Protectiveness

RYAN


The sound of rain pelting against the tent walls was a steady, droning noise that seemed to echo the frustration gnawing at me. I sat up, staring at the thin fabric of the tent ceiling as if it held the answers to why I couldn't just let this go. I had told myself over and over that whatever was going on with Violet wasn't my problem. She wasn't my problem. Why then am I worried that she might be in the rain?

I sighed and grabbed my phone, hoping for a distraction. Two missed calls, both from Lisa and my dad. They were probably back from their honeymoon, but it’s not like I cared. What did they even want to tell me—some forced update on how “wonderful” everything was? I scoffed and hit redial, waiting for the call to connect.Nothing. The signal was trash here, just like everything else about this place. Frustration bubbled up as I tossed the phone aside. I made a mental note to call him later

Just as I was about to enjoy the brief moment of peace, Evelyn's voice cut through the air, and I stifled the urge to groan.

“There you are” She purred, sliding her arm around my neck. Her perfume hit me instantly, overwhelming and sweet. I peeled her hand away, not bothering to hide my irritation.Evelyn’s smile faltered, her forehead creasing into a brief frown, but it didn’t take long before she plastered that familiar grin back on her face

“I’ll forgive you for embarrassing me earlier... because of that—”

“Violet,” I cut her off sharply, refusing to let her twist the name into whatever insult she had lined up. The last thing I needed was to hear Evelyn’s opinion about Violet again. Evelyn’s lips tightened, but she forced a more demure expression.

“Yeah, her. So, where’ve you been? I haven’t seen you since that ridiculous hike.”

The hike. Just the mention of it made my jaw clench, my hand twitching with the urge to punch something. That goddamn hike where Violet got lost, where I thought— No, where I felt something I shouldn’t have. Where she ended up clinging to that idiot’s back, smiling up at him like he was some kind of hero. The image flashed in my mind, tightening the knot of anger in my chest.

“You okay?” Evelyn asked, brushing a strand of hair away from my forehead, her fingers lingering like they were trying to drag me back to her. I pulled away again, my patience wearing thin.

“Yeah, I’m fine,” I muttered, pushing up to stand. The tent felt suffocating now, too small, too filled with her presence. “I’ll be right back.”

I didn’t wait for her to respond. I just needed air, needed space. Needed... to check. My feet carried me outside before I could stop them, the rain having finally let up. I told myself I was just going for a walk, but I knew exactly where I was headed—back to the spot I last saw Violet.Why? Why did I care where she was? But even as I thought that, my legs kept moving, dragging me through the damp ground. The rain had stopped, but the world felt drenched in its aftermath, heavy and quiet.

When I reached the spot, the emptiness hit me. No sign of her. Just a few students in the distance, laughing and messing around, oblivious.

Of course, she wasn’t here. I scanned the empty spot one last time, trying to find any excuse to linger, some reason to stay. But it was pointless—Violet wasn’t around. I exhaled a breath I didn’t know I’d been holding and shoved my hands into my pockets. She was probably with Ashley or... Luke.

The thought of her sitting close to Luke, smiling, maybe even laughing at something he said, sent a sharp wave of irritation through me. My jaw clenched involuntarily. What the hell was wrong with me? Why was I suddenly so concerned about her spending time with Luke?

The answer was simple: my ego. That had to be it. She had chosen him over me earlier, let him swoop in like some knight in shining armor. No girl had ever done that before—not to me. I wasn’t used to being passed over, and it pissed me off more than I cared to admit. I could feel the frustration gnawing at me, bubbling just under the surface, begging for a release.

I needed to get a grip

.I turned on my heel and headed back to the tent, every step punctuated by the annoyance tightening in my chest. When I pushed open the flap, Evelyn was still there, lounging on my sleeping bag like she owned the place. Her eyes lit up as soon as she saw me.

“There you are” she purred, propping herself up on one elbow. “I was wondering when you’d come back.”

I didn’t say anything at first, just stared at her as that familiar heat of frustration churned inside me. I needed to let off steam. To forget. And Evelyn... well, she was the easiest way to do that right now. She was always willing, always there.

“You don’t seem like yourself,” she teased, tilting her head as she sat up I didn’t answer. Instead, I crossed the space between us in two quick strides. She stretched out her arms trying to touch me but I grabbed her wrist instead, yanking her towards me with a force that made her gasp.

"Ryan" she murmured,her breath hitching both in anticipation and surprise. Well,she was used to this.

I pushed her back onto the sleeping back, pinning her down. Nobody's here. Good riddance. My body hovered over hers as I stared down at her. Evelyn's lips parted slightly but I ignored them. Kissing wasn't my thing. It never had been with anyone and it sure as hell wasn't going to start now.

Her eyes widened, a flicker of excitement and fear mixing as I leaned in, my hands gripping her thighs hard enough to bruise. Evelyn winced but didn’t stop me. She thrived on this—on being dominated, on the raw intensity. I felt her pulse quicken beneath my touch as her fingers fumbled with my shirt buttons.

I hiked her dress up, catching sight of her pussy already wet and ready for me. I smirked. Such a slut. I lined myself up, ready to thrust when—

My phone let out a shrill ring.

What the hell?I ignored it, shoving into Evelyn with a force that made her shriek, her body jerking beneath me. She let out a moan but the sound was drowned out by another sharp ring from my phone.Whoever this was…

I shot a glance at the screen, already pissed at the interruption.

Dad.

A call from my dad at this time of night? It was past 10 p.m., and he wouldn’t have called back unless it was something serious

I gritted my teeth and withdrew from Evelyn abruptly, her annoyed voice chasing me as I snatched the phone.

"Ryan, seriously?" she huffed, but I was already tuning her out

."Yeah, Dad?" I muttered, expecting his usual masculine voice. Instead, a shaky, tear-filled voice came through the line—Lisa’s

.“Ryan… it’s Violet,” she sobbed, her words barely coherent through the cracking of her voice.

Violet.My heart lurched in my chest, every ounce of the anger and frustration I had moments ago dissipating in an instant.

“What? What happened?” I asked, my voice sharper than I intended. I didn’t care. Something was wrong.

“He’s… He’s back,” Lisa stammered, her breath hitching with barely controlled panic. “He’s taken her”

“Who?” My mind raced, dread crawling up my spine. “Who took her?

Her voice trembled, barely a whisper now. “He’ll kill her. He'll kill Violet .”

And the world around me began to tilt.