Chapter Four
The next morning the sheriff came and they all planned how to catch the stalkers red-handed. They all followed Briella to college. They would keep a watch from a distance and then arrest the culprits.
The whole morning everyone was on the edge for any update on what was going on. Grandpa visited twice, uncle Jamie came once, Bryce too came in a few times in between his work, Briar also visited once, all wanting to know what happened. When Briella's classes were over and still there was no update, they all started panicking.
Four hours later Lucas and uncle Rob returned home with Briella's friends Thomas and Jeremy. Lucas updated his family about Briella's accident. He told them that it was caused by one of the bikers gang. He managed to escape though. She was admitted to the hospital and critical. Brian was with her as the doctor allowed only one family member at the ICU. Lucas warned that Ivory might also be attacked, so she had to be careful and not be alone, till the attackers were arrested.
Bryce took it upon himself to protect Ivory. He didn't leave her alone. He stayed at Brittany's house while Briar looked after his work. She was very upset to hear the news about her best friend. She wanted to visit her at the hospital but Lucas strictly told her not to go out for the next twenty-four hours.
After dinner, Lucas returned to the hospital to relieve Brian. He came back, freshened up and went back to the hospital. Everyone went to their rooms to sleep. Ivory couldn't sleep peacefully, she twisted and turned dreaming about Briella's accident. She dreamt about her own accident too. She woke up with a start, scared and in tears. She ran out of the room and into Bryce's room. He was sprawled on his bed with his face in the pillow. As she hesitated, he whispered,"I was waiting for you," but she clearly heard him.
As she climbed into the bed, Bryce pulled her into his arms, his face embedded into her neck.
"I'm scared, I don't want to die," she told him, hugging him tightly.
"I'll protect you with my life, sweetheart. Don't be scared," he said, kissing her forehead.
She looked up into his eyes, they held so much sincerity as if he meant every word he said.
"Don't look at me like that. I won't be responsible for the consequences," he whispered, as his hand went to caress her cheek, his thumb caressed her lower lip, his hungry eyes watching every movement of his thumb.
Ivory's breath hitched when his rough thumb touched her sweet soft plump lips. She closed her eyes, loving the feel of what he was doing.
Bryce was lost when his thumb touched her soft lips waiting to be kissed. He was barely surviving. Every moment he only thought of her.
Suddenly realising that she was upset and needed comfort, he left her and put some distance between them. He was already hard, and didn't want Ivory to misunderstand him."Go to sleep. We'll go to the hospital tomorrow morning," he said as he turned to the other side away from her and went to sleep.
Feeling disappointed and upset, she got up and started for the door. If he didn't want her in his room, he could have said so.
"Where do you think you're going?" He said, getting up and catching hold of her wrist.
"Back to my room. If you don't want me, you can tell me," she told him, feeling hurt.
"Oh, I do want you, more than you can ever imagine," he said, crushing her against his body, his hand holding her hips, as she felt his hard arousal poking into her. His mouth went to her neck, sucking the sensitive spot there. He would definitely leave a mark, she thought as she closed her eyes at the delicious torture.
Her hands went to caress the soft hair at the nape of his neck, as he groaned and picked her up and took her to his bed. Depositing her, he lay beside her, breathing hard. Ivory was disappointed, she wanted him to kiss her. She was too shy to initiate a kiss.
He hugged her into his bare chest,"Go to sleep," he said softly. Disappointed beyond words, she went to sleep. Truth was that Bryce couldn't control his feelings around her. He didn't want a one time kiss. If he had a taste of her sweetness, he would be addicted like to her, wanting more, every time. He didn't think she was ready for that. He was overwhelmed by the intensity of his own feelings burning him and it was all because of this girl, seven years younger than him. He was scared of rejection as she was a teacher studying for a master degree while he wasn't even a graduate.
What if she lost interest once she knew him? Soon the stalkers would be arrested and she wouldn't need him anymore. He would return to grandpa's ranch and she would be busy with her new job. Who knows whether she would even think about him.
The next morning they went to meet Briella at the hospital. She had gained consciousness and was out of critical care. They kept her in the ICU for the intensive treatment she required.
The sheriff got all the evidence against the culprits and approached the US Marshals to catch the dangerous motorcycle gang. Their leader was Briella's friend Bianca's brother. Bianca was in love with Sean who was in love with Briella. So she approached her brother to take out her frustrations on Briella. When that didn't work, she terrorised Ivory so that she could put some sense in her head.
After a fortnight, Briella was released from the hospital. She was under bed rest to heal her broken ribs. Ivory received a call from an elementary school which was a 10 minutes drive from the ranch. She accepted the job and quickly settled in. Bryce shifted back to grandpa's ranch and Brian bought a house near his clinic.
Life started going back to normal again. "Stay here Ivy," said Briella.
"I've stayed longer than I should Bri. You're brother and Brittany have done so much for me, I couldn't impose anymore," she told Briella who nodded in understanding.
