by MJ Carnal
His eyes shot to the mirror and locked with hers. He grinned. His dark hair had become curly with perspiration.
His eyes were so dark, they were almost black. His lips were sinful and why full, long eye lashes were wasted on a man, she would never know.
“Did I wake you?” He hit the volume on the radio.
Her voice was barely a whisper. “Are you ok?”
He toweled off his hair. “Yes. I’m great. Are you ok?”
She smiled as he pulled her in for a sweaty hug. “I would say I am most definitely better than ok. I should probably get going.”
“Stay. I am off tomorrow. We can spend the day together.” His mouth had a mind of its own.
Layla smiled. “Are you sure?”
“Yes. Let me take a quick shower and we can talk for awhile.”
She giggled. “I’ll join you.”
Ryan took his time washing every inch of Layla. His hands were gentle and he kissed her and held her against him. When they were through, he gave her a clean t-shirt and helped her get dressed. He even let her use his toothbrush. He was so screwed.
“Tell me what some of your tattoos mean. I love them.” Layla traced the script B on his right arm. “This is my favorite. I love the Red Sox.”
“Shit! Seriously?” His shock made her smile.
“Yes. I am a big Ellsbury fan. Hottest center fielder in the league.”
Ryan laughed. “That’s my girl.” My girl?
“What about his one? What are the initials in it?” Layla traced the orange ribbon on his wrist.
He took a deep breath and sat down on the couch. She followed and snuggled into his arms. “The orange ribbon is leukemia awareness. I was diagnosed at eleven. We moved out here to get what my parents thought would be the best treatment. I was almost twelve before my parents would allow actual doctors to treat me instead of all these holistic healers.” Another deep breath and Layla pulled back to look him in the eyes. “I had a bunch of chemotherapy through a port in my spine. When that didn’t work, I got a bone marrow transplant from someone I had never met before. Since then, we have kept in touch almost daily. My life was saved by that transplant.”
“Oh, Ryan. I didn’t know it had been that bad.” She held him close and he let out the breath he was holding.
“I was in remission until a little scare in college. Five rounds of chemotherapy later, I lost my baseball scholarship and all hopes of playing in the majors. So,” He held his wrist out to her. “I had this done the day I lost my scholarship. I wanted to remember the courage through loss and the person who gave me my life back. Those are my donor’s initials.”
“That is beautiful Ryan. The tattoo and the story. It must have been so much to take in at that age. So hard to understand.”
He patted his lap and she crawled on. “It was scary and it completely sucked. But honestly, I would not change it for anything. Boston was a great place to grow up. We lived in Bay Village. But moving to LA at eleven, wow. That was heaven. I was convinced I would be famous. An actor or an athlete. I even gave rock star a chance but I can’t sing a note. I met some amazing people that took care of me and helped me realize what a gift the cancer had been because it would make me stronger than I could ever imagine. And it did. I gave up the scholarship and moved on to whatever was next, becoming a better person everyday.” He laughed. “I go overboard on the health stuff. But it’s not only my job. It’s how I have to live my life to try to stay healthy.”
“Was it hard starting school here after everything or did your parents home school?”
Ryan laughed. “Well, I was a really skinny bald kid with dark circles under my eyes in sixth grade when I should have been in seventh. It wasn’t easy. I was bullied right away. But I met Mark in the hall and he asked if I wanted to be friends. That was cool. By the end of the day, I was part of the whole Moretti group. Caleb was my best friend for a lot of those years. His parents thought of me as their other son and I spent so much time with his family. I thank God for them. Mark and Caleb took me to chemo in college since we all lived together. And Rich would come down after every treatment. They were my family. Even the bone marrow donor came down a few times and offered to do it all again if I needed it. So it was worth some ridicule to get to where I am now. But someday I would like to thank those bullies. They forced me to want better for myself. And if they could see the twig kid they made fun of all grown up, I would thank them for turning me into the best trainer in LA.”
“I am so glad you had them. Life was mundane on the east coast. It was me and Soph against the world. Basically the blind leading the blind.” She laughed a comfortable laugh and laid her head in his lap. “What about the, are they vines? That are wrapped around your arm?”
He stroked her hair. “I guess you could call them vines. They represent breaking the chains to my past. Just a reminder about not letting my past hold me down.”
“And the star on your chest?”
Ryan leaned down to kiss her. “I got it when I bought my house. Told myself I would get one on the other side when I did my next life changing thing. Something has to happen eventually. Right? Enough about me Ms. Yappy. I want to know about you. Are you working out here in LA? What do you do? What do you think of LA so far?”
She giggled. “Well, I am not working but have a second interview Monday to be an interpreter. I am fluent in sign language and if I get it, I will work for a deaf non profit that offers their services to people when they go to meetings, or doctors, or even church. ASL has always fascinated me and when I was a freshman in college, I took my first class. I graduated with a degree in language sciences. I worked for a hospital in Georgia but I think a non profit is more up my alley. I like LA ok. I missed my sister terribly and once I saw Mr. Eye Candy, I figured I would stay around just for the view. People are different here. And the pace is much faster. But I think it will be a good choice.”
“Did you leave anyone special behind?” Ryan picked at his fingernail.
Layla smiled. “Subtle. No. I didn’t leave anyone special anywhere. I have dated a lot. I have been serious with exactly zero of them. I’m not a long term girl. But I am a fun while it lasts girl.” She shifted in her seat. “But my friends back east are amazing. It would be fun for all of us to fly out there for a long weekend. They would love you. You’d have them eating out of your hands.”
Ryan belly laughed. “You don’t give yourself enough credit. And I think you give me way too much. Don’t count out a serious relationship someday. If Mark Moretti can do it, anyone can.”
Chapter 4
“OK, do two more reps and you are done. See? Not so bad. You’re even smiling.” Ryan snapped his towel at his new client and she blushed.
“If I get to work out with you every time, I will be fit before you know it.” She grabbed her water bottle. “I enjoyed it, Ryan. Thank you.”
She stepped in to hug him so he opened his arms and gave her a tight squeeze. Nothing. She was hot and he was hoping his body would respond. He watched her walk to the locker room and growled. “Grrrr. Nothing.”
“What’s up with you?” Caleb stopped the treadmill. “You have been totally vacant for about a week. You ok?”
“Shit, dude. I don’t know. I met this girl and she’s got me totally wrecked. I am screwed.” Ryan threw Caleb a towel and shook his head.
Caleb stood there with his jaw dropped. “I’m sorry. What?”
“Don’t be a douche, C. You heard me.”
“No. I don’t think I did. There is a woman? One woman?”
Ryan glared at him. “I am not a fucking robot. Yes. There is one woman. And I am freaking the fuck out so I would appreciate it if you stopped looking at me like I lost my damn mind and help me!”
Caleb threw his head back and laughed. Really laughed. The angrier Ryan became, the more Caleb laughed. “This is too good, West. I guess it must be serious since you haven’t made one comment about the size of her chest or the curve of her ass. Those are usually
the first things I hear about.Does anyone know?”
“Hell no. And they won’t know because you are going to keep your Irish mouth shut. And the size of her tits are for me to know. You got it?”
Kevin jogged past them and met his client at the door. “Layla Barringer. How are you beautiful?”
Layla hugged Kevin and rolled her eyes as he whispered something in her ear. Ryan’s body straightened. Caleb looked from Ryan, to Kevin, and back to Ryan. “No way man. Seriously? Please tell me it is not Sophie’s sister.”
Ryan walked toward Layla with a grin on his face. Her face lit up when she saw him. She stepped out of Kevin’s grip and into Ryan’s arms. “What are you doing here?”
She mumbled into his chest. “Kevin offered me some training sessions. If I am going to blend in this beautiful city, I figured I better take him up on them.”
Ryan shook his head and pulled her tighter. “You could never just blend in. You have to know that. But why didn’t you ask me, Lay?”
She stepped back and looked him in the eyes. Her brown eyes sizzled and Ryan’s stomach jumped. “I wanted to be able to concentrate. And there is something about being with you that makes it hard to do that.”
Kevin pulled her out of his arms. “Come on Layla. We have some work to do.”
Caleb walked to Ryan and smacked him on the side of his head. “You are so screwed man.”
****
“Dude, grab me a beer while you’re up.” Mark yelled to Ryan as he walked out of the living room.
“Yes master. Anyone else need anything?” Ryan looked around the room at all his friends. Only Layla looked up and smiled. He laughed and walked to the kitchen.
Game night at Moretti’s. It had been a tradition since they were young. In middle school, game night meant board games and slumber parties and lots of soda. In high school, it was sneaking beers and texting girls and sneaking out after midnight to hook up. Now it meant once a month baseball or football games on the flat screen with dates and wives and soon to be families. Despite all the changes life had offered, the Moretti gang always made sure their once a month tradition remained a priority.
Ryan nudged the fridge closed with his foot and set the beers on the counter. He jumped when he saw Layla standing there. It had been a week since he had seen her and his brain screamed at him to touch her. She smiled and rubbed against him as she walked past him into the dark dining room. She nodded her head to the empty room and he practically ran to meet her.
“Shhh.” She pulled his face to hers and crushed her lips against his. He pulled her up against him, instantly hard. She wrapped her legs around his waist. Her core ground against his jeans and she bit his lip.
“Fuck, Layla. Let’s go upstairs.” He whispered against her lips.
“We can’t. They will notice we’re gone.” She ran her hands under his shirt and smiled as his muscles jumped beneath her fingers. “But if you want to hang afterwards, I will figure out a way to get you up there.”
“Screw afterwards.” His fingers dove into her. “Next time you wear a skirt with no panties, you will be spanked, Ms. Barringer.”
She closed her eyes and buried her head in his shoulder. His fingers pumped into her, drenched by her desire. He pinched her nipple and she moaned into his shirt. She fumbled to get his fly open but his fingers were magic and she stopped as the first pull of her orgasm began to build. “Shit. Shit. Shit. I want you inside me. Now Ryan. Please. I want you to come with me. Please Ryan.”
Mark’s voice rang out from the living room. “West. Where the hell are you? I’m parched.”
Layla whimpered and bit Ryan’s shoulder.
They heard footsteps in the kitchen and Caleb cleared his throat. “I got it Mark. He’s in the bathroom. Stop your bitching.”
“Thank Christ.” Ryan unbuttoned his shorts and rubbed his hardened length between her folds. “Caleb knows. Relax. He’s got it.”
As he ran himself through her wetness, she groaned. He circled her clit with the head and she instantly crumbled. Her legs shook and her head fell back. She tried to stay quiet but a groan snuck through her lips. He crushed his mouth to hers. Caleb continued to bang around the kitchen, trying to cover their noise.
Ryan was panting. “We have to stop. I don’t have a condom.” He tried to set her down on the floor.
She reached into the back pocket of her skirt. “I never start something I can’t finish Mr. West. You have ten seconds to burry yourself in me.”
He ripped the condom open with his teeth and slid it on in record time. He carried her to the dining room table and set her down. His strokes were frantic. “I never want to stop fucking you. God you are hot.”
“What the hell are you doing in there, C? Stop with all the noise. The sox are on damnit.” Mark’s voice yelled out from the living room once more.
“Can I help you?” Sophie’s voice was closer.
“Come here Soph.” Caleb grabbed her and hugged her. There was whispering.
“I don’t care if all of them walk in here.” Ryan grunted against Layla’s lips. “There is no way in hell I can stop now.”
Layla panted. “Don’t you dare stop. I am so close.”
Layla began frantically chewing on her bottom lip. Her breaths came faster. Ryan could feel her core heating. Her orgasm ripped through her, spasms clenched Ryan and pushed him over the edge. His body shuttered and he closed his eyes. “Fuck.”
A minute later, their eyes met and they both smiled. Layla pushed him off her and straightened her skirt. On her tip toes, she nibbled at the sensitive flesh behind his ear. “That was amazing. I expect an encore performance in a few hours.” She giggled.
Ryan grabbed her arm as she walked by. “Can I take you out tomorrow night?”
Layla stopped. “I thought you didn’t do dates.”
Waving his arms around the empty room, Ryan laughed. “We just screwed on my best friend’s dining room table while everyone is sitting in the next room. You’ve got me doing all kinds of shit I don’t do.”
“Hurry up in that bathroom, West. It’s the seventh inning stretch.” Caleb popped the top of a beer can. “Marco is on his feet.” He whispered around the corner.
Layla ran to Caleb. “Thank you Caleb. You aren’t such a douche bag after all.”
Ryan and Caleb both laughed as she ran into the living room and sat back down.
****
Layla and Ryan walked hand in hand along the pier. Her purple sundress blew in the early evening wind. The sun was setting and the sky was painted with pinks and oranges and yellows. It was breathtaking. But Ryan’s eyes remained fixed on her. She smiled at other couples as they passed. She picked up a toy a child had dropped. She even patted the head of a straggly dog.
He stopped and turned her to face him. “You are amazing, Layla. Thank you for coming out with me tonight.” His lips met hers, slowly and gently. He kissed her mouth, then her jaw and her neck.
He nibbled at her ear and she giggled. “Why, Mr. West. If I didn’t know better, I would think you were coming on to me.”
He laughed and pulled her into a hug. “Not tonight baby. We did things totally backwards. Don’t get me wrong. I have enjoyed every second of this more than you will ever know. But tonight, I just want to kiss you goodnight and hold you and look at how beautiful you are. I have dessert at the house. I want to sit on the back porch with you in my lap and feed it to you. I want you to stay with me tonight.”
She melted into him. “You are so different than I imagined you would be. You are so different from the Ryan I see when you are with your friends. It is refreshing.”
Tugging her toward the car, he laughed. “Don’t be too impressed. A new day starts at Midnight, darling. All bets are off then.”
They laughed and talked on the way to Ryan’s house. He was so at ease with her. Their conversation flowed smoothly and his heart pounded in his chest. He had made fun of mark when he talked about feeling like this. He had been sure to fight this fe
eling his whole life. But this was new. No one had ever made him weak kneed. No one had ever pleased him the way she did. Their bodies fit together perfectly. His hands knew every spot she loved. He knew every curve of her face. They even knew what the other was thinking. He had known her such a short time and she had stormed into his life like a hurricane. There was no turning back. He would keep his feelings hidden. The thought of losing her terrified him. But the thought of a relationship, commitment and all the romantic shit he had shied away from his whole life scared him even more.
“Where did you go? You were a million miles from here.” Layla smiled as they curled up together on the couch. “Everything ok?”