Breathless (Meadowlarks)

by Ashley Christine

  We found a building on Bourbon Street, and even with all the bustle around us, the jazz music, the yelling; the buzz was loud enough to drown out my cries as Alex pressed me up against the wooden wall and made love to me.

  My leg pulled up to his hip, my dress lifted, his pants unbuttoned and pulled down just far enough to get the job done. His mouth eagerly sucked and kissed my neck and collarbone, and when he unravelled his groans were muffled by his mouth pressed into my skin.

  It started to rain, but we didn’t stop. Again Alex pushed into me, and the cool torrent of water graced our heated skin. Our clothes clung to our bodies, and in the heat of the moment, I reached my fingers between the spaces in Alex’s shirt, tearing the buttons and ripping the shirt off his chest.

  “Oh, fuck!” He roared and grinned salaciously at me, all the while thrusting deeper and harder.

  ***

  We scurried hand-in-hand into the lobby of the bed and breakfast, while getting a few smirks and surprised glares from the staff at our drenched and dishevelled state. We laughed and ran up the stairs to our room, kissing all the while, like eager teenagers on prom night.

  Once we were dry and cuddled in the lush bed, I rested my head on Alex’s chest and listened to the rhythmic beating of his heart. “Did Blaine help you with your vows?” I asked, grinning up at him.

  “No! Why?” Alex asked, surprised. “Didn’t think I could come up with that all on my own? It took a while, but I think I covered it all.”

  “Say them again.” I kissed his chest and laid my head back down.

  “I, Alex Cole, take you Riley Harrison, to be my sex slave for life, and—”

  “Alex.” I growled.

  He laughed. “I, Alex Cole, take you Riley Harrison, to be the love of my life, for the rest of my life. To only see your face in a crowd of thousands, and your hand the only one my fingers reach for. I loved you before you knew it, and I pray that my last breath is one where I’m telling you that I love you.”

  I used one of the sheets to wipe my eyes.

  “Are you crying again?”

  “Who wasn’t? Alex, you’re amazing.”

  He kissed my hair, and wrapped his arms around me tightly. “I don’t want to leave tomorrow.”

  “I don’t either. But I miss the kids.”

  “Me too.”

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  As I rushed to make it on time to my last showing of the day, I prayed it wouldn’t take too long. Tonight was Isaac’s last baseball game of the summer, and if I was late, he would never let me hear the end of it. Pulling up to the large house, I saw a familiar car parked in the drive, and my heart flips in my chest.

  Shit.

  “Well, I didn’t think I’d see you again,” I said, laying on the sarcasm. “Everyone thought you went back to the Big Apple and sunk your teeth into it.”

  “Missed you too,” Weston growled back. “I’m actually here because I wanted to offer you a job.”

  “I have a job.”

  “Well, sure. But, this one has better…perks.”

  I raised an eyebrow, slightly intrigued. “Hurry up, I have people coming.”

  “No, you don’t. I’m your prospective client.” He winked. “Shall we?”

  “I’m not going into the house with you. You’re nuts if you think I would.”

  “Okay, fine. We’ll talk outside, if it would make you more comfortable.” Weston crossed his arms on his chest. “I did go to New York, briefly, to discuss a business venture there, but since I still own half of Pine Ridge I had to come back and tie up my loose ends. Elsa is buying me out, and I’m going to start another agency that I want you to be in charge of.”

  I blinked.

  “You’re smart…sometimes, too smart.” He narrowed his eyes at me. “And I want you…under me.”

  I rolled my eyes. “We’ve been through this…”

  “I meant, as my second in command. You run things here while I’m in New York. And listen, I know you’re married now, so I’ll try and be respectful.”

  “Weston, are you serious? Why me? There are tons of other people that would do it…why not Sara? Why not anyone else?”

  “Sara…was infatuated. To me she was just something to pass the time, until I met you. I never had feelings for her.” He ran his hand across the back of his neck. “If you won’t be with me in the way I want you to be, at least work for me…so I can still see you, talk to you…Fuck, I sound pathetic.”

  “I’ll think about it.”

  Weston looked up at me, surprised. Maybe he was expecting me to deck him or knee him between his legs.

  “There will be conditions.”

  “Of course,” Weston said with a smile.

  “You don’t try and touch me again. I mean it. I’ll have full reign on the business when you’re not around…and I want salary plus commission.”

  “Done.”

  I blinked again. Wow, that was easy. “When does this dream job get started?” I asked.

  “Give me a month. Don’t say anything to Elsa just yet. But, even though I promise not to, beautiful Riley…” Weston approached me, reaching out to touch my cheek. “I’ll have a hard time not touching you.”

  “Weston!”

  “Okay, okay,” he said, pulling his hand away and then putting them up in surrender. “I’ll be in touch.”

  And with a sexy smirk, he put on his sunglasses, climbed in his BMW, and reversed out of the driveway.

  “The women of New York better carry extra panties when Weston Casey becomes a resident…Damn.” I grinned at his dust cloud, got in to my car, and sped out to make it to Isaac’s game.

  ***

  I didn’t have time to go home and change, so I quickly parked and found where everyone was sitting on the bleachers at the park. I sat down beside my mom and leaned into kiss Scarlett who was sitting on her lap.

  Alex came from the hotdog cart on the other side of the stands, and handed me a bottle of water. “How was the showing?” He asked.

  “Interesting.” I sipped the water, then placed the cap back on. “Weston Casey offered me a job.”

  “Really? Doing what?” Alex asked before sloping in for a kiss.

  “We’ll talk later, my love…I’m still processing.” I grinned, and then cupped my hands around my face when I saw Isaac make his way up to the diamond. “Go, Isaac!”

  Isaac looked over to us, waved, and turned back to face the pitcher from the opposing team. He hit the first ball thrown, far back from the second base, into the field. Kids ran from all directions to try and secure the ball while my son lapped the bases and made a homerun. We stood and cheered, and Alex took a picture of him, just as he crossed the home plate.

  “Yeah, Isaac! That’s my boy!” Alex cheered.

  Once the game had ended—with Isaac’s team winning twelve to six, the crowds of parents started to leave. I stood and took Scarlett into my arms, to carry her down the bleachers.

  Through the midst of bodies, I caught eyes…emerald eyes. The second I lost sight of them, I smiled. Knowing who it was, why he was here, and that I was happy he came all this way just to watch his son play baseball.

  ***

  Alex Cole: The Edge of Seventeen

  April 24, 2006

  Addy’s birthday is today. Mom is planning some big party—big surprise! I tried everything to get out of it…I fucking hate this shit. So what she’s turning 21?

  I haven’t seen her in a while, since she’s been in school. And it’s been really nice without having her here to bitch at me for stupid shit. I like loud music, my friend are awesome, and I like to get high behind the tool shed out back…what’s the fucking problem?

  Sometimes I wish I was the first born, then the parents wouldn’t have babied me so much. Addison can do whatever she wants. I feel like I’m in a prison…having to write in this stupid fuckin’ diary journal. All because the principal caught me and Dan smoking on school property they think I’m “acting out”.

  We
ll, time to go and play nice little brother…

  ***

  April 24, 2006 again…

  I died tonight. I died, and went straight to heaven. Oh, my God. Riley Harrison was here. Is it even possible for someone to get fucking hotter? I didn’t think so. Until she showed up, with those other three chicks and I had to almost run up the fucking stairs to hide.

  They left. To go drink. And I came out of hiding to watch her walk down the driveway…shaking that perfect ass and I wanted to run up behind her and just…grab it.

  She would probably have punched me.

  But…It would be so worth it.

  Fuck.

  ***

  “I was such a tool,” I mumbled to myself, laying on my bed in my old room while Addy took her cowboy around the house to show him how the other half lives.

  Stuffing my old journal under my bed, I cranked the music, trying to drown out their voices and the even louder one in my head that was begging me to ask my sister to invite Riley over

  I can’t.

  No.

  I harden every time I think about her.

  Every. Single. Time.

  Especially thinking back to my high school graduation when I finally got to touch her. I still can’t believe she kissed me like that. I thought I was dreaming, because it felt like every dream I had ever had about her. Well, obviously in those dreams I ended up fucking her. But in the pool, just having her kiss me…it was mind-altering. I never looked at anyone the same again.

  I tried to get her out of my head. I tried sleeping with other women, some her age, some older…what was it about Riley that made me so crazy? I wanted to completely ruin her in the most perfectly explicit way.

  We texted like crazy when I first moved to Wyoming with Addison. Always seducing, but never admitting anything. And I didn’t dare tell my sister.

  “Alex! We’re going out for dinner. Dress in something nicer than you are wearing now,” Addison shouted up the stairs.

  “Fine,” I growled back.

  My closet consisted of nothing nice. Well, except for the section at the back where I stored the clothing my mother made me wear on special occasions like funerals. Dinner out with my family seemed slightly like that, so I found a shirt and even fastened a tie around my neck to please my parents.

  I had to look away so I didn’t burst out with laughter when my parents sandwiched Blaine between them at the restaurant. I know they’re doing it on purpose, and it’s funny as hell.

  Addy keeps making little faces at him, and being gross.

  Ugh, I want out of here so badly.

  ”So, how has Blaine managed to keep you out of trouble?” My dad asked me.

  I chugged my wine—all of it, and gave him all the details of working a “blue collar forty”. It’s actually not that bad, I got to work outside, make money, and not have to wear a tie. Actually, it’s pretty awesome.

  The moment my dad started to ask Blaine about his bull riding, I let out a long breath, happy to have someone else under the spotlight. I absentmindedly ate my food, drank more wine, and faded out of the conversation until my sister mentioned going to The Club.

  “How about we go to THE Club—and maybe I can get the girls to come out!” Addy squealed.

  “Girls like who? Riley?” I asked, my interest and erection extremely peaked at the idea.

  The Club sucked. But I was happy when I saw some familiar faces and I left Addy and Blaine to themselves. Friends from school, who eagerly filled me in on what was happened around Bangor since I left and turned into a hillbilly.

  Alison, the one who had hounded me for years, wouldn’t stop touching and hanging off me. She is “like, oh, my God, so happy to see me”! I put on a smile, pretended to miss her too, and gave her a small kiss on the check before excusing myself to use the restroom to get away from her.

  “Blaine! Ohhhh, shit!” I rushed into the room when I saw Blaine and that fucker, Jacob fighting. Instinct told me to beat the shit out of him, since that was what he did to my sister. So, I punched him, sending him right back into the wall. I had to hold Blaine back, because the look in his eyes was actually pretty terrifying.

  I was sure he wouldn’t have stopped if I didn’t get in there. In that moment, I could see that he really does love my sister, and I have a new respect for Blaine.

  We drank in celebration. And then I saw her. How did I not know she was here? How did my body not just…react the moment she walked in? Damn. She looks good enough to eat, and I’ve been starving since I was sixteen.

  I couldn’t say I was sorry when Addy and Blaine left. Now, I just needed to find a reason to ditch the others that she never seemed to be without. I had the bright idea to get Riley drunk, so maybe she’ll forget about them.

  We drank…and drank, and drank. And danced, and damn if I didn’t almost explode right there on the dance floor when she ground up against me. She kept pulling my tie, and bringing her face so close to mine, I just wanted to grab her and pull her down to the ground.

  “Let’s go,” Riley whispered in my ear while one song faded into another.

  Picture a bottle of soda that had been shaken, and left to sit and swell for over six years. Yeah, that was me. The moment I pushed into Riley, I thought my brain was going to detonate, along with the rest of me.

  It took everything to pace myself and not get too excited. But, fuck, I just want to roar out how much I wanted her and that I want to tattoo Property of Alex Cole on her ass. The thought of anyone else touching her, the way I was right then, made my skin crawl. It also makes me want to thrust so hard she screams.

  ***

  “Hey! How are you? I haven’t heard from you in a while.” I was way too excited when Riley called me right before Christmas. I got up from my bed and shut the door so Jeremiah didn’t hear me. “What’s up?”

  “Alex…I need to tell you something.”

  “Tell me what?”

  She loudly exhaled into the receiver of the phone, and her soft voice started to make the excitement build in my boxers. “I’m pregnant.”

  Limp.

  All of me.

  “W—what do you mean?” I asked, feeling stupid because I know exactly what she meant, I just don’t understand why she’s telling me. Was she trying to tell me that she had found someone else, or that Isaac’s dad has come back in the picture?

  “Alex. It’s yours,” Riley said quietly. “I’ve only been with you.”

  “Oh.” I heard her, but I was still having ear trouble. “So, wait. You’re pregnant?”

  “Yes, I just said that.”

  “And…I got you pregnant?”

  She exhaled again, this time it sounded like she was pissed. “Alex, I’ll call you later, okay?”

  “No! Wait…don’t go. I’m sorry, I’m just…Holy shit. Have you told Addy?”

  “No, only my parents know. Soon people will though, I’ll start to show in a matter of time.”

  “What can I do?”

  “Nothing, I just wanted you to know. I don’t expect anything from you, don’t worry. But, you have a right to know.”

  “I don’t want to talk about this over the phone. I wish I was there with you.”

  “Me too. But, listen…we’ll talk tomorrow, okay? I have to go to work. Bye, Alex.”

  “Bye, Ry…”

  I hung up, fell back on the bed, and stared at the ceiling until Jer pounded on the door telling me to get ready for work.

  Shit.

  ***

  My pen had been shaking between my fingers for over two hours. I had been sitting there, in the dimly lit kitchen, trying to right my wedding vows. How the hell could I tell her how much I loved her without crying? If I really had to put it into words, it would shatter my heart to have to express it.

  She’s been upstairs sleeping since after ten, and it was well after midnight know. I couldn’t sleep, so I figured this was the perfect time to get this done.

  “Alex?”

  I looked up, and saw Ann.
“Hi, Ann. Can’t sleep either?”

  She shook her head. “No…What are you doing down here?”

  I looked down at the blank paper. “Trying to write my vows.”

  “Need some help?”

  I shrugged and smiled. “I’d love some.”

  “What are you having trouble with? Starting? Finding the words?”

  “All of it. I love her. Why can’t I just say that?”

  Ann laughed softly. “Well, it’s supposed to be a little more than that on your wedding day. Pretend no one else is around, and that Riley is the only person who will hear you. Tell her how she makes you feel. It will all just start to flow once you put that pen to the paper. Or, you can wing it. That’s what Clive did.”

  I smiled, and put my face in my hands. This was way harder than I thought. I was tempted just to Google a vow, but I know she would find out. I can’t exactly put elaborate words together and make it sound good on my own.

  “Thanks, Ann.”

  She got up from the table and went back upstairs.

  I crumpled the paper. I was going wing it.

  I checked on Isaac and Scarlett before finding my way in the darkness back into my own bedroom. I slid under the sheets, and pressed my body against Riley’s warmth. I nuzzled into her neck, kissed her hair, and wrapped my arm around her.

  “I love you,” I whispered. “You make me breathless.”

  ***

  Authors Notes

  Writing Meadowlarks, the first book in the series was a piece of cake. I was eager to publish my very first novel and as soon as I did, I began writing the second. I lived and breathed each character with each key typed.

  I knew I wanted to take Alex and Riley’s characters to places I had not gone in the first book. While Blaine and Addison had a deep and sweet love—Riley and Alex’s was more passionate and commanding. I needed to share their story with everyone.

  It was an emotional ride, and I hope everyone enjoys reading about Weston Casey next. Give him a chance, he may surprise you.