by Jayne, S. L.
“Thank you, babe, I love them,” I said as I curl my index finger at him, gesturing him to come closer. I lean up and press my lips against his, kissing him longingly. “They are gorgeous,” I whispered against his lips.
“Anything for you,” he said, winking. “Run the hot water, baby, warm it back up so I can join you,” he said, as he started to undress.
I turn on the faucet and turn to watch him. Running my eyes down his bare chest to his V lines, I stop and watch as his hands reach the waistband of his pants. He pulls them down and steps out of them, looking at me as a small grin crosses my lips.
“You’re inner pervert is showing, baby,” he chuckled.
Shaking my head gently, I look up at him and laugh. “Inner? Nope… I can feel her fighting her way out.”
“Move forward, monster, let me get in,” he said, sliding in behind me.
Feeling his arms wrap around me, pulling me back against his chest, I sigh happily and relax against his body. His head drops down as he nuzzles my neck, his warm breath on my skin sending a shiver down my spine.
“Are you cold?” he whispers.
Shaking my head, telling him no, I angle my head to find his lips. Pressing my lips against his, gently kissing him.
“You’re amazing,” I whispered back.
“We need to decide where we’re living, baby. Ava said you can stay here, right? So I’ll move my stuff in here… we can’t bring pip up in a bar,” he said, shaking his head.
I knew we needed to talk about living arrangements, but I didn’t think it would be right now.
“I know, and you’re right, we do need to decide… I just hadn’t thought about it, that’s all. I mean, what about your apartment? You can’t just leave it empty, and do you really want to lease it to someone who can gain access to the bar?”
“Don’t worry your cute little mind over that, Princess. Liam or Corey will move in, they both still live with their parents, even at their ages, so it won’t be a problem. We have around six weeks before Ava moves out, but I wanted to get it sorted with you.”
I feel a pang in my chest at him mentioning Ava’s departure; I know in life we all have to move on and take the steps we need to ensure our happiness, but damn I’m going to miss living with her.
“I’m glad we did. I’ll miss Ava hanging around the place, but I guess that just means you’ll have to step in for her and watch the chick flicks with me while eating ice cream and pretzels,” I said, giving him a cheesy grin.
“I love you…so fucking much, but I’m praying like hell that we have a boy, I can’t handle two of you,” he chuckled, kissing my forehead.
Chapter Twenty Four
I’m sitting down on top of a box, looking around at our apartment, and taking in the sealed up boxes surrounding the living room. Ava sat in this exact same spot eight months ago, the day we moved in here. It was the beginning of our future; it was the start of Ava’s mission to make me believe in myself and others. Those eight months have flown by. I have grown as a person beyond measure and so much has happened since moving here. I chuckle to myself, thinking back to our last major pinky promise, the one about her hiding something from me. I knew then that my life was mirroring a damn soap opera and I knew the drama had to calm down eventually; how much can happen to someone before they even reach twenty five?
The past five weeks have been crazy, but good crazy. We have had laughs, fights, and tears. The tears were Ava’s when she felt like she was moving too quickly; the feeling of moving on in her life with Ryan but also leaving me was bittersweet. The fights were mine and Matt’s, my screaming at him over his protective ass and him screaming back at me over my lack of concern for my safety, and the laughs were our fun nights out and our chilled nights in. We had made a point of doing as much as we could together, not because we won’t be able to ever again, but because we all felt that it was needed to bring us all back together, and it worked. The four of us click together, we’re each other’s strengths and weaknesses.
Now there is only one day left before Ava moves out and Matt moves in officially with all of his things. Matt and I are spending the night at his apartment tonight as we’re all going to the bar for drinks, my drink being a non-alcoholic cocktail. Everyone will be meeting there in one hour, I’m already showered and changed from work, and I’m waiting on Matt to finish his phone call with his dad. We decided to wait until pip is born to go visit, I can’t wait. Matt had also told me last week that he had a name in mind for our baby, if it’s a girl. He wouldn’t tell me what it was, though; he said it had a meaning and didn’t want to jinx it.
“We’re good to go, baby,” Matt said, coming up behind me and wrapping his arms around my now expanding waist.
I wasn’t showing a couple weeks ago, then a bump appeared almost overnight. Matt’s face lit up like a child with a new bike when I climbed out of bed that morning and he saw me from a side angle. Ever since then, he hasn’t been able to keep his hands off of my stomach; he touches it at every chance he gets.
Looking over my shoulder at him, I smile. “About time, bad boy. Everyone else will be there before us at this rate.”
Placing a kiss on my temple, he grabs my hands, intertwining our fingers as he gently pulls me toward the door.
***
“Let’s dance!” Ava and Aimee both shouted over the music to Kaitlyn and I.
Pointing to my stomach and then to the huge crowd on the dance floor, I raised my eyebrows, telling them I wasn’t sure that being squashed in between drunken bodies would be such a good idea. Those two have drank their own body weight in cosmos, there is no chance in hell they’ll understand what I’m saying. I know that’s exactly what has happened when they look at me and giggle before they start stroking their hands over my bump.
Kaitlyn linked her arm with mine, leaned in close and whispered loud enough so I could hear her. “We’ll stay on the edge, I’ll stay with you at all times and if it gets too much we’ll come back here.”
Nodding my head, we start walking to the dance floor. The song changes and Kesha ft Pit Bull, Timber starts booming from the speakers as we reach the edge. Deciding here is as good a place as any, we stop and start dancing to the beat. Watching Kaitlyn dance, I can’t help but laugh, she’s caught Liam’s attention and is sliding her hand down her body while singing the lyrics about going down. Ava and Aimee are lost in the crowd; I can’t see them at all now. A group of guys are standing where I last saw them.
“We need to find Ava and Aimee,” I shouted to Kaitlyn.
I don’t like the idea of them possibly being closed in by a group of guys who have a smug look about them, the kind that wouldn’t take no for an answer.
Not waiting another minute, I pull on Kaitlyn’s arm and push us through the mass of people. We reach the group of guys and I look past them to find the girls. Relief floods over me like a tidal wave when I see them sitting in one of the booths on the far side, giggling and talking amongst themselves.
I flinch as I feel a hand on my arm, followed by a deep voice. “Hey, sweetheart.”
Turning to see what the hell he thinks he’s doing, a gasp escapes my mouth as the guy hits the floor. Matt is leaning over him with his hand around his neck, yelling in his face, telling him he made a big mistake by touching me. Anger fuels inside of me, yet again he’s hit someone.
Grabbing his arm, I jerk him around to face me. “What the fuck, Matt?!”
His heavy breathing and tight jaw should be warning enough for me to step down and let him deal with it in his own way, but I can’t.
“Don’t, Rylee. Just. Don’t.” He growled through his teeth.
Throwing my hands up and letting them drop to my sides, I let out a frustrated groan. “Fine, do whatever the fuck you want to do! It doesn’t matter what I say anyway,” I shout and turn away, shoving my way back through the crowd to the bar.
I don’t know what his deal is; he damned well knows I’m not going to stand there and let a guy go too far with
his wandering hands! He didn’t have to step in and save me, I’d have handled it.
I need to calm myself down before I face him. I storm upstairs and into the bathroom, slamming the door behind me and letting out a deep breath. With my back against the door, I tell myself to breathe; it’s what Ava would tell me to do if she was here, but she isn’t here, she’s still on the dance floor, probably pissed that I took off without telling her. But she’s totally inebriated and won’t have a clue what is going on.
Moving to stand in front of the mirror, taking in the reflection staring back at me. I rub my hands over my stomach, I know I have our child inside of me, but he should know I’d never put myself or pip in harm’s way. Despite my anger tears, my make-up still looks flawless, and I know it’s lazy of me not to take it off, but I can’t be bothered. I just want to go to bed and forget about Matt pissing me off.
Startled, I turn to face the door when I hear a light knock and see the handle turn, it doesn’t open because I double checked that I had locked it.
“Rylee, open the door I want to talk,” Matt’s voice comes through the door, he sounds desperate to check on me.
“No! Go away, Matt, I don’t want to hear it. There was no need for you to act that way,” I said in a bitter tone. He needs to know I’m pissed with him for acting the way he did.
I hear him let out a loud huff. “Rylee, quit being so fucking stubborn and open this damned door before I break the fucking thing open!” He said, almost shouting.
I let out a small laugh, not on purpose to laugh at him, but I have a nervous laugh sometimes and although I know one hundred percent I’m safe with him, I don’t want to push him too far.
“I’m not opening the door, Matt. You can talk from there,” I said raising my voice. I don’t think he’ll actually break it down.
“RYLEE!” He shouted.
Who the hell does he think he’s shouting at!
Now I’m not so sure he won’t break it down, I walk over to the door and open it, I see him leaning with one hand on the door frame and the other hand fisted like he was ready to punch his way through the door.
“Don’t shout my name like that, say what you have to say and go back to the bar!” I said, turning to walk back to the sink.
“You drive me fucking crazy, woman! I know you don’t get it-”
I cut him off; I’m fed up of hearing that I don’t get it. “Don’t get what, Matt? That you’re protecting me? Hell, why don’t you just piss a circle around me and be done with it or lock me up in your cave where only you can see me and talk to me? I won’t be able to upset you then!” I spat.
He silently walks in and stands behind me, placing his hands around my waist, his fingers splayed across my small bump. He really is pushing it, he knows I’m not in the mood to be man handled. I can feel his heart beating fast against my back, his hard breathing is evening out and he’s body is relaxing now I’m in his arms, having that calming effect on him that he told me about.
“I won’t go, I won’t walk away from you, not ever. I’m sorry, okay? I… remember when I told you I didn’t get scared at fights, or at the thought of dying in a fight?” he asked.
I can see him staring at me through the mirror in front of us. I nod my head, remembering that very night.
“Give me a fight or make me stare death in the face and I’ll take it, but this, you, our baby, give me the thought of losing either of you…and that scares me, Princess, scares the ever living shit out of me.”
Am I being inconsiderate of the way he is? I don’t want him to feel like he’ll ever lose us, he won’t. I try and put myself in his shoes, imagine losing him. Would I protect what I love and fight for him to believe that I’m doing it because I don’t want to lose him? Hell yeah I would, I always had to fight the sick feeling that threatened every time I thought of not having him in my life. I don’t want to change him, he is my life. He’s going to over protect us, suffocate us with his love and flip out when he sees fit, but this baby is going to have the most amazing daddy any child could ask for, just like I have the most amazing man I could ever ask for.
“I’m sorry, Matt, I love you… even with your overbearing ways and your bat shit crazy protectiveness. But it’s what makes you, you- and that is who I fell in love with. I don’t ever want to lose you, or make you feel like you’ll lose me, you’re more than I ever imagined and if I have to spend forever wrapped in your love and protection, then that’s a pretty perfect forever,” I said, smiling at him.
His mouth crashes against mine, causing me to sigh at the feel of his lips on mine. His hands move to cup my face, pulling me towards him, deepening our kiss. I slide my tongue into his mouth, searching his. A deep groan vibrates in his throat and travels through me as he moves his hand up into my hair, fisting my locks. My legs wrap around his waist as he carefully lifts me, not breaking the kiss, I hold on around his neck, pulling him closer to me as my heart starts to crash against my chest.
“Baby,” he breathes. “Fuck… I want you, but I don’t want to hurt you.”
“You won’t.”
He starts walking to the door, holding me firmly as he leads us to his bedroom. Lowering me on the edge of the bed, holding my legs, he drops to his knees in front of me. I lean up on my elbows, looking down at him, our gazes lock and I see the desire in his eyes as he drops his head and kisses and nibbles his way up the inside of my thighs.
My legs start to feel like jello, tingles shoot through me as the anticipation builds. I feel a rush of warmth in my core as his face presses against my now damp panties.
“Please, Matt…”
“Like this, baby?”
A whimper escapes me as I hear his words and his warm breath on my skin as he slowly slides his fingers inside my panties and through my wetness.
My back arches off the bed, a moan leaks from me as his fingers fill me. He continues to thrust them deep before lowering his head and covering my clit with his mouth, sucking hungrily. I feel the vibrations from his deep groan travel through me. Moaning, I throw my head back as bolts of pleasure shoot through my body.
“Yes… like that,” I say, breathlessly through my moans.
I rock my hips, gently meeting each deep thrust as he drives his fingers inside of me.
“Oh, God… don’t stop,” I whimper as my orgasm builds.
Feeling him lightly bite and suck my clit as his fingers hit my spot, I grasp the sheets as my orgasm falls over the edge and rips through me.
“Fuckkk… Matt…” I scream out, circling my hips, riding my orgasm out.
My body sinks into the mattress as I relax. Matt slowly gets to his feet and slides his hands under me, moving me further up the bed and placing my head on the pillow.
“Damn, you’re too fucking sexy, baby,” he smirks as he moves in next to me.
Wrapping my arms around him, I look up at him and grin. “And you have a lethal tongue, bad boy.”
“Just my tongue?”
“No… your hands are dangerous and your deep groans are intoxicating.”
His body shakes slightly as he chuckles. “I like how you describe me, Princess. You’re mind blowing and I always want to intoxicate you… but you need to rest that weary body of yours, we have to keep your strength up for pip,” he said, rubbing his hand over my bump.
Climbing back into bed after getting changed, I curl up into his arms as he wraps them tight around me, I sigh with contentment. I drift off to sleep with thoughts of this being my forever. You can’t plan how your life plays out or how the person you fall in love with is going to be, but I realize now that Matt isn’t trying to own me like Nate did, he is just scared of losing of me, and I in return have those same fears. Every couple does when you can’t breathe without each other.
***
Walking around Ava and Ryan’s new house, waiting for them to arrive back with more boxes and furniture, I step out onto the balcony which is through the sliding door in their bedroom. The view of the beach from here is br
eath-taking. It isn’t that far from our apartment, but it feels like a world away with the different scenery. I keep calling the apartment ours, but I can’t help it; I feel like it still is, even though her things have gone and are now replaced with Matt’s belongings. The guys moved her boxes out first thing this morning and Matt moved his in this afternoon, I felt helpless. I roll my eyes as I remember what he said when I offered to help, “stand there and just look pretty, Princess.”
Thinking about trips to the beach after I have the baby, it reminds me I have my ultra sound in two weeks and should be able to find out the gender. Neither of us mind what we have, and even though Matt had joked about hoping it’s a boy, he actually has his heart set on a girl; he’s even gotten a name for her, but he won’t tell me what it is, yet.
“Hey, what are you doing out here?” Ava’s voice pulled me from my daze.
Turning to see her standing behind me, I smile and walk over to her.
“I was admiring the view.”
“It’s beautiful, isn’t it? Come in here, I have something for you,” she said as she turned and walked back into the room.
Reaching out, she hands me a dress. I know exactly which dress it is, it’s the one I’ve always borrowed of hers; even though she had said I could keep it, I had never wanted to take it from her.
“I want you to have it, I won’t ever wear it and it looks so much better on you than me,” she laughed.
Taking the dress from her, I hold it up in front of me and laugh. “I don’t think pip fits in this with me.”
“No, I don’t think so… but it will fit again afterward and you’ll look as stunning as ever in it,” she smiled.
Wrapping my arms around her, I squeeze her tight and thank her for giving it to me before we exit the room and search for the guys.
Standing in the kitchen while the guys shift furniture in the living room, Ava slides a barstool over to me and demands I sit on it and rest. Like I actually need rest; I haven’t done anything all day.
“I can’t wait until your scan, I still think it’s a girl,” Ava said with a bright smile.