Perfectly Broken

(8) Territory

My eyes glared dimly at him that he'd have the audacity to come to my house. Our affairs were private, our life together was private, and Ryan stepping on my territory made things public. He was entering my real world. Big mistake.

"I have nothing to say to you," I glowered, his appearance reminding me of his burning touch on me in the closet. Alec exchanged a look between us skeptically, wondering why I'd even be associated with Ryan to have something to talk about.

Ryan stood his ground outside the house, his boot purposely over the threshold in case I tried to slam the door in his face. The thought did cross my mind. "Emma, I'm serious, we need to talk about what happened."

Alec was still looking between both of us until his eyes lingered on my exposed hickey then a scowl appeared directed at Ryan, Alec now standing between us. "What did you do to Emma?" he growled, glaring at Ryan threateningly. Ryan looked unfazed by Alec's sudden temper, his protective instincts emerging rapidly.

"None of your business, Romano," Ryan barked stagnantly.

That only ticked Alec off more, grabbing Ryan by the collar and I gasped at the suddenness, Alec pushing him out to the lawn. "I swear, Brighton, if you h—"

"Romano, you have five seconds to get your hands off of me before I break them," Ryan threatened sinisterly. "This is between me and Emma." I followed them out on the lawn, stepping between them, pushing Alec's off Ryan in the process. I was afraid Ryan would actually break his hands. And when Alec claimed a temper, his common sense went out the window. It'd soon combust if provoked too much and Ryan was the master at provoking tempers.

I turned to Alec sternly. "Go in the house."

"But, Em—"

"Go, I need to talk to Ryan in private." Although the lawn wasn't really private, it was better than in the house where I know he'd be snooping. "Go help Chase with some homework or something."

He grunted under his breath but did as I requested, stomping towards the door and closing it harder than necessary. Mom would chide him for it soon. I turned my attention to Ryan, crossing my arms. "What do you want?"

He scratched his head, taking a deep breath. He looked a bit nervous which was a first. He never gets nervous around anyone, always wearing his tough guy exterior. It irked me a smidge. "I'm sorry for hurting you and you're right, I don't listen to you, I'm selfish, or whatever. But you shouldn't have told Mason." He stuffed his hands in his pockets, looking down on me.

I shrugged, wrapping my arms around myself like they'd protect me if he lost it again. I knew he wouldn't hurt me purposefully but it still made me feel secure with him around. "He saw us screwing, Ryan, I think he deserved an explanation."

I noticed his hands balling up in his pockets when they expanded. He sighed deeply before his eyes bore into me, gentler than I was used to without being in his arms. "Fine, I guess you're right. But this break thing—"

"I think it's the right thing to do for a while." I sucked on my bottom lips, expecting him to blow his top. However, he kept himself cool and collected, running a hand through his hair. "I'm only thinking about us. In the beginning, we weren't so dependent on each other. And I kind of realized how close we've become sexually. You even called my name last time, not Chelsea." That did kick reality in me when he did. It only fueled my instincts that this was the right thing to do.

His jaw clutched. His expression softened as he brushed back my hair on my neck and grazed the hickey on my neck. "That was stupid of me. I was just so caught up—"

"That was the deal we made, only thinking about who we want to be with when we're with each other." His fingers on my skin had my knees go weak and I had to control myself, his intoxicating touch taking over me. I couldn't be caught up in it. I just couldn't, it was too distracting.

He took a step closer to me. "That's it. I don't have Chelsea in my head anymore. Everything about her has been replaced with you." I inhaled harshly at his confession, never expecting those words to ever come out of his mouth. This must have been a joke. He must be trying to tease me or something.

"No, no, you can't...you can't forget Chelsea."

He tried to take another step towards me, his finger now playing with my earlobe. I held up my hands, motioning for him not to come any closer. My heart was racing in my chest and him touching me, if his body heat engulfed me, I'd only be swallowed by confusion. "I've accepted a long time ago that she's not coming back."

"So you fall for me?" The words came out in utter shock, pointing at myself. This couldn't be happening. First Alec kissed now Ryan was telling me I've replaced Chelsea in his mind.

He frowned, an eyebrow arched. "You say that like it's a bad thing."

"Because it is a bad thing. I'm supposed to be with Alec." I whispered Alec's name, cupping my mouth shamefully like I was cussing. "That's been the plan and I can't stop my feelings for him. He's finally coming around."

Ryan rolled his eyes, grunting. "Have you seen the type of girls Alec dates? No offence, four-eyes, but you're not really the drop dead gorgeous type he goes for." My mouth dropped, a stabbing feeling plunging into my abdomen when he said that. Did he just call me ugly? Well, he used to call me ugly when we were kids but it hurt so much more now. Was me going after Alec futile? I shook my head, stepping away from him. "You're pretty but—"

"Save it! You've insulted me enough today! I'm done with this relationship, I'm done with you!" I pivoted to walk away but his hand grasped my arm, pulling me back towards him. He was stronger. I couldn't break out of it.

"I'm not letting you run off again until we settle things entirely," he told me darkly, his supremacy exterior returning. He softened up when I stopped my struggling, looking up at him with my hand now on his chest. His voice dropped into a husky bass, the tone sending pleasurable shivers down my spine. "You're beautiful, Emma, I know this as a fact. But not everyone has the same eyes for you like I do. I've seen you in your most vulnerable state and although I joke about your looks, I've always considered you unimaginably beautiful inside and out."

My heart strummed at his words, each syllable increasing the swelling in my heart. "Ryan," I exhaled breathlessly. Why was he telling me this? "I..." I couldn't find any words to say.

He continued. "If you want to continue pursuing Alec, I'll help you. It's true that you're not his type—"

"Then what is his type?" How come I could find my words now instead of then? Maybe because it involved Alec.

He threw back his head, pursing his lips before looking back down at me. He was probably trying to figure out the right words in case he unintentionally insulted me again. "Rare Victoria Secret model girls who are badass and he accepts them as a challenge. He likes a woman that'll make the relationship a struggle instead of clinging and doing his every will, someone who'll fight back."

That didn't seem like Alec. He was gentle and kind and nurturing, not confrontation daring and anti-clingy. I shook my head, not believing him. "Alec isn't that type."

He snickered, smiling. "Oh, he is. I've been observing him since grade school. He likes girls who will stick up for themselves, who'll push him if need be. You let me pick on you even now although you've gotten a little better, I'll admit. You do whatever he asks of you without hesitation or questioning. He treats you like a little sister because you dress like you don't care, wear dorky glasses, he sees you like one of the boys in girl form. Now think about the girls he goes out with. Unnaturally beautiful, has a bitchy attitude, has be the center of attention. Obviously there's a difference between you and them."

I didn't like this at all. I looked down at myself wearing a pair of jeans and an oversized shirt and a belt around the waist. It looked fine to me but compared to other girls—the girls Alec supposedly dates—I looked a mess. I never cared about my appearance as much as them. I didn't know the latest trends, I wasn't into celebrity fashion.

I would occasionally fight back if need be to protect myself and the most I've fought with would be Ryan. Alec and I hardly ever fight and whenever we do, I'd be the one who'd apologize for whatever so we could mend our friendship quicker.

And the limelight was not my cup of tea. I hated being the center of attention, remembering stage fright in school, or when I'd beg mom not to throw a birthday party because people would be looking at my every move.

Looking back, I could see I was the antithesis of Alec's kind of girls. But that didn't stop my pursuit for him, if anything it fed it. "What do I have to do to get Alec?"

He looked me up and down, taking a deep breath. "Tell you what, come to my house on Saturday and I'll help you, okay?" A slither of ambiguous pain swam through his eyes when he said that but it quickly evaporated.

"Sure." I took a step back, mimicking his earlier scoping until my eyes fell on his curious expression. "When did you start being so observant?"

He smirked, folding his arms over his chest pompously. "All because we've been having s*x for the past three months doesn't mean you know everything about me, Thorne."

"And when did you start eying Alec?" I said it provocatively, watching him cringe at the tone. I held back my laughter, a smile arising.

"Not in a gay way. I just watched him for reasons...that wouldn't interest you."

"You sure about that?" I was feeling kind of playful with him right now and I was curious why he has been watching Alec enough to know what kind of girls he dates. "Are you my competition?"

"Emma!" he growled which only made me laugh. And like a ripple, he laughed after me then caught his breath, looking down at me. "You are beautiful, that's no lie. I'm sure Alec thinks the same but not in the same way."

I wonder what way that would be. "Thanks."

He backed away slowly towards his car parked on the curb. "My house Saturday or I will be coming back," he stated darkly but there was a hint of amusement in his tone. It strangely comforted me as I back up towards the door, watching him jump in his car and drive away. I'm glad we could work that out but what he said about Alec's type of girls irked me to the brim. I had to hear it from Alec himself.

I entered to see Alec lounging on the couch, flipping through the channels. When I closed the door behind me cautiously, he looked over at me with a deadpan mask before returning his attention to the TV. "So it was Ryan who gave you that hickey," he said matter-of-factly, averting his gaze.

I bit my bottom lip, not expecting his bluntness the moment I walked through the door. "I thought you were helping Chase—"

"Linda's handling it." He c****d his head over his shoulder to look at me by the door. "Am I right? Was it Ryan?" In his eyes, he knew what the answer would be but he asked in the hopes it wouldn't be true. He hated Ryan after so many years of him bullying me and to think I'd surrender myself to him willingly was unfathomable.

"Yes," I told him with a sigh.

He gave me a concerned look, dropping his deadpan mask. "Did he force you?"

I've been hearing the question a lot lately. Ryan did but I knew better than to cross that road, have Alec's temper get him in trouble over something so trivial. I shook my head. "No." It was a part of our relationship, Ryan and I's, it came in the package and I had gotten used to it so it didn't seemed forced the way he'd think.

He sunk down in the couch, turning away and I strolled around to his side to see a scowl on his face. "Are you dating him?" he asked bitterly, dating coming out as disgust.

"No."

His head snapped up, scrutinizing me oddly with a brow raised in question. At first, I wondered if he saw me in a new light when he thought of me with a guy. In my head, I could hear Ryan's voice: He likes unnaturally beautiful, bitchy, self-centered girls.

"And why do you care?" I asked harshly, catching him off guard. I crossed my arms, glaring at him.

"Because he might hurt you. You know how he is. He's picked on you since you moved here. I just want you to be safe."

"I'm not your little sister, Alec. I'm a grown woman who can take care of herself. If I want to see Ryan, then I'll do so." Why not experiment Ryan's hypothesis on Alec's type of girl? And plus, I was still aggravated about if it was true, causing a temperament in me.

He recoiled at the snarky tone, putting the remote down. "Ryan's bad news, Em, he's not good for you. Why are you getting an attitude about this? You like him that much?"

"It doesn't matter. Mom's right, you can go around flaunting girls in your arm but I can't get a tiny hickey without being scolded by you?"

"I didn't scold you!"

"Please tell me why you can have girls throw themselves at you but I can't have a boyfriend?"

He started to move off the couch towards me. "I thought you weren't dating him?"

I shrugged. "I'm not, I just want to know. What if I want some guy to throw themselves at me without your interference? Can Emma not have her time in the spotlight?"

Alec shook his head in confusion. Maybe I went too far, announcing myself in third person. "Em, you're acting weird. What did Ryan do to you out there?"

"He noticed me!" Oh no, Emma, shut your mouth, you're going too far. But I couldn't stop. "Not as a little sister but as a woman! Much more than you ever have!" Emma, you i***t! I slapped my hand over my mouth, stunned that I'd blurt that out.

He blinked several times, processing my words for a long moment. He approached me, grasping onto my arms and staring into my eyes solemnly. "I'm only guessing here but Em, do you like me like...that?"

I poked the inside of my cheek with my tongue, not knowing how I got here to him realizing my feelings. I've only thought about this moment a hundred times and now here I am, standing so close to him, speechless. Should I be snarky and say he's full of himself? Should I admit my feelings?

"Answer this for me first," I started, taking a deep breath. "Do you like a girl who can be a handful, a challenge, I should say?"

He c****d his head to the side, pursing his lips at the question for a moment. His hands slid down to my arms and I contained the moan wanting to rupture at his hands warming my body gradually. "Kind of. Why?"

"Because I like you."