by Tory Baker
Fifteen
Berkley
“It can’t be this hard, can it?” I tell the girls, all of them this time, while we’re on a FaceTime call.
“Ugh, it’s really not. Only you could burn toast though,” Peyton jokes. I thought it would be a great idea to make dinner tonight while Ryder went to the restaurant to check on things. He said he’d bring something home for us, or he’d cook whatever I wanted when he came back. Hell, he barely left, not wanting to leave me alone for even two hours. Ryder has been glued to my side, literally. I’m barely able to pee. He was breathing down my neck that much. I know he means well. Shit, I know how scared I was, so I couldn’t imagine what he was feeling.
“Why did I agree to cooking dinner, then? Even I know I can’t cook. It’s why Grubhub knows me so well.” I blow a hair out of my face, stirring the noodles boiling in the pot.
“What are you making anyways?” Aspen asks. If anyone in this group got the domestic genes, it’s her and Rowen.
“I’m attempting to make spaghetti with meat sauce. That is if I don’t burn the garlic bread that goes with it.” Rowen snorts.
“Maybe you should have started out smaller, like say, Hamburger Helper.” That’s what Peyton says. I give her the finger through the screen.
“Whatever. I’m going to rock this shit. Have some faith, will ya.” We all shoot the shit, Rowen and Peyton talking about the leaves changing this fall and what everyone is doing for Thanksgiving. When I called my parents to let them know what happened at school yesterday, Mom invited Ryder and me up to Virginia for Thanksgiving weekend. I warned her that I’m not sure what the plans were, but if Ryder was busy, I’d still come. Family is important, and since it would suck to leave Aspen here, she already said she, Jasper, and Jasper’s mom would be making the trip too. Now, I just need to bring it up to Ryder. Mom even extended the invitation to Melody, Sienna, and Tanner too. My family is freaking amazeballs, even if my father, uncle, and cousin Bridger are a pain in my ass in the best of times.
“You will, though something tells me even if your dinner does suck, Ryder would eat it.” Peyton wiggles her eyebrows.
“That reminds me, how’s Chance?” I bring this up anytime I can. Peyton won’t admit it, but she has the hots for her boss. The way she mouths off back to him is telling. It’s definitely a defense mechanism to fight him every step of the way. If she’d just tell him how she feels, it might make her life a hell of a lot easier.
“Out of town. I’m not sure if it’s something to be thankful for or not.” I look at the screen. My once vibrant cousin looks worn out and tired.
“Good gravy, you need a vacation, and stat. Peyton Marie Jennings, has your momma seen you lately?” I call her out.
“I’m going on one the week after Christmas. Promise. It’s why I’m putting in so many hours right now. I don’t want to leave Chance with a mess or come back to a nightmare. Trust me, I’ve done that once, and that man blew my phone up the entire time. Remember our last girls’ trip?” she reminds me.
“Okay, but take care of yourself. I’m getting off. If I keep talking, I’ll really burn dinner. Love you!” I say. They respond, and then I click off my phone, find some classic rock, and get to stirring the sauce, watching the noodles. Literally, my eyes do not leave the stove. Which is why when the smell of smoke starts permeating the kitchen, I’m at a loss.
“Shit, shit, shit.” I turn the oven off and open it. Smoke is billowing out, causing the smoke detector to go off. Obviously, this is the time Ryder walks in, seeing me throwing the burnt garlic bread in the sink to run cold water over it.
He’s laughing his ass off, legit holding his stomach and laughing. I return to the stove and turn it all off, not even caring if the noodles are done. “I give up. Peyton was right. Toast is not my friend. Clearly, anything of the toasting variety won’t work for me. This is what you’re going to get in your future, Ryder.” I’m on the verge of laughing hysterically.
“And I’ll love you no matter what, Berkley. Maybe leave the cooking to me?” He wraps me up in his arms.
“You love me? Really?”
“How could I not love you, Berkley? It’s in the little things you do, the way you look at me, the way you take care of not only me but my family. Fuck yeah, I love you.” His hands are at the nape of my neck, tipping my head back to look into his eyes.
“I love you, Ryder. I’ll never be more thankful for meeting you that first night, even if it took us a month to re-connect.”
“Fuck yes.” He takes my mouth. The kiss is deep, soul fulfilling, and has me curling my toes in response.
“About dinner,” I mumble against his lips.
“Yeah, let me see if it’s salvageable. Then I’ll take out the trash. Maybe pour yourself a glass of wine and keep me company?”
“You have yourself a deal.” I clean up the burnt garlic bread by throwing it in the trash can. Thankfully, I put aluminum foil underneath it, or I’d be throwing away a baking sheet too. When that’s done, I pour us both a glass of red wine, sit back, and watch my man work his way around the kitchen. The way his body moves, muscles flexing, that tongue that comes out when he’s deep in thought or looking at me. Yep, he was made for me, and I was made for him. And I know just how to show him my appreciation tonight.
Sixteen
Ryder
“Morning, sugar,” I grumble, my head lifting up to see my girl with her deep hazel eyes staring back at me. She’s wedged between my legs, her mouth wrapped around my cock. That wicked tongue of hers tracing the underside of my cock before she sinks down on it again.
“Good morning, handsome.” She takes her mouth off of me, her eyes twinkling with something.
“What are you up to?” One hand is gripping my thigh, the other rolling my balls in the palm of her hand. This woman knows what that does to me. If there’s one thing about Berkley, it’s that she’s highly sexual. Sometimes I’m surprised I can keep up with her. No matter when, where, or what, she’s willing to try it at least once.
“Me? Nothing, except this.” She takes me to the back of her throat. She can close her throat around my cock, almost convulsing against it without gagging. Berkley knows just what to do. Add in her hand cupping my balls, and it’s enough to push me over the edge. My hands fist her hair, my hips arch up, and I groan, “Back off, or I’m coming in your mouth, sugar.”
Instead of doing what I warned, she redoubles her effort, that tongue lapping at the underside of my cock as she bobs her head up and down.
“Fuck.” I let loose a growl, my body tightening before releasing inside of Berkley’s mouth, her hand never stopping. Even when I’m done coming down her throat, she licks me clean.
“That mouth, Berkley, damn it, woman, it’s a force to be reckoned with.”
“The same could be said for you. Have you not seen your tongue in action? Seriously, I can get off in two minutes flat when you’re eating me.” She’s so unabashed.
“You want my mouth on you now, don’t you?” Berkley slides up, pressing her body against mine. I wrap one arm around her, my other hand cupping her bare pussy.
“Ryder,” she moans.
“Yeah, you do. I love that you get this wet from sucking me off.”
“And as much as I want your mouth on me, rain check?” I’m not sure why she’s asking for a rain check. It’s not like I won’t eat her whenever I damn well please, but what the hell else does she have up her sleeve?
“Always, but what the hell, woman? Are you saying you don’t want my mouth, fingers, or cock inside your cunt?” Her pussy locks down on my fingers, my thumb sweeping over her clit.
“God, I’d say yes every single time. But Sienna called and asked if she could hang out today. Something about Melody and Tanner being boring and that we’re the fun adults. I think she’s trying to sucker us into taking her to the County Festival,” she moans out. I don’t stop what I’m doing. Instead, I quicken my pace. If Sienna called, that means we have maybe thirty minute
s, and I know we both need a shower.
“Get there.” My lips wrap around her nipple, biting it, knowing she likes the pain with her pleasure. I thrust a third finger inside her and switch to her other nipple. It sets her off.
“Ryder!” she shouts as she bears down on my fingers.
“God damn, we’re gonna get kicked out of here. My condo isn’t much better either,” I grumble
“We’ll be okay. I had to live with Aspen and Jasper. They never got kicked out.”
“True. Alright, woman. Let’s take a shower. Sienna will be barreling in, ready to go. I’m one hundred percent sure this has Melody written all over it though. She and Tanner probably want an adult day. Yuck. I can’t even think about that.” I make a gagging noise to get my point across and to hear Berkley laugh. It’s one of my favorite sounds.
“Seriously, you sound like Bridger. Speaking of, my parents invited us to Thanksgiving dinner. The invitation is extended to Melody, Sienna, and Tanner too. You’re on your own in the shower, or we’ll be in there when they get here. I’ll go attempt not to light this place on fire. Think shakes are a safe bet?” This is Berkley’s thing. She has so much to say, she’ll rattle it all off in one breath.
“One, it’s gross. A brother will always think that. Two, the restaurant is closed, so that front is good. Pretty sure Melody and Si will hang back with Tanner. Which might suck, but I think they need it. Three, you’re getting in the shower with me. Four, I’m making breakfast after I eat you,” I close the conversation down. Her eyes are smoldering, and her lips tip up in that soft smile she always gives me. Berkley drops the shirt she was about to slip on. My eyes appreciate the view. We may have said no kids, but I can see her stomach swollen with our child. We are both full of piss and vinegar, and we’ll have our own children down the road.
“Be fast!” She turns around, running for the bathroom, her hair flying around her. I watch her the entire away, even after she disappears around the corner.
“Fuck, but I’m a lucky man.”
“Are you coming?” She peeks around the corner.
“Not yet, but we both will be soon,” I state, getting out of bed. Her eyes take in my body, looking down at my rock hard cock.
“Well, not yet. I’m too busy waiting on you.” Now it’s me running after her into the shower, where we spend well over thirty minutes, yet we still manage to be out and ready by the time Sienna graces us with her presence. It’s going to be a fun-filled day for us while Melody and Tanner do whatever they want. I’m not going there. All I’m thinking about is the two girls I’ll have with me for the day.
Seventeen
Berkley
This might be one of the best Black Fridays ever, seriously. Not one of us shopped. We bounced between my parents’ house and Uncle Rob and Aunt Talia’s house. The guys helped the menfolk with the outdoor Christmas decorations, and the girls helped on the inside. Ryder and Jasper fit right in with everyone, though this wasn’t Jasper’s first time being around our family. It’s making me dread leaving Sunday, but that probably has something to do with my family being here and the food Mom keeps cooking and leaving out. I swear I’m going to actually have to start exercising after this trip. The downside of our little vacation is that Sienna isn’t around. I can see it in Ryder’s eyes when he watches all the kids playing tag football with each other, and as much as he says he would be fine without kids, that deep gut feeling I have says not only does he want children, but I want to be the one to give them to him.
“What has you so deep in thought?” Peyton knocks my shoulder with hers.
“Oh nothing. I mean, well, there’s more. I miss Virginia because you guys are here. Texas though, that’s where my heart is.” We’re standing out on my parents’ front porch. The guys are wrapping my parents’ white picket fence with lights and garland.
“Then Texas is where you need to be. As if we all won’t come invade your place when it’s so cold up here and we want a break from the snow,” she huffs. Peyton isn’t wrong. We had to pack more winter clothes for this trip than I remembered, and it’s dog cold about now.
“You’re right, and don’t give me that look. You’ve always been right when it comes to these things. Now, tell me, where are you going on vacation?”
“Hush, I’m not always. And wouldn’t you be surprised to know that it all of a sudden got changed to a working vacation? Chance has a meeting down in South Carolina, something about a new build on the beach, and he needs me with him. The only plus side now is that it’s completely paid for. Not only that, apparently, I’m only needed two of the seven days, plus maybe an evening here or there.” Peyton shrugs her shoulders like it’s no big deal. The truth of the matter is, she’s halfway in love with Chance, and he’s either in denial or oblivious.
“It’s still a vacation. Take it as a win, but I expect updates.” I point at her. She laughs and gives me a side hug before leaving.
I grab the blanket that’s on a chair, sit down on the porch swing, and snuggle while I wait for Ryder to take a break. This is how it usually is, only this time, our family has grown. We all jump from one house to the next, not that it’s a huge gap. Growing up with your cousins next door is out of this world amazing, and then also annoying at times.
Bridger would come into our playhouse and toss a frog in it. We’d retaliate by putting baby powder in his sock drawer, causing him to cuss up a storm in the morning. It was double payback that way. Aunt Talia would march herself up the stairs, not caring that her son towered over her, grab his ear, and take him to their father. That was the pisser. Uncle Rob would just shake his head and tell him to quit talking like trash with the way he was cussing.
I’m reminiscing about our childhood when Ryder walks up the steps. My eyes light up. He’s wearing a beanie on his head, a black vest, a flannel shirt beneath with a green, yellow, and blue checkerboard pattern, worn-in jeans, and boots. I love him out of clothes, in his work uniform, even the cotton shorts he wears to lounge in, but there is something about seeing him dressed like this. It makes me want to find the nearest surface available and do a whole lot more than cuddle.
“Oh no you don’t, not here. It’s been two days since I’ve been inside you, and as much as it’s killing me, it won’t be happening today either.” He stomps towards me. Ryder’s right. My parents didn’t mind us sharing a room. They both know we’re adults, but we also knew that there was no way I could be quiet. Plus, their room is just down the hall, and as Ryder says, yuck.
“I know. I love my family, but I think next time we come back to visit, we stay at the bed and breakfast instead. Sleeping next to you and not having you inside me, it really sucks.” Ryder sinks down beside me, his arm going around my shoulders, and kisses the side of my head.
“We might have to no matter what, but at least have adjoining rooms. Something tells me Melody and Tanner may join us, or we’ll be bringing Sienna up here for spring break.”
“What aren’t you telling me, Ryder?” I ask.
“Tanner pulled me aside before we left. He’s asking Melody and Sienna to move in with him.”
“That’s great news! Why keep two places when they can have one? And not for nothing, you can tell he worships the ground Mel and Si walk on.” I think about how Ryder and I are basically doing the same thing, but my rent is dirt cheap and he hasn’t said anything.
“Which brings me to the next topic at hand. We need to figure out what we’re doing with our own living arrangements. We’re at your place more than mine. You want to look at getting rid of them both and starting fresh? Maybe build a home or find a fixer-upper like Jasper and Aspen did? Or we could keep one of our places.” Clearly, Ryder has put a lot of thought into this.
“You think we can do something like buy? I’m still young, and while I don’t have any student loans and my credit is great, I haven’t been at my teaching job very long,” I tell him honestly, because before I met Ryder, I knew I’d want a home of my own. Not to rent an apartment or a con
do, I looked at owning a home as an investment.
“I’m not a mortgage broker, but I think between the two of us, we’ll be alright. We can start looking into it when we get home. You didn’t answer though, fixer-upper or new build?”
“Oh, my goodness, never a fixer-upper. I mean, I know Jasper and Aspen didn’t have a lot to do with physically fixing their home, but I think I’d prefer a new build. That way, it’s built to our modifications and we can keep up with it easily. What do you think?”
“Thank God, because I’m no handy man. My hands only work in the kitchen and on you.” He winks.
“I can’t wait to see what our future holds,” I murmur into his chest. We may not be married yet, yeah, we’re still on that newness level, but when you know, you really freaking know.
“Ditto, sugar. Ditto.” We spend the rest of the afternoon with my family, knowing tomorrow we’ll be heading back to Texas for a late Thanksgiving with Melody, Tanner, and Sienna. For right now, though, there’s no other place I’d rather be.
Epilogue
Ryder
Six and a Half Weeks Later
Today is the day. It’s New Year’s Eve, and what better way to spend it than making Berkley my fiancée. We got lucky when we started looking at new-build homes. The one we’re in now, and somehow managed to close on right before Christmas was something neither of us were expecting. It probably had a lot to do with the changes we wanted, which weren’t much. Our home was mainly done, besides the paint colors on the interior and exterior, the closets, specifically the master closet. Thank goodness it’s a his and hers, giving Berkley the bigger one because that girl has more clothes than she knows what to do with. And then the lighting.
“Berkley,” I call out, my hands full with two champagne glasses and a bottle of champagne.