Love, Riley: Redemption Highway: Briarwood

by Leaona Luxx

  “And what does she mean to you, Riley?” Brannon’s brows pull low over his eyes.

  “A helluva lot more than she’s ever meant to you.” I stare into her eyes, emptying my soul. “I love you, Ava. I fucked up. I’m sorry. You deserve so much more than me, than the shit you get handed around here. I’ve watched you the last few days, how hard you’re working to be a better you.

  “Don’t be who they want you to be, be you. The best damn version of you, you can be. Prove them wrong, prove all of us wrong. I love you, the woman you are and yet to be. The girl who would do anything for love but was never given love.

  “I love the look in your eyes when you see Andi. The light dancing in your smile when you declare, ‘she’s her father’. The way you worry your lip when you know in your gut people are gonna think the worst of you, and the way your nose tilts in the air when you say, ‘fuck them’.

  “Stop accepting less than you deserve, Ava. You decide that, only you. What do I get? I get to love your hair, even when you change the color five times in a week. The gleam in your eyes when you think of breaking ranks and the smirk when you do it.

  “I love you. Every mean ass, hotheaded, ridiculous, beautiful thing about you. And if you’ll give me a chance, I’ll prove myself to you because you deserve someone who will stand for you as much as with you.” She stands there biting her lip as her eyes flicker, allowing my words to sink in.

  “Well, I’ll be damned.” Turning my head to Brannon, all I can think is shut the fuck up.

  I glare at him. “What?”

  “Torrie was right.” He snickers.

  “About?” I frown at him. Ava’s still as quiet as a church mouse.

  “She said you’d kick my ass over Ava.” He smirks. “Be good to her, the world hasn’t been.”

  “Don’t I know it,” I declare.

  “I’m sorry, Ava.” He searches for his words. “I’m gonna go. Let me know if I can help you find another job.”

  “I got her, choice of two.” They look at me wide-eyed, and I shrug. “It was my fault she lost hers, so I have to make it right. I’ve asked Maisyn and Lachlan.”

  “Ava, you okay with this?” Brannon questions her, but she never looks at him when her smile grows wide.

  Ava’s face glows as my heart pounds in my ears. “I’m okay.”

  “Man, I hate I was an ass,” I offer him my hand, and he takes it with a smile.

  “I deserved it, and you’re right—she deserves better.” He releases my hand and hugs Ava as he leaves. Thank fuck, I thought he’d never go.

  “Ava, baby. You’re so quiet, I’m beginning to get scared.” I stare into her beautiful face.

  “I think I knew,” she whispers.

  “Knew?” I hedge.

  “That you loved me. I keep getting these feelings about you when you’re around.” She drags in a deep breath. “It was this pang in the pit of my stomach. You know? The kind that turns into butterflies when I’d hear your voice. A knot pulling tight when I’d think about you.” She bites her lip. “The utter need for your lips to be on mine again.”

  As her eyes flutter closed, I step closer. She sighs from the heat between us, forcing me to take her in my arms. Her eyes snap open, teeming with desire this time. When she releases her lip, I take advantage of its freedom.

  Sweeping my tongue over the crimson-colored pout, she gasps, giving me the opening I’ve so longed for. My mouth takes her the way it’s always wanted to, dictating every move. I fight not to rush this, trying to keep calm. Sweeping my tongue over hers, her moans make me quiver.

  I wrap my fingers in her hair, melding her lips to mine. Rolling my tongue over hers as she caresses mine with a sweet desire. She nips at my bottom lip as we come up for air, and I’m instantly hard. My hormones overthrow my heart, and I press into her.

  Sliding my hand down her leg, I hitch it on my hip as I hold her tight to my body. Grinding into her pussy with my cock, the zipper gives the best friction between her legs.

  She’s hot, telling me she’s wet and needy. The thought of letting her go terrifies me. No way could I wake up from this dream, not now. Hopefully, never. Releasing her hair, my hand travels the span of her body to her ass.

  Groping her round, supple ass, I pick her up and push her into the wall. An uncontrollable groan escapes me and she grins. Her hand twines in my hair, pulling my mouth closer. Our tongues finally dancing instead of fighting. I lap at her mouth before pulling away.

  “Ava, I want you.” She presses her mouth to mine, kissing me feverishly.

  “Yes.” She nods frantically.

  “But…” Her eyes snap to mine, a frown growing quickly.

  Breathlessly, she asks, “But?” She drags my mouth back to hers. Our tongues fighting for the upper hand.

  “I’ll understand if you want to—to wait.” She pulls back, glaring at me.

  “What?” She looks hurt. “I mean, okay. If you think it’s best.” Now, her eyes are downcast.

  “Hey, look at me. Please,” I whisper. Giving in, she glances at me. “I was thinking you may not want to, considering what I did Friday night.”

  “He didn’t tell you?” Her brows are pinned together as her mouth hangs open.

  “Who? Tell me what?” I struggle with my thoughts.

  “Dax.” She slides from my waist, stepping away from me. Ava grabs her phone before grimacing. “Shit. It’s dead. You didn’t sleep with Red. Well, you didn’t have sex with her.” She shrugs.

  “I’m confused because I was there.” I wince at the memory.

  “Yeah, I know.” She chuckles. “You’re the only guy I know who would get upset for hooking up.”

  “It was an asshole move, Ava.” I shake my head.

  “Dax set you up. After we left, we went to Malibu’s. Guess who just sashay’s right up to him? Red. Giggling her ass off about the entire thing. She spilled every detail before Dax could stop her. He told me he would come clean to you. I have it in a text,” she huffs, gripping the phone as she clicks the power button, “but my phone’s dead.”

  “Why would he promise you that?” I ask.

  “Still hoping to get in my pants. Riley, I left him at dinner because he was flirting with our waitress. I know he’s a prick.” She gives me a lopsided smile.

  “I’m such an asshole. If I had never gotten jealous,” I say as I twist my mouth with disgust.

  “I-I kinda liked it.” She half smiles, half winces.

  “Oh, you did, did you? Well, there’s plenty more where that came from, but I’m gonna do my best to keep it in check.” I wink at her.

  “Sounds good, but a little is acceptable.” She holds her fingers up, indicating a pinch.

  “I’ll remember that. You want to go get a charger?” I ask. “Oh, wait. Maybe mine will fit.” I reach for her phone, but she moves her phone further behind her back. “What?”

  Her eyes shift from mine to the wall. “It won’t.” She closes her eyes as she shows me her phone. “It’s a pay-per-use p.o.s. So, yours won’t work.” She shrugs, tossing it to the chair.

  “Alright, we’ll find one tomorrow. For now, use mine, and tell Brannon he can reach you with this number.” I pull my phone from my pocket. She frowns as she studies the phone. “It’s okay. I’m hoping to be with you so much they have to call me half the time.” I smile as she takes the phone.

  “Thank you.” When her eyes catch mine, they’re glassy once again. No matter how close she comes to crying, she never lets anyone see her tears. She dials his number. “Hey, Torrie. It’s Ava. I need to buy a new charger and it’s late, so it’ll be tomorrow after class before I can get it. Riley offered for y’all to call his phone in case of an emergency.” Her eyes glance at me. “Yeah, he did. He’s still here, we’ll talk later.” She giggles. “Great. Thanks, Torrie.”

  Handing me back my phone, I lay it on her table. “So, what now?”

  “I was thinking, what we were just doing?” She cocks her brow at me.

  “I
could definitely get into that.” I offer my most mischievous grin.

  She fists my shirt in her hand, pulling me to her. “You haven’t yet, maybe we should practice more? Or should we just go for it?”

  Wrapping my arms around her, I press my body into hers. “Let’s fucking go for it.”

  Riley’s mouth takes mine in a frenzied desire. His lips are demanding, yet sweet with unyielding want. His tongue sweeps over mine, sucking with each pass. His hands drift from my waist to my ass, cupping my cheeks greedily. I’ve never felt so wanton, so fucking sexy.

  His lips roam over my jaw and down my neck with soft nips and kisses. His sharp intake of air warns me before his mouth devours the swell of my heaving breasts, and he licks and laps as if he’s starving. The want between my legs screams for his attention, and I moan uncontrollably.

  Riley’s hand slips into my heated center, rubbing me with a ridged friction. He again is rewarded with a deep moan, rolling with my body in his hands like clay. He finds my mouth again, using his tongue to fuck it the way I need him to fuck me.

  “Riley,” I whimper.

  “Where?” His only words.

  I pull his mouth to mine as I pant, “There,” motioning toward my bedroom.

  Riley picks me up as my legs enfold around him naturally. He’s in complete control as he slowly lay me on the bed, hovering over me with his fucking brute hunger. I’m a curvy girl, but he handles me like I’m nothing, hot damn.

  He pulls his shirt over his head with his left hand, his right hand hasn’t moved from my ass. I grip my lip, trying to control my mouth and it’s mewling. His hand slides from my cheek to my button, and I gasp passionately. Riley’s eyes lock on mine, and he lowers my zipper.

  His hand slips between my panties and my skin, searing it with want. My body ignites when his fingers slide through my wet pussy, finding my heated center. He works his finger in, slowly moving it with precision. My legs begin to close involuntarily, forcing Riley to squeeze between them.

  His mouth finds mine again in a fervent need. His hand slides from me, only to find the waist of my jeans. He leaves my mouth with a ‘pop’ of our lips. Standing, he drags my jeans off slowly, kissing my thighs as he lowers them to my feet.

  After dropping them to the floor, he makes quick work of my panties by ripping them at the side. “I’ll buy you some more, but I can’t wait another second.” He works my shirt from me, unhooking my bra as he does. I rise from the bed for the removal, falling back heavily.

  My breasts sway as Riley’s smile grows wide with the view. It doesn’t last long as he seems hell bent on a destination. Sliding down my body, his hands trace every inch. He stands again, long enough to toe off his shoes and dropping his jeans.

  My mouth hangs agape when he releases himself, bobbing with heaviness. I’m mesmerized with his girth and happy as hell. My eyes tear a path back up his hard body; fuck, he’s muscle-bound. As my eyes meet his, my body trembles.

  His tongue darts out, licking his lips. My face flushes as my lips part, my tongue mimicking his. He runs the tips of his fingers over my foot, up my calf. Chills race over my body as his fingers flutter past my knees. My head lulls with lightheadedness.

  My body revs into overdrive as I crave his touch, and a shiver runs the length of my body. His warm hands slip to the inside of my thighs, making me quiver. A cool burst sweeps my wet center, quickly replaced with a warm lap of his tongue.

  My body tenses as my outstretched fingers snatch onto the sheet, fisting it. Riley slides a finger into me with another pass of his tongue, and I lose all control. My legs shake as his tongue licks and laps at my pussy. Heat boiling in my core sends a current through my body, pebbling my nipples.

  Riley continues to work me as he rises over me, flicking the tip of his tongue over my erect bud. His palm rubs my clit as he adds a finger in my heated core. His mouth wraps my breast, sucking and releasing. Followed by a nip of his teeth, the sensation makes me buck from the bed.

  My orgasm races to the edge and then, he’s gone. My eyes snap open to find Riley lingering over me, worship in his eyes as he watches me. “What?” I pant.

  “I guess I never thought we’d get here. I just wanted to burn your beautiful face to memory. Lying beneath me, wrung out with want, need for me. Waiting for me to give you everything you desire.” Before I can say a word, his mouth takes mine as he slides deep into me.

  I moan through our molded lips without choice. He fills me so completely, I gasp when he rests full tilt in me. My eyes no more than a slit, watch the frenzied desire teeming in his. Our bodies melt to one another’s, finding the place they’ve always needed to be.

  Riley begins a slow push and pull. His hips grind into my inner thighs with the sweetest friction. My hands trail up his arms as he worships my mouth with his. He slides his hand around my leg, hitching it higher on his hip.

  My body reacts involuntarily as his body pushes mine to the edge once again. His lips burning a fiery path along my jaw and down the length of my neck. My hardened nipples rub against his chest, sending a charge of electricity to my core.

  Planting my free foot on the bed, my hips rise to meet his every thrust, now hammering out of control. My hands fist his hair as he bites and releases my neck. He works the same area with his lips as I moan audibly. His grunts becoming primal as he nuzzles my neck.

  And then, our bodies meet as one powerful current after the other rushes through us. Jolts of ecstasy racing in our veins as the much-anticipated release meets at the same moment. He calls out my name, and I am lost to him.

  My arched back relaxes into the bed, our bodies tangled. A feeling as if I’m falling washes over me, and I quiver from the sensation. Soon realizing it’s my heart finding its way. Here, with Riley, I know I’ll never be the same. No going back to who I once was.

  Accepting his love will change everything. Fear threatens to grip me, and he raises his head to look into my eyes. A fire flickers in them, and I know it was me who did this to this amazing man. The fear that once reared flees in the presence of his love.

  My home found in his heart.

  “Hey, you okay?” He runs his nose along mine in a tender gesture. My heart palpitates and I catch my breath, bringing his gaze back to mine. “You… regretting it?”

  His eyes search mine for an answer, and my chest tightens at what I see in his—fear. Riley’s afraid I don’t want him. It’s then I realize he’s holding his breath. Funny, I was thinking of how he takes mine away, and he holds his for me.

  “Not for a second.” Closing my eyes as I give way to this feeling rushing over me. A smile breaks across my face as I open my eyes to watch him do the same, like the rising dawn over the ocean. Bright and beautiful, a new day. A new way.

  “That’s good,” he says, breathing heavily. “I was a little worried for a minute.”

  I giggle. “Why?”

  “Ava, baby, I’ve waited a long time to hold you like this. To have the chance to make love to you, tell you how utterly in love I am with you.” He pauses. “To feel you and know you’re feeling the same.”

  “If you can take me at my worst and still find a way to love me, you’re more than deserving of my best.” Taking his face in my hands, I gaze into his blue depths. “I’m sorry it took me so long. Thanks for waiting.”

  “Always.” Riley’s lips press against mine with the sweetest emotion, mixed with love and understanding.

  He rolls to his side and as if I’ve done it a thousand times, I curl into his side. Laying my hand on his chest, he wraps his arm around me, holding my hand. I can’t help but wonder why I never saw this incredible man before now.

  What changed in me so I could see him, feel this? Closing my eyes, I try to slow my racing mind. Fear rages as I think of all the ways I could fuck this up. I mean, it’s what I do. I take every good thing and make a helluva mess.

  “When I was a little girl, I would cry myself to sleep, promising to never let it happen when I got older. That I would neve
r allow anyone to creep in and hurt me, to be vulnerable to the pain that haunted me through my childhood,” I whimper, holding back my tears.

  Riley stills, his pounding heart his only movement. “I’ll do my best to never hurt you, Ava.”

  “It’s so odd, but I believe you. I’ve never wanted to trust anyone like I do you.” I giggle when he rolls me to hover over me.

  “Well, would it help if I kissed every inch of your perfect body, pledging my undying love forever?” He kisses my lips. Then my cheeks. Taking time to press his soft lips to my neck. He wiggles down my body, slowly, kissing his way.

  “Ahhhh, yeah. Maybe.” His tongue swirls my naval, and I arch from the delicious act. “Mmmm, that’ll work.” He chuckles at my testament.

  “Will it now? How about this?” Raising, he sucks my nipple between his lips.

  “Ummm, uh huh. That’s real good, too,” I gasp.

  Riley slips it between his teeth, flicking his tongue over the tight bud. I fist his hair, dragging his face to mine. Slipping my tongue between his parted lips, I swirl my tongue around his. Pushing him over, I straddle him.

  “How about I show you how much I loved what we just did?” I ask before taking his top lip in my mouth with a kiss, releasing it to find his bottom and repeat. His groan is my undoing. “Damn, Ry… you gotta quit that,” I say as I find his mouth with mine.

  Rising, his hands find my waist, and I grip his cock in mine, lightly squeezing. I guide him as I slowly lower myself on him, sinking him deeply. I suck a breath in as my body takes its time adjusting to his intrusion. Riley not only has girth but more than enough length as he fills me completely.

  Damn, what I’ve been missing. My thoughts make me giggle, and he tweaks my side. “Girl, I know you ain’t gonna ride me and laugh.”

  “Naw, just thinking about what I’ve been missing.” I cock my brow when he bites his lip.

  “Oh yeah?” He slips his hands to my ass and sits up; the movement is fucking heaven. “I was just thinking we have a lot of time to make up.”