Chapter 36: Chapter 36

Ryder leaned over her, kissing her, with his hands immersed into her hair. She wished he would just finish up, but he took his time caressing the curve of her neck with his lips over and over again. For the last couple weeks she had been walking around on her tiptoes, trying not to set off the anger she had seen him display. Their conversations were forced and every part of her cringed when he held out his arms for her, despite how good they felt. She would go to him, trying to soothe him, gently loving him; hoping her love would reach him. At night, she would read him chapters from her romance novels, showing how couples could work through problems, and she mentioned a marriage conflict seminar she saw an advertisement for in the newspaper.

He had not shown interest in either. Was any of it working?

He stopped kissing her. Must be time for her shirt to come off. She raised her arms in the air, to make it easier for him. When she didn’t feel him touch her, she put down her arms and opened her eyes.

His arms were crossed over his chest; his brows were knit. “What happened to your touch?”

Alecia blinked.

“It’s grown so cold,” he said.

“What are you talking about?”

“You just lay there, and it’s as if you’re gone.”

“I’ve always just laid here.”

“No, you used to caress my back, and say things like ‘kiss my ear a little longer’. Now you don’t.”

Alecia forced a smile onto her face. He realized her feelings. She reached up to his cheek to caress it, hoping to see his beautiful gray fill with desire again, but instead he just turned from her.

“I’m sorry.” She wrapped her arms around him and laid her head on the back of his shoulder. He reached for her hands and squeezed them. She needed to try better – to be more loving. Kissing his back, she inched her lips to his neck. She’d take control. That should soothe him.

Ryder stood and walked out of the room, leaving her on the bed.

* * * *

Ryder picked up the book one of the interns had left on his desk. The cover looked silly – a woman looking off into the distance while a young man stood behind her. Just some silly clean romance novel as Alecia called it. But she loved these books. He looked at their wedding picture on his desk as he tapped the book. His anger had gotten out of control the other night, but she had no right. He clenched the book in his hands. But still he shouldn’t have gotten so aggressive, nor run to the nearest woman trying to prove he didn’t need her. Especially since he did.

He opened the book, reaching for a pen and wrote I love you. He would make her love him again. It wouldn’t be too hard.

Alecia rolled from the bed and picked up her nightgown, slipping it over her body. Ryder sat up and ran his fingers through his sweaty hair. She was supposed to be gone only a couple minutes, but she couldn’t help it when he flashed his smile and held out his arms for her beckoning her to his side. She had run to him like he was a long lost treasure while Trina waited in their guest bedroom for her so they could whisper all night. She was visiting during her spring break. Another surprise from Ryder.

Alecia leaned against the door, letting her gaze roam over his sweaty muscular body. A strand of hair fell across his forehead, sending a spark of energy through her. He was so handsome.

“I’ll see you tomorrow morning, early.” He winked.

Heat spread through her as a giggle escaped from her lips. “I’ll awake you with my cold feet.”

He laughed as she slipped through the door and made her way back to Trina.

The last couple weeks had been wonderful. He had been sweet to her, bringing her home gifts; not jewelry, but books. He even once brought her home a letter from a foundation to promote literacy in the schools, enabling her to give him a real smile. He had made a very sizable donation in her name. So what if he had a controlling nature? He was obviously working on it and she would continue to help him. They would both give a little, for the sake of their happiness.

Alecia turned the bag over and let the pita chips fall into the crystal bowl. They would go well with the le bleu crab dip she had picked up earlier, for the slumber party. She looked at the clock. 9 p.m.. Chloe would be here soon for their small get-together. In front of her, her sister, wearing a pair of green silk pajamas, arranged several magazines on the coffee table. Tomorrow she would be leaving. A dull pain nudged into her heart. She needed to visit her family soon, but she didn’t have much time now that she was married.

The doorbell rang.

“Yay. She’s here,” Trina said, sitting on the couch and bouncing her feet.

Alecia folded the bag and dropped it in the trash before she made her way to the door. She opened it and took a step back, gripping the handle and half hiding behind the door. Sheila gave her a seductive smirk. What was she doing here? She wasn’t supposed to be included.

She kissed Alecia on the cheek and said, “brought something for you.” She held up a sixpack of Smirnoff. Someone told her.

“Welcome.” Alecia turned from the door and greeted Chloe. That girl better behave tonight, or she would kick her out.

“Hey Sheila,” Trina said, embracing the girl, who twirled one of Trina's curls around her finger.

Alecia crossed her arms. She could at least be less flirtatious with her sister.

The girls sat on the floor and joked about a movie they had watched. Sheila had set a drink in front of Alecia, but she didn’t touch it. She leaned against the couch and watched her sister immerse herself into Sheila's world. The girl laughed at jokes she barely got the meaning of, the hidden meanings clear to Alecia. She’d have to keep an eye on Trina tonight.

Sheila finished her first drink, laid the empty bottle down and made it spin until it stopped at Trina.

Her sister started laughing. “What ya going to ask me?”

Sheila smirked. “Are you a virgin?”

“What do you think?”

Alecia glared at Sheila, but she turned her gaze to the door as it opened and Ryder walked in.

“Hey ladies,” he said. “Having a party?” He dropped his briefcase on the floor, and his coat right next to it.

Alecia smiled, but he looked at Sheila. There was a wildness about her eyes. Ryder nodded before he went to the kitchen. He returned with a beer and sat on the couch with his legs right behind Alecia. She looked at him. He raised his eyebrows to acknowledge her right before he took a sip of the beer. He looked tired, there was a heaviness under his eyes.

“Alecia, are you playing?” Sheila asked. Alecia turned back to the group.

Sheila placed her hand on the empty bottle of Smirnoff and spun it, giving Alecia a seductive smile. The bottle stopped in front of Alecia, making her flinch. She turned to Ryder who looked at the bottle with the tip of his beer resting against his chin. His eyes looked unsettled.

What was he thinking?

“Alecia, I have the perfect question for you,” Sheila said as she got on all fours, revealing the tops of her breasts, and crawled over to Alecia. She sat about a foot from her. “Have you ever wanted to kiss a girl?”

Alecia placed her hands on the floor behind her and leaned back. “No.”

“Ryder likes to see girls kiss.”

Alecia's mouth fell open. She looked at her husband. He had just taken a sip from his beer, when she noticed the look in his eyes. A fixed look that was slightly wide, and full of a brightness. He bit on the side of his lip. She looked down at his free hand, which clenched the cushion of the couch. Sheila told the truth.

“Rydey, want me to kiss her?” Sheila said.

Ryder set his beer down on the table next to the couch, and got onto the floor. He sat right next to Alecia, and leaned so his face was right in front of Sheila, blocking her view. “She’s off limits,” he said.

A smirk slid on her face. “Just like that fifteen-year-old girl.” A harshness filled his eyes.

“Sheila, you messed around with a fifteen-year-old girl?” asked Trina, who wrung her hands together.

Sheila laughed. “No sweet-girl, we messed around with a fifteen-year-old girl.”

“Get out,” Ryder shouted.

Alecia locked gazes with her sister, whose wide eyes, probably mirrored her own.

“Didn’t tell her about that?” Sheila said, tilting her head to the side, the blonde tresses falling against her cheek.

Ryder sprang towards Sheila, grabbing her by the arm and yanking her to her feet. “You’re a worthless whore.”

He dragged her to the door, threw it opened and flung her out. Sheila flew to the floor before she jumped to her feet and ran at Ryder, but he slammed the door in her face.

Sheila could be heard shouting obscenities as she banged on the door.

“I’m sorry, Ryder,” Chloe said taking his shoulders.

“Why did you bring that whore here? You know I don’t want her around Alecia.”

“She said.…”

“Get out of my apartment,” Ryder shouted. Chloe grabbed hers and Sheila's coats and left.

Tears swelled in Alecia's eyes. Her heart pounded against her chest. Ryder stood in the middle of the floor, hands planted on his hips, chest rising and falling with each deep breath. Alecia walked over to him. “Did you…?”

“No,” he shouted making her step back.

He was lying. “If you.…” She placed a hand on his chest. He grabbed her wrist and yanked her towards him – a pain shot through her arm.

“I said no.”

“You did? Didn’t you?” This was unbelievable. But, it was true. She just knew it. For why else would he be so angry?

“Listen, you are never to talk to that slut again.”

“You’re sick,” Alecia shouted. “I’m leaving you.”

“No, you’re not.” He wrapped an arm around her back, holding tight. “You’re mine.”

“Let go of me.” She pounded on his chest. Ryder's flipped her over his shoulder and raced towards the bedroom.

Trina ran up to him and punched him in the back. “Let her go.”

Ryder spun around and raised his hand to her face. Trina stumbled back. “Don’t ever,” he said.

Ryder walked into the bedroom. He dropped Alecia on the bed and then rushed out, slamming the door shut.

Alecia sprang off the bed and ran towards the door, pulling at the doorknob. But it was useless. The doors were designed to trap people in. A few seconds later the door opened enough so Trina could walk in before it was shut again.

Both girls’ eyes were glued on the door until a loud sound made them jump into each other’s arms.

“Is there a phone in the room?” Trina asked.

Alecia looked at the one on the nightstand. She shook her head. What could the cops do? Nothing. Best to just wait it out. Alecia placed a hand on her head and pushed it down. She shouldn’t have questioned him. Sheila was not someone to trust, so why did she not believe her husband? Because of Taylor. Taylor had opened her eyes.

“I’m going to call the cops.” Trina let go of Alecia.

She was about to run to the phone, when Alecia grabbed her hand. “No, we shouldn’t.” “Why not?”

“He just did this, so he could have time to calm down.”

“He’s done this before?”

“Just once. He does it because he doesn’t want to take his anger out on me.”

“This is wrong!” Trina's dark curls fell over her face, half hiding her wide eyes.

She just didn’t understand what it meant to be married. Someday she would. Wives needed to be submissive to their husbands. and it was not being submissive to challenge him in front of her family, more over, she was protected, she had let him mark her. Once she got that through her skull, Ryder and she would be fine. Besides, it’s not like he hit her. “I don’t mind.”

Alecia sat on the bed. “The best thing for us to do is just calm down.”

Trina slowly shook her head. “I don’t like this. He shouldn’t do this!”

“Shh, Trina. We don’t want to make him angrier. Just sit down. He hasn’t hurt us. He wouldn’t do that.” She caressed her wrist. This was just an accident.

“Why won’t he let us leave?”

“I don’t know.” Trina patted the bed. “Just come sit down.”

Trina sat down next to her and wrapped her arms around Alecia's waist. Alecia held her tight as her sister trembled in her arms. She closed her eyes tight. Ryder had raised a hand to her sister, but he hadn’t hit her. Would he have? No, it must have just been a reflex because Trina had hit his back. He wanted to scare her off. A few tears slipped down her cheeks as her sister began to cry

The door opened, making her flinch. Ryder stood in the doorway with his arms crossed over his chest - eyes narrowed as he fixed his gaze on her.

“Come here, babe,” he said.

Alecia dug her hands into the sheets and pushed herself off the bed despite the fact her sister tugged on her arm.

Ryder closed the door behind them, locking it. His eyes still contained the glare, but his face had relaxed. Alecia took a deep breath as a chill swept through her. He looked so much like his father.

Ryder peered down into her eyes, making her take a step back. “Don’t ever try and run off like that again. Last thing I want is my naive wife and her even more naive sister running around the city, alone, at night. Is that understood?”

She looked away. “I understand.”

Ryder took her chin, tipping her face upward. “I know what’s best.” He ran a finger down her face, leaving a trail of goose bumps. He bent to her lips, kissing her tenderly, letting the kiss deepen. “What would you have done, Ally? Caught a cab in your pearls and silk pajamas, putting yourself at risk for robbery? Huh?”

She placed her hands on his chest, feeling the sweat under his dress shirt. “You’re right,” she whispered.

“I was protecting you,” he said. “Go tell your sister that.”

Alecia turned from him and opened their bedroom door. The black sheets of the bed contrasted with Trina's blanched face, making her look dead. She could feel Ryder's eyes focused on her.

“It’s okay, Trina, he didn’t want us to get hurt, by running around New York City alone.

We could have been robbed.”

His glare must have bored into the girl. Trina leaned back, her hands clenching the sheets as her eyes widened. “I understand.”

“I’m glad you do, Trina,” Ryder said. He turned around. Taking her hand, he yanked Alecia out the door before another word could be said.