Scarred by Love

by C. A. Harms

  “Grandma this is Zander, my boyfriend.”

  Edna ran her eyes over me from head to toe. “What is it with good looking boy’s inking up their bodies these days? Zander do you know those are permanent?”

  I tried not to laugh, “Yes ma’am I do.”

  She scoffed and shook her head before walking past us toward the kitchen. I heard snickering and when I looked over toward the couch Tanner and Max were laughing into their hands. I smiled and turned back toward Riley.

  She was watching me closely, “I am so sorry.”

  She looked horrified at her Grandma’s reaction to me. “Ry, its’ okay…stop worrying. I can handle granny, it’s your dad that had me worried.”

  She started to ask what that meant but I pulled her toward the kitchen before she could finish. I was sure I would be playing twenty questions later. I knew she wanted to know exactly what her father and I had discussed. I could see it all over her face the moment we came back inside.

  Lunch actually went smooth. I only had to suffer occasionally with Grandma Edna and her questions. It helped that Max and Carson both had girls with them too because they stole some of the attention away from me.

  Riley and I ended up back at my place afterward. Once we entered, I pinned her against the counter in the kitchen and gave her the kiss I had been dying to all day.

  “What did my dad say to you?”

  I smiled, “I knew you’d drill me. It was nothing Ry. He just wanted to make sure that I would respect you and to let me know that he had a place to hide my body if I didn’t.” Her eyes about bugged out of her head. “I’m kidding, but he did want to make sure I had good intentions. Don’t worry…really it was fine.”

  I leaned forward taking her face in my hands and placing my lips to hers.

  It quickly began to heat up between us and before I knew it I had her legs wrapped around my waist and my hands working to get her bra free. Both of our shirts lay in a pile on the floor. I carried her to the couch and sat down taking her with me. She now sat straddling me and from the movement of her hips against me, my mind was racing with some pretty dirty thoughts.

  Riley’s skirt was gathered at her waist and she worked to unbutton my jeans as I slid my hands up her inner thighs. Before I could slid my fingers under the lacy material between her thighs she slid from my lap. She tugged my jeans with her as she placed her sweet body between my parted knees.

  Riley began stroking me and I let my head fall back against the couch. The moment I felt her tongue trace my cock, my head shot up to see her beautiful mouth tease me. I watched as she took my cock into her mouth rolling her smooth tongue as she sank lower. “Fuck Ry.”

  She began stroking my hardness with her mouth as our eyes stayed locked on each other. I groaned, “Damn baby you have an amazing mouth.”

  Suddenly I heard shuffling outside my door just before it flew open and in came Beth followed by Mark and Cody.

  “WHAT THE FUCK!”

  I grabbed a pillow and held it against my junk shielding Riley with my other arm. Cody was trying to peek around Mark but he wouldn’t budge.

  “Shit Riley did we catch you on your knees?”

  I glared at Beth I couldn’t believe she said that. “GET OUT!”

  Beth laughed and then turned toward the door. All three of them walked out but I could still hear them outside.

  I turned to face Riley, “Sorry about that.”

  She stood up holding her hand over her bare breast. “Why would you let her talk to me like that?” She pushed past my knees walking toward the kitchen. After tucking myself back into my pants I walked in that direction.

  I found her slipping her bra on before pulling her shirt over her head. “Riley, we were both sitting on the couch with our junk hanging out I really couldn’t get into it too much. I didn’t want the guys seeing your tits.”

  “Whatever Zander, I’m just gonna go home.”

  I grabbed her arm as she tried to get by and pulled her close. “Please don’t leave mad Riley. I don’t wanna fight.”

  “I’m not mad, but for some reason she doesn’t like me. You need to figure that out because the next time she makes a bitchy comment toward me I will defend myself. I know she thinks I’m just some stuck-up prissy girl but she has no idea who I truly am. If she wants to hate me…fine. I’ll just stay the hell away from here.”

  I followed her out the door and found her pushing past the three of them as they stood at the bottom of my stairs. “Riley.” I hollered after her but she didn’t turn around.

  “I hope we didn’t make her mad? It isn’t the first time I caught you with your dick in some girl’s mouth, Z.” I looked up quickly to see the hurt look spread across Riley’s face just before she got in her car and backed out of the driveway.

  I spun around to face Beth, “Why in fuck would you even say that shit?”

  “It’s true. Don’t you remember Kourtney?”

  “That was our junior year in high school.” She shrugged and laughed. “I don’t know what you’re fuckin’ problem is with Riley…but you better stop the shit. What you said up there and just now, ain’t fuckin’ happening again. GOT IT!”

  I turned toward my stairs climbing them two at time. Slamming my door in frustration then locking it, which is what I should have done earlier.

  Beth was acting like a spiteful bitch lately and it wasn’t like her. She knows how I feel about Riley; it was almost like she was jealous.

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  ~Riley~

  I shoved through our apartment door to find a room full of people. Carson and Pearce were over along with some dark haired girl and Kate. I rolled my eyes and walked toward my room waving over my shoulder as they all said hi.

  I went straight for the shower, turning the water on to its hottest setting. I let myself stand under the flowing water and finally let the tears of frustration fall. I couldn’t figure out what the hell I had done to Beth. The first time I met her she had been so nice. She was basically the one that had finally gotten Zander and I together. It felt like now she didn’t even want me around.

  I climbed out of the shower wrapping myself in a towel. When I excited my bathroom, I found Zander sitting on the end of my bed. His elbows resting on his thighs and his head hung low. He looked up to meet my eyes and smiled lightly. I walked in his direction and he noticed my eyes as I got closer. Zander reached out and pulled me by the hips toward him. I placed my hands on his shoulders and he looked up into my eyes.

  “Riley, don’t cry…please.”

  The towel had parted just enough to expose my thigh and Zander traced it with his fingertip.

  “I hate to see you cry baby. I don’t know what her problem is…but I’m not gonna let her disrespect you again, okay? I’m sorry.”

  It wasn’t his fault, I just felt humiliated at the time. I bent down and placed my trembling lips onto his as he pulled me closer. I walked forward bringing myself to rest onto him. With one leg on each side of his waist I laced my fingers together behind his head. Our lips worshipped one another’s slowly.

  Zander’s hands trailed up my naked thighs and I was completely lost in his gentle touch. My heart belonged to him so deeply. It amazed me at this moment just how much I wanted him and needed him. Zander held my heart in his hands and had the ability to break me. I was terrified of it happening.

  I pulled him against me tighter. “I love you Zander.” I whispered against his lips just before a tear fell from my eye.

  Zander pulled back tracing the tear away from my cheek. His thumb rubbing gently as he looked at me with concern. “Riley, please tell me what’s wrong. Is it because of what Beth said or is it more than that? Talk to me baby.”

  I closed my eyes and rested my forehead against his. “I’m worried that in the end you’ll choose her and I’ll lose you. It shouldn’t be a matter of choosing Zander. Why doesn’t she like me? What have I done to her to make her dislike me so much?”

  His lips rested at the tip o
f my nose and he kissed me softly. “I love you Riley and I’m not walking away from what we have okay. You’re the girl I’m in love with and Beth is my best friend. That is what it is.” He ran his hands up my thighs once again and paused at my hips. “I’ll talk to her okay…but right now I don’t want to think about her. The only thing I wanna think about is us.”

  He smiled running his hand up into my hair gripping the back of my neck. I closed my eyes just before I felt his lips touch mine. He took his time kissing me, running his tongue down the side of my neck.

  Zander turned toward the bed, laying me down slowly, and bringing his body over mine. He pulled my towel loose as it fell away from my body. The way his eyes ran over me slowly sent excited chills through my body.

  He always made me feel beautiful.

  He parted my knees and began kissing my inner thighs. The moment I felt his tongue run across my lower stomach I moaned just before his fingers slid into me. He began stroking me as he lowered his mouth to me. I felt his tongue flip against my clit and I bucked my hips forward.

  “Damn Riley you are so fuckin’ sexy baby.” He whispered against my center and I couldn’t help moaning loudly. He really had a magical mouth and not just for singing.

  The moment I felt his hardness slide into me I gasped. “Zander…we should really,” he interrupted me by crushing his lips to mine.

  Once he was completely inside of me he rotated his hips in a circular motion before withdrawing once again. His hips began to pump faster. “I know we said it was okay just that once, but Riley I wanna feel all of you right now. I just wanna feel your warmth without a condom.”

  I knew I should have stopped him but he was right, this felt amazing and I couldn’t think straight. Instead I wrapped my legs around his waist tightly and began moving my hips in motion with his. The friction between us drove me over the edge and I felt my body tense. I arched my back and closed my eyes tightly.

  “Come on Riley…come for me baby.” Zander began pumping his hips faster as I dug my nails into his back and the pleasure took over. It ripped through my core and I screamed his name rocking against him.

  Zander buried his face into the crook of my neck, “Fuck yeah baby…so good Riley. So fuckin’ good.”

  He drove into me hard and fast and I felt his teeth sink into my shoulder just before sucking on the skin to sooth it.

  “So close Ry…I’m so fuckin’ close.”

  His body began to tremble beneath my fingers and he pulsated within me as he slammed into me once more. Our bodies were slick with sweat and our breathing was strained.

  “I love you so much Riley.”

  I panted out in between deep breaths, “love,” deep breath, “you too.”

  He laughed and I giggled. Then the thought hit me. “Oh shit. When you got here were there people still here?” He nodded his head, “Yeah.”

  I covered my mouth with my hand and he rose up to look down at me. “Why?”

  I let my hand fall away slowly, “Do you think they heard us?”

  He watched my eyes and then at once started laughing. I pushed against his shoulder, “What’s so funny.”

  “You Ry, you make me laugh.” He chuckled, “But if they’re here, I’m pretty sure they heard you screaming. Actually I’m thinking your neighbors probably heard you screaming my name.”

  “Cocky ass,” I smiled.

  “Yeah, but you still love me.”

  I griped his face in my hands, “Hell yeah I do, very much.”

  We fell asleep with Zander’s head on my chest and his arms wrapped tightly around my center. It was an amazing feeling.

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  ~Zander~

  Riley and I have been sleeping at her apartment the last couple weeks. I think she wanted to avoid another situation with Beth and things have been less stressful between us. It did seem like we had little time together, but things had been busy lately.

  We got booked for a gig this weekend and it was a big one. We were playing at a music festival and I had to admit I was stoked. I’ve been practicing with the band every night for the last couple weeks. The festival was a ton of cover bands coming together to perform. It would be nice to get out with everyone and enjoy ourselves. I was looking forward to a night with Riley.

  She hadn’t been around Beth since I had my talk with her. Beth admitted that she was jealous. She has always been used to having me around and not having to worry about how we acted. Now things were different, I’m with someone and things don’t appear as innocent.

  “Okay guys I think we got it…sounds great.” I announced as I unhooked the strap of my guitar. “I think we’re ready.”

  I slung my guitar over my shoulder and walked toward the door, “Where you going?” Beth hollered from behind me.

  I spun around to face her and the guys, “I’m going to see my girl. Catch you all tomorrow.”

  I arrived at Riley’s ten minutes later. Kate answered the door and let me in, “Where’s Ry?”

  “Um…she’s uh. She went to the store real quick. She’ll be back anytime.”

  I looked at her in confusion, “Her car’s here though.”

  “Yeah she took mine because hers is low on gas. She didn’t want to have to stop on the way home to fill up.”

  I didn’t question it too much. I sat down on the couch and started flipping through the channels. Riley entered a few minutes later carrying a few bags and I jumped up from the couch to help her.

  “Hey if you would’ve waited I could’ve gone with you.”

  She didn’t look at me, “I never know when I’m gonna see you so…I went by myself.”

  I griped her shoulders and turned her toward me. I noticed Kate had walked toward the living room. When I saw Riley’s face I could tell something was bothering her. “Hey, what’s going on?”

  She shrugged away from me and started putting things away. “Zander I only see you when you show up here to sleep. I mean you get here sometimes after I’m already sleeping. It’s really kind of hard for me to make plans based on your schedule. I never know when the hell I’m gonna see you.”

  I leaned forward placing my hands on top of the counter gripping the edge tightly. I felt like I couldn’t win for shit. One minute Beth was pissed at me for spending too much time with Riley and then Riley was mad because she barely saw me. What the fuck was I supposed to do anymore?

  I took a deep breath and counted to ten. I didn’t want to fight with Riley. Things had been going so well between us. I wanted to start over. I stood up and walked over to her. I placed my hands onto her hips and rested my chin on her shoulder. Her back relaxed against my chest as I kissed her neck.

  “I’m sorry Ry…we’ve just been practicing to get ready for the show. After this weekend it won’t be as hectic. Between classes and interning at Bartlet’s, the only time we have to practice is at night.” I kissed her just behind her ear. “I’ve missed my time with you too, baby.”

  She turned to face me and I could see the unshed tears in her eyes. “Hey don’t cry.”

  “I’m not.”

  I grinned, “Must be allergies then.”

  She laughed and I pulled her to me tightly hugging her. “I love you Ry.”

  “You might not after I tell you something.”

  I tensed up and slowly pulled back looking down at her, “Okay…so why don’t you tell me what’s going on then.”

  I watched her eyes and she continued to look down at the floor playing with the bag in her hand. “Riley?”

  “I’m late Zander.”

  I was a little confused at first and then it sunk in and my heart raced, in fact it felt like the fuckin’ thing was gonna beat out of my chest. “You said you were on the pill. Didn’t you?” I knew I came across a little hateful and I took a deep breath. “Riley, are you on the pill or not?”

  She jerked her arm away from me and walked to the door grabbing her purse from the table next to it. I watched as she dug through it pulling something
out. She walked back toward me and slapped the open birth control pack on the counter. “Here are my fuckin’ pills, Zander, since you think I lied.

  I was probably going about this all wrong but my filter was a little messed up right now. “Okay I see the pills…but have you been taking ’em?”

  I saw it coming and knew it was too late to fix it. “You know what, just leave. I don’t want you here right now.”

  “Riley, wait let’s talk about this.”

  “Just leave.”

  She walked past me and when her bedroom door slammed I jumped. I really fucked that one up. I pretty much just accused her of getting pregnant on purpose. Wait, fuck Riley might be pregnant?

  I walked after her and beat on her door. I jiggled the door handle but there was no use she had it locked.

  Taking a deep breath, I leaned against the door. “Riley I’m sorry let me in please. We need to talk about this.”

  Kate approached from the living room. “Zander just let her cool off. Maybe you should go home for tonight.”

  I looked up at her and nodded my head. Before I walked away I spoke through the door to Riley, “I love you Ry…please call me so we can talk. I’m sorry, I um…I guess I kinda freaked out a little.” I traced the edge of the door with my finger, “Good night baby.”

  I smiled lightly at Kate before walking past her to leave. Cussing myself all the way home for the way I handled Riley’s news.

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  ~Riley~

  I stared down at the test in my hand as the tears rolled down my cheeks. My chest was tight and my heart was racing. I was finally able to calm my breathing long enough to take the test.

  “So that’s good right?”

  I nodded my head at Kate, “Yes…that’s really good. I’m not pregnant.”

  I picked up my phone from the bed and sent Zander a quick message.