Chapter 16 - Cayden
I stepped off the elevator and stretched as I walked down the hallway to the apartment door. I unlocked the door and pushed it open. I froze as I took in Riley standing in the kitchen.
She was wearing a short red dress that stopped just a few inches from her knee. She was dancing around as she moved some music playing around her. She was in high spirits, swaying her hips as she moved around.
She looked happy, and I felt my heart leap. She seemed comfortable in the apartment and around me.
I took the kitchen in and saw she had pans out and was cooking. It smelt wonderful with herbs and wine.
She turned, and her eyes stopped on me. She smiled wider. "Your home."
I nodded. "I am. What's all this?" I asked, waving my hand. "Were you sick of my cooking or the fast food?"
She snorted, rolling her eyes and turning her attention to a pan. She stirred it with a wooden spoon. "No, I wanted to cook dinner to celebrate that I applied at the daycare center, and I'm pretty sure I got the job. The gal said she had one more person to interview, but I was the front running."
"Well, that's great. Congratulations."
She beamed. "Right! So, I figured I could make dinner, and we could have a nice dinner. I even bought a nice wine to pair dinner with."
I slipped off my shoes and walked into the kitchen. It looked like she had cooked up a feast. She'd made shrimp scampi and garlic bread. I could even smell chocolate, and she turned as the oven timer dinged. She pulled out a pan, and she'd made brownies.
"You really did go all out," I said, taking a seat at the counter. "You must be feeling a lot better."
She blushed, nodding her head. "I am. I feel… in control of my life."
I understood that feeling all too well and realized she was where I had been all those years ago when I left. Not knowing what your future held or what was going to happen. It was scary, and it sucked.
"Well, I'm glad I could be of help."
She grabbed the wine bottle and uncorked it. She had two wine glasses out already and started to pour into them.
"You have more than just helpful, Cayden. I don't think any of this would have been possible without you. So, this is a bit of thanks for all the help."
I gave her a smile. "You don't need to thank me for being there when you needed someone."
"I do. So just accept it." She handed me a glass. "And help me set the table."
We moved everything to the table and took a seat. Riley served the food, and my mouth watered at the sight of it. "Have you always been a cooker?"
She nodded. "Yeah, I always enjoyed making fancy dinners for Brad." The words slipped out, and then she paused, realizing she'd brought him up.
She swallowed. "I guess old habits die hard."
"You know I don't need fancy dinners. I'd be happy with a box of macaroni and cheese."
She smirked. "I enjoy cooking. It wasn't just for him."
I took a swig of the wine, hoping the alcohol would help.
Riley moved her food around on her plate for a moment before she looked back up at me.
"How did you and him meet?" I asked, needing to know.
She glanced up for a moment, her eyes glazing over for a split second. I knew her mind was traveling back to the other day, but it didn't stop there. A faint smile pulled at her lips before she softly sighed.
"I thought it was love. We met several years ago at a fundraiser that your sister and I attended with your parents. He had everyone's attention, and his eyes were on me." She stirred her food around. "He was sweet, but I've learned he's just that way in public. He had a way of making an insult feel like a compliment. And...it wasn't always bad. He was sweet at the beginning."
"Why did you stay?"
She wet her lips, biting her lower lip for a moment before setting her fork down. She looked up at me. "Because after you rejected me, I didn't exactly have many options. If my own mate didn't want me, who would? So, I went for the next best thing."
It felt like I'd been slapped and didn't know what to say. I felt angry at myself.
She looked away, picking up her fork and taking a bite. I scowled. "Riley…please tell me that isn't true."
"Which part? You rejecting me, or am I going for whoever would love me?" She gave me a hurt smile before she shrugged. "I don't blame you. I know how it works. You're looking for the best partner, not just someone who's been forced to be your mate. It's a smart way to look at it."
"That's not…" I stammered for words, my anger popping further to the surface. I didn't think I could hate my parents more than I did, but somehow, I did. I hated them even more at this moment. Because if they hadn't been so persistent, so forceful on the subject, I wouldn't have had to leave. I would have been there for Riley when she needed it, and she wouldn't have had all this happen.
"And I don't blame you. I've always had low self-esteem since I was young. I get that my weight affected how people looked at me and how people accepted me. It's not your problem. I couldn't figure my life out."
I ground my teeth together, feeling pure rage. I could see just how broken Riley was, and everything from the start made sense.
She moved her fork around. "I built things up in my head growing up. I always thought you liked me. Or maybe you could, but I think I just mistook your kindness for more."
I felt my nostrils flare, and I felt disgusted with myself. I thought leaving was best, but I'd been wrong.
She looked up at me and swallowed. "I said too much, didn't I?"
I placed my hands down on the table. I needed to tell her the truth, and while this moment wouldn't lighten everything she'd gone through, it was something. She would eventually understand, wouldn't she?
"Riley, I left the pack because my folks wanted me to pursue you."
She raised an eyebrow at me. "And?"
"And you were too young." I ran a hand through my hair. "I don't want this to sound like an excuse because it's not, but you were young. You were fifteen when I left."
Her eyes widened a little.
"You were eleven when it started….the last thing you should have had to deal with was a horny teenager trying to get into your pants. I didn't want to ruin what childhood you had left."
She looked a little shocked and shook her head. "No, April said you and your folks had a big fight about…"
"You. We had a fight about you. They were pushing, and I'd had enough. I figured things would be better if I left." I frowned. "But I guess it wasn't best for everyone because it left you were them. I figured you had April. That you'd be safe. She could smell bullshit from ten miles away."
Riley shook her head. "No. You…you cringed when you saw me."
I scowled at her. "I did not."
She nodded. "Yes, you did. That day by the pool. You cringed because I was overweight."
I had no idea what she was talking about, and then it hit me. It was summer, and the girls were hanging out by the pool. Riley had been tanning, and it had been the first summer I'd seen her with breasts. Her body was beginning to change, and I noticed. I noticed right away.
"It was a painful cringe, Riley."
She scowled. "Because it was painful to look at me?"
I rubbed my eyes. "Riley, you were in a skimpy two-piece swimsuit, and I was a horny nineteen-year-old. You gave me a hard on, and it hurt."
I dropped my hand. "I have never had an issue with your weight, and I certainly wouldn’t cringe at it. I think you dancing in your bra and underwear the other day proved my point just fine."
She blushed, falling silent. Neither of us spoke for a long moment before she placed her hands in her lap. "Does that mean that you wanted me back then? That you want me now?"
I wanted to ask her why she would question that, but I'd never told her. We'd never spoken about it, and we'd never discussed it, so why would she know?
I nod. "Yes, I have wanted you since the first day I saw you and even now. I have never wanted anyone else besides you, Riley. I want all of you. Your mind, your body, and your soul."
She looked stunned for a second before pushing herself up and walking toward me. "Then have me," she stated so softly.
She stopped in front of me, leaning closer. I inhaled her scent, feeling my body tense up. She was like a forbidden fruit I had avoided for years.
I frowned. "Riley, you've been drinking."
She leaned closer, her lips grazing mine softly. "Cayden, it takes more than half a glass of wine to intoxicate me."
I remained stiff as she kissed me again. Her lips were soft. Jesus, so soft.
"Unless you don't want me."
"Riley, don't poke the beast," I growl at her. "You have no idea."
She leaned back, batting her eyelashes at me. A smile pulled at her lips. "Why don't you show me then? I'm not a child anymore, Cayden. I would like you to stop treating me like one."
All the restraint I had was gone. I wrapped my arms around her, yanking her against me, and took her mouth like it was the last time I'd be able to. I devoured her mouth, taking her tongue into my mouth.
She tasted like wine, and I felt a head rush roll over me. Riley groaned softly as I pulled my hands around, grasping her ass, hoisting her even closer. I pressed her flat against my body, feeling her warmth.
There was no turning back from this, and I was okay with that.