Layer by Layer (Riggins Brothers Book 1)

by Kaylee Ryan

  “This is everything.”

  “Everything,” she repeats.

  The final mile to get to my parents’ place is quiet. I park next to the building where the boat is stored and put the truck in Park. Removing my seat belt, I lean over and do the same for hers. Reaching next to me, I move my seat as far back as it will go. “Come here, Sawyer.”

  “What?” She looks at me with a confused expression on her face.

  “Come here, baby.” I tap my lap.

  “You’re crazy.”

  I nod. “About you. Now come here.” Without further prompting, she climbs over the console and straddles my lap. My arms wrap around her waist. “You and me, we’re official. I don’t care what you call it or how to label us, but we’re together. You’re mine, and I’m yours. Never question if I want to be involved in your life. I don’t care if it’s to tell me you bought a pair of shoes on sale, or if it’s spending time with your best friend and her fiancé, I’m your guy, Sawyer. I want all the good, all the bad, and everything in between.”

  “If the employees of Riggins Enterprises could see you now.” She smiles at me. “That silver tongue of yours hits me here.” She taps her chest over her heart.

  “This tongue?” I ask, leaning in close and licking the column of her neck.

  “Y-Yeah, that’d be the one.”

  I chuckle. “This tongue has so many talents,” I say, and she swats at my shoulder.

  “You’re terrible, Royce Riggins.”

  I shrug. “Grab your phone, babe. We need to send Hadley the address. I’ll text my brothers and tell them we’ll join them out at the dock once they get here.”

  “Are you sure this is a good idea?”

  “Yes. Trust me.” I kiss the corner of her mouth.

  “Okay. Here.” She hands me her phone. I’m not being nosey, but I see their text thread, and it makes me smile.

  Hadley: How’s the hottie boss?

  Sawyer: Still hot. LOL

  Hadley: You’re falling for him.

  Sawyer: Yes, and it scares me.

  Hadley: Just roll with it. You can’t have a reward without risk.

  Sawyer: Says the girl who’s engaged to her soul mate.

  Hadley: How do you know he’s not yours?

  Sawyer: A girl can dream.

  Quickly, I type out my parents’ address telling them to park at the building and to look for a black four-door truck, and I plan for the two of us to sit here and wait for them. It gives me the perfect opportunity to steal a few kisses. “Done, now, where were we?” I ask, sliding my hand behind her neck and pulling her lips back to mine. Her body relaxes as she grinds her hips. There’s a knock at the window. “Shit,” I curse, just before the door flies open.

  “Sawyer, is he holding you hostage?” Conrad asks. His grin tells me that he knows damn well what he interrupted.

  Sawyer’s cheeks turn a light shade of pink. “No. We’re waiting on Hadley and her fiancé.”

  “Awesome. We’re all packed up and ready to go.”

  “I have a cooler in the back, and Sawyer made some cookies and brownies. She insisted we stop and pick up some more food too.”

  “Sis, you don’t need to do that.”

  “I feel like I’m mooching off all of you. I wanted to contribute.”

  “This one—” Conrad points at Sawyer, but he’s looking at me. “—you better nail that shit down, brother, or I might.”

  “She’s mine,” I growl. I didn’t mean to sound so possessive. I know my brother and his words were meant in jest, but the thought of her not being mine sends fire through my veins.

  “You’re good for him.” Conrad winks and saunters away just as Sawyer’s phone alerts her to an incoming text.

  “They’re here. They were not far from here when she called; she just didn’t realize it.”

  “Fucking Conrad,” I mumble under my breath.

  “What are you rambling on about?”

  “He stole my time with you. I had plans for you.”

  She laughs. “Royce, it was a few minutes at best. I’m yours, remember? You get all my time. Besides, I like your brothers, all four of them. I don’t mind spending time with them too.”

  “Hell, I do.” I kiss her one more time just as an SUV pulls in beside us.

  “Come on. It’s time to meet my family.” She’s smiling, but that’s the moment it really registers that Hadley really is all she has left, and they aren’t related. I have four brothers who I know have my back, no questions asked, and both of my parents, my best friend. My list is long, but Sawyer’s, hers isn’t. Hadley is it. I’m suddenly nervous about meeting her, and I’ve never been nervous about meeting someone a single day in my life. I’m also determined to share my life with hers, share my family with her. I want to give her what she lost way too young.

  She climbs off my lap and out of the truck. I adjust my cock that was under the impression that he was getting time with her, and follow after her. Stepping up behind Sawyer, I place my hands on her hips.

  “Had, Derek, this is Royce. Royce…” She tilts her head back to look up at me. “This is my best friend, Hadley, and her fiancé, Derek.”

  “Nice to meet you.” I remove one hand from her waist, and offer it to Derek first, and then Hadley. “Glad you guys could make it.” The bright smile from Hadley and the friendly nod from Derek have my nerves calming instantly. First impression, they’re laidback just like my Sawyer.

  “This place is beautiful,” Hadley comments.

  “I’d never want to leave,” Derek adds.

  “Thanks. This is where I grew up.”

  “You should see the lake,” Sawyer tells them.

  “Come on, hop in the truck. My brothers just took the boat and the Jet Skis down to the dock.”

  “You fish?” I ask Derek.

  “Yeah, not this year. We’ve been busy with wedding planning.”

  “Sounds like you needed today. There is nothing better than a relaxing day on the water,” I tell him with a chuckle. “We have a small shed by the dock with fishing gear. Help yourself,” I say to him as we all climb into my truck.

  The four of us make small talk during the short drive to the lake. I hear a gasp and can’t help but smile as we arrive at the dock.

  “Wow,” Hadley breathes. “This place is beautiful.”

  “My parents really outdid themselves,” I tell her.

  “They have this huge fire pit, and there’s a gazebo, which feels like it’s on an island,” Sawyer gushes. I don’t get the feeling she’s bragging. It’s more of an “I’m falling in love with this place,” and hopefully, the man who introduced her to it.

  “How do you ever leave this place?” Hadley asks. “I’d want to build a cabin right over there”—she points to the right at an open field—“and just stare at this view every day.”

  “Right?” Sawyer agrees. “It’s breathtaking.”

  I’m seeing my childhood playground all over again through her eyes, just as I did the first time Sawyer was here. Growing up, we took it for granted, but I love that my brothers and I still come here. This is home to us, the place where the five of us feel most comfortable, where we feel free and alive. Knowing that it does the same for Sawyer makes me care for her even more than I already do.

  Chapter 21

  Sawyer

  “You got a little something…” Hadley points to the corner of her chin, a mischievous grin tilting her lips.

  “Stop.” I laugh.

  “Seriously, Sawyer, you can’t seem to pull your eyes away from him.”

  “Them.” I turn to look at her. She and I are sitting on the man-made beach in Adirondack chairs, while the guys try their hand at fishing. We’ve just finished eating dinner of grilled hamburgers and hotdogs. “All six of them,” I say, including Derek. “This is every woman’s dream, eye candy for days,” I say, laughing.

  “True, but I know your eyes, like mine, are only interested in one particular flavor.”

  “Fi
ne, he’s hot as hell. Those abs and his ink on full display, do you blame me?”

  “Nope,” she says, popping the p. “You know I love Derek, and he’s the only one for me, but the Riggins brothers, they’re definitely easy on the eyes.”

  “The six of them all shirtless in board shorts should be illegal,” I add. We both burst into laughter.

  “Yo, what did we miss?” Grant calls over.

  “Oh, nothing,” I call back.

  Royce looks over at me. One look is all it takes for my body to heat. I watch him as he reels in his line, and says something to Derek before dropping his pole to the grass and heads my way, Derek on his heels. When Royce reaches me, he holds out his hand, and I don’t hesitate to take it. He places a chaste kiss to my lips, takes my seat, and pulls me down on his lap.

  “You give up on fishing?” Hadley asks Derek as he does pretty much the same thing that Royce just did with me.

  “I’d rather be here with you.”

  “Me too,” Royce whispers in my ear.

  “Royce, thank you so much for having us. Today was exactly what we needed to relax. Wedding planning is stressful.”

  “I told you that you should have eloped.” I point at her.

  “We’ll leave the elopement up to you.”

  I shrug. “I’m not against it. I don’t really want the frills, not anymore.” Royce’s arms tighten around me, telling me that he understands my change of heart. What he doesn’t know is that I used to want the fairy-tale wedding, but I just don’t know how I’ll feel about that with my parents not being here. I blink back hot tears. I miss them so damn much.

  “Where’s the gazebo you told me about?” Hadley asks.

  “Follow that path.” Royce points to the cleared path. “It comes out on the other side of the lake, and the gazebo is there.”

  “Is it safe?” Hadley asks.

  “See.” I turn to look at Royce. “It’s a valid concern.” He chuckles, and I can feel the vibration of his chest against my back.

  “It’s safe,” he assures them.

  “Mind if we take a walk?” Derek asks.

  “Not at all, man, go right ahead. Just stay on the path, and it will lead you right to it.”

  Turning to the side, I lean my head on his shoulder. “Are you mad?” I ask once Hadley and Derek are out of earshot.

  “Mad about what?”

  “I told her about the gazebo. I mean, I didn’t tell her all about the gazebo. Just that you took me there and how romantic it was. It’s enchanting.”

  “No, I’m not mad at you. She’s your best friend, and nothing happened that night that I’m ashamed of.” The gentle touch of his fingers tracing up and down my spine cause chills to break out across my skin. “You cold, babe?”

  “No. It’s just you and the effect you have on me.” I lift my head to look at him. “Thank you for today. I know you didn’t want to come, but having Had and Derek here has been great. I’m glad you all finally got to meet.”

  “Me too. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to come. I just selfishly wanted all of your time.”

  My heart thunders in my chest. He has this way of being direct with his words, but their meaning hits me right in the heart. I’ve met so many layers of this man, and although different, they make him the amazing, kind-hearted person that he is. I don’t know how I was the lucky one to be seated next to him that day, and furthermore, getting a job at Riggins Enterprises, but I’ve smiled more since that day on the plane than I have in too many years.

  “What are you thinking about?”

  “You. Us.”

  “Yeah? My favorite subject.”

  “I find that I look forward to each new day. Before I moved to Nashville, I was missing that. I lost my parents, and my job was miserable. I’m kicking myself in the ass for not leaving sooner.”

  “I’m glad you didn’t. Don’t get me wrong, I hate that you put up with that jackass for as long as you did, but I’m glad you waited. I’m glad that it was you who sat next to me on that plane. I’m glad it was you who took over for Sam, and most of all, I’m glad it’s you sitting here curled up in my lap.”

  “There’s nowhere else I’d rather be.”

  He wraps his arms around me, and I feel his lips press to my forehead. “I’m falling hard, Sawyer. So damn hard.”

  “Can we make a deal?” I pause and feel him nod his agreement. “I’ll catch you if you catch me.”

  “Come here.” His hand slides to my cheek, and I lift my head, allowing him the opportunity to press his lips to mine. “Promise,” he murmurs. Moving my head back to his shoulder, we lie together, unmoving, and watch the sun set over the water. It’s the perfect day, and the company’s even better.

  “I’m heading out,” Owen says, standing. We’re all sitting around the fire just talking.

  “Be careful,” I tell him. I stand from Royce’s lap and give him a hug.

  “We should get going too,” Hadley says, standing from her spot on Derek’s lap. “Thank you so much for having us. It was such a fun day.”

  “We’ll have to do it again.” Royce stands and shakes Derek’s hand, then pulls Hadley into a hug.

  “I’m so glad I got to see you both,” I say, hugging first Had then Derek.

  “We should plan to get together again soon,” she tells me.

  “Just tell us when,” Royce says, sliding his arm around my waist.

  “You guys heading out too?” Marshall asks.

  “You ready, babe?” Royce asks.

  “Yes,” I say, covering a yawn.

  “Yeah, we’re heading out. I’ll come out tomorrow and help bring the boat and Jet Skis into the garage.”

  “Nah, we’re staying.” Conrad holds up his beer bottle. “We’ll take care of it.”

  “Are you sure? We don’t mind helping,” I tell them.

  “Nah, we’ve got it,” Grant assures us.

  “Night,” I say, going to Grant and giving him a hug, making my way toward Conrad, and then Marshall before making my way back to Royce.

  “See ya later.” He waves to his brothers, tossing his arm over my shoulder and leading me to his truck. He walks me to the passenger side and opens the door for me.

  “You do this for all of your dates?” I tease him, climbing up in his truck.

  “I haven’t dated since college.”

  “Oh, I just assumed after your divorce…” I let my words trail off.

  “I hooked up. It was random sex, and even more random in occurrence. It’s been over two years.”

  “And you never brought anyone here?”

  “Just my ex-wife, and she hated it. She never would have enjoyed today.”

  “Well…” I lean out of the truck and place my palm against his cheek. “I can’t think of a better way to spend such a gorgeous day. Thank you for sharing this with me.” I kiss his lips.

  “You’re going to fall out,” he says, stepping close and sliding an arm around my waist as he deepens the kiss.

  “Nah,” I say when he pulls away. “I know you’ve got me.”

  “You’re damn right.” He kisses me one more time before pulling back and shutting the door. The drive to his place is quiet, and I’m fighting exhaustion. He leads me inside and upstairs to his bedroom. “I need to shower, get this lake water off me.”

  Without a word, he leads me to the bathroom. I watch as he reaches in and turns on the water, then gets to work stripping me out of my clothes. I waste no time stepping under the hot spray. I reach for the shampoo, but his hand stops me.

  “Let me.”

  My hand falls to my side, and I tilt my head back, letting him take care of me. My heart swells in my chest, and I can no longer deny what it means. I’m in love with him. This sexy multi-layered man has stolen my heart.

  “Rinse.” His husky voice pulls me out of my thoughts.

  Turning to face him, I tilt my head back, close my eyes, and let the water rain down on me. I feel his hands on my body, which causes me to raise
my head. His soapy hands are traveling over my body. I stand still, letting him do his thing, relishing the moment.

  “Turn for me,” he murmurs.

  Doing as he asks, I turn to face the shower wall, and his hands repeat the process all over again. I’m no longer exhausted. How can I be with his hands all over me? “Your turn,” I say, reaching for the body wash, and stepping around him.

  “Sawyer, sweetheart, I don’t know if I can handle your hands on me right now.” He looks down at his hard length that’s standing between us.

  “No?” I ask as I run my now soapy hands over his chest.

  “Fuck me,” he mumbles, tilting his head back, letting the water fall over his face.

  I take my time running my hands over every inch of him. When I reach his hard length, I stroke him a few times, and a groan from deep in his chest fills the room. “Rinse,” I say, my voice gravelly.

  Doing as I ask, he turns to give me his back, letting the water rinse away where my hands just explored. Like he did with me, I repeat the process over the muscles of his back, enjoying the feel of his skin beneath my fingertips. When I’ve had my fill, and the entire backside of his body is covered in soap, I tap him on the shoulder. “You can turn,” I tell him.

  Slowly he turns, and what I see has me freezing in place. His hand is wrapped around his hard length as he strokes himself from root to tip. “Your hands on me,” he grits out.

  I watch with rapt attention as he leans one hand on the shower wall to brace himself, while he continues to stroke himself. Backing up, I take a seat on the far end of the shower and spread my legs. On instinct, I reach down and run my fingers through my folds. I’ve never watched a man pleasure himself, and I’m so turned on that I need to cure this ache inside me.

  “Fuck, Sawyer,” he pants.

  Glancing up, I see his eyes are locked on my hands between my legs. I notice that he’s started to stroke faster, and that spurs me on to give him a show. Lifting one leg on the bench to give him a better view, I pleasure myself, mimicking him stroke for stroke.