Chapter 7 The Odylic Force

• [ K A R A ]
• Thankfully, the situation was not as tense anymore as we continued making jokes at each other. We arrived home later that evening and enjoyed a nice dinner with our parents altogether. Despite him always poking fun at me for being a virgin, I felt somewhat more comfortable with Ryder now. I could see us actually being friends, or even a brother and sister.
• "We need to leave at around 8. Let me know when you're ready, I'll be in my room," Ryder said to me as he excused himself from the dinner table.
• "Where are you kids going to?" Lacey turned to me.
• "Oh it's just a party at Ryder's friends' house or something like that," I answered, trying to sound as uninterested as possible.
• "Oooh sounds fun! I'm glad you're making friends," Lacey patted my back in excitement.
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• It was just a few minutes before 8 o'clock and I was all ready. I wore my tight skinny jeans and an off-shoulder white top. My long wavy hair was being tied neatly into a ponytail. I had also applied some light make up, just a little. I was never really the type that put a lot of effort into how I look. Feeling satisfied with myself, I headed out of my room and climbed the stairs towards the attic, to Ryder's room.
• I got to the door and started knocking, but there was no answer. I pushed the door open and heard the sound of running water from the en-suite bathroom. Ryder must still be in the shower. I had already climbed the stairs all the way up here, and I didn’t feel like going back down, so I made my way inside, thinking I could just wait in there.
• Stepping into the room, I found myself taking note of all the little knick-knacks and toys. Ryder's bed was just a queen-sized mattress with white sheets and blankets on the floor. On the bedside table next to the mattress, I saw a photograph of a woman, and she looked so much like Ryder, so that must be Layla. Then I saw a couple of surfboards hanging on the wall and one lying on the floor. There were lots of surfing trophies, medals, pictures of Ryder surfing, and a newspaper article that said: Ryder Jake Williams... The best new player in town.
• Walking over to his desk, I saw several books that I enjoyed reading myself. Looking at Ryder, I wouldn’t have pegged him as a literature nerd. He also had some of Fitzgerald's books, which was my favorite author.
• Hm, not bad.
• The drawer on his desk was slightly opened and I noticed the pile of condoms inside. I rolled my eyes at it.
• Of course, I mumbled to myself. That’s more like him.
• Then I moved my gaze to the shelves where I saw his DVD collection.
• "What are you doing?" suddenly I heard Ryder's voice.
• I turned around and saw Ryder was half naked – only wearing a pair of low hanging jeans. He just came out of the shower, so his body was still a little wet. He used the towel on his hand to dry his messy hair. I couldn't help but to take note of his perfect abs, the way his muscles flexed when he moved, and how his lower abdomen had that V-shape leading towards—
• "Are you done eye-raping me?" he said coolly. Unfazed.
• I gasped in terror and quickly looked away.
• "Wow, you have Game of Thrones!" I quickly pulled out the DVD I was holding on the shelf. "It's one of my favorite shows of all time, not including the last two seasons, though," I rambled on. The tone of my voice was slightly too high pitched for my liking.
• Not cool Kara, that was a really bad cover!
• Ryder let out a chuckle. He went to his dresser and picked out a white shirt and slipped it onto his toned body.
• "I thought you told me to come find you here at 8..." I rambled again.
• He let out a sigh.
• "You know at this rate, you'd be begging for me to take your virginity before the summer's over," he said as he combed his hair with his hand, not even looking at me.
• I could feel the blood rushing to my cheeks. My face was burning up.
• "Oh, hell no!” I yelled, trying to sound as stern as possible. “Only in your dreams, honey,"
• "Hey, I was just joking," Ryder then strode over towards me. I should be moving out of his way, but I found myself frozen, unable to move.
• I was now stuck between him and the desk. Standing right in front of me, his hand reached over my waist, lightly grazing my hips, and rummaged the desk drawer behind me. And I swear, he purposely stood there, just a second too long, so that I could smell his fresh masculine aftershave. Dang... My breath hitched as soon as I caught the scent. Meanwhile, Ryder grabbed a couple of packs of condoms from the drawer and slipped them into his back pocket.
• "Or was I?" he murmured somewhat seductively. He was looking down at me, and his face was only inches away. My cheeks turned hot red in response, and he broke into laughter at my reaction.
• “Oh, that’s just too easy,” he shook his head and pulled away. “Come on,” he said as he grabbed a black hoodie from the chair, and walked out of the room.
• I let out a relieved sigh and awkwardly put the DVD back on the shelves.
• "That was very inappropriate, you... creep!" I called out to him, trying to hold my ground.
• Shoot. I can feel myself being a little wet down there. Shoot, shoot, shoot.
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• Okay, I know what you’re thinking…
• I knew it was wrong to find my stepbrother so attractive. Especially if he came in the shape of Ryder Jake Williams. It was probably just my hormones or whatever. Maybe it was the jetlag or the oxygen level in the air. Whatever it was, this would probably wear out in a day or two.
• I will be fine.
• Back inside his truck, we were driving into the night and I saw Ryder sitting there, on the driver's seat, radiating with confidence. As he was driving, he turned to me suddenly, eyeing me from head to toe with his head cocked to the side.
• "Damn, you look good," he nodded in approval.
• "Eyes on the road," I replied as soon I could.
• He just grinned and kept driving, looking absolutely unashamed. And dang it, my cheeks were burning up again.
• Oh, fudge. I have a feeling tonight's gonna be a bumpy ride…
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• - - - - - To Be Continued - - - - -