Never Tied Down (The Never Duet #2)

by Anie Michaels

  I didn’t stop to give Kal a tour. I could still hear my dad grumbling from the kitchen, so I headed straight there.

  I saw Pops sitting in his usual place at the head of the table, cards in his hands, and sitting around the table were other members of my family. Pops half-stood when I made it to him, and I dropped Kal’s hand to pat my dad on the back.

  “Pops, this is Kalli, my girlfriend.”

  “Nice to meet you,” Kalli said, her sweet voice a little unsure. I moved back to her, pressing my hand to the small of her back, trying to remind her physically that I was right with her, that she didn’t need to be nervous. I watched as my dad took her outstretched hand, but only used it to pull her into a hug.

  “Kalli, it’s nice to meet you, too,” he said, releasing her and giving her a warm smile. “We were starting to question Riot’s character, wondering how he was treating the ladies seeing as how none of them would come home with him to visit.”

  “Pops,” I said with a groan.

  “You’ve never brought a girl home?” Kalli asked. I shook my head at her. Her eyes softened when she understood my answer, so I wrapped my arm around her shoulders and pressed a kiss to her temple.

  “Kalli, my name’s Chad. If you call me Mr. Bentley I’ll be looking around for my own father, God rest his soul. You call me Chad, and her Mara,” he said, nodding his head toward Ma, who’d just come into the kitchen with Halah. “And that’s the birthday girl herself, Halah.”

  “Oh, my gosh, hi,” Kalli opened her arms to Halah.

  I watched as my baby sister hugged Kalli, and something inside me shifted, was nudged right into place. Something that had been off-kilter for so long I hadn’t even realized it. In that moment, watching Kalli hug my sister, surrounded by my whole family, I knew it was the first time of many, and that brought me peace.

  “Ri-Ri told me you were pretty, but he didn’t do you justice,” my sister said as she pulled back and looked at Kalli. I agreed. There was no way to tell someone how beautiful Kalli was. I could talk about her for hours, describe every single freckle, but I’d never be able to tell anyone how devastatingly beautiful she was. It was something you had to see to understand.

  “Your whole family is beautiful,” Kalli murmured on a breathy whisper. She wasn’t wrong. My mother could have played an Arabian princess in an old fifties black-and-white movie, and my sister was more attractive than I’d like to admit. It was hard to grow up with her as my baby sister, especially in her teen years, because I wanted to punch in the face of every guy who even looked her way—which was a lot.

  “Hey Hala-balloo,” I said, hugging my sister, relieved to finally lay eyes on her. “I’m so glad you decided to come home for once.” She pulled back and slapped my arm.

  “You should talk.”

  “No fighting,” Ma said, coming to stand between us, one arm around each of our waists. “My babies,” she said, her voice soft and quiet. “It’s been too long.” I looked at Halah and she rolled her eyes, but more in a loving than sassy way. We both knew our mom would be emotional if we were in the same room together—it’s the way of mothers. After a long embrace, Ma pulled away and headed into the kitchen, which was only divided from the dining room by an island. “Riot, Kalli, are either of you hungry?”

  “We ate on the road,” I said, sitting down at the table.

  “Oh,” Ma said, her voice deflated.

  “But I’d really appreciate something to drink,” Kalli said, reading my mom like a freaking book. Ma needed to fuss over us. Kalli walked to the island and even though she was just a few feet away, I wanted her back by my side.

  Ma took great pleasure in getting Kalli a glass of water and I watched as Halah joined her at the island, both of them sitting, seeming to start up a conversation.

  “She’s a looker.”

  I turned to see Pops nod toward Kal. I couldn’t help the grin that spread over my face.

  “Yeah, I know.”

  “She important?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Then treat her right, son. Give her the world and treat her right.”

  “On it, Pops. Got it covered.”

  “You happy? With her, I mean. She makes you happy?”

  “Yeah.” My dad had always been present, always been involved, but we’d never had a serious talk about someone I dated. That was largely due to the fact that since I’d moved out, I’d never brought a woman home, but even in high school, all I’d ever really gotten out of my father was the safe sex talk, followed by the “respect women” lecture.

  He nodded at my response. “Don’t let her go then.”

  I laughed a little and rubbed my hand over the stubble on the underside of my chin. “Noted.” I didn’t bother telling my dad that I’d already let her go once before, holding out hope that she’d return. Luckily for me, she had. I didn’t have any intention of doing it again though. Once was more than enough for me. I was in this for the long haul. It was going to be forever this time.

  “Riot,” I heard my mom call from the kitchen. “Are you sure you don’t want a sandwich?”

  “Your mother wants to feed you. Humor her,” my dad said under his breath, making sure it was low enough she couldn’t hear him.

  “Sure, Ma. I’d love a sandwich.”

  Eventually the women moved to the dining table and my mom brought me a sandwich. I ate it, even though I wasn’t hungry, but I didn’t mind because Kalli sat right next to me and took bites when I offered them to her. I had one hand on her thigh under the table, one hand on the sandwich Ma had made for me, and my eyes on my little sister. The evening couldn’t have ended any better. Or so I thought.

  After about an hour of small talk, Kalli and I made our way out to the car, promising we’d be back early enough the next day to help set up for the big party. I could tell my mother and sister were anxious to get Kalli away from me, to talk to her about our relationship and find out more about her, but I pried her away, telling them I was exhausted.

  I wrapped my fingers through Kalli’s as soon as we were back on the road.

  “Your family is really nice.” Her voice was soft again, thoughtful.

  “They seemed to like you a lot.” She turned her head toward me and smiled.

  “I’m not going to lie, Riot. It’s a little strange to be around a family.” Her smile faded and her voice was suddenly heavier. Something inside my chest tightened and I gave her hand a gentle squeeze.

  “Babe, whatever you need, just let me know. If you want to stay in the hotel tomorrow, I can go to the party by myself. If you’re there and you need a minute to yourself, just tell me. I’ll find a quiet place for you.”

  This time it was Kalli who brought my hand up, kissing it sweetly.

  “I don’t think it’ll come to that, but just so you know, if I’m quiet, I’m not trying to be rude.”

  “Just promise you’ll let me help you if you need it.” The last thing I wanted was for her to be uncomfortable. I loved my sister, but I’d leave her party in a second if it was causing Kalli pain being there.

  “I promise.”

  We pulled up to our hotel at nearly midnight. Kalli couldn’t stop yawning and I was trying hard to stifle them as well. I handed the valet her keys and took both our bags out of the trunk, waving off the attendant. Kalli threaded her arm through the crook of my elbow and leaned heavily against me as we walked to the front counter to check in. Just before we got there, she pulled on my arm and stopped me, turning me to face her. She was biting her bottom lip and was obviously worried about something.

  “What’s wrong?” Her eyes met mine, but I couldn’t read what was bothering her.

  “Did you reserve two rooms?”

  “Yeah,” I said softly. “I told you I would. Don’t worry, Kalli, I’m not going to pressure you in any way. I promise.”

  “No,” she said quickly, interrupting me. “I’m not worried about that. I just, well, I think I only want us to get one room.” She said the words as though s
he was worried about how I would react.

  “Okay,” I said, drawing the word out, wanting more of an explanation from her.

  “I don’t want to, I mean, I don’t think I’m ready to have sex with you.” She pulled her arm away from me and I could tell she was getting upset.

  “Kalli, whatever you need, just tell me.” I placed my bag on the floor and ran my free hand up and down her arm, trying to soothe her. She eased my fears a little when her hands came to my stomach then ran up my chest.

  “I just want to sleep in your arms. Is that okay?” Her eyes were full of worry, as though she were afraid to ask that of me. My hand slipped from her arm to wrap around her waist, pulling her closer to me. I pressed my lips to hers gently, for just a moment.

  “I’d love nothing more than to hold you tonight.”

  She gave me a relieved smile and nodded. I bent to pick up my bag, then headed to the front desk to check us in to just one room.

  Chapter Ten

  It Never Left

  Kalli

  I woke up warm. I was warm and cozy and so damn comfortable. I was also in a bed with Riot Bentley. I’d been in bed with Riot Bentley before, but for a while, there was a part of me that didn’t think I’d ever share a bed with him again. And I’d missed being in bed with him.

  We’d fallen asleep facing each other, feet and calves tangled together, holding hands between us. I’d awoken as the little spoon with his big, comfortable, warm, fantastic-smelling body pressed up against my back. His arm was wrapped tightly around my waist, while his other arm acted as my pillow. We were still holding hands. I don’t remember moving around, but I didn’t stop the smile that came over my face knowing all through the night we’d been connected in some way or another.

  I heard a muffled groan come from him and then his arm tightened around my waist, pulling me even closer. I tried to be still when his obvious erection pressed against my ass, not wanting to further complicate the intricate nature of our current snuggling, but he must have done himself in because as soon as he moved, he felt his erection up against my ass. This was a common occurrence in our months together and, quite frankly, was responsible for many many wonderful instances of sleepy morning sex.

  He groaned again and thrust against me.

  Oh. God.

  I bit my bottom lip to keep from matching his sounds. It had been so long since I’d been with him and in that moment I remembered all the fantastic mornings I’d spent wrapped up in him. Before I could stop myself I arched my back, pressing my ass right into the stiffness of his cock.

  The arm I was lying on rolled up, wrapping around my head, pulling my face toward the mattress, and then his lips were on my neck. His other hand disentangled from mine and was flinging the covers off our bodies, his palm spread over my thigh, grabbing and kneading. His mouth roamed over the side of my neck, nipping at my ear, breathing heavily against the already sensitive skin.

  “This is like a dream,” he growled against me. “Waking up, your smell all over me, hair spilling onto my pillow, ass pressing into my dick. It’s like a fucking dream.”

  Oh. God.

  His hand gripped my hip and held me still as he ground himself into me again. I totally let him. I did. I let him hold me still while he used my ass to get himself off. And I loved it. I even pressed myself into him for even more friction. There was nothing I could do to stop him or me, it was natural and we were moving instinctively.

  As our bodies writhed and breaths panted, his hand moved from my hip, up over my stomach, and then slid below the cotton tank top I was wearing. I gasped as his hand smoothed over my breast, cupping it, then gently palmed it. My hand reached back and took hold of his hip, which was still thrusting against me.

  I was drowning in the need to be with him. The lust and electricity between us were stifling and yet, I wanted to live in them forever. This feeling, this frantic and hazy state of being where all I could focus on was his body pressing against mine and how my body was reacting, it was enough to last me for the rest of forever. I didn’t need anything else in the world as long as Riot’s hands were feeding me.

  Suddenly, as if something snapped inside him, I was rolled to my back and he was over me, his delicious weight pressing me down into the mattress. My hands were pinned to the pillows above my head, my body covered by his, immobilized. Then his mouth was on mine. All thoughts of lazy, sleepy sex went out the proverbial window. It was not a sleepy kiss. It was like lightning. Hot. Fast. Electric.

  My legs wrapped around his waist and my hips moved up, shamelessly grinding against him, searching for the ultimate release I’d denied myself for so long. He didn’t need any provocation and got right in line, pressing his hard cock right against my throbbing center, holding absolutely nothing back. We might as well have been fucking. There was no pretense here, no question about what we both wanted. I wanted him. All of him. Inside me. Around me. On top of me.

  Because my hands were still very much pinned above my head, I used my feet to try to pull off his boxers, but he shifted his hips away from me. His mouth pulled away and his eyes were looking directly into mine.

  He was breathing hard but managed to say, “I’m going to go take a cold shower.”

  My face scrunched up in confusion, and also offense. “You’re what?”

  “This isn’t going to happen right now, Kalli. I shouldn’t have started it. I’m sorry.”

  “You’re sorry?” I asked, still confused. “Riot, it’s okay. Please. I want this.” I lifted my head and pressed my mouth over his, urging his to open, tracing his lips with my tongue. He obliged and we started kissing again, albeit more slowly this time and less frantic. His hands moved from my wrists and came to caress my face as his tongue moved lazily and leisurely through my mouth.

  “I want you more than anything,” he whispered after he’d finally pulled away, leaning his forehead lightly against mine. “But not this morning. Not when you asked me just to hold you.” He pressed another small kiss against my lips. “I hope it’s soon, Kal, because I want us back. I want that part of you. But we need the rest back first.”

  Looking into his eyes, hearing his words, I knew he was right. I knew it would be smarter to wait until I was completely sure and we’d spent more than just a few hours together. But it was hard to tell my body no.

  He rolled off me and started walking toward the bathroom.

  “If you want you can order us breakfast. I shouldn’t be too long.”

  “All right,” I replied, trying not to sound like a child denied her favorite candy.

  I ordered us both pancakes and juice, then flopped back onto the bed, thinking about the last thirty minutes.

  I’d forgotten what it felt like to have my body at the command of Riot’s hands. It was as if he’d put me together, designed me. He knew my body better than I did, and was the master of finding every part of me and simply flipping a switch that sent me reeling. And just like most deities, he used his powers to give and also take away. No one, ever, had been able to send me from sleepy to frantic with such intensity as Riot. And no one ever would. Because he’d claimed me and now I was ruined for anyone else.

  A while later we were in the car headed back to his parents’ house. The night before had been pretty nerve-racking, but Riot’s parents were fantastic people. I loved that he called his mom and dad Ma and Pops. It seemed contradictory to him in nature, but somehow also fit him perfectly. It made me feel like he was close with his parents, and that, for some reason it didn’t take Freud to deduce, made me feel closer to him.

  I’d been astonished by his mother’s beauty, and then completely destroyed by his sister’s. They were both stunningly gorgeous. Distractingly so. But then, after meeting them and realizing they were the most beautiful women I’d ever seen, I fell even more in love with them when they turned out to also be the nicest and sweetest. His dad was like a big teddy bear, his mom was the quintessential mother, and his sister was like, well, the sister I never had. For the
most part, it had always felt right to be with Riot, but spending time with his family only made me feel like I belonged with him even more, feel as though if we were together, he’d be giving me so much more than just himself.

  It had been dark the night before when we’d finally arrived at his house, and I’d been so nervous I didn’t have a chance to really take in my surroundings. But now, in the light of the late morning, I was astounded by what I saw.

  The house was large and white, with maroon trim and lattice up one large panel. There were planter boxes beneath the windows that matched the trim, and each of the windows on the second floor had gables above them. The detail was incredible. He parked the car right next to the detached garage, like he had last night, but there were many more cars in the circular driveway than the night before. When I opened my door I heard something I hadn’t noticed last night: water.

  “Do I hear waves?” I asked, turning toward him.

  “Yeah, babe. I’ll show you in a minute.” His smile was huge and he took my hand in his, leading the way to the house. When we got close to the front door, it opened wide and we were greeted by a shorter, robust man.

  “Riot! The big-time television star has decided to grace us with his presence!” The words were said with a laugh and a smile, and I knew whoever the man was, he thought highly of Riot.

  “Uncle Sal, good to see you.” Riot walked up to his uncle and they hugged, slapping each other’s backs. When Riot stepped away, Uncle Sal’s eyes fell on me.

  “You’re new,” he said, still smiling. “We don’t get many blondes around here.”

  “For that I’m glad. I can’t compete with the beautiful brunettes.” I laughed, but Sal tilted his head at me.

  “I think you can hold your own, sweetheart.”

  Riot let out a nervous laugh at the man’s forward comment, but then his hand came back to me and wrapped around my waist. “Uncle Sal, this is my girlfriend, Kalli Rivers.”

  “It’s nice to meet you, Kalli,” he said politely, reaching his hand out to me.

  “Likewise,” I stated.