Chapter 67: His Hands On Her Waist
Her cheeks reddened as she thought about the incident, her mind involuntarily flashing back to Ryder’s naked upper portion. She had tried to brush it off as a mere accident, but the image lingered in her mind, making her feel warm and flustered. She couldn’t believe she had seen him like that, and yet, she couldn’t help but wonder what it would be like to see him again. She shook her head, trying to clear the thoughts, but her face only grew hotter, betraying her embarrassment.
"I won’t pester you anymore. Let’s start with our game," Elder Edward said, changing the subject and nodding towards Ryder and Thea.
But before they could begin, Rosie got up from her seat and announced, "I am going to the room to take a rest. You all enjoy...Good night."
Elder Edward looked at her with concern and offered, "Darling, shall I accompany you to the room? I will come back after you sleep peacefully."
Rosie smiled and waved her hand,"Edward, you don’t have to do so. There are children present, what will they think?"
Elder Edward chuckled and smiled, "What’s there to think? I am accompanying my wife not any other woman. Besides, I want to make sure you’re comfortable."
Rosie’s face softened, and she leaned in to whisper, "You’re too sweet, Edward. But really, I’m fine. Go and enjoy your game with the kids."
Elder Edward nodded, but his eyes lingered on Rosie as she disappeared into their room. He turned back to Ryder and Thea, who were watching them. "Alright, let’s start our game. I’m ready to win!" he exclaimed, his competitive spirit ignited.
Elder Edward had prepared the chessboard beforehand, setting up the pieces with precision. "Ryder, remember to help her," he reminded his grandson, nodding towards Thea.
Ryder nodded and sat beside her, his arm brushing against hers as he settled into the chair. She felt a flutter in her chest at the brief touch, but tried to focus on the game.
Elder Edward sat opposite them, a sly grin spreading across his face. "I’m going to crush you both." he declared, his eyes twinkling with mischief.
Ryder chuckled and leaned in to whisper to her, "Don’t worry, I’ve got your back. We’ll take him down together."
She smiled, feeling a sense of camaraderie with Ryder. She nodded, and together they began to study the board, planning their strategy to take down Elder Edward.
As the game began, Ryder explained the rules to Thes, his voice low and patient. "So, the goal is to checkmate grandfather’s king," he said, pointing to the board. "We need to work together to block his moves and create an opening to attack."
She listened intently, her initial nervousness slowly dissipating as Ryder guided her through the game. She felt a sense of calm wash over her as he explained each step, his hand occasionally brushing against hers as he moved pieces on the board.
With Ryder’s help, she began to understand the strategy behind the game. She started to see the board in a new light, her eyes scanning the pieces as she considered her next move.
"Remember, it’s okay to make mistakes," Ryder whispered, his breath tickling her ear. "We’re in this together."
Thea smiled, feeling a sense of gratitude towards Ryder. She nodded, her confidence growing with each passing moment.
She learnt the basics and was making her move, her fingers hovering over the pieces as she considered her next step. Ryder was looking at her move, a smile spreading across his face as he nodded in approval.
"You learn quickly with that brat’s help?" Elder Edward dward exclaimed, his eyes twinkling with amusement as he looked at Ryder.
Ryder chuckled and shrugged,"This brat’s of yours is a good teacher. And she is a quick learner."
Thea blushed, feeling a sense of pride at Elder Edward’s acknowledgement. "Thanks to Ryder, I’m starting to understand the game." she said, smiling at her partner.
Elder Edward snorted, "Well, don’t get too cocky. I’m still going to win." He moved his piece, attempting to block Thea’s next move.
Finally, after the first round, Thea defeated Ryder’s grandfather,her eyes widening in surprise as she realized she had checkmated his king.
"You won!" Elder Edward replied, his face creasing into a warm laugh. "I have to say, you are quick-witted. I didn’t expect you to pick up the game so fast."
"Let’s end the game here. You two go and have your sleep," Elder Edward urged them, standing up from his chair.
Both of them stood up from their seats after greeting goodnight to Edward and headed upstairs to retire for the night. As they climbed the stairs,Thea felt a sense of comfort and familiarity as she followed Ryder to their rooms, which were conveniently located next to each other.
Reaching the top of the stairs, Ryder turned to her and smiled."Goodnight,Thea," he said, his voice low and gentle. For a moment, they just looked at each other, the soft glow of the hallway lights casting a warm ambiance around them. Then, Thea smiled back, feeling a flutter in her chest, and whispered, "Goodnight, Ryder."
She entered her room after Ryder retired to his.She slipped into her room, phone in hand, and dialed her grandma’s number. The ringing stopped, and Grandma Grace’s sleepy voice answered.
"Did you arrive safely, dear?" she asked, her tone husky with drowsiness.
Thea smiled, knowing her grandma was probably snuggled under the blankets. "Yeah, I’m here, Grandma. Don’t worry, Sleep peacefully. Goodnight.Grandma, I won’t keep you up." Thea said, not wanting to disturb her further.
"Okay, sweetie...goodnight. Looking forward to seeing you tomorrow. Hope I make it home safely.Can’t wait to have you by my side." Grandma Grace mumbled, her voice trailing off before the call ended.
She made her way to the side table where a stack of books were lying on it. Her eyes landed on "Moonlit Serenade" ,a romance novel with a beautiful cover and an intriguing blurb. The story of a young musician who finds love in the picturesque town of Tuscany was just what she needed to unwind. With the book in hand, she retreated to the bed, getting lost in the dreamy world of love, music, and Italian landscapes.
She closed the book, her eyelids growing heavy as the words blurred together on the page. With a contented sigh, she snuggled deeper into the blankets, letting the softness envelop her. As she drifted off to sleep, the moonlight outside cast a silver glow on her peaceful face.
The next morning, sunlight streamed through the window, where the curtains had been left open. The warm rays danced across her room, illuminating the dust motes that swirled lazily in the air. Thea stirred, stretching her arms above her head as she slowly opened her eyes.
As she squeezed the toothpaste onto her brush, the familiar scent filled the air, and she began to scrub her teeth in circular motions. Standing at the sink, she gazed into the mirror, her eyes tracing the contours of her face. But as she stared, her mind began to wander, and she was suddenly transported back to Ryder’s bathroom.
The memory of their encounter, his hands on her waist, and their lips almost touching flashed before her eyes. Her cheeks flushed, and she felt a flutter in her chest. She paused, toothbrush suspended in mid-air, as the recollection washed over her. The intensity of the moment, the spark between them, and the way her heart skipped a beat all came rushing back.
Her eyes refocused on her reflection, and she couldn’t help but smile at the memory. She resumed brushing her teeth, lost in thought, replaying the scene in her mind like a cherished moment.
She entered the room, feeling revitalized after freshening up. She carefully folded the dress she had worn to the event, smoothing out any wrinkles, and placed it inside a plastic packet to protect it for the journey home.As she glanced out at the balcony, she noticed the previous day’s wet dress, still hanging from the railing where she had left it to dry the day before. She made a mental note to pack it along with the other dresses, intending to take them both home and wash them with care. She understood the value of these dresses, knowing they were expensive. She planned to send them back to Ryder’s grandmother after washing and ironing them.
