Henri listened to Stephen’s story in silence. “Well, I don’t know what to say, dude, wish I did.” He also knew Stephen’s mother, but he hadn’t known her to be prejudiced. Controlling and demanding, yes. But who did anyone really know? “You may have to talk to Beth; she may have the wrong impression about the two of you now,” he said in a complete non-sequitur.
“I know.”
Stephen would have to talk to Beth sometime, just not now. He’d finally responded to Reye’s text, wishing her Merry Christmas, but hadn’t spoken with her since he’d left. He could call. It hadn’t even been a week yet and here he sat, missing her. He needed to get a grip.
“Earth to Stephen,” said Henri.
“Sorry, dude, in another world. Is our game still on for tonight?”
“Yep.” He and Henri were meeting up later on that evening to play soccer with some of their old select team buddies.
They played basketball the remainder of the morning, after which Stephen went to workout with the weights. He hit the treadmill a little later and started running. He had one more semester and he decided that he would continue to spend it with Reye, starting now, not worrying about the outcome until he was forced to. He would head back to Austin in the next day or so to spend the remainder of the Christmas break with her. He’d rather be there anyway; why fight it? He would break it off for good when school ended. He didn’t want the headache that would result from trying to incorporate her long-term into his life, his friends, and his family. He would keep his options open, but he would not get phys ical with anyone else but Reye now. She was more than enough for him. Honestly, she was all he wanted right now.
* * *
Stephen’s cell rang. He was driving, trying to follow his soccer buddies from the fields where they’d just completed a soccer game to a new place that apparently offered cheap drinks and an overabundance of women. He wasn’t interested in the women part, but didn’t want to stand in the way of his buddies and their quests. He answered the phone, noting from the caller ID that it was Beth.
“Hey, Beth,” he said.
“Hey, Stephen,” she said, her voice a mix of enthusiasm and playfulness. “I enjoyed hanging out with you last night, and I was checking to see if you were interested and available tonight?”
“You know what, Beth, I need to apologize for giving you an impression that I wanted something more with you. I’m sorry, I don’t. I had a little too much to drink last night. It not you, it’s me, and I’m just not interested in starting anything right now.” Silence filled the air.
“Screw you, Stephen,” she said, hanging up.
“That went well,” he said into the darkness of his car, relieved.
* * *
Stephen was tired, exhausted even, as he lay on his bed later on that night. It had been a blast getting together with his soccer buddies, the same crazy nuts from high school. They all played hard tonight, capping it off with beer following the game. It was late when he’d gotten home, and his parents hadn’t waited up. He’d showered, put on some boxers, and gone to bed, but he couldn’t sleep. He was tired from today’s workout and game, but he remained restless. He reached for his cell and called Reye.
“Stephen,” she said, her voice low and throaty from sleep. He must have awakened her. The sound of her voice reminded him of the many nights he’d spent in her bed, her body, soft, warm, and open to him.
“Hey, did I wake you?” he asked. He lay on his back, his head resting against the pillow, his other hand moving along his chest.
“Not really . . . kind of . . . what time is it?”
“Eleven-thirty.”
“I went to bed early,” she said. “Long day at the office . . . where are you?”
“Still at my parents’. I met Henri and some old buddies for a game of soccer today. We went for beer afterward.”
“Beer, huh,” she said, a sexy laugh in her voice. “Yes, beer. Why’s that funny?”
“It’s not funny,” she said. “But you do know what beer does to you, right?” Her voice dropped to a smooth, sexy whisper.
“No, what does it do to me?” His voice dropped to match hers.
“I wish you were here,” she answered instead of explaining. “If you were here, and you had finished your beer, I would be laying next to you wearing nothing but smooth, brown skin.”
“Are we having phone sex?” he asked her, a smile now in his voice. He ran his hand down the front of his body, noting the change brought on by the sound of her voice and words.
“No, just thinking out loud. When are you coming back?”
“Keep talking to me in that voice and I’ll drive back tonight.”
She laughed. “Sam signed the team up for a soccer tournament this weekend over at the university fields. Our first game is in the morning . . . So . . .” she said slowly, “as much as I like to slide my hands all over your body, wrap my legs around you as you pump hard into me, I’d better let you go. I need my sleep.”
“Somehow I don’t think I should let you hang up, not after that. You will pay when I get back,” he said, laughing.
“I’ll hold you to that,” she said. “And hold you in my hands, my mouth, and your favorite spot,” she said, drawing out her words. “Good night, Stephen. Sweet dreams.”
He laughed. “Good night, Reye.”
* * *
Early the next morning, Stephen found his mother sitting in her home office, drinking her coffee, the newspaper and various magazines surrounding her. She was dressed to impress, as always. One of the morning shows played on the TV. She muted it when she heard him enter.
“Morning, Mom. Where’s Dad?”
“He’s gone to the golf course, getting his usual early morning start,” she said.
“I’m going back to Austin today. Some friends of mine are playing in a soccer tournament this weekend, and I’m going to join them.” It was not quite the truth, but close enough.
Her face showed disappointment, but it was smoothed over quickly with a smile. “But you’ve only been here a few days. You have more than two weeks left. Can’t you stay longer?”
“I would, but I can relax better at my place. I may come back later, before the semester starts up again. Anyway, my car is already packed. I’ll call you when I get to Austin,” he said, ending the discussion.
“It’s Reye, isn’t it?”
“What?” He stopped in his tracks, taking a second to recover from the shock. “No, Mom. Reye is a friend I helped out with school,” he said, his voice firm.
“Let me at least walk you to the door. I see that you’ve made up your mind,” she said. She stood and followed him out the front door and watched him get into his car.
“Bye, Mom. Tell Dad goodbye for me,” he said.
“I will. Remember to call me when you arrive, or I’ll just worry.”
“Will do,” he said. Giving her a final wave, he drove away.
* * *
“Losing sucks,” Reye said to Sam. “What kind of coach are you, anyway? We should vote you off the island.” Sam laughed at her antics. They’d lost the first two of three games scheduled for today, and Reye always took any opportunity to tease her brother about his failings.
“It’s your fault. You’re not living up to your potential,” Sam replied. “Mr. Defender needs to get back and lift your spirits. When will he be back, anyway?”
Reye shrugged her shoulders. “I don’t know,” she said. She didn’t want to talk about Stephen just then.
“When’s our next game?” she asked Sam to change the subject.
“This evening at seven, so rest up. If we lose this one we are out of the tournament.”
“Aye, aye, Captain,” she said, and gave him a mock salute. “I’ll be there.”
She sat on the bench and watched him leave, not in any hurry to get home. She was lonesome. Taking her time, she removed her shoes, socks, and shin guards and replaced them with running shoes. She pulled on her sweats. She loaded up her bag and wa
lked in the direction of the parking lot. Where had she parked? Turning to the right, she spotted her truck and stopped dead. Stephen stood there, leaning with his back against her truck’s door, looking beyond good. She felt her eyes start to water and her stomach flutter. Get a grip, Reye, she thought to herself. But he’d traveled back earlier than she expected, or had hoped. For me, she thought. He looked great, jeans riding low on lean hips, a t-shirt with some type of writing on it, and baseball cap pulled low over a gorgeous face. God, she loved him. She wouldn’t admit it to him, but the surprise of seeing him solidified that knowledge in her.
He was standing there, watching her, all tall, lean, golden, hers. She imagined her smile was wide enough to drive a truck through, and he returned it. She hurriedly walked over to him, stopping directly in front of him. Both of them wore huge smiles on their faces now, his wicked and full of promises, promises she knew he could and would keep. His arms went around her waist and he tugged her to him. She lifted her head, lips slightly parted, ready to meet his. She’d missed him more than she could say, so she tried to convey her feelings with her kiss. She opened for him and he marched in, like always, owning her. She loved his command. She didn’t know how long they stood there and kissed; she was only aware of him.
He shifted away from her lips, pulling her to him for a hug, wrapping her tightly in his arms. “Did you guys win?” he asked in her ear.
“No, we lost both games. One more game left to play, and I don’t want to play anymore now that you’re here. When did you get back?”
“Mid-morning, but I stopped by my apartment to check in before I came here.”
She moved in to kiss him again, feeling like an addict. She loved the feel of his mouth, warm as her tongue met his. She felt herself melting more, and felt his answering response against her stomach. “Where are you going now?”
“With you. Where else?”
“Are you hungry?”
“Not for food,” he said.
“I’ll meet you at my house?”
He released her and moved so that she could get into her truck. She let down her window. “Where did you park?”
“About two cars over. You go ahead. I’ll be right behind you.” He stepped back to let her drive away.
* * *
Reye rushed home, hitting the door at a run. She wanted to take a shower before Stephen arrived. Who would have thought he would come back early for her? This had to mean something, right? She meant something to him? It was more than just sex? She turned on the shower and stripped out of her soccer gear. She hopped in and cleaned up, probably breaking some kind of record for the world’s fastest shower. She stepped out, dried off as she walked into her bedroom, and grabbed shorts and a t-shirt. She wouldn’t have anything on for long, so it really didn’t matter.
She decided to change the sheets on her bed, taking time to spray a little of her favorite perfume on them. Picking up loose clothes that were lying around her house, she put them in the hamper. Passing through the living room she glanced at the books she wouldn’t get around to reading, but she was more than okay with that. Her kitchen was clean, but what to do about food? She opened the door, looking at the leftovers from her mother’s Christmas dinner. It would do in a pinch, and there was always delivery. As she stood there, she heard her doorbell. Beyond happy, she turned to go and let him in.
After Stephen watched Reye drive off, he’d driven to a restaurant and picked up dinner, dessert, and pastries for breakfast. He stopped by the store to grab a bottle of wine and champagne. For some reason he felt like celebrating. He arrived at Reye’s about twenty minutes later. He hadn’t unpacked from his trip home, so he grabbed the food, drinks, and his duffel bag and carried it all to her door. He rang the doorbell. As if she had been waiting by the door, it opened quickly. She stood there with a smile that could light up the night, her eyes twinkling. “I was beginning to wonder what happened to you,” she said.
He lifted his arms showing his purchases. “I went for sustenance . . . for later.”
She took the bags from him and walked into the kitchen. He followed, eyes trained on her fine backside. She’d changed into a t-shirt, no shoes, and her old track shorts that looked like underwear to him. He just loved her in them.
Placing the bags on the table, she began to pull items from them. He walked in, standing close behind her, taking in her scent. Placing his hands low on her hips, he bent his head to the curve of her shoulder. “You smell good,” he murmured, placing small kisses on her neck and ear. She stopped removing the food and twined her arms up and around his neck, anchoring him to her from the back. His hands slowly found their way to the hem of her shirt, and lifting it, they moved slowly over her stomach, sliding over her ribs, upwards to her breasts. Her body was satin to his touch. His breath caught as his hands found her breasts. No bra, good girl, he thought. They fit perfectly in his hands and he gave them a tug, drawing a moan from Reye. He took his time touching her. She needed to touch too, and turned to face him, her arms remaining in their position around his neck. He found her mouth and plundered it, pulling her even more tightly to him, both lost in each other.
He broke off the kiss leaned his forehead to hers. “I missed you,” he said. He pulled her shirt over her head and began to feast at her breast. She held on to his head as if her life depended on it. He paused to tug her shorts down, and, finding no underwear, his hands strolled along her ass, smooth and round. He spun her around to face the table, placing her hands on to the edge to hold her steady. Looking at her, his mouth watered. She was all lean, brown muscle. He pulled her body outward from the table and unzipped his jeans while spreading her legs. He grabbed on to her hips and pushed in, totally embedded in her with one thrust. Could she be any more welcoming, any more wet and snug?
“Give me a second,” he said. Leaning his chest on her back, he planted kisses on her neck. She pushed back into him, impatient, and he responded with a growl, his rhythm starting out slow and gradually increasing in speed. One of his hands traveled to the front of her body and wandered between her breasts and her sex, trying to accommodate both, turning Reye into a pool of liquid. She moaned continuously; it all felt so damn good.
“Please don’t stop,” she said.
“Are you kidding?” he groaned out, increasing his tempo, pushing harder into her body. She met him thrust for thrust.
“Oh, babe, you feel so good.” He was barely aware of the words that emptied from his mouth. Conscious only of how she felt, surrounding him, hugging him tightly, and coming. They both moaned as orgasms hit them simultaneously. Stephen gritted his teeth and held Reye as his climax washed through him. He laid his head on her back, trying to breathe, still needing somehow to touch, his mouth kissing her neck and back. His hands had somehow found their way around to her breasts, and he now released his hold on them.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
“I think so,” she said as he lifted her arms from the table and turned her to face him.
“I really missed you,” he said, capturing her face in his hand, kissing her softly over and over. “Hungry?” he asked, and they both laughed.
* * *
Reye talked Stephen into going with her to the next game. She was sitting in his car as he drove them both to the last game of the tournament after they’d both showered and changed into shorts and soccer gear. She would have to talk to Sam about him playing once they arrived at the fields. As they pulled into the parking lot, Reye spotted Sam. “Let me off here and I’ll go talk to him,” she said, grabbing her bag. “We’re on field number five. I’ll meet you there after you park.” She leaned over for a quick kiss and hopped out.
“Sam,” she shouted, running to catch up to him. He turned at the sound of her voice and waited.
“Guess what?”
“What?”
“Stephen is here, and I talked him into coming to the game. Maybe he could play?”
“Maybe. I need to meet him first,” Sam said as he and Reye
walked over to their field. About five minutes later, Stephen walked up. Reye turned to make the introductions. “Stephen, this is my brother Sam. Sam, Stephen.”
Reye watched them take each other’s measure. Sam extended his hand for Stephen to shake. Stephen accepted. Stephen could tell that Sam and Reye were related, same height, same coloring.
“Reye tells me you came ready to play,” Sam said. “If you need me, sure, but don’t make any changes to your line-up on my account.”
“Don’t worry, we lost two games already and we’re out of the tournament for all practical purposes. So you can play if you want.”
Reye stood there smiling. “Reye,” Sam said to her. “Would you go to the main tent and grab the game card for me, I forgot to pick it up.”
“Sure,” said Reye, looking anxious. She turned to leave, but not before giving her brother a warning look. They both watched her walk away.
* * *
“So, Stephen, Reye tells me that this is your last year in law school?”
“Yep, that’s true.”
“What are your plans after you finish? Are you going to remain in Austin, or will you be going back to Dallas?”
“Dallas is home. My family’s law practice is there, so if I want to work with them I’ll need to be there.”
“Hmm. Let me just cut through the bullshit. You seem like a nice enough guy, so don’t take this the wrong way. My sister likes you, and I wouldn’t want to see her hurt, so if this is a game to you, you need to move on to someone else,” Sam said, all business.
Stephen was equally serious and not at all intimidated. “I appreciate your advice, but Reye and I are both adults and what happens to us is between us,” Stephen said.
Reye's Gold (Indigo) Page 14