The Power Bond

Chapter Seventeen|| Kisses and Marks

{Madeline's POV}

I watched as the Mckinley Crew loaded up their luxurious cars and Ryker stood talking to Raven. 

"Thank you, honestly from the bottom of my heart. We couldn't have did it without you." He told her and I smiled as the two exchanged hugs.

"Does this mean I'm more welcome here?" She joked. 

"You're always welcome here." He replied and with a kiss on her forehead opened the car door for her. 

"Treat her good." He told Jared who nodded. I can't believe her and Jared are together. They're the total opposite. Then again... opposites attract.

"Cross my heart." Jared replied and got into the drivers seat. 

"Well cupcake, it's a sad day when I have to leave, I know, but hold your tears. I have a feeling we'll be around a lot more." Grayson said walking up beside me and I let out a small laugh. 

"Looking forward to it." He winked and headed out to his car. 

"Well, my job here is done. I am just look forward to seeing you Rykando." Dante said walking up with Lachlan. She seemed upset. 

I gave her a knowing look and she walked over and gave me a hug. 

"Ill call and explain later." She told me next to my ear and I nodded as we pulled apart. 

"It's safe to say I'm not looking forward to seeing you, but you can think that if it helps you sleep at night." Ryker replied to Dante who just smirked. 

"Alright, love." He said turning to Lachlan who flinched at the nickname. 

"Off to the Mckinley Crew's house we go, how interesting." Dante said and I was now curious about the whole group. 

Maybe in time... we'll know more about them. 

The rest of the crew said their goodbyes and soon enough the cars were in the distance and Ryker walked up to me. 

"Grayson has a thing for you." He stated and I rolled my eyes. 

"He does not." 

"Im a guy and cupcake, he does." Ryker said as he wrapped his arms around my waist. 

"You're ridiculous, but you have nothing to worry about." I told him with a small smirk and he leaned into the crook of my neck nipping at my mark. 

"Oh I know, because you're mine, gattina." He pulled away with a smirk knowing of how he affected me. 

"You know... a mark right there," I said placing my finger on his collarbone, "Would look amazing on you." I said and his eyes darkened. 

"I never was stopping you from claiming me as your own. I just beat you to the punch." He winked and started pulling me towards the house. 

"But if you'd like to mark me. Im not stopping you." he said looking over his shoulder as we made our way inside. 

"Hm. Buy me dinner first." I completed and he chuckled. 

"I think I can manage that." 

***

As we sat at the dinner table—as in where Ryker actually did indeed make me dinner—I realized just how lucky I was. 

We obviously had our ups and downs, but that was never stopping us from finding our way through them and back to one another. 

"What are we going to do now?" I asked as I stuffed some tortellini into my mouth.