Wanting Reed (Break Me) BOOK 2

by Candela, Antoinette

  “I can relate to that,” Reed whispers, squeezing my hand tighter as we pull into his mom’s driveway. She lives in a small two-story red brick house with a small fenced-in yard with blossoming rose bushes framing the front door and a large oak tree standing in the front lawn. A bay window overlooks the front yard with wispy white curtains rustling faintly from the breeze and a heart-shaped sun catcher reflecting the sun’s rays.

  “Home sweet home,” he exclaims, throwing the truck into park. He turns linking his eyes with mine. “She’s gonna love you, doll,” he murmurs, ghosting his lips over mine.

  “I’m sure I’m going to love her, too.”

  It only took a second for me to witness the undying connection and love that Reed has with his mother. He transforms to a little boy when he is around her, and his blue eyes twinkle, adding to his boyishness. I find it arduous to hold back the tears while watching them interact with each other, how Reed holds her tiny hands in his and how he kisses her repeatedly on the forehead. It makes me love him even more.

  His mother, a petite, frail woman in a pale blue sweater and dark blue jeans, has so much presence, reminding me of Tyler’s mom. We talked about everything, especially her love of the ocean, cooking and the Cowboys. She asked me about my goals in life and why I wanted to become a doctor. She made it quite clear not to call her Rose, but rather Momma, stating that anyone who can make her son truly happy is already family.

  “So, what do you think, doll?” Reed whispers into my ear after his mom leaves the room. “Is my mom okay?” He grins adoringly.

  “What’s not to love about her?”

  “Same goes for you. I knew she would love you,” he speaks, tucking a loose strand of hair behind my ear.

  “How’s she doing?” I falter, knowing this is a touchy subject for both of us being that I experienced a similar situation with Tyler and his mother. “With the cancer?”

  “She’s doing okay. Juju told me she has her moments, but overall she remains strong.” I eye him cautiously, noticing the wetness in his eyes. I take his hand in mine and feel his body tense against me. “I can’t think of her not being here,” he mutters, closing his eyes momentarily and taking a deep breath. Finally, he looks back at me through rapidly blinking eyes that flash countless emotions across his face.

  “She’s so strong, Reed. Whatever happens, she has us. She’s not alone. Be happy with that and take advantage of this time with her.”

  He watches me intently as he contemplates my words. “You’re right, doll.” He stops and smiles, pulling me closer to him. “Can we talk about something else?”

  “Oh…sure… you were going to tell me something earlier? What was it about?”

  “Not now,” he whispers.

  We left his mom’s house to take a short ride before dinner. Reed wanted to show me one of his favorite spots, a secluded area that overlooks Lake Arlington, to enjoy the view. It’s after five o’clock; the sun is beginning to drop in the horizon, and it is getting chilly. I told him I wanted to return to the hotel to change out of my skirt and blouse, but he said it wasn’t necessary. He parks the truck underneath a tree and slides closer to me without speaking a word and begins to knead my thigh with his strong, capable hand. Immediately, the muscles in my core clench from his touch and beg for relief.

  “Well…you had something to tell me?” I press, placing my hand on top of his. He smiles broadly. It’s the first time I’ve ever seen him smile like this since I’ve known him, so it has to be good news.

  “It’s done,” he says as he exhales deeply, relaxing his shoulders. “The thing with Jerry is done,” he says hesitantly, like he’s still trying to process it all.

  “How? Where did you come up with the money?”

  “You’re not going to believe this.” One single dark brow arches up. “Luke.”

  “Luke?” I bark out a short laugh. “How?”

  “Come to find out my lazy, no-good roommate is not so lazy after all. His family owns Turner Construction. You heard of them?” He looks at me intently with his blue eyes.

  “What?” Turner Construction happens to be the leading construction company in New England and is worth millions. To think that Luke’s family owns this company completely blows my mind.

  “Yep, which means Luke has millions.” He laughs. The reassuring sound reverberates off the truck’s windows.

  “This is too good to be true!” I eagerly lean up and kiss him.

  “Believe it, doll. No more looking over my shoulder,” he says, glancing out the window and back at me with the gleam returning to his eyes. “You know what this means?”

  I know what it means for our future, but it’s still not over. I don’t want to diminish this, but when we get back to Boston, there is still the matter of the paternity test. I haven’t had a chance to dwell on this, and I don’t want to. Not at this moment when he seems so relieved. He’s happier now that he’s ridded himself of his past, all thanks to Luke. Luke of all people, I think to myself.

  “We have to thank Luke?” I laugh.

  He chuckles and breathes deeply as he plays with a few strands of my hair. “I have to thank you first, doll.”

  His voice is so quiet that I almost miss the words. I turn to him, allowing him the instant to express what he has to say as his eyes touch mine.

  “You stood by me through all the shit of my past, took me back, and loved me. You didn’t deserve to deal with it, but you did anyway. Thank you for being you and for giving me another chance,” he says through eyes swimming with deep regret. He leans over, and his scent envelopes me. His breath tickles my skin when he kisses my forehead. “I’m going to spend the rest of my life making it up to you.” He brushes his thumb over my bottom lip and feathers his lips over mine. “I love you.”

  The thoughtfulness of his words has me choking back emotions. I run my hand over his cheek and cradle it there; he closes his eyes at my touch. “I would do it all over again for you, Reed Austin. Every second I’ve been with you or apart from you has brought something I’ve never experienced in my life. I want to spend the rest of my life feeling this way, with you. I love you.”

  His hands slide up to cup the side of my face, and his thumbs brush tenderly over my cheeks. “I’m yours. Always. Never doubt how I feel about you and how much I need you. There’s never been anyone in my life that makes me feel the way you do,” he breathes. “Every single day that I was apart from you I felt like I was losing you and a piece of me. I knew then like I know now that I need you in my life.” His lips reach for mine, beginning a kiss that I don’t ever want to end. Retreating, his eyes lazily wander over my body, pausing at my cleavage as he licks his lips.

  When he speaks, his voice is demandingly soft, “Pull up your hair.” Leaning toward me, he faintly grazes his lips against my cheek. The slight growl in his voice is arousing and makes my body tingle with need. I don’t ask questions and willingly comply, wanting to please him in every way possible no matter how simple or complicated the request is. I twist my hair up into a careless bun, letting several tendrils fall, framing my face.

  “On my lap, doll.” he rasps, patting his thighs. That’s when I notice the bulge in his pants, and my desire instantly blossoms. He smiles salaciously. “I love a woman that obeys,” he declares, biting down on his lower lip.

  “We can go to the hotel and have the whole bed to do this,” I reply, rubbing my hand over his cock.

  “I can’t wait,” he states with challenge dancing in his eyes. “When I see you dressed like this, all business like, it makes me want to fuck you senseless.” His resonating voice is just a whisper. His hands lovingly slide up my thighs, lifting my skirt so that my red panties are peeking from underneath. I willingly straddle him, feeling his hardness rub against me and the insignificant fabric of my panties. “Don’t you always fuck me senseless?” I whimper, tracing the line of his jaw with my finger and then over his lips. He sighs, grabbing the back of my neck and nipping at my ear when I position myself d
irectly over his hard length.

  “I need to fuck you senseless everywhere, especially right now in this fucking cramped truck and in damn Texas,” he whispers into my ear, sending shivers down my spine.

  “I thought you wanted to come here to enjoy the view.”

  “I am enjoying the view, but I want you riding my dick while I’m doing it,” he responds, sliding his hungry hands down to clutch my hips so I can take every beautiful inch of him. It doesn’t matter that the temperature is falling outside, because the heat between us is enough in this tiny space to heat the entire universe. Our bond is powerful, pure and addicting. One thing is very clear; I can never get enough of this man underneath me. The way he grasps me against his body and the feel of him deep inside me, only leaves me wanting more with each passing second. I’ll always want more with him. I’ve been broken, but he mended me. He is the man I need to love and whom I need to love me.

  Thanksgiving at Reed’s mom’s house is a big affair with aunts, uncles and cousins in attendance. The weather is sunny and cool, a perfect autumn day for playing football outside. I decide to help Juju and Momma with the turkey dinner and get stuck with the desserts, making apple and pumpkin pies. History has shown that my strength is not baking as I attempt to roll out the dough, trying to remember what Tyler’s mom taught me. She used to say that patience and a little flour go a long way. She was patient with me for sure.

  Watching Momma maneuver through the kitchen reminds me of my mother and it comforts me. She helps Juju tie her apron around her back so she can prepare the stuffing, a much easier task than mine as I return rolling out the dough for the apple pie. After a couple of minutes, I’m about ready to admit defeat. I wonder if there’s a nearby bakery so we can pick up dessert.

  “Let me get that.” Momma chuckles. Placing her soft hand on my forearm, she takes the rolling pin from my hand. Her thin brown hair is pulled back into a bun and her teal silk blouse brings out the color of her blue eyes. “You know the way to a man’s heart?”

  “I know this looks bad.” I shrug my shoulders, stifling a laugh as I continue, “but baking and I just don’t agree.” I smile, picking up a knife to peel a Granny Smith apple.

  “You’ve already stolen my son’s heart,” she says, tossing some flour onto the dough. It takes her only a minute to roll it out perfectly. “He came back here months ago and couldn’t stop talking about you and how amazing you are, Elle. This girl with brown hair and hazel eyes who loves the Cowboys. He had to go back to you no matter what,” she muses as her blue eyes twinkle. “He never believed that he would find the one. He thought it was stuff from fairytales and fiction and that he would never end up with a happily ever after.”

  I lift my eyes at her and smile, setting down my knife and wiping my hands on my apron. “I thought I had mine, but then it crumbled and I stopped believing in that, too.” I pause, my voice wavering. “Until I fell in love with your son.”

  “Yes, Reed never thought he was good enough or deserved the kind of love that he has with you, but I told him he would feel it before he truly found it. Everyone deserves to have a love like the one you share. I told him not to give up finding it. I’m so happy... happy that he finally found that love with you.”

  My emotions surge to the surface. I can’t even begin to explain how I feel about her son. Before I can say anything else, out of the corner of my eye I notice Tommy’s six-year-old nephew Jaxson watching us. He has this smirk on his face that reminds me a lot of Tommy. I arch my eyebrow at him as he runs to Juju and pulls her down to his little mouth, cupping his palm to her ear and whispering something. Juju laughs and turns to me.

  “Elle, this little guy wants to know if you have a boyfriend. He thinks you’re really pretty.”

  “I’m flattered, Mr. Jaxson. I think you’re very handsome yourself.” I kneel down to eye level with him and wave him over. “I think we may have a little problem,” I whisper into his ear, pointing into the living room at Reed who’s observing us. A smile graces Reed’s lips, and he quirks his eyebrows and lets his blue eyes blaze into mine. His look sends tremors down my spine. My body is attuned to him. My heart beats faster. If he only knew what that look is doing to me right now.

  “That boy over there is my boyfriend.” I notice Reed rising from the couch and placing his empty beer bottle onto the table.

  “What’s going on here?” The simple rasp of his voice makes me think wicked thoughts. He strolls over, filling the entryway with his commanding presence as I stand up and gently ruffle Jaxson’s dirty blonde hair. My eyes feast on his toned, impeccable body clad in dark blue jeans and a black, long-sleeved T-shirt that clings to his torso. “Is someone making a move on my woman?” he asks before flashing a quick naughty smile at me and snaking his arms around my waist. I relish his touch, his scent, and his breath on my cheek as I lean into him.

  “Sorry, Uncle Reed,” Jaxson says as he puffs out his chest. “Your girlfriend is really nice.”

  “That’s okay. I understand how you feel because she makes me feel the same way.” He chuckles warmly, clutching me to his chest.

  “I was thinking that since you guys aren’t doing anything, how about you help us bake some pies,” I offer, winking at Jaxson and then lifting my chin to Reed.

  “Hmm...what do you think about that, little man?” Reed lifts his eyebrow. Jaxson scrunches his nose and shakes his head from side to side. “I agree.” Reed releases a slight chuckle before kissing me on the cheek. “How about we leave these ladies to the cooking and we go throw the football around?”

  Jaxson’s lips curve into a smile, and a dimple appears on his right cheek. “Can I be the quarterback?” he yelps, running toward the back door that leads to the backyard.

  “Of course, little man. Your uncle has been telling me that you’re the next Tony Romo. I’ve got to see this for myself!” He releases me from his embrace and winks at his mother and me. “You don’t mind, doll? Momma?”

  “Boys will be boys!” his mom chirps with a big smile.

  “Hey, doll?” Reed asks as he turns to leave.

  “Yes,” I reply, tilting my head and catching that fiery look in his eye that makes me weak in the knees.

  “Too bad you didn’t bring your Halloween outfit, then we could have really had some fun.” He winks as he walks out the door.

  “Shit, you’re blinding me with your dental work. What’s up?” Tommy snickers, handing me a Heineken and taking a seat next to me on the couch. I break my gaze away from the Packers and Lions game still smiling. By this time next year, I should be on the field running some plays and possibly winning the Turkey Leg Award.

  “Jerry and I have parted ways,” I concede. “It’s done.”

  “Come again,” Tommy sputters, almost choking on his beer. “How the hell did you manage that? The last time I remember you were short...short by a few football fields with the cash.”

  “Luke bailed me out.” I sneak a quick peek at my shocked friend.

  “Shit, man, I need to thank him.”

  “Yeah, it’s nice not to have to run and hide anymore,” I attest, taking a well-deserved sip of beer.

  Glancing away from the TV, I notice Elle and Tommy’s nephew laughing and chatting in the kitchen and images of having a family with her someday come to mind. Babies. Kids. My good mood, along with my smile, disappears in the matter of seconds as reality sets in. Mindy and the paternity test. I’m not out of the woods yet. I resolve one problem just to end up with another. I lock eyes with Elle, returning her smile, hoping that whatever I’m thinking doesn’t show on my face.

  “Dude.” Tommy jabs me in the ribs. “You know you’re fucked, right?” he says, nodding in the direction of the kitchen where Elle and my mom are laughing. “Your mom is never going to let her go back to Boston, let alone allow you to screw up again.” He chuckles, scratching his head in amusement.

  “Fucking up with Elle is never an option.” I glance at my friend. “I’m not gambling anymore with Jerry, but I�
��m putting all my cards on the table for her. I’m marrying that girl, whether she likes it or not,” I state assertively because I’ve never been so sure of something in my entire life.

  Momma outdid herself today. The Thanksgiving table is laid out with just about everything you can imagine—turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, homemade gravy, corn on the cob and more—enough to feed the whole damn block and then some. This has always been one of my favorite holidays to be around family. I especially love it since Elle is here sitting beside me with them.

  “So, what do you plan on doing for the rest of your visit? You only have a couple of more days here,” Momma asks, passing me a basket of fresh warm bread. There’s a genuine sadness in her eyes. There always is when she knows I have to leave again.

  “I’m thinking that I can show Elle the campus at Texas A&M, my old stomping ground.”

  “I’d like that.” Elle smiles while taking a sip of red wine.

  “Yeah, a trip down memory lane. It would be nice to step back on the turf and walk through the halls and the locker room. It’s been a while since I’ve seen Doc and Coach.” I grin, knowing that when I visit now there is nothing hanging over my head.

  “Have you taken her into town to the Lone Star? That’s your favorite place,” Juju inquires, serving Tommy some mashed potatoes.

  I clear my throat and glance at Juju as I crinkle my forehead. I’ve intentionally avoided that place since people from my past will probably be there. “If I have time,” I reply, throwing back my beer. I sense Elle’s eyes on me and feign ignorance, and then grab the dish of mashed potatoes from Juju.

  “What’s the Lone Star?” Elle asks, eyeing me for a moment and sensing my unease.

  “It’s just a bar that Tommy and I used to hang out at during our college days, doll,” I say nervously, pushing my food around my plate.

  “Yeah, it’s just a hole in the wall. It’s nothing like that place in Boston,” Tommy jokes, throwing me a lifeline. “Right, Juju?”