Chapter Seven
Ridley
O ur second night together is a lot like the first. When I carry Paisley to bed and wrap myself around her, she snuggles up against me with a soft sigh and passes out. It doesn't take long before I follow, content in a way I haven't been in years.
We don't sleep long before she wakes me up with her mouth on my cock. I fuck her back to sleep…only to wake her up again an hour later with my cock buried inside her.
By the time we're too exhausted for another round, it's nearly dawn. I leave the bed only long enough to shoot a message to Bastian to tell him not to expect me today. Hell itself isn't dragging me from this bed.
I don't know exactly what we are right now. I don't know what she wants or where her head is at. Was this just one night to her? Christ, it'll kill me if it was. But I'm not leaving this bed. I'm not leaving her. There's not a chance in hell of that happening.
Even if it takes the rest of my life to convince her that she's it for me, I'll do it.
A soft sound pulls me from sleep a few hours after dawn. I pop my eyes open, already reaching for Paisley. But she's still snuggled up against me like she hasn't moved at all.
A thud sounds from outside the door.
"Shit," I mutter, yanking the blanket up over us half a second before Lucy waddles into the bedroom.
Her blue eyes land on me and then go comically wide.
"Hey," I murmur, not sure what the fuck else I'm supposed to say.
Her gaze drifts from me to Paisley and then back before her lips curve up into a grin. "So…I guess this means we aren't feeding you to the sharks?"
"Do I even want to know which of you decided that should be my fate?" I ask.
"It was me."
I glance down at Paisley to find her blinking bleary eyes at me. She looks so sweet and sleepy. My damn heart rolls in my chest, my cock hardening. Christ, she's gorgeous.
"You were that pissed, huh?"
"Just a little," she says, her voice still raspy from sleep. And then her gaze drifts toward Lucy, her cheeks turning pink. "Um, hi."
"You didn't come over for breakfast, so I thought I should come and make sure that you didn't get wine drunk and drown in the tub last night," Lucy says, barely managing to contain a smile. "But I guess you're good."
"Yeah, I'm good."
Laughter burbles from Lucy's lips. "I'm going to assume that we're not still hanging out today."
Paisley peeks over at me, biting her lip, and then back at Lucy. "Can I take a raincheck?"
"Yep," Lucy says cheerfully. "But you aren't getting out of karaoke tonight. Mama Gracie is watching the girls so Oliver and I can go." She flicks a gaze at me. "You're coming too."
"Uh, I am?"
"Yes. We're all going. It's tradition."
Paisley must notice the confusion on my face because she quickly fills me in.
"She convinced Oliver to take her out dancing the night before she had Lyra because she was overdue and wanted to induce labor.
But Oliver was convinced it wasn't safe, so he dragged everyone along with them.
And it's a good thing he did because her water broke on the dance floor.
Now, she drags everyone out to the same bar the night before Lyra's birthday every year and calls it a tradition.
" Paisley's lips quirk into a grin. "We go under duress. "
Lucy gasps like she's offended. "Uh, rude. I do not call it a tradition. It is a tradition. And you guys freaking love going out with me."
"We'll be there," I promise her.
"We, huh?" Lucy beams at me. "I like the sounds of this."
"Your brother-in-law is naked under this blanket, Lucy," Paisley says.
"Oh my gosh!" Lucy spins around with a squeak. "I'm leaving. Don't tell Oliver that I saw Ridley naked!"
"What the fuck? You didn't see me naked," I mutter.
Paisley just laughs as my sister-in-law scurries from the room like her ass is on fire. I dip my head, narrowing my eyes at her. "You did that on purpose, didn't you?"
"Yes," she confirms. "I love her, but I need to pee, and she wasn't going away without a reason to go."
I chuckle, brushing my lips across hers.
She melts beneath me, her eyes fluttering. "You stayed," she whispers against my lips.
"Yeah, I stayed." I brush another kiss across her lips. "Did you think I wouldn't, Dimples?"
"I don't know." She shrugs.
I sigh, curving my hand around her jaw to force her to look at me. "I'm not going anywhere," I say once her eyes are locked on mine. "You aren't waking up without me again."
"Ridley, you can't just say that."
"I already said it."
"You have a job to do."
"Not today, I don't. My only job today is to be right here with you."
"Really?" Her lips curve into a happy smile. "You're taking the day off?"
"I am."
"In that case…" She crawls on top of me, dragging the blanket up with her.
"I thought you needed to pee."
"Changed my mind," she whispers as the blanket flutters down over our heads, shutting out the rest of the world. Her lips touch the side of my throat…and I change my mind about her going pee, too.
" S o you guys are expanding into the alcohol industry?" Paisley asks as we stroll across the vineyard after lunch, our hands linked together.
"We're already in the alcohol industry, Dimples."
She rolls her eyes at me. "You know what I mean."
"Yeah." I chuckle, lifting her hand to my lips to brush a kiss across her knuckles. "I know. And yes, we are. Since we acquired the vineyard in Italy, our wines are now global. I figured it was time to tackle a new challenge."
"Interesting."
"How so?" I ask, dipping my head to peek down at her.
She shrugs, running the toe of her shoe through the dirt. "You're very driven. I always knew that. I guess I just…" she trails off without finishing that sentence.
But I can guess where her mind is. She can't hide the anxiety crinkling her brow.
"You worried I'll be too busy for you, baby?" I ask, pulling her into my arms.
"No, I just…" She huffs out a breath. "It just feels a little familiar, that's all. Back then, it was Italy. Now, it's this new venture." Her worried eyes meet mine. "And instead of law school, it's finding a job for me. Maybe…"
"What?"
"Nothing," she mumbles with a shake of her head.
"Tell me, Dimples."
"Maybe it's the universe telling us that this was never supposed to work." Her voice is whisper-quiet, but goddamn. The words land between us like she screamed them.
I rock back on my heels, staring down at her. "Is that really what you think?"
"No. I don't know!" She worries her bottom lip between her teeth. "Just ignore me. I'm being ridiculous."
"You're scared."
"Aren't you?"
"No."
She blinks like my answer catches her off guard.
I sigh, cupping her cheek. "I've had three years without you, Paisley.
I know what that life is like. It's fucking cold and lonely.
It's missing you every goddamn minute of the day and wishing like hell you were still in my arms. So no, I'm not afraid of us.
What scares me is the thought of you walking out of my life again because you're scared. "
"I wouldn't do that," she whispers, craning her head back to stare up at me.
"I…" Her throat works. "You aren't the only one who knows what it's like to be cold and lonely, Ridley.
You aren't the only one who knows what it feels like to wish you could go back.
I did that every damn day for three years.
I missed you, even when I hated missing you.
I wanted you, even when I hated wanting you.
You broke my whole damn life because it didn't work without you. "
"Jesus," I rasp, sinking my hand into the silky strands of her hair to kiss her.
Our tongues twine together in a slow, sensual kiss that's part healing, part heat.
Of-fucking-course it's part heat. She's touching me, sending fire into my veins.
Obviously, my dick is hard as a rock. That's just the power she has over me.
"Ridley," she moans. And even though I promised myself this was an innocent stroll through the vineyards, I find myself walking her backward off the path.
We stumble, brushing up against the vines, before her back lands against an old harvester rusting behind the winery. I rake my hand up her thigh, slipping it beneath the hem of her flirty little skirt.
"Stop me," I breathe against her lips.
"No."
Christ, she's perfect in every fucking way.
Just like back then, she pours gasoline on the damn fire by reaching for my cock like she owns the hard bastard. My fingers slip under her panties as she squeezes me through my pants, turning the fire to an inferno.
"Oh," she moans, her head tipped back as I play with her. She's so damn soft and smooth, and so fucking wet and swollen for me.
"I want to fuck you right here," I growl, my thumb against her clit as one finger circles her tight little hole. I dip my finger into her, just the tip, and then pull back. Over and over again until she's panting beneath me, her eyes wide and wild.
"Please."
"Please what, Dimples?"
"Fuck me."
"Right here?"
"Yes!"
"Take my cock out, baby."
Her hands shake as she fumbles with the placket of my pants, trying to obey my demand. It takes her three tries before she's finally able to get the zipper down.
I groan softly, planting my feet when her perfect hand wraps around my dick, pulling it out. She strokes and squeezes as if she knows exactly how to tip me over the edge. And Christ, I guess she does. It's only ever been her hand, her heat, her perfection.
How could anyone else exist when she's the only thing I've been able to see since the day we met?
I wasn't looking for her back then. I didn't intend to fall.
Marriage and babies were something I figured I'd get around to later.
But my timeline didn't mean a damn thing with her standing in front of me. It reordered itself to fit her.
I boost her up into my arms, sliding her panties to the side. We both moan when my cock slides through her folds.
"You going to behave and be quiet so no one hears you screaming my name?"