We Belong

by Evie Bennet

  Reed seemed amused by my excitement, pocketing the keys until we were ready to head back. I stretched out and took a few seconds to collect myself.

  It had been a while since I’d talked with anyone from back then and I was so hopeful that I could show Frank that I’d finally found that balance he’d always wanted for me.

  I gave Reed a nervous smile, wiggling my fingers. We would do this together.

  “Do you think I should ask him for your hand?” he teased, bypassing my palm to slide into the familiar spot on the small of my back.

  “You already have me.”

  He leaned down for a huge, reaffirming kiss on the side of my head that sent a shockwave all the way down to my toes. “Damn right I do.”

  We approached the check-in desk and I had to resist the urge to bend down to the little cutout in the glass to speak. “Hi. Betty Miller, here for Frank Knope.”

  Without missing a beat, the front desk attendant picked up the phone. “You have a visitor.” My fingers itched to crawl through the glass and curl around the landline cord. Reed wrapped me in his arms a little tighter to lessen my anxiety. “He’ll be right down.”

  The casual brushoff was more reminiscent of big city attitudes. I could tell from his annoyed exhale that Reed usually didn’t enjoy dealing with people, especially those out of West Ridge. People knew and respected him there. Still, I thought it was the right move to keep Frank slightly out of West Ridge and knowing as little as he needed to about the place I chose to live. That way he couldn’t tell anybody. They wouldn’t be able to find me, even if they tried.

  They had their own money and their own lives. I could live mine now with the love of my life. Hopefully, my disappearance gave everyone what they needed.

  Taking a deep breath, I straightened and smiled when I saw the familiar work boots and tidy brown beard of Frank Knope. I was so happy that Reed suggested I invite a friendly face. His wise, caring eyes and dimpled smile were all for me.

  “Betty! Long time no see.”

  Reed’s hand left its imprint as I moved forward, quick to embrace Frank and feel one of those amazing, fatherly hugs. He still smelled like sawdust. The familiarity rumbled something inside of me, happy tears lining my lashes and fading as soon as I opened my eyes.

  “I almost didn’t recognize you.” He chuckled, looking a bit bashful.

  “I haven’t changed that much.”

  “No, you have. You look happier. Even more radiant,” he offered, “as a bride should be.”

  “Aw, thank you, Frank! This is my lover, Reed.”

  It just slipped out. I froze as his eyebrows rose, creating ridges on his long forehead.

  “Lover?” Frank questioned.

  “Fiancé.” Reed chuckled, sending me a smirk. “Nice to meet you.” It was sort of shocking to see him move forward so politely to shake Frank’s hand. For the most part, everyone in West Ridge already knew Reed and the few times he had been more formally introduced, he’d avoided physical contact. I was so proud of him for being open with Frank.

  We went to a nearby café to catch up since I didn’t anticipate we’d have much time to on the wedding day. It wasn’t as cozy as the one back home, but it was still nice to have something warm to hold like Reed’s hand and a mug of tea. The whir of a coffee machine kept the rumble under my veins an absent sort of constant.

  Anxiety quickly gave way to excitement.

  We shared a condensed, clean version of how Reed and I met – first at my business, then at a bar – and Frank shared about his own business and personal life. He glossed over factoids about Zack, which I appreciated, and congratulated us again. It was nice. After a long day of traveling, Frank excused himself to rest up before the big event. “You found yourself a good one,” he told us, and Reed looked at me like he meant me.

  “Thank you for doing this for me,” I whispered, hand in his as we made our way back to the car.

  He’d do anything for me.

  A pressure built in my chest, spreading to my breasts until I was aching so badly that I impulsively asked him to pull over to a secluded spot. Reed did a quick sweep of me as we pulled aside into a forest preserve, my smile buried under the urge to get relief.

  “This good?” he asked, cutting the ignition.

  “Mmm hmm. Now move your seat back.”

  The release of the metal shaft unlatched some of the pent-up energy inside of me. I clambered into his lap, readily shifting my dress out of the way.

  “Touch me.”

  Planting his hands on my waist, he rolled his hips upward until my breathing came out in measured pants. It soothed me and sent me soaring, smoothed out all the edges until I could see and think again.

  When I started to shimmy back to try and sneak under the wheel to service him, he held me close.

  “No. My lap. If we’re going to do this, I want you in my lap and I want to be inside of you.”

  My lips hung open until my body seemed to catch up with my brain and our mouths collided. Hungry, desperate, we peeled away just enough clothes to make it work, bonking elbows on the windows and steering wheel until we could wrap his dick up and slip together.

  I was so full of love, gratitude, relief and passion.

  I hung onto his hair and let the thump of our flesh coming together regulate my heartbeat. A quiet, patient reverence set the pace as our hips ground out a rolling rhythm.

  “I want to come,” I told him, licking my lips as his hand moved from my ass to my clit.

  “I want you to come for me, Betty,” he murmured, his breath warm on my neck.

  It didn’t take long. A few circular swipes of his thumb and I was pulsing, propelled forward so his mouth could clamp down on my collarbone while I pulled him with me into white-hot pleasure.

  As his sharp movements stilled, the fog in my brain receded, my body warm and loose.

  “I love you.”

  “I love you.”

  His arms snaked around my waist as he kissed the still-tingling spot on my neck. I caressed his hair, his back.

  This was our life now. We had forever.

  Whatever pink concoctions Emily made in her basement sent me over the edge from nervous but excited to full-on giddy.

  Giggling, I enjoyed Shelly wincing at her mother belting along to a Joan Jett song on the karaoke machine.

  “Come on baby, you know the words,” Tamara insisted, gesturing for Shelly to join her.

  “No thanks. I’m good.”

  Despite the clear teenage cringe of having a mom tipsy and serenading a crew, Shelly seemed to be having fun and that made me feel so warm and happy.

  I’d be good to her and nice. A protector, along with Reed, if she ever needed me.

  “It’s so good to have you here,” I said, moving the knot in my bridal sash so I could side-hug Shelly without obstructions.

  Quirking an eyebrow, Shelly laughed. “Uh, yeah. Turns out girls’ nights aren’t as horrible as I expected.”

  “Don’t you hang with any girls from school? I mean, isn’t high school when people start to have sleepovers and things?”

  “Not really.” Michelle shrugged, glancing over to where some girl power romcom was playing on the television. “I work a lot at the garage, instead of painting toenails, we spray paint—” Her gaze darted nervously to me. “Cars.”

  There were worse ways to experiment than graffiti.

  I fluffed out my dress so I didn’t flash everyone when I pulled my legs up on the couch. Maybe I should talk to Reed about pseudo-adopting Shelly, or at the very least making sure she had somewhere safe to stay. From what he’d said, West Ridge wasn’t necessarily the safest place, and we’re not exactly going to move our lives. Maybe we could make the town better.

  Then again, I’d already been chided for trying to fix everything instead of letting things happen naturally. Still, I wanted to take some responsibility.

  “I want you to know that any time you need to talk to someone about anything, including the harder st
uff, I’ll be there.” Shelly looked dubious and I couldn’t blame her. “I know it’s sort of a guidance counselor thing to say, but I mean it. Everyone should have someone they can go to with discretion. I’d probably tell Reed if I thought I needed to, because that’s what partners do, but I think knowing you can just talk to someone without them necessarily doing anything beyond being supportive is helpful. I don’t know what a sister-in-law does, but I promise I can be a good confidante, or at the very least a good friend.”

  “Right. A good hostess, for sure.” Shelly smiled, half her mouth curving up in something sincere enough to be real. It reminded me of Reed’s acquiescing smile.

  There was more singing and dancing with Emily and some girls from town. Eventually, a somewhat drunk Tamara asked, “Where are the half-naked guys? It’s not a real bachelorette party without some sweaty men.”

  “We could go to the Grind,” Emily offered.

  Not with a teenager. Shelly and I seemed to share the same thought, nervously glancing at one another.

  Edging towards the door, Shelly flicked her phone screen. “It’s, uh, it’s fine. It’s getting late and I ought to head back to catch up on my homework or whatever.”

  Before I could protest, Tamara was already ushering her to the car to drop her off so ‘Mommy can go have some grown-up fun’.

  Energy waning, I tugged on Emily’s wrist. “I’m actually getting a little beat. This has been amazing, but why don’t you all go on to the club without me?”

  “You’re the bride! You have to go!”

  “The only half-naked guy I want to see is Reed.”

  “Please. You think there isn’t a dancer at Sidewinders right now?”

  A pang of something not-quite-sad shot through my chest, even as Emily gave my shoulder a reassuring squeeze.

  “Not that your man is looking at the show, but he’ll probably be busy for a few more hours shooting pool and drinking beers with the boys. Come to the Grind. George and I go all the time and the guys are usually more into each other than they are any girls so it’s totally cool to look and not touch. Reed won’t have any reason to be upset. Shirtless guys dancing with each other isn’t as raunchy as some guy wearing a bow tie and a banana hammock swinging his junk in your face.”

  “Thanks for the visual.”

  In some ways, Emily had a point. I would probably just be cozied up in sweatpants until Reed texted me or I got antsy enough that I crept to our spot at Sidewinders and tried to see how it was going. Tonight was supposed to be celebrating my friendships outside of my relationship. A little dancing would be a nice distraction from the excitement of what was to come tomorrow.

  I piled into Emily’s car with a few other girls I vaguely knew through town, their necks and chests lit up with glow-in-the-dark necklaces while we sang along to the radio.

  It was more Top 40 than Pat Benatar, but it was fun to be in a group setting for once.

  As we went into the club amidst congratulations from the bouncers, Emily laughed, looking at her phone. “I hope you don’t mind, but it looks like George is peacing out of Reed’s bachelor party early to come meet us here.”

  “I don’t mind.”

  In fact, I kinda wished I could invite Reed to come dance with me. Sometimes in the privacy of the garage he’d grip my hips tightly with a certain sparkle in his eyes as I sang along to our songs. That mouth of his always distracted me. Slightly curled. Teasing. Affectionate. The attempt to dance often morphed into holding each other and kissing, but that felt just as rhythmically satisfying.

  It was too loud to really hear what any of the girls were saying, so we stuck to dancing and drinking. Friendly guys kept pulling on my sash and asking me to dance or offering to buy me something until it was easier to just hide amidst the crowd with a glass in my hand and my mind fixed on something else—someone else.

  “George!” Emily squealed above the music, waving and jumping amidst tall, muscular men just so he could see her. I laughed, turning to say hello, only to be struck dumb by the sight of someone else, a tall, dark-haired, handsome man wearing a bandana.

  “Reed,” I whispered in wonder.

  He located me almost immediately, his mouth tugging up in a mild smirk. Beaming, I moved towards him. As soon as he was close enough, he swooped me into a hug. Our bodies were warm and sweaty. I held him tight and half-whispered, “I missed you,” in his ear so he’d actually be able to hear it.

  “I missed you too, baby.” Kisses peppered the side of my face, my legs dangling playfully in the air before Reed dropped me down. “I want you, now and forever.”

  “I want you, too.” I grinned, stroking his face.

  “Come on.” He tugged my hand, but stopped, frowning, when I hesitated.

  “Just, my drink. I have to—” Scrambling, I handed it off to Emily, who was still eagerly catching up with George.

  She handed my drink to him and toasted us with a wink. “Have fun!”

  We always did.

  Satisfied, I squeezed Reed’s hand tighter and followed him out a side door I didn’t recognize. The change in atmosphere was almost a shock to the system. “Where—?”

  Before I could get my bearings, Reed pulled me aside and pushed me against a wall, knocking the breath right out of me. His fingers skimmed gently up the side of my ass, lips faintly at my jaw.

  “Did anyone touch you tonight?”

  “N-No,” I muttered, clenching my thighs together to relieve some pressure from the need already burning its way through my insides.

  He knew. He trusted me. He needed to feel me and stoke this electric energy.

  “Do you want to be touched?”

  A shiver wracked violently through my shoulders. “Yes, Reedsy. Only by you. Only ever by you.”

  “That’s right, Betts.” As his hands dipped down and across my thighs, I jerked back. Swallowing, his eyes widened. “What?”

  “Um, did you, did the guys make you…?” I looked away, knowing very well there was a stage at Sidewinders. “Are you missing the show?”

  Expression softening, he cupped my face. The embarrassment of the question flooded my cheeks with warmth. “No, baby. No one will take my eyes and mind off of you. Not for a second.” As I leaned forward, desperate to kiss, he pulled back. “I don’t mean that in a creepy way or anything.”

  “Touch me,” I pleaded, gripping his forearms and silencing both of our broken minds with a kiss. Hips tilting forward, I felt him resume his path up my inner thigh.

  There was no one else around on this side of the building. Maybe it was popular for quick little trysts where lovers could let their bodies tangle beyond the dance floor.

  Reed went knuckle-deep in me so vigorously against the metal siding that I had to hold onto him for balance. After crying out when he hit just the right spot, he shushed me with a deep kiss, eyes dark and full of promise.

  Someone could hear us.

  It would be hard to pick us out over the music. Still, the idea of trying to be careful, of Reed driving me past whatever sound barriers were socially acceptable was such a turn on. “Reed…”

  Whimpering, my legs slid down as he removed his hand and put a black bandana over my head like a crown, working it down over my mouth. “This was one of my presents tonight, black for the groom, but the only present I want is a life with you.” It felt strangely like a baptism. He pressed his lips firmly against mine through the dark fabric, letting me feel how much he loved and wanted me. Pulling back, he tightened the knot to make it more of a gag as I rubbed his arms in the ‘go ahead’ gesture. “I’m gonna get you a white version one day, or whatever color you want. Right now, I’m gonna give this to you. I’m going to let you break in the black. You understand?”

  He was giving himself to me.

  I nodded gratefully, eyelashes heavy because I wanted to lean in for another kiss.

  He seemed to fight with taking his time, stroking my face and curled hair, versus ripping my clothes off and just taking me. With a deep
breath, he slipped his hand back under my dress. The moisture from my panting stayed slick on the bandana, practically fusing it to my lips.

  I moaned as he circled my clit, my underwear stretched around his fist.

  My body felt full of warmth and pleasure.

  Bracketing my side with his thigh, Reed let me feel the press of his arousal against my leg. “Touch me, too, if you need it.”

  Knees quivering as I let go of his arm, I trailed my palm across the hard flesh under his jeans.

  He wanted, loved and needed me.

  “Fuck, Reedsy,” I whispered against the gag, my eyes closing tight. The jerky rhythm of his fingers wound me closer to the edge. Blood pulsed in my ears. Barely coherent beyond need, I unbuttoned and unzipped him enough to slip past his boxers and pump his dick.

  “Yes,” he chanted in my ear. “You’re so fucking good for me, baby. You come and it feels so good.”

  I cried out, my whole body tightening and releasing in white-hot waves of pleasure.

  Reed and I would do this together.

  I kept pumping as he circled and dipped just the way I liked and filled up the gaping maw inside of me that wanted more.

  We kept going, Reed kissing my ear and neck, waiting for me to signal that I’d had enough. Although I was sensitive, I longed for it, for all of him.

  He tugged the bandana down with one hand, touching my no-doubt smeared lipstick in reverence. “Oh, fuck, I don’t think any camera could capture this,” he groaned, jerking into my hand.

  Even the idea of being able to replay this moment had me salivating.

  “Reedsy, come inside me. I need you to come inside me,” I begged. Part of me wished there were security cameras on us so I could steal the tapes and watch him fuck me out in the open like this. We had masturbated and played to the video of our first time. I studied it, loved it thoroughly and would love it always, just like I’d love him.

  Whining, I kissed him and pushed his hand away and shimmied out of my underwear, pulling his jeans further down while I was at it.

  “You sure, baby?” he asked, voice thick and almost buzzing with want.

  Humming, I closed my mouth over his cock, coating him with lube and love to make everything easier.