Wasted Summer

by Cathryn Fox

  Her hands moved over his, unable to get enough of him. Her heart swelled as he picked up the pace, his lips closing over hers as her body gave in to the pleasure.

  “Melody,” he murmured, as he let go, releasing high inside her. “Oh, Jesus, Melody.” After they both climaxed, he covered them with the blankets and as she snuggled into him, she was certain nothing or no one could ever come between them.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Melody sat beside Jaelyn and watched the tennis match under the lights. She’d had no idea just how good Ryeland was and couldn’t help but smile every time he was in play.

  “You have it bad for him, don’t you?” Jaelyn asked.

  “Yeah,” she said breathlessly, closing her hand over her stomach.

  “What’s wrong?” Jaelyn asked when she saw her cradling her belly.

  “Cramps.”

  “Oh, crappy. Need a pad?” she teased.

  “Hell no.” She looked at her friend and lowered her voice. “I’m actually late.”

  “Oh, shit,” Jaelyn said.

  “But I have cramps, so that’s a good sign, right?” she hurried out. “It must mean I’m going to start soon.”

  “I think so,” Jaelyn said. “I’m sure it’s nothing to worry about. I mean you’ve been using protection right?”

  “Yeah. But I mean nothing is one-hundred percent.”

  “Abstinence is, but where’s the fun in that.”

  Mel nudged her. “You’re so bad.”

  Jaelyn nudged her back, and gestured with her head. “Looks like lover boy and Suzette just won.”

  The crowd stood and started clapping, and when he was whisked away by his father and Suzette’s family, Mel worked to ignore the sinking sensation in her gut. She and Ryeland had plans to move in together, to someday start a family, but with the way his parents treated her, she feared they’d never, ever accept her. For a moment she felt sorry for Ryeland. Weren’t his parents doing what they thought was best for him? They were simply doing what parents do, what Mel’s had never done. Did Ryeland deserve to lose them, as well as his kid brother and sister, because he fell for the wrong girl?

  “Where’s he going?” Jaelyn asked.

  “After-game party at the country club.”

  Jaelyn angled her head, her gaze moving over Mel’s face. “Are you going?”

  “No,” she answered, trying to keep her voice steady, like it didn’t bother her. Ryeland had invited her, but she knew it would cause nothing but trouble for him.

  “Well come on then.” Jaelyn glanced at her watch. “We can still make it to the movies.”

  Nighttime had fallen over the town as they climbed from the stands and caught the shuttle. As they passed the Cave, Jaelyn looked on with longing.

  “Still missing, Cole?” Mel asked.

  “He texted me earlier and asked if I was coming out tonight.”

  “And…”

  “I don’t know, Mel. Maybe I should forgive him. I mean, he seemed sincere enough.”

  “I don’t want to see you get hurt again.”

  “I know.” Jaelyn shrugged and held her hands out to her sides. “But you can’t help who you like.”

  It was true. Mel had certainly learned that over the summer.

  The shuttle stopped and they got off in front of Johnson’s pharmacy. As they walked past it and her cramps grew stronger, Mel briefly thought about running in and grabbing a pregnancy test. But surely she was just overreacting. She couldn’t be pregnant. Could she?

  They made their way to the small movie theater and stood in the outside line under a lamppost waiting for their tickets. The line moved slowly, and when she turned to find Justin and Nikko coming their way, Mel slipped her arm around Jaelyn’s and held tightly, hoping they would ignore her.

  “Hey, Melody, Jaelyn,” Justin said.

  No such luck.

  Jaelyn turned and glared at him. “Can I help you?” she asked.

  Ignoring Jaelyn, Justin turned to Mel. “So I guess lover boy is off with Suzette. I guess that leaves you free for the night.” He looked at the line in front of her. “Is this really how you want to spend it when there are so many other…interesting things you can be doing?”

  “What do you want?” Mel asked, her voice low, firm like she’d learned in her self-defense classes.

  Justin took a step closer, invading her personal space. “Isn’t that obvious?”

  Unease moved through her, every instinct she possessed coming to life. “I think you should leave,” she said when she noticed others in the line turning to glare at her.

  “I’m not going anywhere.”

  “Fine, I’ll leave.”

  “How about we all leave together.” Justin looked at Nikko who was grinning at them. “I don’t mind a foursome. How about you, Nikko? Are you up for a little four-play?”

  “I’m always up for foreplay,” Nikko said.

  Mel stepped out of line, pulling Jaelyn with her. Needing to get as far away from those two as possible, she hurried down the sidewalk and turned the corner. Their steps slowed when they were out of sight but when she heard, “What’s your fucking problem?” She turned to see Justin and Nikko following.

  Justin caught up to her and grabbed her arm. “So what, you’ll spread your legs for my buddy, but not me? You think you’re too fucking good now or something, Melody?” he asked, drawing her name out slowly.

  “Don’t talk to her like that,” Jaelyn said, shoving him.

  He shoved back. “Mind your own fucking business, whore.”

  Nikko laughed and Justin squeezed Mel’s arm harder. “You and me, baby. We’re gonna fuck, and fuck hard.”

  Reacting purely on instinct, Mel kicked Justin right between the legs. It might not have been a move she’d learned in self-defense, but it was an effective move nonetheless. Justin went to the ground clutching himself and cursing, and Nikko grabbed Mel from behind.

  She tried to get away but he held her too tight, his fingers biting into her arms hard enough to leave bruises.

  “Let her go!” Jaelyn pounded on his back.

  Just then Mel’s cell phone pinged, but she couldn’t go for it, not with Nikko restraining her.

  “If that’s Ryeland, keep your mouth shut about this, or I’ll tell him a few things of my own,” Justin said, then nodded to Nikko. He let her go, giving a little shove. “Then you’ll be really sorry.”

  Mel hit the wall and sagged against it, her breath coming in ragged bursts as Justin pushed to his feet.

  “Come on, we’re wasting our time,” Nikko said. “She’s not worth it.”

  “Yeah, maybe you’re right,” Justin agreed. “I’m liable to get some disease anyway.” The two strutted away, disappearing around the corner. Mel leaned forward and braced her hands on her knees. She took deep, gulping breaths. “I need to get out of this town,” she whispered, working to fight back the tears as her body trembled.

  “Jesus Christ, Mel. What the hell was that all about?” Jaelyn shook her head and added, “You need to tell Ryeland.”

  Her stomach clenched. Jaelyn was right, but what had Justin meant when he said he’d tell Ryeland a few things of his own? She had no idea what kind of rumors he might spread. While Ryeland might be smart enough not to believe them, she was sure those he was closest to would grasp on to them and use them against her—and him. Plus, summer was almost over, and trouble between friends could mean more trouble between Ryeland and his parents.

  “I can’t do that,” Mel said.

  “If you don’t I will.”

  Mel stood and worked to shake off the incident. “Let’s just forget it, okay?”

  “Mel—”

  “Please, Jaelyn.”

  After a moment, Jaelyn finally conceded and said, “Okay.” She hooked her arm in Mel’s and guided her down the sidewalk. “You cracked his nuts wide open, my friend. Chipmunks will be following him around for weeks.”

  God, she loved Jaelyn and her warped sense of humor. Forcing
a smile, Mel grabbed her phone from her back pocket and her hand went to her cramped stomach again when she read Ryeland’s message.

  I snuck away. Meet me at the boathouse. Mom and Dad will be partying for hours and I need to see you.

  “Mel?” Jaelyn asked, closing her hand over Mel’s. “Are you okay?”

  “Ryeland wants to see me.”

  “From the looks of you, I think you need to see him too. Come on, let’s go get the shuttle.”

  “You go on and get it and head to the Cave. I’ll catch the next one. There are a couple things I need to do first.”

  Chapter Nineteen

  Ryeland opened the door to the loft, took one look at Melody, and knew something was wrong.

  “What?” he asked and pulled her inside. His glance moved over her face and he braced himself, because everything in his gut told him something bad was going down and she was smack dab in the middle of it. “What’s wrong?”

  “Rye,” she said, her voice wavering slightly. He looked over her body and noticed how shaky she was, how fragile she looked.

  “Jesus, Melody. What is it?” He led her to the sofa and sat beside her, twisting his body to face her.

  She didn’t look at him, instead she stared into her hands. “I…I don’t know how to tell you.”

  “Hey,” he said softly, brushing her hair back and angling her chin so she faced him. The fear in her eyes felt like a sucker punch and he knew if anyone had hurt her he’d kill them. “You know you can tell me anything.” He talked quietly, working to keep his anger in check so he didn’t frighten her.

  She opened her mouth then closed it again, her fingers wringing together. He grabbed her hands and gave a reassuring squeeze. “Melody, what is it?”

  She pulled her hand from his and reached into her pocket. She pulled out a white stick and held it out. He looked at it, confused.

  “It was positive,” she said in a shaky voice. “I don’t even really know why I bought it. I never thought…I did it on impulse…the cramps.”

  He fisted his hair. “What do you mean?”

  “There is a pink plus sign and that means…”

  He took a moment to sort through what she was saying to him, then his heart slammed against his chest. “You’re pregnant,” he blurted out. Jesus Christ, she was pregnant. “Holy shit, you’re pregnant, aren’t you?” He shook his head in disbelief. Honest to God, when she’d come through that door, that was the last thing he’d expected to come out of her mouth.

  She nodded, and he watched the way her chest rose and fell erratically, like she could barely catch her breath. Her hands began shaking harder, her glance leaving his and going back to her lap.

  “You’re not kidding me, right?” When she shook her head now, he asked, “How? When?”

  She gulped, her face growing paler by the second. “I didn’t mean…I’m sorry.”

  “Sorry? What are you sorry for? We’re going to have a baby. Holy Jesus.” He stood, linked his hands behind his head and started pacing. “I’m going to be a father.”

  “Rye,” she said, sounding completely unsure. “I don’t know how it happened. We always use protection.”

  “Melody.” He pulled her from the sofa and hugged her so hard he thought he might break her. Then he realized what he was doing and stopped. “Oh, sorry. Sorry. I don’t want to hurt the baby.” He put his hands on her stomach and rubbed gently, possessiveness racing through him.

  Her eyes went wide as she looked at him, like she was trying to figure him out. “You…you want this?”

  Emotions pressed against his heart. “Of course I want this. Don’t you?”

  “Well, yeah but…”

  “We talked about this, Melody. I mean, we didn’t plan for it until later, but well, we’ll just have to adjust. It doesn’t change anything. I mean, it changes everything, but it doesn’t. You know what I mean?” he asked unable to stop himself from rambling. “Actually, I don’t know what I mean,” he said, laughing.

  I’m going to be a father.

  As soon as that thought hit again, so did another one. He’d have to tell his family about his plans sooner rather than later.

  But he couldn’t think about that right now. Feeling completely protective, he pulled her in gently, holding her soft body next to his, his heart pounding so hard against his chest he thought it might burst free. “How are you feeling? Do you need water, something to eat?”

  “I have cramps,” she said. “But other than that I’m good.”

  “Then you need to lay down.”

  She laughed and whacked his arm. “I do not need to lay down. I’m fine. I just have a few cramps.”

  “We have to make a doctor appointment.” He led her to the bedroom, ignoring her protests. When they reached the bed he pulled her shirt off, then removed her pants, stopping to kiss her belly.

  His mouth lingered on her stomach and she closed her hands around his head. “I can’t believe we’re going to have a baby,” he murmured.

  “Me neither,” she said, a light of excitement in her eyes.

  “I want this, Melody. I want you.”

  “I was worried.”

  “You shouldn’t have been.”

  “I just…didn’t know.”

  He grinned up at her and winked, wanting to lighten the mood. “If we have a girl I hope she’s tough like you.”

  “And if we have a boy I hope he’s adorable like you.”

  He stood, brushed his thumb over her mouth and whispered, “So you’re saying you do think I’m adorable.”

  “Absolutely.”

  Longing ripped through him. “Want to know what I think?”

  “Yes.”

  “I think, if you’re feeling up to it, I’d like to get naked with you and kiss you all over.”

  She pushed against his erection. “Clearly you’re up to it.”

  “Is that a yes?”

  “That’s a yes, please,” she answered, her low, throaty chuckle falling over him.

  He finished removing all her clothes then ditched his. After easing her onto the bed, he climbed over her. Her hair tumbled in waves as he kissed her mouth, neck, breasts, belly, and the warm spot between her legs.

  He slid back up her body and drew a shaky breath. “I’m so glad you’re mine, baby,” he murmured into her mouth as perspiration beaded on his forehead. “All mine.”

  “All yours,” she said as he reached for a condom. She stopped him and he gave her a quizzical look.

  “We don’t need it,” she whispered, cupping his cheek.

  “Oh, Jesus, you’re right.”

  He widened her legs, positioning his cock at her entrance. The second he slid into her he nearly went out of his mind. He’d never ridden bareback before and the sensations were unlike anything he’d ever felt.

  “Oh baby.” He buried his mouth in the soft hollow of her throat as her nails bit into his skin. A tremor moved through him as he sank into her warm, wet heat. “You feel so good.”

  She moaned and moved against him, her hands racing over him like she couldn’t get enough. His body burned everywhere she touched, and he could feel himself reaching the precipice in record time.

  “So good, Rye.”

  Her sex fluttered, a signal he’d long learned meant she was about to come. Her breaths came harder as she palmed his muscles. “That’s it, baby,” he said, and when he felt her warm heat, and her muscles squeeze his dick, he let go, splashing his seed high inside her.

  He growled out loud and stayed inside until he grew flaccid. When he pulled out he shifted beside her and hugged her body to his.

  They fell asleep holding one another, everything so right that he was sure nothing could ever come between them. Until Mel’s phone rang, the shrill sound piercing their bubble.

  Chapter Twenty

  Mel grabbed her phone, checked it, and her heart did a little jump when she saw the text from Cole. Jaelyn’s losing her shit. Get here now.

  “I have to go,” she said to
Ryeland as she pushed the blankets off.

  “What’s going on?” he asked as he jumped up with her.

  “I don’t know. Cole said Jaelyn was losing her shit.”

  “What the hell is that supposed to mean?

  “I’m not sure, but I have to go.”

  “I’m coming with you.”

  She hesitated a moment. The last time he was at the Cave he got into it with Justin, and the time before he fought with Trevor. “It’s okay, I can go.”

  He squared his shoulders, going all alpha on her. “If you think I’m letting you go alone, then you don’t know me at all.”

  “Okay,” she said. “I just…”

  “Just what?”

  “Nothing. Let’s just get Jaelyn and get her home.”

  They both dressed quickly and hurried to his vehicle. She clutched her hands together, wondering what the hell was going on as Ryeland sped down the mountain. He parked at the Cave and she sent Cole a text before she jumped out.

  “They’re down by the water,” she said to Ryeland.

  They both ran through the sand and when she reached the surf, she found Jaelyn flat on her back, crying. Mel dropped to her knees when she saw her friend’s ripped clothes. “Oh God, Jaelyn. Are you hurt?” Just then she heard Cole behind her. She twisted to see him. “What happened?”

  “Hey, I didn’t do anything.” Cole held his hands up. “She got in a fight with Jessica.”

  “Let’s get her up,” Ryeland said.

  Mel gathered her friend in to her arms. Jaelyn wiped her eyes. “Mel, what are you doing here?”

  “Cole texted. He said you needed me.”

  “Don’t you dare believe anything he says,” she spit out. “He’s a fucking liar. He’s still sleeping with Jessica.”

  Mel looked at Cole and he shook his head. “Jessica said hi to me and it set Jaelyn off. She went after her and they got in a fight.”