by C. A. Harms
The sun was starting to set and I couldn’t stop yawning. I honestly felt like I could have slept for days.
“Do you wanna come over for a little while?”
When I faced him he looked so hopeful. I laughed at his pouting lip and pushed against his chest.
“Okay, just for a little while.”
I secretly prayed that tonight would be a Beth free night. When we pulled into the driveway and I saw her playing basketball with Mark and Cody, I sighed. Over the roar of the bike I figured Zander couldn’t hear my disappointment.
I know they’re friends but I felt like she was always there. We never got time alone because she seemed to always show up. I don’t know how many times she walked in on us making out on the couch or against the counter.
She looked up when I removed the helmet and handed it to Zander.
“Hey Ry…it’s good to see you. Our boy here has been a fuckin buzz kill the last few days. I think he was suffering from ‘Riley’s Hot Ass’ withdrawal.” I smiled at Cody. Leave it to him to break the silence.
Zander grabbed my hand and pulled me toward the stairs.
“Dude where are you going? You gonna join the game?”
Zander laced his fingers with mine, “Nah Mark, tonight I’m all Riley’s. Catch you guys tomorrow.”
I felt a flutter in my stomach and smiled up at him. When he winked back at me I swooned. God damn, he had me right there in that moment; I was giddy. All it took was for him to make me feel important to him.
An hour later we were snuggled on his couch with a movie in the DVD player. He threw a blanket over us and I was wrapped up in his arms.
“Are we gonna be okay baby? Can we move forward from this together?” I nodded my head and he kissed my neck just behind my ear. “I love you, Ry.” I felt my heart race as I turned in his arms. I looked up into his beautiful face and he smiled down at me. I traced his jaw with my fingertip and ran it across his lower lip.
Swallowing past the thickness within my throat, I took his face into my hands. “I love you too Zander.” I brought his lips to mine and we began to kiss each other with such passion. I could have kissed him for hours because the gentleness he expressed melted me from the inside out. I felt desired and treasured as he made love to my mouth with his.
“Say it again Riley, please.” He watched me intensely.
“I love you.”
He smiled and closed his eyes, “Damn, if that isn’t the greatest thing I’ve heard in a long time.”
I lightly laughed, “You’re so easy, you know that?”
He shifted me underneath him, “If you remember right I was the one that made you wait.” I raised my eyebrows waiting for him to continue. “And it was pure hell to restrain myself.”
Our lips met once more and we were once again lost in each other. “Stay with me tonight…I want you in my arms.”
“You just wanna get laid.”
He chuckled, “No, I wanna make love to you though.” He pushed forward against me and I could feel his arousal. “Will you spend the night with me Riley?”
I nodded my head and pulled his mouth back to mine. There was no going back and I wanted it…I wanted him. I wanted all of him, his heartache and smiles, his laughter and tears. I was going to hold on tightly because Zander made my heart flutter and my knees wobble and damn it if that didn’t feel amazing.
He picked me up and carried me to his bed with my legs wrapped tightly around his waist. There was little talking and it was perfect. We scrambled to remove each other’s clothes and to feel each other without restrictions. He left me to reach for a condom and I instantly missed his warmth. I shuddered instantly when I felt him return and his body pressed against me.
His hardness nudged against my leg before sliding forward to find me wet and ready. I threw my head back, “Oh god, yes!”
He pushed into my wetness causing me to cry out in pleasure. His movements were slow and gentle. The rotation of his hips as he moved within me was causing the exact friction I needed.
“You feel so good…damn Riley.” He breathed in my ear, “You are perfect. We’re so good together, baby.” He pushed into me fully, unable to go any deeper and I gasped at the fullness.
“Oh yeah!” He groaned and began to move faster with long strokes.
I rose up to meet him and we fought for release. The tension low within my core began to climb until I shook with pleasure and tightened around him. Squeezing him and calling out his name.
Zander slammed into me and his back tensed beneath my fingers. “Fuck baby, yes…oh yeah!” After one more thrust his body trembled and lowered down over mine.
We lay in each other’s arms for a few minutes without words. Just the breaths between us were shared.
Chapter Thirty
~Zander~
Riley sleeping in my arms and her naked body curled against mine was hot as hell. I loved every inch of her and for a minute I just wanted to take it all in. This time yesterday I wasn’t sure if I would ever have this again. Now that we were back together I would do anything it took to make her happy. Riley put the life back in me. She made me feel important and knowing that she loved me made me want to be the guy she deserved.
When she slept she did this thing where she twitched her nose over and over again attempting to relieve a tickle or an itch. It never failed though; eventually she would give up and lift her hand to itch it. It was always followed by her making this little sniffling sound before curling into me a little closer.
I fought the urge to laugh every time.
I curled my body around hers and held her tightly against my chest. Breathing in the smell of her shampoo I was finally able to give in to sleep as my eyelids became heavier.
***
When I woke, I looked at the clock and noticed it was three am and Riley was not in bed next to me. I panicked. I slowly slid from my bed and slipped into my boxers. I walked quietly toward the kitchen and just as I rounded the counter I heard a scream. Something wet splashed me in the face and began running down my chest and legs to make a puddle on the floor. I stood perfectly still, stunned. I was trying to figure out what in the hell just happened.
“Zander?” Riley whispered.
“Yep…” I replied back, still unable to move from my current spot.
The light just above the stove came on and Riley started laughing. I looked down to find myself drenched in milk as it beaded along my chest and stomach.
“I… am so sorry,” She said in between her tears of laughter. “You scared me and I thought someone broke in.”
I smiled back at her with milk still dripping from my chest. “Baby, can I ask you something?” She nodded her head and continued to giggle. “Did you actually think a glass of milk would stop an intruder?”
She stopped laughing and placed her hand on her hip. She looked so fuckin’ sexy standing there with my t-shirt on that I had almost forgotten about my milk bath.
“Well I never really thought about it, I just reacted. It was either that or smash my pop tart in your face.” It was then that I looked down and noticed a half-eaten pop tart still in her hand.
I smiled and raised my hand up motioning with my finger for her to come closer. She took a few steps toward me and I griped her hips, pulling her body against mine.
When my lips found hers she tasted of strawberry and I wanted more. I walked backwards toward the bathroom pulling her along with me.
“I think we need a shower, don’t you?”
I lifted the t-shirt over her head and lowered my boxers to the floor. I stepped in after her and flipped on the water. The initial coldness shocked us both but soon it began to warm and run over our skin.
We continued to kiss, as I ran my hands over her curves backing her against the shower wall. I wanted her so badly and I didn’t want to wait. I ran my hand down her stomach and between her thighs, pushing my finger into her. She moaned against my lips and I smiled at the satisfaction of it.
“I want you so
bad Riley…so much.”
Her hand wrapped around me and began to stroke my hard cock. I added a second finger and massaged her clit with my thumb while she moaned my name.
“Do you want me Riley?” She whispered yes in response and I turned her around placing her back against my chest. “Do you want me right now?”
Riley’s head nodded and she pushed her ass into my hardness. I gripped her hips tight and growled deep within my chest. “We gotta get out baby.” I reached forward to flip the water off.
“No.”
Riley grabbed my hand and placed it onto her stomach. “I’m on the pill Zander. I trust you, just this once let’s just do it.”
I groped my cock and pressed in between her thighs from behind. “Are you sure?”
“Yes,” She pushed back and opened her legs wider, “Please.”
I found her warmth with the head of my cock and pushed into her slowly. “Oh Fuck.”
How in the hell was I gonna hold off. She felt so good. She was so tight and warm, wrapped around me as I pushed completely inside of her. She wiggled her ass against me and I began moving.
“Baby I’m not gonna last long, you feel too fuckin’ good.”
This wasn’t slow and easy sex, we were both completely lost in the pleasure as we slammed against one another over and over. We were both moaning each other’s names and racing to reach our peak together.
The moment I felt Riley clench around me and her body shudder, I could no longer hold back. I gripped her hips tightly and slammed into her, throwing my head back, completely lost in the feel of her. I exploded and my toes curled as I braced myself with one hand against the shower wall.
She stood on shaky legs and I felt myself slip out of her as she turned to face me looking up at me with hooded eyes.
“So aren’t you glad I threw milk in your face?” She smirked up at me and I couldn’t help but kiss her.
“If this is what happens afterwards, then baby you can throw milk in my face every day of the week.”
Chapter Thirty-One
~Riley~
“Are you sure you want to do this?” I couldn’t believe I was really about to take Zander with me to suffer through Grandma Edna’s inquisition.
“I’m fine Ry…you forget I’ve dealt with Victoria the ice queen for years. Grandma Edna can’t be as bad as her.”
I was terrified of what she might say to him. Not to mention this will be the first time he meets my parents as well as Tanner, Mason and Kelly. I wasn’t worried about Mariah she loved everyone. It wouldn’t take much for Zander to win her over.
“Just ignore the tattoo comments and the hair comments. Oh and if they say anything about the band, do me a favor and just brush ’em off.”
Zander grabbed my hands into his and pulled me close. His lips touched mine and I allowed myself to relax against him. He rested his forehead to mine before asking me a question. “Are you worried that I might embarrass you?”
I stepped back and looked up at him, “Oh god, no I’m worried about them embarrassing me. I’m worried about them all making you want to run for the hills and never look back.”
“No such luck Ry…I’m not going anywhere.”
Carson was coming too and he was bringing Kate which surprised me. She called earlier and told me that she sat down with him last Sunday when we got back from the cabin. She told him that she thought they should take a break and maybe see other people. Well I guess that was Carson’s wake-up call because he didn’t agree with her suggestion.
I didn’t think Carson had it in him, but he confessed his love for my best friend and now they were officially an item. No longer were they considering each other “fuck-buddies”. I couldn’t have been happier for the both of them.
The biggest shock of the day was when Max walked in with Bree and their hands were locked together. I think the entire room went silent for a few seconds. Max was the one we all considered as the “ultimate bachelor”.
We had all arrived before Grandma Edna and my dad hadn’t made it home yet from the emergency he was called out on early this morning. This gave me some time to allow my mom to get to know Zander better.
“Zander, Riley tells me that you intern at Bartlet’s Architectural Firm. That’s a strong reliable firm to gain experience from. Do you have any plans to stay on full time once you complete your degree?”
I had to give him credit from the way my mom was acting he had impressed her already with his unexpected manners and charm.
“Yes, actually Mr. Bartlet has offered me a position right after graduation. I look forward to being part of their team. I’ve learned so much there already and the clientele is so wide spread. It makes the opportunities never ending.”
My mom smiled at him. Not the “Interesting I’m still watching you to make sure you’re good enough for my daughter” smile. No, it was the “oh boy have you made an impression and my daughter is one lucky girl” smile. She winked at me and excused herself when she heard my father enter the front door.
Now was the real test. My brothers all seemed to love him so that and the fact that I think my mom had an old lady crush on my boyfriend was the easy part. My dad may be a challenge. Parker really placed an uneasy feeling within him when it came to me.
I laced my fingers with Zander’s and led him in through the doorway. I glanced over my shoulder at him taking a deep breath, “Here we go.”
He winked at me and my stomach fluttered.
My dad immediately looked up at us and walked in my direction looking at Zander over my shoulder. He leaned forward and kissed me on the cheek, “Hello honey…who do we have here?”
I squeezed Zander’s hand and pulled him closer. “Dad this is Zander…my boyfriend. Zander meet my father, Thomas.” They shook hands and I felt tense.
“It’s nice to meet you, sir.”
My dad nodded his head toward the kitchen. “Zander, why don’t you and I take a little walk…shall we?”
I must have looked panicked because they both looked at me and Zander released my hand. “I’ll be right back Ry…its’ okay.”
My stomach was in knots as I watched my father and Zander leave the room.
“Uh oh Ry…dad’s gonna lay the law down on Z.”
I glared at Max, “Shut up asshole.”
“Riley Joann!”
I sighed and flopped down onto the couch, “Sorry mom.”
I was so nervous that I was beginning to feel sick to my stomach. What in the hell could my dad be saying to him?
Chapter Thirty-Two
~Zander~
I tried to hide the fact that my stomach was tensed from nervous energy. I knew this was the point with her father that would either impress him or he would label me as the bad guy. I didn’t want Riley to know how worried I was about her dad’s opinion but I had to admit it to myself that his opinion meant a lot to me.
He wasted no time at all. Once we exited the house into the backyard he turned to face me. I squared my shoulders and stood tall. “Zander, do you care about my daughter?”
“Yes sir, very much.”
“Would you ever mistreat her or raise a hand to her?”
I swallowed hard, “Hell no sir, not unless I wanted my mom to return to this earth long enough to beat me down. She never raised me like that. I would never raise my hand to any woman, sir.”
Thomas stood in front of me looking into my eyes waiting for any sign of weakness. After what felt like forever the side of his mouth curled up slightly and only lasted a second before his lips pressed together tightly.
“I need you to know that I’m not a violent man. I also want to make it perfectly clear that if you or any other man for that matter ever raises a hand to my daughter again, I won’t hesitate to change that.”
“Noted sir,” I nodded my head in agreement. “I need you to know that I care about Riley very much. She is an amazing person and she has me wrapped around her finger.” I smiled when he grinned. “I’m sure you already know that
she can do that to just about anybody she meets.”
Her father grinned at me and dipped his head just slightly in agreement with me. “Yes she seems to have that ability.”
“I know that Riley went through something she never should have had to. She hasn’t shared much about Parker but Carson and I have talked about it. I want you to understand sir that I would never hurt Riley. I don’t really understand how anyone could ever harm her. She is an amazing, kind-hearted woman.”
“Let’s just hope that you truly mean that Zander for your sake and mine.”
When he held his hand out to me I shook it willingly. He was just a father showing concern for his only daughter. I could sense that he felt guilt for what she had gone through already. That is one thing that I would never and could never do. My mother was a very strong believer that no man should ever, for any reason, raise a hand toward a woman.
“Well let’s get back inside before they send my boys out here to check on you.” Thomas chuckled and I followed him in through the rear slider door.
Once we entered I could hear an unfamiliar cackle and knew instantly Grandma Edna had arrived.
“Well son, I just want to forewarn you…my mother in law is much worse than I am. She has absolutely no filter and can be quite loose lipped with whatever she may be feeling at the time. Good luck.”
Thomas entered into the living room and I took a deep breath before following right behind him. My eyes instantly connected with Riley’s first. She looked tense. I winked and she smiled immediately standing to walk in my direction.
Once she reached my side I laced my fingers through hers and she squeezed gently. “Is everything okay?”
I kissed her forehead and whispered against her skin, “Everything’s good, baby.”
“Well who might this be Riley?” We both turned forward as Granny walked our way. Her eyebrows were scrunched together in question. I felt Riley squeeze my hand once more. I lightly stroked her knuckles with my thumb.
