He came, and this climax was beyond any in his experience. His hands moved to her ass to capture her cheeks, to tilt her hips upward, and hold her in place while he finished. He would apologize later for the marks that he was sure would be on her body and lowered his head into the curve of her neck, working through the last of his spasms. He slowly regained a sense of himself, as if waking from a dream, recognizing the position he had Reye in, backed up against the wall in a storage closet. He lowered her legs to the floor but remained embedded in her, not quite ready to leave. He moved his mouth to hers and kissed her again, gently this time, capturing her tongue and entwining it with his.
“I am really sorry for this week. Can we get past this?”
“I think we just did.”
She leaned in for another kiss, which he gladly gave. “You make me crazy,” she said, her head resting against his.
“Yeah?” he said. He moved his lips to her neck. “Yeah,” she responded, loving the feel of him. “Can I come by tonight?” he asked, his lips contin uing their movement up her neck, now leaving small kisses below her chin.
She sighed, but nodded. “Give me about a hour,” he said, helping her with her clothing. “I need to run by my apartment first.”
“Okay.”
He tugged her into his arms again. “I’ll see you later, and again I really am sorry about this week,” he said, kissing her one last time.
Opening the door, looking both ways, he left. Reye waited for a minute, then followed on legs filled with jelly. Her body tingled. She remembered a line from Ghost, her favorite movie. “You’re in danger, girl.” It was her favorite line from that movie, one that she repeated occasionally, and it seemed appropriate for this moment. Yep, she was in danger.
Reye arrived home thirty minutes later and took a shower, washed her hair, and changed into some sweats and a t-shirt. She put on a CD and turned off the lights except for the table lamp next to the sofa in the living room. She located several fat candles that she kept around and lit them, placing them in the living room. She then turned off the remaining lamp and sat back on the couch to wait for Stephen. She didn’t have to wait long. She went to the door when he knocked and let him in. He dropped his books by the door and followed her back to the couch, taking a seat next to her. They were both quiet as they listened to music.
She took a moment to look at him. He’d changed into some much-worn jeans and a yellow polo-style shirt that clung to his upper body. He was beautiful to her, filling her with both joy and dread. She knew she was attractive, but not as much as he. She wondered how she matched up to the other women he had been with. He also had that whole arrogant, confident, I’m-used-towealth thing working for him.
Stephen was glad to be here. He sat on the couch and pulled Reye over to him to rest her head on his chest. He kicked off his sandals and put his feet up on the table in front of him. He hadn’t felt this relaxed all week. He looked down at her, and he was touched by how beautiful she was. He’d missed her this week. He loved her soft skin, wide smile, and sparkling eyes. He moved his hand through her hair and down to trace over her lips.
It was quiet except for the John Mayer CD playing in the background.
“Reye, you know I didn’t use a condom earlier.”
“Really?” she said, thinking to tease him. As she looked up to his face, she changed her mind. He was serious.
“Relax, I’ve used birth control for a while now for reasons other than sex. You don’t have to worry, no babies for me. I’m clean, too, if that’s what you’re afraid of. I know I came on strong to you in the beginning, but I’ve never been really sexually active.”
“I’m not worried, just making sure. I’m clean, too. You were my first. Really,” he said, acknowledging the look of disbelief on her face. “My dad and mom drilled condom use into me from sixth grade onward. Taking instruction from my dad, that I could handle, but my mother was something altogether different. I’ve always used a condom.”
“Feel free to continue, if you want. I’m okay, either way.”
He didn’t want to go back to protection, or at least not with her. What they did earlier had been unbelievable; she’d felt incredible wrapped around him.
“I am glad you came over,” Reye said.
“I am, too.” He paused. “Joe and his comments about you after the game last week and from the frat party before hit me unexpectedly. When people say things like that it always comes as a surprise to me. In this day and age, I wouldn’t expect to hear those things. I’m sorry again that I let them get the best of me. Just be patient with me, Reye. This is uncharted territory for me, too.”
“I know,” she said, “but your task is easier. I make it easier, you know, with me being beautiful, smart, and sexy.” They both laughed.
She turned in his arms and kissed him.
“Ready for bed?” he whispered in her ear as his hand moved to capture her breast.
She laughed again. “Did anyone tell you that you have a one-track mind?”
“It’s a guy thing,” he replied, smiling back at her. She stood up, blew out the candles, reached for his hand, and led him to her bedroom.
Chapter 8
I’m beat, Reye thought, walking towards the center’s main entry, heading home and looking forward to some major face time with her couch. Stephen had called earlier, telling her that he would be spending the night at the law library. Poor guy, she’d miss him, but she could definitely use the sleep.
“Reye.” She turned at the sound of her name to find Dr. Houston walking towards her. She was impeccably attired in a pretty black and pink floral skirt paired with a sleek black top and, of course, there were the matching three-inch heels on her feet. She’d bet good money that Dr. Houston had a personal clothing fairy tucked away at her home somewhere.
“Do you need to get home or can you take a minute to talk with me?” She’d stopped walking and was now looking up at Reye for an answer.
“Sure, I’ve got a minute.”
“Let’s go to my office,” Dr. Houston said as she turned and led the way with Reye trailing along behind her. When they entered the office, Dr. Houston moved to sit behind her desk. Reye took the seat immediately in front, facing her.
Always direct, Dr. Houston started. “Reye, first I want to thank you for the amazing job you’ve done with the children and the after-school program. You have gone above and beyond what’s been asked of you. I really appreciate the hard work and dedication you’ve shown our children. You have a gift for working with kids.”
“Thank you,” Reye said, feeling a little overwhelmed by the praise. “I’m learning as much as I’m teaching, and it’s been great volunteering.”
“I’m glad. So, as to why I’ve asked you here. I would like you to consider taking a more permanent position with us instead of a volunteer. I would like to offer you a paid position. You would continue to work with the children in the after-care program. The only major change would be that I need you to be here every day. Your schedule would remain the same otherwise. Is that something you’d be interested in?”
“Yes, I’m interested, but why the change?”
“The board, parents, and the children love the work that you’ve done here so far, and we’ve gotten more than a few request from parents wanting you to spend even more time with their kids. Do you think it’ll interfere with your studies? I realize this is your last year at the university, and I wouldn’t want it to jeopardize you graduating.”
“No, I could manage the extra days and I could certainly use the money,” she said, looking into Dr. Houston’s smiling face.
“Great!”
“Now, I have a question for you,” Reye said. “Shoot.”
“I’ve given some thought to coaching the kids, you know, helping them learn the game of soccer. I could work with them following the aftercare program in the evenings and maybe some on the weekends if there is interest. Who knows, maybe we could eventually play as a team in the spring league. I k
now of several recreational leagues in the city.”
She rushed on, leaning forward in her chair enthusiastically. “I think it would be helpful for the kids to have another outlet. One that would keep them fit while helping them gain confidence in other areas of their lives. I’ve always been involved in sports, and it helped me when school was difficult. I think it would be good for them, too.”
“Okay, I haven’t said no. What are the costs?”
“Let me put something more formal together for you. Off-hand, there are uniform costs, but those can be kept to a minimum. There are rec. league fees, but I could look for sponsorship for parents who can’t afford to pay.”
“Well, you do your research. We would need to get the parents’ permission, but if they’re willing to let their children play, I don’t see why we can’t make it work,” Dr. Houston offered.
“Yes!” Reye shouted, beyond excited.
* * *
Reye sat down at her kitchen table to study for school, thrilled with the progression of her life so far. She was excelling in her classes at the university, the after-school program had grown, and she would get to coach a soccer team, having received approval from the parents.
The first practice was scheduled for next Monday. And, finally, there was Stephen, her first relationship in a very long time. Well, technically it wasn’t a relationship, but he did spend most evenings and nights at her house and that had to count for something, didn’t it? It had been four weeks since the last game, but when she added the two before that it came to a total of six weeks. It was her longest non-relationship so far. She’d steered clear of probing his prior dating history, and he hadn’t voluntarily offered any information about it. She avoided discussing anything that had to do with the future or the past with Stephen. She wasn’t going to press him. Right now she was happy with her life.
* * *
Reye sat in the passenger side of Stephen’s car as he drove them home from a movie. It was their first and only venture outside of her home so far. They were now driving over to his apartment. He needed to pick up some additional clothes and books. He drove into the gate of what she knew were townhouses for the up-and-coming in Austin. This neighborhood was clearly out of her price range.
“You live here?”
“Yes.” She was surprised and impressed, at least with what she’d seen so far.
He pulled up to a garage that apparently belonged to his town home and, on cue, the garage door opened. After parking inside, he preceded her up a set of steps that led into a small room equipped with a washer and dryer. He continued on into a kitchen that was large and beautiful. Maple cabinets and stainless steel appliances gleamed and converged with beautiful hardwood floors. She couldn’t name the wood, but she knew it was not your standard local hardware store laminate. Wow, she thought, taking it all in. A bar separated the kitchen from the living room and the dining room. The breakfast area stood off to the side of the kitchen. Stephen walked on toward his bedroom down the hall while she wandered into the living room, trying not to gawk. Floor to ceiling windows let in the sun and looked out to the unit’s shared swimming pool. Nice view. Framed artwork graced the walls, sitting alongside a lovely flat screen TV. What student lived liked this? A large sectional leather sofa sat on hardwood floors that continued from the kitchen. “Wow,” she said again, out loud this time, recognizing quality and its cost from having renovated houses with her dad. A hallway led to two bedrooms, Henri’s on the right and Stephen’s on the left. She walked into Stephen’s room, which was also spotless and beautifully decorated.
“How do you keep this place so clean?”
“My mother hired a bi-weekly cleaning service for us.”
“Oh.”
“What do you mean, oh?”
“Nothing. That’s really generous of her.”
“Generous, my ass. It’s just a way for her to keep tabs on what’s going on in my life. She employed the cleaning service, and I’m sure she is informed of any out-of-theordinary occurrence around here.”
“I see,” she said, standing in the middle of his room, which also possessed floor-to-ceiling windows and a sliding door that opened out to a small patio. The wood floor continued throughout the house, accompanied by walls painted a light brick color. In Stephen’s bedroom, a king-size bed covered with a beautiful white duvet was positioned along the non-windowed wall. Matching nightstands flanked the bed with books scattered and stacked on them. Reye knew very few students with coordinated furniture. This wasn’t your regular student housing; not for anyone in her crowd, anyway. Framed pictures also adorned the walls in here. Impressive; she bet good money that a designer had decorated this place.
She followed Stephen into a large walk-in closet and stood watching him. He stood in the middle of his closet looking through his clothes. He really had a lot of clothes. Funny, she could only recall seeing him in jeans, shorts, or t-shirts. She continued to stand and watch him, admiring the way he moved. He always seemed at ease in his skin, something she’d envied sometimes. He’d also proven to be a very sexual being, and he was comfortable with those thirsts, too. She closed the closet door and walked over to stand behind him, putting her arms around his waist. She loved that she was close to him in height. She loved, absolutely loved, his body. She’d grown accustomed to their unexplainable sexual connection and his endless supply of sexual energy.
She leaned over his shoulder and planted a kiss on his neck as he continued to look forward, pretending indifference. She knew better. She moved one of her hands to the front of his jeans and followed the hard length that seemed to grow in size under her hand. She loved that part of him, too. He remained still, but she could hear his desire by the change in his breathing. She unbuttoned and lowered the zipper of his jeans slowly while she moved to kiss the space just under his ear, another favorite. She closed her eyes and gave herself over to the feel of him. One of her hands moved under his shirt to touch his skin. Grabbing the end of his t-shirt, she pulled it up and over his head and moved to stand in front of him, looking into his eyes, finding them simmering with desire. That was a look she’d also come to love. It made her feel extremely sexy, and could take her from zero to sixty in two seconds flat. She kissed him, mouth open and hungry. She loved his mouth, his tongue, and his intensity. She loved that he took control of her body, moving into a zone that had him making love to her each time like it would be his last and he had to make it count. Lowering herself on her knees in front of him, she pulled her shirt over her head and released her bra. She opened his jeans, pulling them down his legs and off, running her hands over his hard length, smiling at his sharp intake of air. She looked up at him, all golden, and all hers, at least for now. Removing his underwear, she leaned over him, taking him in her mouth. They both moaned. His hands found purchase in her hair, positioning her head to his liking. She loved the feel of him and allowed him to set the pace, finding a rhythm that she could accommodate and groaning at the rightness of her mouth on him. Moving his hips faster, he held her head steady and pumped into her mouth. Not soon after, a steady stream of words escaped his mouth, a sure sign that he was close.
“God, Reye,” he whispered. Grabbing his butt, she pulled him closer. He whimpered but continued to pump. “Reye,” he moaned again as he came. She continued to hold him to her until she felt his body relax, and then she sat back on her heels and looked up at him. He stared back at her, his eyes unreadable.
He didn’t say a word, pulling her up to him for a kiss, lifting her arms, placing them to circle his neck while his hands moved on, seeking her breasts. Perfect, he thought and rubbed circles around them. He was getting hard again, but this time he would be inside of her. He leaned back away from her. “Take off your pants,” he said with quiet authority. That worked for her; she was more than ready and would have done just about anything he’d asked of her. When all of her clothes were gone, he pulled her back to him, loving the feel of his body next to hers, skin on skin, smooth and firm. He backe
d her up to the closet door, turned her so that she faced it, lifted and placed her arms high on the door and took a moment to admire her as she stood.
“Oh, Reye,” he said at the picture she made. He moved his hands in front of her to capture her breasts, squeezing them gently, hearing her moan. One of his hands made the trek down the front of her body to the opening between her legs. He found her wet, always wet, his finger playing with her until her panting became fast and erratic.
“Please,” she begged him.
He moved in closer to her, touching the front of his body to her back. Leaning over her shoulder he whispered in her ear, “What do you want, Reye?” His hands continued to play her body, eliciting another moan from her. He moved them to her waist, pulling her ass outward, away from the door. With one of his legs he spread hers, moving in close, and, without warning, he plunged into her. She couldn’t think, could only feel. His hands found her breasts again, and, leaning over her back, he sucked her neck while he fucked her hard. He didn’t stop, couldn’t stop, relentless in his stokes as his mouth feasted on her neck. His hands moved, frenzied, at her breast. She came, quick, strong, and sharp, rendered incapable of speech.
“Reye, Reye,” he growled, her name a mantra, his chant, as he came into her, holding her hips tightly to him. They didn’t move. He stood leaning over her, with her slightly bent towards the floor taking in gulps of air. Straightening, he turned her in his arms, walking her until her back touched the closet door, rubbing his thumb over the mark now at her neck. Cupping her face in his hands, he kissed her again and again, content to have her skin next to his. He would get past this need for her. He just needed more time. What was it about her that left him shaken and craving for more?
Reye's Gold (Indigo) Page 10