by Dawn Martens
After I see Rylie enter her house, I drive off. I turn on the radio and Jason Mraz’s song “I Won’t Give Up” comes on. I turn it up and listen to the lyrics. Everything happens for a reason. I don’t think about just fucking her. I want something more with her. I want something that means love and forever. I think about how she looked tonight. She seems happy and carefree, but I can tell that her walls are still up. I know she still has scars, but I want to be the one who breaks down those walls. I want her to let me in. I will not give up until Rylie is mine.
I’ve been living at Mum and Dads for a while now. The house is big enough, so there is no point in me renting a place. If Mum had her way, I’d stay here forever. But I’m only staying until I find the house I’m looking for.
I pull into the driveway of my parents’ huge ten bedroom house. No, mansion is more like it. Mum was originally some famous actress until her and Dad decided to adopt me. Dad is a hot shot lawyer, but mostly takes cases from celebrities. Although every once in a while, he’ll do pro bono cases for regular people.
My parents have never really been big on their money, and they don’t give a shit what class a person is. They don’t care about eating at fancy restaurants or shopping at Target. All they care about is who a person is. When I was ten I found out I was adopted. At the time nothing really changed, but as I got older I wanted to know about my birth parents. Over the years I talked with Mum and Dad about them and when I was eighteen, they informed me they had tracked my birth mother and father down. After a few major family meetings and some last minute planning, we packed up the car and traveled to Sidney to meet them.
When we showed up at the Fleming’s home I was shocked. They were young. There was no way possible that these people couldn’t be my birth parents. After speaking with them, we found out that they had me when they were only fifteen years old and gave me up so I could be raised in a good home with successful parents. They also never had any other children because they felt that they shouldn’t bring another life into the world when they had given up their first child for adoption. To them it didn’t feel right to have any more.
Since the first meeting, my birth parents have become best friends with my parents. They are over every holiday, birthday, and any other special event. I know that I’m lucky enough to have not one but two sets of parents who love and care about me. Some people are barely allotted one devoted family member in life.
After killing the ignition of the car, I get out, and walk into the house. Mum is sitting on the couch with her stupid onesie on, watching reality television. I shake my head at her as I sit down next to her.
“Good day at work sweetie?” Mum still talks to me as if I’m five.
“Yeah, I also ran into someone today that I knew when I lived in Perth.” At that Mum sits up straight.
“Who?” Her eyes go wide and I know she wants to hear I met a girl.
I run my hand through my hair and look at her. “Her name is Rylie.”
Mum smiles, that sneaky smile she does when she gets an idea. “Tell me about her.” She pats on the cushion telling me to come sit down next to her. Great. I knew I should have gone right to my room.
I do, I tell her all about the trial, and everything I know about it. As I talk about it, she starts to get sad. “Derek, sweetie, she sounds like she still has healing to do. Tread carefully.” She takes my hand, “I just want to see you happy. Sweetie, I have a good feeling about her. Don’t give up even if she pushes you away. What are the chances that you two would meet again?” She pats my hand, “Yes this is a good sign darling.”
I squeeze her hand and smile. She always knows what to say.
We sit watching her stupid show for a while until my phone goes off. Looks like I have plans this weekend. I shoot Mum a smile and head to bed.
Chapter 8
Rylie
I pull in front of my little house with pale blue siding and white shutters. It’s not much to look at, but I take pride in it, and my yard is exquisite. I’ve never been much of a yard person, but when I bought this house, I decided to go for it. Now I’m pretty sure I have the greenest grass on my street. I also have a circle garden around my gum tree, and I placed some Birds of Paradise around another tree in the back. I just recently added some Snap Dragons along the pathway that leads up to my front porch to go with the Frangipanis and Parramatta’s that were here when I bought the house. Off to the side of my house is a tiny pond that has a small frog fountain and a succulent tree. It isn’t much, but I think it’s beautiful and it gives me a sense of peace.
I unlock my door and put my purse and jacket in the closet. My house is not anything special, but it is something that I have of my own. The kitchen is small, but I like cooking in there. It’s cozy. The living room has a brown loveseat and a forty-five inch flat screen television. It is on the wall-something I did on my own.
There are two bedrooms; one for me and a guest room for company. The master bedroom is average size, but my king size bed barely fits in there. I refuse to get a smaller bed though, because the one I have is soft and has pillows all over it. I think the bed is part of the reason that I’ve been sleeping so well here lately. Off to the right side of my bed is my walk in closet. It’s pretty bare at the moment, but I don’t need that much anyways. I also have a queen size bed in the guest room with a night stand and a dresser.
I look at my bare walls. There are some pictures here and there—nothing major. I think I am going to paint this weekend. I pick cream for the kitchen and living room. My room will be light green and the guest room will be a light blue. Something modern and contemporary. A new start.
I call up Melody, a friend of mine whom I met a few months ago when she applied for the stylist position in my salon. She’s from Canada, and traveling around the world. She only spends so long in each place that she travels to. Yesterday, Mel told me that she’ll be leaving at the end of the year to go back home, and it saddens me. I’m going to miss her, but she says she feels that it’s time she settles down. Throughout our friendship, she’s told me all about her home town and all about her ex, Liam. He broke her heart into a million pieces and she doesn’t believe she’ll ever find love again. I’m going to miss laughing over her cute accent, and hearing it all of the time. I always tell her that it makes me wish for a Canadian accent. I’m also going to miss her weird eating habits and when she forces me to try dishes that are native to her country. Like when she even made me eat this thing called Poutine. It looks like complete shit, but oh my god, it was so damn good.
The phone barely rings before Mel picks up. I swear she has that phone glued to her hand.
“Hey bitch.”
“Hey. So, guess who I had dinner with today?”
“Um, let me think? That hot bartender at Club Passion?” Travis, the bartender at Club Passion has been asking me out since my first night here. I say no every time, but he doesn’t seem to understand. I’ve tried to avoid going there the last few weeks, but that club is the best in the city. So I just make it a point to avoid him, and send Mel for my drinks.
I laugh. “No, you dork. Remember that Derek guy I told you about? The one I met years ago when I lived in Perth?”
“No way! He’s here? Did you kiss him? Did you finally get that dusty crotch fucked?” Melody, blunt and crude as ever.
“No, we just had a meal, and he friend-zoned himself.” I quietly say.
“Bitch, it’s been years. Caleb hurt you, I get that. But move on. Not all men are like him. You need to live a little.”
I shake my head. “I know, Mel. Anyways, are we still on for this weekend?”
“Damn right we are. Fucking tearing up that club bitch.”
“You do know you say the word bitch too much, right?”
“Pfft, no way, it’s my word.” I laugh her off. She’s such a nut. We hang up a few minutes later and I contemplate texting Derek. Should I invite him out this weekend to go to the club with us? Before I can even think more about it, I text him.
Rylie – Hey Derek, any plans this weekend?
Derek – This Rylie?
R – Oops sorry, yeah.
D- No worries. ;) Nope, no plans. You?
R – Want to come clubbing with us?
D – Who’s us?
R – Just me and my girl Mel.
D – Sure, when and where?
R – Club Passion, say ten?
D – Sounds good. Tomorrow?
R – Yup. Later.
D – Later.
After I read his last message, I put my phone away and get ready for bed. I think about Derek; his smile and his eyes. I don’t know why, but I still feel good around him.
When I was with Caleb, I thought I loved him, but that wasn’t love. And even though I thought he was the one, I now know that I was blinded by his charms and an idiot for thinking he would have changed for the better.
I shake my head to rid the thoughts of Caleb. I lie down on my side and think about how the hell I am going to get through seeing Derek all the time. Fuck. My. Life.
~***~
Derek
I wake up the next morning and my mind goes straight to Rylie. Everything about her excites me. I look down and see my dick is hard and ready. I close my eyes and wrap my hand around my cock. I stroke myself slowly, as think about her. Those sexy eyes that look through my soul. She knows that I want her, and I know she wants me too. She just doesn’t know it yet. I want her to see the side of me that I am not like everyone else, especially that mother fucker that hurt her. I want to show her what it is like to be with a real man.
My mind goes to how she would feel when I sink into her pussy. I think about my mouth all over her. Her lips, down to her neck, down her collar bone until I know every inch of her body. I grip my dick harder and start pumping faster. Rylie. I cannot wait to feel her and hear her scream my name.
“Argh.” I release all my tension and feel better. “Damn. I need her.”
I get up from my bed and throw the covers in my laundry basket. I jump in the shower and let the water run over my body. My sore muscles ache from working out. “Damn I need to get laid,” I mutter.
After my shower I get ready for another long day in the office. I put on my black suit, a light crisp blue button down and a blue pattern tie. I take one quick look in the mirror and head out.
I walk outside and press the unlock button to my car. When my phone vibrates, I pull out and see that Rylie texted me. A huge smile comes on my face as I open the message.
Rylie: I have an opening at 11 today if you want it.
Me: Yeah of course. I’ll be there ;)
Rylie: K
I am going to break down her walls. I smile again and put my phone away. I am beyond fucking excited that Rylie texted me. She gave me an opening, and I am going to plow right through it. By the time the night is over, she is going to know that she is mine.
The morning traffic is not bad. I park my car in my usual spot. I look at my watch and see I still have twenty minutes so I head to the coffee shop and grab coffee and breakfast. I place my order in and wait over to the side. I think about Rylie and wonder how it will be to wake up next to her in the morning and be inside her tonight. I put my head down and let out a soft laugh. Damn this girl has me hard already, and I haven’t even seen her today.
As I walk into my office, I see Cecily siting on my desk. She is wearing a low cut shirt, and I swear her tits are about to pop out. Her skirt comes to her knees, but there is a slit on the side. As she is sitting now, I can damn near see her panties. She is one hot bitch, and I know she would spread her legs if I as much as snapped my fingers. But, I am not going there.
Even before Rylie, I stayed clear of Cecily. There is just something about her that says that I would end up with her up my ass for years, if I so much as let her close to my dick. I have tried to play it cool and just ignore all the times she has brushed up against me or bent down to give me a full view of her tits, but she is just not taking the hint. With Rylie starting to come around, I may have to put this bitch in her place. But, I hate the thought of having to work with her afterwards.
“Is there something you need, Cecily?” I ask, as I walk past her and sit down.
She tries to grab my hand but I pull it away. I see the hurt in her eyes but I don’t fucking care. She seductively sticks out her chest and takes in a deep breath. “I was just wondering if you needed anything before I left, Mr. Tremaine.” She says, leaning towards me. Giving me another shot of her tits.
Fuck! I am going to have to do this. “Actually, I would like to talk to you about something. Can you please take a seat?”
“I am sitting.” She purrs. Yes, fucking purrs.
“In the chair please.” I cannot hide the frustration in my voice.
After she takes her seat, I begin. “Cecily, I wanted to let you know that if there is a woman named Rylie that shows up, I want her sent back immediately. I do not care what I am doing. She is always first priority.” I am not sure if Rylie will ever come here, but I figure that if I tell her now then this is the best way to let her know that nothing will happen between us.
“Rylie. Who is Rylie?” her voice is laced with anger. I knew she wanted to fuck me, but what the hell?
“Yes, Rylie. My woman.” Not exactly true, but it will be.
Cecily looks like she wants to kick me in the balls, but she doesn’t say anything. Instead, she gets up and walks out of the office.
Hopefully, that shit will sink in and she will quit acting like a bitch in heat every time I’m around her.
~***~
Cecily
I’ve been trying to get Derek to notice me since he started working here, and each time I try to get his attention he doesn’t even fuckin notice me. I started to up my tactics, wearing lower cut shirts, short skirts, but nothing works! And now, he’s telling me he has a woman. Fuck that, that’s bullshit!
Derek doesn’t date!
I’m back at my desk, steaming mad. When I hear a door down the hall open and watch Derek leave the building.
Chapter 9
Rylie
I hear the bell over the door ding and my assistant talking. I hope it’s not another walk in, because I do not have time today. I am setting up my station when I hear Erika call my name. I turn to look towards her desk, and see Derek standing there smiling. He walks towards me and hands me a cup of coffee. Why is he here? I feel my body slightly shaking. I hate how he makes me feel.
“Good Morning.” He says with a smile that makes me want to drop my panties.
He cannot just show up here. I feel nervous around him. I hate this feeling. I look at him. His eyes are so damn mysterious and always pull me in. A part of me is shouting at me to trust him, but how can I trust anyone else? “What are you doing here?” I say in a tone that sounds bitter to even my ears.
He starts laughing and points at the clock. I look at it and realize that he has an appointment with me. “Oh! Derek! I’m sorry. It’s been so busy today!”
He looks at me again with that smile. I squeeze my thighs together. What the fuck? Even with just one look he has this effect on me. Crap. I’m going to be in so much trouble if I let him get to me. I take a deep breath but I can’t talk. I see him smiling again at me. He’s staring at me and I know this is making him laugh. Ugh, get it together Rylie!
“It’s alright beautiful.”
I give him a smile. “Thanks Derek, sorry for being rude. It’s just been a long morning.”
He brings his hand to my shoulder and I quickly tense up. He looks at me, but doesn’t ask what’s wrong. I can’t move. God this feeling needs to stop. I cannot be afraid like this. I slowly breathe in and out through my nose. Derek is looking at me and there is nothing but comfort in his eyes. I start to relax a little. He can tell I’m calming down and starts to talk. “No worries. Do you want me to come back or something?”
“No no no it’s okay! Come back with me.”
“Yes ma’am.” He says sound
ing cocky.
I start walking and he follows. I turn my head to the side, “I really need to hire more staff.”
“Is it only you, Mel, and Erika?” he says raising his eyebrow.
“Yeah, as I said, I need to hire more. We’re already booked months out and that list isn’t getting any shorter.”
He sits in the chair and I put the cape over him to start trimming up his hair. “You should put an ad in the paper. Hell, I can even mention it at work, I think one of the guys has a sister that’s a stylist that’s out of work right now.”
“That’s, wow, thanks.”
I spray his hair with water and start to comb it. His silky brown hair is soft between my fingers. I can play with it all day. I pay attention to what I’m doing but can’t help but look at him. He’s on his phone and I try to peek down and see who he is texting. It looks like an email. I shouldn’t care. It’s not like he’s my man or anything but at least he can stay off his phone. Ugh, rude.
“Annoyed Rylie?”
“What?”
He smiles. “I can see you looking at me. Like what you see beautiful, because I certainly can sit here all day, every day, and let you play with my hair.” He starts to smirk, “Maybe you can play with something else.”
Oh. My. God. Did he just say that to me? I feel my face getting hot and I get shy. Usually I would get mad with a disgusting comment like that but coming from Derek, it’s so sexy. “Please Derek. I’m here to just get your hair looking good.” I can play this game. “And I don’t know what you are referring to,” I say innocently.
“How is your day going?” he says changing the subject.
I continue combing his hair, “It’s alright. Just stressful.” Why does he keep looking at me like that?
“You know,” he starts to say, “I can make you feel better.” His deep and sexy voice sends chills down my spine. I have to keep my focus. I don’t want him to know that he’s getting to me. Keep your cool Rylie. You need to play hard to get.