20. Piper
Chapter 20
Piper
R en and I were practically inseparable now. Of course, he’d go to Lyla’s Place and his office in Sweetbriar for the day to work, while I spent my remaining days off before Something Sweet opened, trying to figure out how to handle working with Dana until she hopefully agreed to let me buy her out. Jake was still working on the bakery buyout and the Cody custody/ownership situation, so even though I wasn’t taking any action myself, I felt like progress was being made. He told me to stay away from her and Richard and let him handle everything, so that’s what I was doing.
Ren and I had dinner together every night, sometimes at my place and sometimes at his. He'd stay the night if it were my place, but I always went home when it was his because of Nimbus and Smog. I couldn’t help but feel that one day, he’d come for dinner at my place and never leave. More and more, I felt like Ren and I ending up together was inevitable.
Last night was dinner night at my place, so he stayed with me, but he’d gone home to get ready for the day, and now I was here in my bathtub—just me and my wandering thoughts—yuck. I was a doer, not a thinker. If I couldn’t distract myself with work, or a book, or whatever my latest hobby was, then I got restless.
Something Sweet was finally opening today, and I was losing my mind with anticipation. I also had no idea what I would be walking into since I’d let Dana be in charge of everything.
I heaved a sigh, using my toe to turn the hot water back to a steady trickle. I was in a tub full of bubbles, trying to relax, and it was not working. Smog and Nimbus were staring at me from the counter, heads tilted to the side as I heaved a sigh and tried to settle my thoughts.
I was off every routine I’d ever had. Wonderfully loving sex, coffee mornings, and make-out evenings on my porch with an angel of a man telling me he would do anything to make me happy were not how I usually lived my life, and I was thrown off by the too-good-to-be-true vibes filling my head with wonderous possibilities. The fact that I was imagining the future rather than dwelling in doubt was a sure sign of progress.
I don’t know how long I had been soaking in the bath, but I suddenly heard the front door creak open and close softly. My heart skipped a beat as I realized Ren must have come back. I listened intently, recognizing the familiar sound of his footsteps as he walked up the stairs. My breath hitched in anticipation as each step brought him closer.
The door to the bathroom opened slightly, and Ren’s face appeared through the crack. His eyes smoldered, expression darkening as he took in the scene of me submerged in bubbles, my toes still resting on the faucet.
“Hey,” he said with a smile that could melt all my worries away.
“Hey, yourself,” I replied, feeling a wave of warmth wash over me that had nothing to do with the bathwater.
He stepped into the room, closing the door behind him, and walked over to me. I watched him, my heart swelling with affection, blatant lust, and the desire to pull him into the tub with me. Ren had that magical ability to make everything better just by being there.
“Are you ready for today?" he asked, kneeling beside the tub and brushing a bit of damp hair away from my face, before swirling his hand in the warm water. Oh, how I wished he’d move that hand a little to the right and higher. Damn.
“Not really. But you coming with me will make it all better.” I sighed, leaning into his touch.
“Do you want me to tell you you’re running late? Or do you want to be late? I’m fine either way.”
“I love it that you ask.” I heaved a massive sigh, not wanting to move. “I’ll get out now.”
Ren chuckled softly and stood up, retrieving a large, plush towel from the rack. He held it up for me, his eyes never leaving mine, filled with a tenderness that made my heart ache in the best way. As I rose from the bath, the bubbles cascading off my skin, the cats scrambled out of the room, startled by the movement, and splashing water.
“You’re too good to me,” I murmured, my voice barely more than a whisper.
I watched his throat move as he swallowed, biting his lip as his eyes roamed over my body, dark with desire.
He bent low, starting at my feet, working his way higher to dry every inch of my skin before holding the towel wide to wrap me up in it.
He brushed a strand of wet hair away from my face. “You deserve it, Piper. You deserve all of it.”
Ren leaned in, and as he did, everything else seemed to fade away. His lips met mine softly at first, gentle and exploring.
I responded, tilting my head slightly, and the kiss deepened, our tongues moving against each other. His hand cupped the back of my head, fingers weaving through my damp hair, and I felt a shiver run down my spine. With each moment, the kiss grew more passionate, more insistent. His other hand slid around my waist, pulling me closer, and I melted into his embrace as my towel fell to the floor and his hands moved down to my ass.
“You need to get dressed, baby,” he groaned into my mouth before breaking the kiss.
“Huh?” Dazed, I studied his face.
“Something Sweet,” he said with a grin. “Grand opening.”
“Crap! Okay.” I snapped to attention, standing straight. “Yes. I need to get ready. No more procrastinating. I won’t take long.”
“Take as long as you like,” he murmured. “Today is your day. If you need me to push you to help you be on time, tell me and I will. If you want to be late or blow the whole thing off, that’s okay too. I’m here only for you.”
I nodded, appreciating his unwavering support more than I could express. “Thank you, Ren. I don’t think I could do this without you.”
I quickly dressed, choosing a simple yet elegant little black dress. As I applied my makeup, Ren sat on the edge of the bed, watching me with a thoughtful expression. The room was filled with a comfortable silence, punctuated only by the occasional rustle of Nimbus and Smog as they settled back into their favorite spots.
Once I was ready, I turned to face Ren. “How do I look?”
“Beautiful. You always do.” His smile was warm and genuine, making my heart flutter.
“Except I need you to zip me up.” I turned, giving him my back.
His fingers traced up my spine, leaving a trail of shivers in their wake. He lingered at the straps over my shoulders, then leaned down to kiss my neck. “I don’t know if I want to zip you up or slide this pretty dress down and kiss you all over.”
“God, Ren. How about you unzip me later tonight?”
“You got yourself a deal, sweetheart.” He zipped me up, then spun me around with his hands on my shoulders.
I took a deep breath, feeling more prepared to face the day with him by my side. “Okay, let’s do this.”
He offered his arm, which I took gratefully.
We walked down the hallway, the faint sound of our footsteps blending with the soft purr of the cats. As we reached the front door, Ren paused and looked at me, his eyes searching mine. “I’m here for you, no matter what. I don’t give a shit about anyone else or how they feel. Only you.”
“I know,” I replied, squeezing his hand. “That’s the only thing making me feel okay about going.”
“Good girl. You got this. And I got you.”
“Let’s drive, please? I want to have a car handy in case I need to make a dramatic exit.”
Ren chuckled softly. “Drama queen. Let’s get you in the car and on the road,” he said, his voice a soothing balm to my anxious heart.
The drive was serene, the hum of the engine blending with the rhythm of my thoughts. Ren's hand rested reassuringly on my thigh, a silent reminder of his unwavering presence. As we drove through the familiar streets, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of dread creeping in.
“You’re still worried, aren’t you?”
“I don’t like confrontations, and the last time I was alone with Dana, I let her have it, which is why I don’t have Cody right now. I ruined everything. I can’t afford to rock the boat more than I’ve already done. I could lose him.”
“You won’t lose him. I won’t let that happen.”
“I’ve been trying so hard not to think about him and let Jake handle it, but it’s all coming up for me today and I?—”
“Do you want me to listen or distract you?”
“Oh god, distract me, please. I can’t keep thinking this way.”
“Spread your legs.”
“What?” I breathed as I did what he said.
His big, warm palm slid up my thigh to rest high with his pinky nestled against the seam of my undies. I inhaled sharply as he ever so slightly moved it side to side, wondering if he’d get upset if I grabbed his hand and rubbed myself against it.
“Do it.” He chuckled. “I can hear you thinking about it from here. Take them off so I can feel you.”
With a shimmy, I did what he said, folded them neatly, then held them awkwardly in my lap above his hand, wondering where to put them.
Ren’s demeanor shifted as he turned the corner and maneuvered the car down a winding road, away from the town’s bustling streets and prying eyes. The trees grew denser, their branches creating a canopy overhead, filtering the sunlight into mottled shadows that danced across the windshield. He drove with a focused intensity, his eyes scanning the surroundings for the perfect spot.
Finally, he found it—a small, secluded clearing just off the road. The gravel on the ground crunched under the tires as he pulled in, the car coming to a smooth halt. He cut the engine and turned to me, a mischievous glint in his eyes, as the tension began to melt, replaced by a tangible anticipation.
“I’m going to make you come, then we’ll go, okay? Then all you’ll have to worry about when we get there is people wondering why you’re blushing.”
“Okay.” I breathed. “But what about you?”
“This isn’t about me.” He took my undies and stuffed them into his jacket pocket. “But if you’re worried about reciprocity, you can let me fuck you in that bathtub of yours when we get home tonight.”
“’kay…” If this was his plan, it was working. I couldn’t seem to catch a thought. Heat rushed through my body, pooling between my legs. All I could think about was getting his hands back on me.
“Close your eyes and relax.”
I did what he said, inhaling sharply as his hand slid between my legs again.
“You’re so soft. Are you ready for your distraction?”
“Yes,” I whispered, hiking up my dress. I was more than ready. In fact, I was willing to beg him for it because, for now, this was all I could think of.
He slipped a finger into me, then out to circle my clit but it’s awkward with the console between us. Panting, I spread my legs wider to give him better access. Trembling, I bent my knee, placing my foot on the seat so I could rock my hips with the rhythm of his hand.
With his other hand, he yanked me close by the back of my neck and kissed me hard, his tongue thrusting inside along with the tempo of his hand and my hips. In no time at all, I was coming. Exploding into pieces as he held me together, whispering how beautiful I looked, how wet I was, and how much he couldn’t wait to get inside me later tonight.
I broke away, pulling back to look at him. “You’re so hard. I can see it and I need it. Get out of the car. Now. We’ll be quick.”
One second later, he was out of the car and running around to open my door before I could even finish the thought. Then after another second, I was bent over the hood with his hand spread across my lower back, holding my dress up.
The sound of his zipper and the tear of the condom wrapper had me moaning, and then he was inside of me, hard. Holding my hips tight and pounding into me fast and wild. I spread my arms wide, arched my back with my palms down on the hood, and shoved myself back to take him even deeper as I tried not to moan too loud.
“You’re going to come again,” he growled, banding an arm around my waist to press his thumb against my clit.
“Yes, yes, yes…” I chanted in a whisper as he hauled me up for one last brutal thrust. He shivered against me as he bent us forward over the hood, covering me with his body and groaning in my ear.
“We’re still taking a bath tonight,” he whispered before lightly biting the lobe. “I haven’t had enough of you yet.”
I laughed lightly. “Anything you want.”
Breathless and still tingling, we straightened ourselves up and climbed back into the car. The engine roared to life, and as I settled into my seat, I glanced over to find him watching me with a satisfied grin. I found myself wishing I could feel like this every day for the rest of my life.
The short drive to the bakery was a blur of shared glances and stolen touches. He pulled into the lot across the street and reached over, giving my hand a gentle squeeze.
“Feel better?”
“Absolutely.” And I did.
For now.