“Um… I’m going to get ready for bed.”
He nods as his eyes glide around my room. He looks as if all of this is draining him. It probably is, and I feel the same way. Quietly I shut my bathroom door.
“Breathe, Tess,” I whisper to myself as I start my shower.
“Make yourself at home. I’m going to rinse off,” I yell, sounding absurd, like Reed and I are on our first date instead of being together on and off for seventeen years. Shaking my head at my craziness, I peel off my clothes. God, I’m happy to be home. I love my bathroom—it’s my sanctuary. That probably sounds weird, but this was the only room I splurged on. It’s huge and lavish. Usually I would take a bath, but I don’t have time to soak or even relax for that matter. I hit my side spray buttons. The hot water slowly works its magic as I relax into it.
The glass door opens and closes. I keep my eyes shut letting the rain showerhead from above spray my body with cleansing warmth. My pulse is beating at an alarming rate. He comes from behind. His tall, muscled body barely touches me. It’s as if our body heat alone can cause the steam that’s billowing out the top of the shower. I lean my head back and let the water hit my face. I hear him hiss out a curse as his hands start on my hips, slide to my stomach, and move to my breasts. My nipples are already tight and hard craving his touch. He moves closer and his thick erection presses against my lower back. He bends and rubs the engorged head up and down my butt.
“Keep your eyes closed.” He nips my ear as the water dances on my skin and his hands caress my wet body. I lay my head back on his shoulder then hear the snap of what must be the shower gel. His warm hands are back, slowly massaging my neck and shoulders. The smell of the citrus vanilla glides over me.
I sigh. It’s so easy to let him take control, and at this moment, I’m too tired to fight my nature.
His breath touches my ear and I shiver. I’m sensitive already and moan when he slides his hands on my full breasts. He growls deep in his chest and it vibrates into me. The water continues its beautiful melody as it rains down on us. I reach to the side to brace myself on the slick bathroom tile. His one hand trails over my arm. He links my fingers with his, and his lips seem to drink and suck the pelting water off my neck.
“I’ve got you,” he rasps. “When have I ever let you fall?” He’s right. Reed has always held me up, caught me when I needed him. Until he left me in a pile of despair.
“Did you nurse?” His tongue licks the top of my ear. His other hand stops massaging my breast as he trails his slick soapy hands down my stomach and cups my pussy. I’m flushed and swollen and he asks me that?
“What?”
He guides me toward the cool tile. “Keep your hands on the wall.” He’s caging me in. The water has all but stopped hitting me. “I want to know if you nursed.” Both his hands grab my breasts as he plays with my hard nipples and my body arches into his.
“Yes, I nursed,” I say, leaning forward for his mouth.
He stops. All I hear is the water as his warm breath envelops me. I open my eyes to see his filled with what looks like longing, a hunger I can’t explain. Those long spiky eyelashes I remember so well move as he blinks, and he reaches up to push back his dark wet hair.
He slides his right hand up my torso to my neck, tilting my head back on the tile. I blink the water off my face.
“Don’t move, and close those pretty eyes.” His one hand stays on my neck as the other slides down to my sex.
“Yes.” My voice is raspy.
He rubs my clit roughly. I bite my lip—his fingers are amazing.
“Fuck, I love how wet you get. Spread your legs, baby.” I go to grab his hand. He tightens his grip on my neck. “Hands on the wall,” he commands.
“Reed.” I wriggle, but he has me pinned.
“You know I hate anything around my neck.” I swallow, trying not to panic.
“I do. I know all your fears,” he whispers. His fingers stroke me again as he tightens slightly on my neck.
“Relax. Trust me, Kitten.” My mind is at war, fear bubbling up as the truth that I’m completely at his mercy hits me.
“Shh, you can still breathe, Kitten. I want your trust.” In the back of my mind, I wonder what he’s done to earn this trust.
“I want your forgiveness,” I whisper.
He doesn’t reply. Maybe he didn’t hear me. He widens my legs further. His hand guides his thick tip to my entrance as he slowly fills me.
“This is what I want. Do you think you can give it to me?” His hand tightens a little more on my neck. And I stop worrying, stop thinking, stop breathing. All I feel is my pussy tightening as he thrusts almost lovingly into me. I’m consumed. No sounds, no breaths, just us two and our bodies joined, our souls merging. He raises my leg open and high as I absently feel the cool tile on my back and ass. I close my eyes to savor the feeling. White and dark spots play before my eyes.
“Tess… fuck, baby that’s it…” He releases my neck, hands gone. I gulp in air. My eyes open and I see everything more clearly. My body starts to soar, rocketing to an orgasm that can only be described as enlightening. I’m shaking and pulsing so hard I can’t stop spasming. Reed lifts me up as if I weigh nothing and I wrap my legs around his waist.
“Yes, beautiful. Fuck.” His hold tightens as he jerks and fucks me against the shower wall. “Tess,” he grunts, throwing his head back as he floods me with his seed.
As I lay my cheek against his rapid heartbeat and scarred chest, I’m completely undone. My name and arrow are still legible.
“Jesus, you did it.” He lifts my head, tilting it back, kissing the side of my face. His hands still hold me tight. Otherwise, I would slide to the floor
“We were one. I felt it… You did so good, Kitten.” His lips drift to the side of my wet forehead. “You’re my light.”
“Reed.” He slowly pulls out of me and sets my leg down. My eyes caress his beautiful face “I—”
Finding my mouth with his, he lands soft kisses upon me and I want to cry because I missed my moment to tell him the truth. I need to tell him that I love him, forgive him. Sometimes we don’t get those moments back.
When I awaken, I sit up, my eyes searching the silent, empty room. I was dreaming about years ago when Reed and I were living together in Manhattan and going to college. I swing my legs over and notice I’m naked. After the shower, we passed out.
“Reed?” I scream. Silence greets me. Ripping open my closet door, I grab my long white robe and bolt from my bedroom.
“Luke, Lilly?” I throw open their door only to be greeted with empty unmade beds and clothes tossed on the floor.
“Jesus, Reed.” I race down my stairs and run to the kitchen where I left my purse last night. Rummaging around for my cell, I look up at the smell of fresh coffee and see a note taped to my machine. I rip it off and tie my robe seeing as the shutters in my kitchen are open.
Kitten, we’ve gone to the store for breakfast supplies. Be back soon. I made coffee.
I can’t stop thinking about last night.
Love, Reed
P.S. I have our children safely with me in case you were worried I kidnapped them back to New York!
I drop my hands and rub my temples. What is happening to me? I reach for the mug Reed left for me. It’s one of our old Columbia ones, the logo slightly worn off. I reach for the coffee pot and pour myself a steaming cup. Sniffing the aroma, I take a small sip and sit at my kitchen table and replay last night.
When I think of how hard I came, my face heats up and I groan into my mug. How intimate and binding that experience was.
“God.” I smile into the hot steam. He was ecstatic that I gave him complete control. Reed has always liked to be in charge, but lately it’s like he’s breaking down some barrier with us. Last night might have been the breakthrough we needed. I look out the window. The sun is out even though it looks a little cold outside. A couple walks by with their dog and a baby carriage. Can I do that again? Do I even want to conside
r it? My phone rings and snaps my attention back to my kitchen as I take a deep sip of my dark coffee. I’m going to need several more cups to get me going this morning. It’s probably Reed calling because he’s lost. I can’t stop my smile or the quiver in my stomach. I’ve got that sunshine-and-rainbows feeling. That feeling I haven’t had in years and have no business having now. I lean over and grab it off the counter. Crossing my legs, I go to press Accept and freeze. It’s not Reed; it’s Scott, and my first instinct is to throw my phone as if it has a spider on it.
I don’t. I stare at it and wait to see if he calls again or hopefully leaves me a message. When I think I’m safe, it rings. I sigh and get up, pushing Accept. Might as well tell him the truth. Guilt and remorse prick my conscience anyway. I should have handled Scott before I left. He deserved that. Also, he’s got my dog since Brance and Logan have been staying in Tustin with Logan’s family.
“Hey, Scott…”
REED
I’m woefully unprepared for the grocery store experience with the twins. First, I trusted them. They said they would be good if I let them walk with me.
They lied.
One went one way; the other went the other way. After I decided to be smarter than my almost three-year-olds, I put Lilly in the seat and Luke in the cart. I don’t even know if that’s legal, but what the hell else do you do with twins? I make a mental note to ask Tess how she does it.
“Okay, guys, have you ever had green eggs and ham?” Luke is leaning over the edge pretending his hands are men, and Lilly is fascinated with balloons in the floral section.
“Daddy, I want a balloon, please.” Her cute, chubby hand points at a shiny pink heart with a teddy bear on it.
“Not right now, honey. We’re getting groceries.” I push past the balloons and straight into the fruit and vegetable section.
“Mommy likes piweapple.” Luke points.
“You are correct, son. Mommy loves pineapple. Let’s get some bananas and blueberries also.” My eyes skim the organic section for veggies.
A woman dressed in workout attire yet has full makeup on is looking at me. She flashes me one of the whitest smiles. Pretending I don’t see her, I avert my eyes as I grab some kale and broccoli.
“Moving on, kids. We’ll be in and out.” We glide to the next aisle—the cereal and fruit roll-up aisle. I know this because my twins have not stopped talking since we turned the corner. Apparently, this aisle is popular with them as they both point and whine for different items. I stand and listen in full amusement to both my children try to con me into buying Lucky Charms, Fruit Loops, and Nutella sticks.
I cave and grab the Nutella sticks—the twins’ cuteness is hard to resist. Together Luke and Lilly are quite a team, which makes me smile at how they will always have each other’s backs. A wave of nostalgia sweeps over me like a soft wind. I miss my brother.
A little old lady in one of those scooter carts whizzes by and stops around the oatmeal section.
“Hi.” Luke waves.
“Well, hello, young man.” She smiles at Luke who seems fascinated with the cart. “You two look a lot like this fellow.” Her red plastic visor matches her red lips as she assesses me.
“This is my daddy.” Lilly grabs my forearm and lays her head on it.
I chuckle. “Can I help you grab anything?”
“Oh, would you? I need the old-fashioned oatmeal. Not the quick oats, the old-fashioned.” She points her small, weathered finger upward. I reach up and hand her the old-fashioned oatmeal.
“Thank you.” She examines it, puts it into her cart, and zooms off.
I look at Lilly and Luke and grin at them. “We need eggs, bread, and some organic food dye. Don’t let Daddy forget the food dye, okay?”
“Got it,” Luke says as he stands up and starts to jump.
“Jesus.” My heart’s in my throat as I grab him and force him to sit.
“Luke, you have to stay seated. Christ.” I run a shaky hand through my hair. “If you would have fallen, you could have hurt yourself.” My voice is harsh and I see another mother shoot me a glare like I’m a shit parent or something. This is way more stressful than I thought.
I exhale. “Okay, guys, here we go.” Luke is pouting, his little arms crossed while Lilly is leaning to the side touching things as we go.
“How come every time we go to the grocery store, everybody likes to talk to you and Mommy?”
“Mommy’s pretty. Everyone loves her,” I say, distracted as I reach for a carton of eggs.
“You need to check them, Daddy.” Lilly looks at me like I’m crazy. I look down at the carton, and sure enough, one of the eggs is broken.
“Good call, sweetheart.” I reach for another one and check the date and the inside of the carton.
“It’s been a while since Daddy’s been to the store.” I grab some milk and butter. At this point, I’m picking up anything.
“Daddy, I have to go poo poo.” Luke proudly announces.
I glance around, and of course, a couple people are grinning at him.
“We’re almost done. Can you hold it?” He stands and holds out his hands, his fingers wiggling for me to pick him up.
“Mommy says it’s bad to hwold.” I look around helpless and wonder how Tess has been doing this? Running our family business is way less stressful.
A kind woman takes pity on me and directs me to the restrooms, where Lilly tells me she also needs to go. Lifting them both out, I head for the men’s room.
“I’m not a boy! Mommy always takes us in the girls.” She points to the other door.
“Honey, Daddy can’t go in the women’s room, and I can’t leave you alone, so you’re coming into the men’s.”
Right when we finish and are washing our hands, my phone beeps. It’s a text from Jax wondering if we made it back okay.
“Can I see, Daddy?” Lilly reaches for my phone. It slips out of my wet hands and falls to the ground.
“Uh-oh.” She looks down then up at me, a mischievous smile on her lips. “Sorry, Daddy. Can I have a balloon?” I almost start laughing, but I refrain. Grabbing my phone, I lead them out of the restroom and dump them both back inside the cart.
“I want a balloon too, Daddy.” Luke stands again. I push him down and see spices listed on aisle thirteen.
I quickly maneuver us over and find the dye. It’s at the end toward the frosting section. Tossing a bottle in, I head toward the checkout stand.
“What about my balloon?” Lilly is rocking back and forth.
“Honey, not today.” I pull out my wallet.
“Mommy always gets us a balloon,” she informs me with a smug smile. And my eyes widen as I see a flash of her in the future. Lilly as a teenager makes me wipe my forehead as I start to sweat. The cashier glances at my kids.
“Um, should I get them a balloon?” She can’t be more than twenty.
I look at them as they both smile big and sweet, and I want to grab them like Tess does and smother them with kisses. I grin back at them.
“Of course. We’ll take the pink one and the purple one.”
“No way, Daddy I only like bwue,” Luke says.
“Sorry, blue one.” She nods, hands them their balloons, and rings up our groceries.
“That will be seventy-eight dollars and forty-eight cents,” she says as she smiles at Lilly who smiles back.
I insert my black card and thankfully get the fuck out of there, balloons blowing around my face.
Tossing them aside, so I can find Tess’s Explorer, we head toward the car. I pile everything in the back and move on to my kids. Once that’s done, I can’t help but laugh. I’m exhausted and it’s still morning.
“I’m hot, Daddy.” I zip down the windows letting the fresh air in.
“Mommy likes music when we drive.” I turn up the music scrolling through the different radio stations until both my kids yell that they “love this song.” It’s some song about a woman and she’s his destiny. I can’t help but laugh as both of t
hem belt out the chorus.
A wave of excitement makes my pulse leap the closer we get to Tess’s. Christ, I’m pathetic. Here I am, a grown man panting after a woman who completely destroyed me, lied to me, and still, I can’t wait to get back to her. Last night fills my head. The way she completely trusted me, allowing us both to experience a spiritual joining. It’s brought up all kinds of emotions that I thought I had buried. Happiness is the closest way to describe it.
I push the remote and pull into her garage.
“Okay, guys, we’re home.” Putting the Explorer in park, I turn to them.
Perfect! They’re asleep. I chuckle as I grab the groceries and close the garage door. Dropping the bags on her kitchen counter, I turn as I hear a sound.
A fluffy white dog that looks like a stuffed animal comes bounding over to me. He’s very enthusiastic as I lean down to pet him. He licks my face, and I swear he’s smiling at me. Only Tess would get a dog that looks like this.
“Why didn’t you call me?” I freeze.
“I’m so sorry, Scott. I never ever meant to hurt you. I should have called, but I… I was a mess.” Tess genuinely sounds sorry. Maybe she has more feelings for this guy than I thought.
“You deserve to be happy. Why are you doing this? I thought if I gave you time and space you would see that we’re perfect for each other.” He sighs loudly almost aggravated. “I can’t help you if you won’t let me.”
“Scott, that’s just it. I don’t need your help. I appreciate you bringing me my mail and taking care of Pudding. But other than that, I’m not capable of giving you more.”
I suck in my breath. I need to go get the twins and let her do what she has to do. Unless she does the wrong thing—then I’ll step in. I smirk at myself. I haven’t felt this good in years.
As I walk into the garage, a soft nose nudges the back of my leg. The dog follows me as if he’s validating my decision to get my kids.
“You’re not much of a guard dog, are you?” I pet his head and he jumps up on me. “Okay, let’s go get the twins.”
The Enlightened (Entitled Book 2) Page 18