Alecia gripped Ryder hand as they walked to his apartment door - his other hand held two movies. Somehow she had talked him into the romances instead of the action thriller.     "I’ll get some blankets,” he said, letting go of her hand and reaching for the doorknob. Yes, they would need blankets, since she had agreed to come back here and cuddle with him. She rubbed her fingers together, feeling the sticky sweat that gathered despite the chilled air. They were starting to make a habit of being alone. That could be bad or good, but so far Ryder hadn’t asked for more than holding and kissing her. Ryder opened the door and ushered her in, but she stopped in her track, her body tensing. A tall, slender woman with brown hair that fell to the middle of her back sat on the couch in a blue dress shirt that she recognized as Ryder's.    "Hey, Ryder.” The girl bit down on one of the cuffs of the shirt.   

Alecia rolled over and wrapped her arms around her waist as a chill swept over her body.Fingers brushed her bare skin, leaving a trail of goosebumps. What had happened to the blankets and Ryder? The whole night, she had listened to his heartbeat thumping against her ear. She reached for the sheets, but grabbed something solid. A hand. She opened her eyes and smiled at Ryder who leaned over her. His damp hair was brushed back, making his eyes stand out. Those eyes had held so much compassion last night when she started to cry from the pain.“What are you doing?” she asked.“Just watching you sleep. You’re so beautiful.”“Oh.” She looked down over her bare body. He must have pulled the sheets off of her. She sat up and pulled her knees to her chest, wrapping her arms around her legs.“Close your eyes,” he said.She closed them. Something cold encircled her neck and fell over her skin, maki

Alecia kissed her family goodbye and rushed onto the plane, finding her seat in first class.  The amethyst earrings Ryder had given her for Christmas dangled from her ears, matching the necklace that looped around her neck. Hopefully, he’d like the cute purple dress she had bought to accent the jewels. In her hands she held her other gifts: a Kindle packed with clean romance novels and a copy of a ticket to New York City, so she could meet his family.Alecia turned on the Kindle, tapped on a book that she had wanted to read for many months, but she rested it in her lap. Three days they had, and then two weeks before school started again. Soon, his lips would caress hers, his hands would run through her hair. Soon he would be all hers again.Alecia walked down the tarmac and stopped as a smile spread across her face. Ryder stood at the end holding one white rose. She flung her carry-on over her shoulder, and ran to him, throwing herself into his arms as he sp

 Alecia lay on her bed and reread the novel Ryder had bought for her. She smiled, feeling a warmness spread through her. As she remembered the day he had bought it for her. She loved him with a fierceness that hurt. It had been three days since she had last seen him and every part of her longed to be wrapped in his arms. How could love take complete control over someone?  He had kept his word and called every night, and they would talk for hours, losing themselves in each other’s voices, planning their lives together. She set the book down and picked up another book she was reading. The vibrations of her phone interrupted her. She picked up her phone and answered. She smiled closing her eyes, waiting for his smooth voice to soothe her. “Hey.” “Hey, pretty thing,” Ryder said in an almost quiet voice. “Ryder?” She sat up, and brushed a tendril of hair from her fac

Ryder pulled up to the beach house raised in the air by concrete blocks. The light blue building almost blended into the clear sky line. The beach looked dead compared to the beaches of New York with its long boardwalks and various attractions. The only person on the street was an old man walking a black Lab. He parked under the house, stepped out of the car and took a long whiff of the salty air. At this moment he could go for some salt water taffy. Maybe Alecia and he could find some later. But he needed to win her back first.Two days ago he had gotten out of rehab, and after he’d let his father get a good look at him, he slipped away, flying straight to Raleigh. The Alpha protector's cold eyes and the snarl of his lips as he elaborated on why Ryder looked like a washed-up street urchin were still burned in his mind. And he had laughed at how Alecia had just tossed him to the side. But how could he keep her, if he couldn’t make her believe in the truth he wante