by C. A. Harms
“Carson.” Kate scolded him crossing her arms over her chest.
“What? I’m just saying they seem to fight more than you and me. I gotta be honest Ry…Kate and I fight all the fuckin’ time so for you to be worse off than us.” He shook his head back and forth, “That just ain’t a good sign.”
Before I could respond I heard someone clear their throat. We all looked to find Zander standing in the doorway shirtless. At least he put pajama pants on. The fact that they hung very low on his waist and the sexy man V was appearing left little to the imagination. Damn him and his sexy god like body.
When our eyes met and he smiled I knew I had been caught staring. Seeing Carson glare at Kate over my shoulder let me know she was staring too. I quickly stood and walked in his directly, placing my arms around his waist securely.
Zander pulled me in tightly and kissed the top of my head. I looked up to meet his dark-filled gaze. “I made some fresh coffee but before you can have any I think you need to put a shirt on.”
His eyebrow rose in question.
“You’re gonna get Kate in trouble for staring.”
Zander leaned forward and kissed the tip off my nose. “I’ll be right back.”
He made his way back to the kitchen just as I sat his cup filled with his coffee on the table. He took the seat next to me and scooted his chair closer. “Thanks baby.” He winked and lifted the cup to his lips.
“So Z, you gonna spill what’s going on with you and your BFF or what?” I could see the tension within Zander’s body immediately return. His eye’s flipped to mine as he spoke.
“I think that’s a topic Riley and I need to discuss privately first. There are some things she needs to hear from me.”
I felt my stomach begin to twist and turn at the thought of what he needed to tell me. I immediately felt nauseous. I could tell by his stare that this was not going to be an easy conversation. Had something happened between him and Beth?
“Well then maybe we should go somewhere and talk.” It was all I could say before I stood and walked back to the bedroom Zander had been calling his own over the last week. I could hear his heavy footsteps approaching behind me. I never turned around until I reached the room and I heard him shut the door behind me.
I needed to know what happened. I didn’t want to put it off any longer. “So let me have it. Tell me what happened and why you’re here instead of at your apartment.”
He took a step toward me, “It’s not what you think. Sit down and let’s talk.”
“I don’t want to sit. I want you to start talking…please.”
Zander walked passed me and took a seat on the bed pulling me into his lap. He locked his fingers with mine and began playing with my hand. He took a deep breath before he started to explain.
“After I left that night of the show, Cody and I took Beth home. He helped me get her into my place and onto the couch.” His fingers continued to toy with mine as he spoke. “Beth was gone Ry…I mean worse off than I was last night by far. I thought she would be down for the count. I sent you a text and then took a quick shower. I fell asleep waiting for you to respond to my message.”
He swallowed hard and looked up into my eyes. Zander wrapped his strong arm around my waist securely as if he was bracing me for the impact of his next words.
“I woke up to Beth straddling me and kissing me.” He blinked a few times and I held his gaze allowing him to continue. “Once I realized what was happening I jumped up from the bed and moved away from her. I screamed at her and she confessed having feelings for me.” He gripped my waist a little tighter, “Riley I’m sorry I accused you of pushing her for no reason.”
He looked down at my hands as I toyed with the hem of my shirt.
“Riley I made her leave. I told her I loved you and that she needed to go home. Nothing else happened and I haven’t talked to her since. I’ve avoided all her calls and messages, I can’t face her.”
“Say something Riley, please. Don’t just stare off and say nothing.”
I brushed my fingertip over his lower lip and leaned forward kissing him softly. Pulling back I looked into his tired, stressed eyes.
“Zander you need to talk to her.” He started to argue and I pushed my finger against his lips to quiet him. “Let me finish.”
After he nodded his head in agreement I continued. “Beth is a huge part of your life. The fact that she has been trying to contact you over and over confirms the fact that you two have unfinished business. Like you once told me, Beth and her mother are your family now. You need to make this right with Beth one way or another.” I paused to let it sink in.
“I trust you Zander.”
Chapter Forty-Five
~Zander~
I couldn’t believe what Riley was saying. I figured she would be pissed about Beth and me. I thought for sure this would lead to one hell of an argument. Looking up into Riley’s gorgeous hazy blue eyes I realized at that moment just how much I loved her. She was so damn amazing. She wanted me to talk to Beth and work things out. She wasn’t freaking out and making me choose between them, even after Beth kissed me.
“Baby, I thought you’d be pissed.”
Riley smiled and laughed lightly, “Well, I can’t say that I am crazy about Beth straddling you or kissing you but I can’t change the fact that it happened.”
I gripped her waist and spun her around to lay her back onto the bed as I brought my body over hers. Looking down into her gorgeous face I knew she was it for me. There was no going back after her. For me Riley was “my everything”. No one would ever compare to the woman that now lay beneath me.
“Do you have any idea how fuckin’ amazing you are? I love you so damn much Ry.”
I lowered myself closer to her. Eliminating the small distance between us as my lips connected with hers. When she wrapped her legs around my waist and rocked herself against me I groaned out in approval. It had been almost two weeks since I felt her body. I was in desperate need of her touch. I craved it every day we were apart.
“I want you so bad baby, so fuckin’ bad Ry.” I kissed her once more rolling my tongue with hers. “Damn I’ve missed you. I need you so much.” I pushed my hardness against her showing her just how much I craved her.
“Mm,” she moaned. “I want you too…I need you Zander.” Her hands made their way to my shirt as she balled it between us lifting it over my head.
We were like two wild animals starving for food. Our clothes fell to the floor quickly as hands roamed ever bare inch of each other’s skin.
I reached between us and found she was so wet and ready for me. I sunk my finger into her warm center and her hips rose to meet my thrust. “Fuck Ry, you’re so wet.” I added a second finger and began massaging her clit with my thumb as I stroked her over and over.
When I felt her delicate hand grip my hard cock I knew I needed her now. Her grip tightened as she stroked me.
“Fuck Ry, I’m gonna explode. I need to be inside of you.” I pulled my hand from her wetness and guided my cock to take its place. With every inch I sank into her she moaned and I fought against my own release.
Once I was completely inside of her I began to slowly move. Rotating my hips and grinding against her. I wanted to feel her come. I needed it, so bad. It was like a drug I had to have, I wanted her pleasure.
“I need to feel you cum Ry. Give it over to me baby.” I felt her begin to squeeze around my cock and I knew it was only a matter of time. “There you go, that’s it. Hell yeah baby…fuckin’ come baby.”
The moment I felt her slick walls begin to pulsate around me I could no longer hold out. I drove into her letting go of my own release. She screamed my name and I buried my head into the crease of her neck.
We both lay wrapped around one another attempting to slow our breathing.
“We really need to remember the condom Zander.” I smiled against her shoulder at her words.
“Yes …yes we do. You gotta admit though it feels fuckin’ amazing witho
ut one.”
She sighed, “Yes I’ll admit it.” Riley tilted her face toward me, “We still need to remember okay. It’s important.”
I kissed her lips softly, “Okay.”
I know when she told me before that she was late I freaked out but it wasn’t because I wouldn’t want a life with Riley. The thought of being responsible for someone’s life the way you are when you’re a father terrifies me. I wasn’t sure I was father material. After all I didn’t really have the best role model when it came to fathers.
We stayed in bed for over an hour just talking and laughing. It felt right having her in my arms. Riley was my safety and security. She made me feel whole and I silently vowed at that moment to let down all my walls. I would let her in fully and no longer push away from the girl that captured my soul.
“What do you wanna do today?”
I sat on the edge of the bed watching her pull her jeans up over her slim hips. Riley was perfect, every inch of her every sweet little curve. She turned to face me and smiled.
Shrugging her shoulders, “I don’t know. What were you thinking?”
“There’s somewhere that I’ve wanted to take you. Someone I want to introduce you to.”
She watched me and I could tell she was waiting for further explanation but I wasn’t offering it. Instead I stood from the bed and walked toward her. I placed my hands on her hips and pulled her flush against me brushing my lips gently across hers. Riley rose up on the tip of her toes and pressed her lips firmly against mine. “I’ll go anywhere you want me to.”
I smiled at her and took her hand into mine as I guided her toward the front door.
Twenty minutes later I was pulling into the cemetery. The moment Riley noticed where we were her eyes filled with tears. I squeezed her hand in mine as it rested on my thigh.
I helped Riley from her car and hugged her close to me. “I come here every Sunday Ry. Sundays were always our day together. I should’ve brought you with me a long time ago. I should’ve let you into this part of my world but I was an idiot. I can’t explain why I didn’t. I just know that I don’t want to keep you at arms-length anymore.” I squeezed her tightly against my chest. “I want to keep you right here…this close because I don’t want to lose you baby. I can’t lose you Riley. You mean too much to me.”
Chapter Forty-Six
~Riley~
It’s been almost two weeks since Zander took me to his mother’s grave. I knew that taking me there was a big step for him. He included me in something that was always important between the two of them.
He was still staying at Carson’s. I had given him my opinion about his relationship with Beth; that I felt they needed to talk because they needed one another. I hated to admit it but it was true. I knew they had unfinished business to take care of. He changed the subject every time I brought it up so I stopped pushing. I would let him make the decision on his own.
Tonight would be the first night I slept without Zander next to me since the night I found him in the bar. The guys had planned a weekend trip full of camping and whatever else guys did when girls weren’t around. I hated the thought of not waking up with him next to me but having him spend time with my brothers made it worth it. They all loved Zander and I couldn’t say I really blamed them.
“So Ry…you ready for a guy free night?”
Kate approached me from behind and bumped her hip against mine. We figured since the guys were going to be gone we would make a night of it. Kate, Bree and I planned to meet up with a few other girls from school at a local bar for drinks and dancing.
“Yeah, I’m getting ready to go over to Carson’s to say goodbye first. You coming?” She shrugged her shoulders and I knew instantly that reaction wasn’t a good one. “Spill it Hoochie. What’s going on?”
“I already told Carson goodbye so I don’t see the need to tell him again.”
Sometimes these two drove me insane. They seriously had this love-hate relationship perfected. I couldn’t keep up with them. Sometimes I think they purposely fought so they could have aggressive makeup sex that made me blast my iPod to drown them out.
“So what are you two fighting about now?” I took a seat at the bar and waited for her to explain. The silence was almost deafening. “Kate?”
She threw the towel onto the counter and spun around crossing her arms over her chest. “Well, for starters he doesn’t want me to go out tonight. He thinks I should stay home because he isn’t gonna be with me.” I could tell by her mood she wasn’t going to back down. “I told him that I’m not a possession and that if I wanted to go out with my friends I didn’t need his permission. I’m not letting some man have that control over me. I told him if he wanted some obedient girl that followed his every command he better look elsewhere because I sure as hell was not that girl.”
I stifled a laugh at her expression. My best friend was such a cocky little thing. I was honestly proud as hell of her. She shouldn’t let any guy control her, not even if that guy was my arrogant brother.
My phone buzzed in my purse and I knew it was probably Zander wondering where I was.
You still coming over?
Yes talking to Kate. Carson and her are fighting again.
When aren’t they?
I smiled because he was so right. If Carson and Kate didn’t argue we would all think one of them had been abducted by aliens. I don’t think they knew how to compromise. They both wanted to be the dominant one within their relationship and it never ended well.
I’ll be there soon
You better be. The guys are threatening to leave my ass behind. They said you already have my balls hanging from your door knob.
lol…see you in five minutes. Promise and tell them I said to leave you alone.
Yeah I am sure if I tell them that it will fix all the teasing for sure. HURRY UP! I can’t leave without a kiss.
“Kate, are you sure you don’t wanna go with me to say goodbye?” When she rolled her eyes and turned back to the dishes I laughed. “Okay, I’ll be back in a little while and then we’ll get ready. Okay?”
Kate just nodded her head and I knew she needed the time to collect herself. I made a mental note to handle my arrogant ass brother before I let him leave. He owed my bestie a phone call…with an apology.
Carson had met his match in Kate that was obvious. He was so used to girls doing anything to make him happy. Kate refused to back down and it challenged him into complete irritation every single time.
When I arrived at Carson’s all the guys were loading up the SUVs they had rented. Zander’s eyes met mine once I climbed out of my car and the smile that stretched across his lips made my knees weak. He really was a fine specimen and he was mine.
“It’s about fucking time Ry. This dumbass wouldn’t leave until he said goodbye. Pussy whipped sucker.” Carson hollered as he shut the front door. I wasn’t in the mood for his cocky ass.
“Well not everyone is a selfish fuck who treats their girlfriend like a dog.”
Carson glared at me, “What the hell is that supposed to mean Riley?”
I took a step toward him and everyone became silent. Max wrapped his arm around my shoulder from behind, “What’s going on sis?”
I never looked at Max, instead I continued to glare at Carson. “This stupid ass gets off on treating my best friend badly.” I was so tired of seeing Kate cry. “You can’t keep shooting commands at her and expect things to work between you two Carson. I’m tired of seeing her cry over your arrogant ass. I told you in the beginning not to hurt her.” He watched me without saying a word. “What is wrong with you? You have a girl that loves you. Kate would do anything for you but instead of appreciating that you keep hurting her. You owe her an apology, Carson. Quit fucking with her head and grow the fuck up. One of these days she might wake up and realize she doesn’t have to take your shit then it’ll be too late for you to change.”
Max led me toward Zander and away from Carson. I looked over my shoulder and found Carson sta
nding in the same place talking to Pearce and Tanner.
“Baby, what the hell was that all about?”
I couldn’t believe how mad I got once I heard Carson making comments about Zander. I know he was playing but after what Kate had told me I let him have it. I didn’t want to fight with him because Carson has always been there for me but I also couldn’t let him continue hurting Kate. She deserved happiness.
“It’s nothing really.”
“It didn’t sound like nothing Ry.”
I wrapped my arms around Zander’s shoulders and he leaned into me. “I just hate how he treats Kate. Sometimes I wish she could just move on from him and find someone that treats her better. I wish I saw her smile more.”
“Hey you, stop worrying so much. They love each other. Riley you have to let them work their own shit out. I know it’s hard to stand on the sidelines but you can’t fix them. They have to learn to work it out together.”
I knew he was right but it still sucked ass. I wish Carson would just wake up and see what he has in Kate.
“You gonna be okay this weekend? Should I stay here?”
Zander has been so different since we got back together. We talk about everything and he shares his feelings about things which is so strange because before he was always so guarded about his life.
I placed my hands on his neck and brushed my thumbs gently along his jawline. He smiled down at me sweetly pulling me closer toward him.
“I’ll be okay. We’re having girl time so I’ll be busy.”
Zander tilted my chin up and his lips met mine softly. I felt his tongue lightly brush against mine and I lightly moaned. “I’m gonna miss you Ry.” His forehead resting against mine; he still had his eyes closed.
“I’ll miss you too. You better get going, there’s about six guys who look like they’re gonna team together and drag you outta here.”
