by Lisa Edward
I could hardly catch my breath as Riley took up position above me, watching me as the final waves subsided.
“You are so beautiful,” he whispered hoarsely.
Reaching up, I held his face in my hands and kissed him passionately on the mouth before biting his bottom lip. He growled deep in his throat, and then, sliding one arm under me, angled my hips and entered me, filling me completely.
My body shuddered and I moaned loudly, not caring who was in the rooms next door, and if they could hear. Riley moved his kisses to my throat as the rhythm and intensity increased and I lost all control, raking my nails down his back. Riley was right there with me, grunting as his control unravelled before falling breathlessly on top of me.
Running my hands through his damp hair, he lifted his head again, taking his weight onto his forearms.
“Money can’t buy that, no matter how much you pay,” I said with a half-smile.
He kissed me tenderly before rolling over, and pulling me into his arms so my head was resting on his shoulder.
“I’m glad I’m good for something,” he muttered under his breath.
Sighing heavily I rolled over, resting my chin on his chest. “Do I need to list all the things I love about you? I don’t know why it matters. I’m the same person I was before you knew I had money, just as you’re the same person. Why do you suddenly feel like you’re not good enough, just because I have money in the bank?”
He looked away, and I reached up and moved his head back around so he was looking at me again. “I don’t want the money, Riley, that’s why I’ve never touched it. I want to support myself and live my own life, not be dictated to by my parents. You give me so much more than money could ever buy. You love me for me. You’ve encouraged and supported me when I had no confidence in my abilities anymore. You’ve protected me against Stephen, and stood up to Patrick for me—you even defended me in the bar that time when the drunk guy grabbed me. You’ve been there for me from day one, on my side, no questions asked. You have no idea how much that means to me. I’ve never had that from anyone.”
He looked at me, his eyes narrowing. “Okay, but I don’t want anything to do with your money. When we go out I still want to pay, and if it means we can’t go to the best restaurants or away on holidays all the time because I can’t afford it, then that’s how it has to be.” He looked at me, biting his lip nervously.
“I agree,” I said, “with one exception.” He went to argue, but I put my finger on his lips to stop him. “If you ever need money for anything important, like life-threateningly important, I want you to ask me. Deal?”
He nodded, but then added under his breath, “That won’t ever happen.”
I NEEDED a cool drink and to stretch my legs so got up, pulled on a robe, and went to the kitchen to get two glasses of water.
I hoped this topic of conversation was over with, at least for the time being. I had only ever dated guys who knew my background, and sometimes it felt like they were only with me because of the money; it was strange to think that Riley was so against it. It felt good to know he was with me for the right reasons, though, and to know that I didn’t need to question his motives.
Flicking on the kitchen light, I found Marcus leaning up against the bench, deep in thought.
“Hey, I hope we didn’t wake you,” I said, a little embarrassed. “I was a bit out of control, sorry.”
He looked up, and I was taken aback by the look in his eyes. “Are you okay? You don’t look well,” I asked concerned, as I approached him. He was pale and drawn, and I put my arms around him.
“You smell like Riley and sex,” he said huskily, and stepped away from me, then looked at me, shaking his head. “I’m fine, really, just …” He paused to consider what to say next, but instead just shook his head again and repeated, “I’m fine.” Then he turned and abruptly went back to his bedroom.
I thought for a split second about following him, but honestly, I was too tired. It would have to wait until tomorrow.
The following morning, Riley and I sheepishly went out to the lounge room to face the music.
Cooper immediately stood and gave us a round of applause before slapping Riley on the back, which made him flinch. The scratches from my nails were obviously still a little tender.
Kelli had her own thoughts on the matter. “Don’t ever complain about my flat having thin walls again. I felt like I was in the same room with you two last night.”
Dropping my face into my hands, I apologised profusely to Kelli and Cooper, then looked around. “At least Jase and Marcus managed to sleep in.”
Kelli laughed, but it was a nervous laugh. “They’ve been up for a while. Marcus went for a walk on the beach, and Jase followed him.” She looked at Cooper, who shook his head at her.
“What’s going on?” I asked, looking from Kelli to Cooper, then back to Kelli.
Kelli just shrugged. “Best you talk to Marcus I think.”
I frowned at her, but left it at that.
I decided to poke my head out the door to see if Marcus and Jason were in sight on the beach. They were sitting on the sand not far from the house, leaning in towards each other with their heads nearly touching, so I went out to see them.
“Hey you two, how are you?” I asked as I got closer. They both jumped, having been deep in conversation, they obviously hadn’t heard me approaching.
Jason jumped up and brushed the sand off his pants. “I’m good, and you?” he asked with a wink. “I’m surprised you’re out of bed already, seeing as you didn’t get much sleep last night.” He chuckled as he said it, but then excused himself and headed back up to the house.
Marcus stayed put on the sand, so I sat down beside him.
“How are you feeling?” I asked while studying his face. He had some colour back at least, but he still looked drawn, as if he hadn’t slept at all.
“I’m fine,” he said with a dimpled smile, and put his arm around my shoulders.
“Do I smell better today?” I asked cheekily.
“Yep, you smell like you again,” he replied, smiling broadly, then pulled me in tight for a hug.
“So, is there anything wrong? Anything I need to know about?” I asked, with one eyebrow cocked.
“No, it’s all good. Jason and I have talked through everything, and I’ve got my head around a few things.” He pulled me in tight again and kissed me on the head, then inhaled deeply. “You always smell awesome when you’ve just washed your hair.”
Leaning into the hug, I kissed him on the cheek. It sounded like Jason and Marcus had had a little tiff of some sort but had worked through it. All was right in the world again.
We spent the morning on the beach, and swimming in the ocean while it wasn’t too hot. The guys set up a game of beach cricket and played touch rugby, and I let them go for rides on the two Jet Skis that were kept in the garage.
Marcus had his eye on the ski boat, but I had to draw the line. I knew it was my father’s pride and joy, and he would never forgive me if something happened to it.
Riley was a natural on the Jet Ski, seeing as he rode a motorbike back home in Sydney. He showed the guys how it was done, jumping the waves and doing doughnuts, while Kelli and I reclined on the sun lounges, sipping our drinks and chatting.
Of course, Cooper took the opportunity to stir Riley when he saw the scratches on his back, once again giving him a round of applause for his stellar performance. But Riley just laughed—I think he was pretty chuffed with my reaction to him, and looked at me with a glint in his eye, as if he wanted to do it all over again.
Marcus’s reaction was a little different, however. I’d never taken Marcus for being a prude, but any talk of sex between Riley and I seemed to send Marcus inside to top up the drinks, or fetch something that was suddenly vitally important.
Kelli and I were relaxing with another exotic cocktail that Marcus had made for us, when the guys came in on the Jet Skis.
“Would you like a ride?” Riley asked as
he held his hand out to me. “I can take you.”
I laughed. I’d been riding the Jet Skis for years, so didn’t really need someone to take me, but the thought of cuddling up to Riley always appealed to me so I agreed to go for a ride with him.
We raced through the waves, bouncing and crashing down until we reached calmer waters. I clung on tight as we zoomed over the water for a few more minutes before slowing down to a more relaxed pace.
“Would you like to steer?” Riley asked over his shoulder. “I’m assuming you’ve been on one of these before.”
I smiled and squeezed him tight. “Been riding these for years, but it’s nice to hang on to you. I’m happy on the back.”
“Maybe I’d like to hang onto you,” he said, smiling over his shoulder. We manoeuvred around each other without falling off so that I was in front and in control.
“Are you ready?” I called over my shoulder, and I felt Riley’s grip tighten.
We sped back over the waves, and I did my best to show off as much as the guys had done. Riley’s grip never loosened, but I could hear him laughing behind me as I zigzagged and jumped waves before finally heading back into shore for someone else to have a turn.
I looked over my shoulder as we slowed down. Riley looked so happy as he beamed at me, and it reminded me of the relaxed Riley from Fiji, when nothing else mattered but the two of us.
“Do you remember what we used to do in Fiji after lunch?” I asked him, and playfully bit my bottom lip.
He looked at my mouth and exhaled. “Can I bite that lip?”
Reaching up, I whispered in his ear, “Let’s go inside.”
The next few days followed the same routine. We would play on the beach and in the water in the morning. Then, when it was too hot to be outside, we played pool in the games room, lounged around watching movies in the home theatre, or listened to music and talked.
My parents had an extensive wine cellar, as well as a well-stocked beer fridge and bar, with every spirit imaginable, so Marcus put his bartending knowledge to good use and made cocktails for everyone. He even taught me a few, and we invented a couple of our own to commemorate our time at the beach.
Every night we ate outdoors, and then pulled the sun lounges off the veranda and onto the sand where we sat around drinking and talking. It was the most relaxed and happiest I’d been since Fiji, spending time with Riley and my best friends all together at this beautiful location.
Unfortunately, before too long it was time to go home. It was New Year’s Eve, and Riley’s twenty-sixth birthday was the following day. Riley wanted to stay at the beach house another night. He didn’t know I had arranged for an early morning hot air balloon ride for us, and we would have to be up early to drive to the pickup location. We packed up the house and I covered the furniture in the unused rooms with dust cloths again, before we all reluctantly climbed into the cars and started the drive home.
“SO, WHAT is everyone doing to bring in the new year?” Jason asked. “We should do something together.”
We had all decided to tag along when Marcus said he needed to check on things at Songbirds, and were sitting at a table while Cassie and Monique set up for the evening.
We looked at each other, then Kelli started laughing. We had been so wrapped up in being at the beach house that we had forgotten to make plans. After much debating between ourselves, we decided that it might be fun to go into the city to watch the fireworks, and listen to the various bands that play on pontoons along the river.
I called Jay to see what he was up to, but couldn’t get hold of him, so I left him a voice message. I wanted to call and invite Cole, seeing as we were now friends, but I didn’t know how Riley would feel about it.
Looking at Riley, I held up my phone. He seemed to understand what I was thinking.
He nodded. “Go on, call him if you want. The more the merrier.”
I gave him a big kiss. Maybe he really was putting his jealousy aside and we could all get along.
I dialled Cole’s number, not quite understanding why nervous butterflies were suddenly circling in my stomach.
“Hey babe, sorry, I mean, friend. Where have you been?” Cole asked in his deep gravelly voice.
His voice sounded even deeper on the phone, and it was really sexy. My heart skipped a beat, and I silently chastised myself before answering. “I took a few friends to the beach for a couple of days.”
As soon as it was out of my mouth, I knew what was coming.
“Really? I thought I was a friend. Why wasn’t I invited on a friends’ getaway?” he asked teasingly.
“Sorry, there wasn’t room for everyone. Maybe another time.” I kicked myself. Why did I say that?
“I’d love to,” he said softly. “Maybe you can just take one friend next time.” He said it in such a way that his voice was like melted chocolate. It was so seductive that my cheeks instantly grew hot.
I drew a breath. I needed to get this conversation on the right track. “So anyway, I’m calling to see what you’re doing tonight to bring in the new year. We were tossing around the idea of going into the city to watch the fireworks and listen to the bands on the river, and I was wondering if you wanted to join us … friend?”
I waited in silence as he weighed up his options, before finally responding, “Will I get a kiss at midnight?” There was that melted chocolate again.
“Probably. I’m sure there will be lots of girls there to kiss,” I replied.
I looked at Riley out the corner of my eye. His eyes were narrowed as he listened to my side of the conversation.
Cole chuckled. “I think I’ll go to a club. More chance of bringing in the new year with a bang, if you know what I mean.”
I smiled, and shook my head. I knew exactly what he meant.
“Okay then, don’t say I didn’t invite you.” I hung up and looked at Riley. He breathed a sigh of relief, although he would never admit it. “So at the moment it’s just the six of us.”
“Five of you,” Marcus said as he rejoined the group. “I’ll have to stay here. My Assistant Manager, who never seems to be here, is MIA again.”
“I didn’t know you had an Assistant Manager,” I said curiously to Marcus.
“My point exactly,” he said, shaking his head.
Kelli, Cooper, Jason, Riley, and I wandered along the banks of the river, stopping intermittently when we heard a decent band playing, and strolling when they either stopped for a break or started playing something we didn’t like.
New Year’s Eve in the city was always an alcohol-free event, so everyone was well behaved, but there was still a festive atmosphere. It was a balmy night, so the riverbank was crowded with people singing and dancing and having a good time, all keen for the new year to arrive.
It was nearly midnight, so we made our way to a high point on the bank of the river, near where the fireworks were set up, and waited for the countdown.
I briefly allowed myself to think about what I had been doing at this time last year. I had been at a party with Shithead and his friends, and bored to death, just waiting for midnight to come and go so I could leave and go to bed. I’d had too much to drink, trying to gain some confidence among all of his friends. In the end, I had been outside by myself when the new year had arrived, having been unable to find Shithead when the clock struck twelve.
As if able to read my mind, or maybe just my expression, Riley pulled me in close to him. “This year will be better,” he said quietly, “for both of us, because we’re together.”
I looked up at his beautiful face looking down at me, his sapphire-blue eyes shining and so full of promise. “This year wasn’t so bad. I met the love of my life,” I told him and kissed him softly on the lips.
Ten, nine, eight, seven … we were already kissing. We kissed through the countdown, and long into the first ten minutes of the new year. I could feel my phone buzzing with a new message in my pocket, but I ignored it as I savoured the taste of Riley, and the feel of his arms around
me, holding me close.
“Hey, my turn,” Cooper said, and practically pulled us apart. “I have to make the most of it. When else will Spock, here, let me kiss another girl?”
I gave Cooper a warm embrace and he picked me up off the ground, squeezing me tight before planting a big kiss on my lips.
Riley and Kelli were hugging as well, and laughing at Cooper, who was making big kissing noises as he puckered up.
Looking around, I found Jason standing alone, separate from the group a little, so I went over and gave him a huge hug. “You’ll find someone fabulous this year,” I said hopefully to him, and he squeezed my shoulders.
“I think I’m destined to always be the bridesmaid, and never the bride,” he said jokingly.
We looked around; there were people everywhere kissing each other, whether they knew the person or not. Riley and Cooper hugged, not doing that strange guy thing that’s a half hug, but a proper true mate’s hug, and I gave Kelli a squeeze. She had been my saviour this past year and I owed her a lot; it was a debt I wouldn’t forget, should she ever need anything.
It was then that I remembered my phone had buzzed when I was kissing Riley, so I pulled it out of my pocket to check the message. It was from Cole.
HNY babe. Save me a kiss x
I checked the time of the message; it was at exactly midnight. I looked up quickly to see where Riley was. I wished I didn’t have to hide my friendship, but Riley was so jealous when it came to Cole. He was busy joking around with Cooper and Jason, so I hastily replied;
HNY 2 u 2. Thought u wanted to greet NY with a bang?
I was just about to send a message to Marcus and Jay when my phone buzzed again.
Banging as we speak ;)
I couldn’t help myself, I giggled at Cole’s cheekiness as I replied.
U should be focused on task at hand. Stop texting me!
He replied back straight away.
Multitasking—1 head thinking of u, the other focused on her ;P