bodyguard.

"What is it, Ethan?" I asked as Ethan led me into another room.

"I think you need to be more careful," Ethan started, his voice low.

"Careful? About what? Why are you whispering?"

"I don’t think your father would take it lightly if he discovers you slept with the bride’s brother."