three.
2265 Words
ZOE
__________
Slamming the door shut behind me, I groaned. Stupid Landon. Only a week had passed and the houses in his obnoxiously massive stack of papers were ready for viewing.
It's not that I was complaining about helping. If it made Landon and Belle happy, then it made me happy. No, the part I didn't like was who I was viewing the houses with. Ryan Earnshaw.
The stupid man who both pissed me off and made my heart race.
How Landon thought we would get along long enough for this to work is beyond me. If there’s one thing that was blatantly obvious, it is that Ryan and I loved to get under each other's skin.
I sighed, stepping into the elevator at Belle and I’s apartment complex. I knew I only had myself to blame. Hell, I was the one who started all the fights. But I had to, I had to make sure I made it as difficult as possible for him to get to me. But sadly, it was yet to work.
I tried flirting with other guys, going on casual dates. But stupid Ryan and his handsome face ruined everything. One look from him and I would melt into a puddle.
Every fight and disagreement went from me being angry to that familiar throb starting between my legs. The way he looked at me with heat in his eyes scared and excited me all the same. I hated the way he made me feel. And after everything I did to him, he should hate me too.
But no matter what I did or said to him, I knew he enjoyed it. Part of me did too.
Pushing my way out of the apartment building, I shivered, the cold air sweeping through my loose hair. Out of all the days we had to start looking through houses, it had to be the coldest day of the bloody year.
Crossing my arms, I hid my freezing hands as I scanned the road for Ryan’s familiar car. Before a groan could escape my lips, the shiny black vehicle was pulling up in front of me.
Longing to get out of the bitter air, I hurried down the steps towards the passenger side. As I reached out for the handle, another hand slipped beneath mine, pulling open the door before I could even mutter a protest.
I glance up to Ryan, his eyes gleaming at my annoyed expression while a soft smirk takes his lips. I huff, accepting the gesture as I slip into the warm car.
The soft click fills my ear as I pull on my belt. Ryan slowly struts around the car, slipping back into the passenger seat before pulling off towards the first house.
Reaching forward, I held out my hands into the warm air blowing through the vents. Ryan briefly watched me before turning up the heat. I ignore his stupid smile, enjoying the warmth that begins to fill my hands.
Once satisfied, I leaned back onto the seat, finally giving Ryan a once over. He was dressed in his usual button-down black shirt and dark grey fitted suit, the one that perfectly molded around his body. It paired with the shiniest and probably most expensive watch.
I couldn't help but roll my eyes as I huffed. “Really, a suit?”
“Sorry, I may be helping out a friend but I still have a company to run” He chuckled, never taking his eyes from the road.
“Sorry Mr. Earnshaw” I mocked.
The car fell silent before that same low throaty chuckle filled the space.
“Good to see you still have your manners” My body tensed at his tone.
Goosebumps prickled over my skin. Adjusting myself against the seat, I cleared my throat, knowing the air was far too warm for my skin to shiver from the cold. I didn't even have to look through my fallen hair to see the knowing look on his face.
I’d been in the car not even five minutes and that annoying tingle had already made an appearance. He was getting under my skin, and he was enjoying it. The same game we always played had already started.
“Still cold Butterfly?” My goosebumps turned into Icicles as his voice made me freeze.
His subtle tone breaking through the wall I had cemented between us all that time ago. Another crack added to the slab of insecurities that I held close. Taking a deep breath, I huffed, uncaring of the noise in the small space as I diverted my gaze out the window.
The light sound of music soon could be heard, thankfully a distraction from the white noise that hung. I relaxed, keeping my sight of the passing trees and cars as we continued the long drive.
My plan, for the most part, worked. Mine and Ryan’s eyes never met, and after his last comment, he didn’t make another. I smiled to myself, happy with the peaceful ride as we came to a stop.
We had finally arrived at the first house. Before Ryan could announce our arrival, I unbuckled my seatbelt and ripped open my door. My feet moved as fast as they could, almost running from the sound of a second door closing as I approached the possible soon to be home.
Before I made my way up the entryway I grimaced. Though this house was modern, it was also… absurd. The cubed structure was so intense and large that each individual room was far too obvious.
The sharp edges and flat roof on each only defining the horrible design even further. Though Belle liked a modern and sleek design, I know for a fact she doesn’t want to live in a Rubix Cube.
As Ryan finally made his way to me, I turned on my heels for the car.
“Where are you…” Ryan started, to which I waved him off. Before he could question me further, the real estate agent stepped outside.
“Welcome, please come inside”, The forty-something-year old woman offered, holding open the door to which I continued walking away.
“We’re going, next house”. This time Ryan crossed his arms.
“You’re not even going to look inside?” I raised my brows at him like he was crazy.
He had eyes, right? He could see how horrible this house was. If anything, I would be thinking about ways to shove this suggestion down my brother's throat. Instead, he stood arms crossed and feet planted, a challenge.
Turning back, I matched his stance.
“No, this house looks like it was built by a toddler with building blocks” the corner of his lips twitched.
The real estate agent, however, gasped at my upfront statement. “Yes, well, the architecture is more unique, you see…”
“It looks like a ten-year-old built this in Minecraft” I rebutted. Ryan held back a chuckle, licking his lips as he turned to the agent.
“Well miss, the design actually…” She attempted to continue her selling points.
Scanning the house once over, I put a finger to my chin in thought before adding “Maybe eight.”
The woman stopped speaking, holding her clipboard to her chest, dumbfounded by my words. Ryan, who by now had begun to choke back his laughter, bid her farewell before escorting me back to the car.
Once both in the car, Ryan and I looked at one another before bursting into laughter. The poor lady was still standing on the front steps of the house, now scanning the exterior for herself.
“How about we try and make it inside the next house?” Ryan stated, that stupid smile pulled across his lips.
“As long as they don’t look like they’re built by a child” I shrugged.
Chuckling to himself, he shook his head as we headed towards the next viewing. I again found myself smiling out the window, finally feeling like I was in control.
The feeling only lasted a moment until a strong scent filled my nose. Snapping my eyes from the window, I turned to Ryan to see his arm snaking between my legs.
Before a protest could fall from lips the door to the glove box popped open. A small box rested inside. Ryan’s eyes briefly scanned across to the box before going back to the road.
It was now I held my breath, watching as his fingers popped open the magnetic lock before retrieving a pair of sunglasses.
The presence of his arm between my legs made that same tingle return. As he slowly pulled away, I imagined the last time his hands were there. The way they moved across my skin. Such a brief moment in my past and it was burning through my present thoughts, branding my mind.
With his arms almost gone, he carelessly trailed his hand across my thigh. The feeling pulling the burn from my mind to my skin. I swallowed hard, gripping my seat tightly as if to ground myself from floating away.
“Can you close that butterfly?” His words danced in my ears. With a shaky hand, I slammed the door shut.
A chuckle was all I heard before the car started pulling to a stop. The next house was in view but I was stuck. The moment I thought I was in control, he proved me wrong.
The second house only lasted 5 minutes before I walked out. It was far too old and ancient for Belle's liking. The third one had too much greenery, it could’ve been its own swamp.
Number four had too many hallways and number five had too many stairs. Both I had vetted in 10 minutes of being there.
Standing in the sixth house I crossed my arms and huffed, this one was no good either. The moment the noise left my mouth I felt Ryan’s hand grip mine, his other found its way to the small of my back.
I opened my mouth to protest but when my eyes met his I shut my mouth as quickly as I had opened it. Despite his calm demeanor, I could see the fire brewing in his eyes. Ryan was pissed.
“Can you give any of these houses a second to sink in before you make a decision without me?” He growled, pulling me towards the car.
“Why? They’re no good and you know it” I snapped back as he ripped open the passenger door.
Before I could jump into the car Ryan wrapped his arm around my waist, spinning me so we were face to face. With his hand on my back he pulled me to him tightly, holding me with a firm grip he stared down his nose.
“Did you actually look at any of these places or are you just trying to make this go quickly?” His words were so sharp they cut through the air like a knife.
Between what he said and the pressure of his hand on my back, I was at a loss for words. Beyond that, I could tell he was hurt. My heart sank, I was doing it again, I was hurting him.
Unable to look him in the eyes, I muttered the first thing I could to shut him out, “So what if I am?”
His body tensed for a second before he let me go and rounded the car. I knew my words were hurtful, but Ryan deserved more than this, more than me. I sighed, falling onto my seat.
The drive back to my apartment was long and silent. With my head resting against the window, I pulled my knees up to my chest. I just wanted this to be over.
After the longest hour of my life, my building finally came into view. I silently thanked the skies above as I jumped out of Ryan’s car.
To my surprise, he followed me.
My heart leapt into my chest, feeling his presence behind me as I made my way to my apartment. His eyes never once met mine, yet I felt him watching my every step. We silently walked towards my door. As I pressed the key into the lock, Ryan’s body closed in on mine.
The warmth of his chest pressed into my back while his hand came up, resting around my neck.
Spinning me in his grip he pushed me inside the apartment, kicking the door shut before lifting me up onto the buffet that sat in the entryway.
I gasped at his sudden action as he forced himself between my legs.
“Is it so hard to believe that someone would want to take care of you” he whispered, looking between my eyes as if for an answer.
“Ryan you can’t…” I whimpered.
My words cut off as the hand around my throat tightened ever so slightly.
“If that is a demand about to fall from your lips, I suggest shutting them.” He growled, making my hands brace themselves around the edge of the wooden surface beneath me.
“Don’t open them unless you want me to stop” his breath fanned my lips as my desire crept.
Every inch of me wanted to fight, but more so I wanted to listen. I couldn’t shake the warmth of his hand on my throat or his thighs pressed against mine. Pinning my legs open wider as I obeyed.
He smiled.
- Writer
