23. Piper
Chapter 23
Piper
M y heart was full as we drove. I knew Cody’s was too, as he happily panted out the back window the entire time like he knew where we were going.
He bounded up the front steps, tail wagging like mad, his excitement evident. Nimbus and Smog approached cautiously at first, their tails puffed up in curiosity. As gentle as ever, Cody lowered his head, sniffing them tentatively until they recognized him and began rubbing themselves all over his sides.
Ren bent down to pat Cody’s head. “Welcome home, buddy.”
“I’m so happy right now,” I wrapped my arms around Ren’s waist, cuddling into him as I watched my little fur babies get reacquainted. “Look at them. Back together. Finally.”
He kissed my temple. “I know,” he murmured, his voice a gentle caress against my skin. “I’m happy for you. I’m going to call Jake and talk to him about what happened, okay?”
“Oh.” Her face fell. “Do you think this will cause a problem? He told me to stay away from them, but I thought?—”
“No. It should be fine, but I always like to err on the side of caution, so I’m going to make sure. I’m just going to see what he thinks.”
“Okay. I’ll go run that bath.”
He pulled me closer. “I won’t be too long,” he whispered softly, his breath tickling my ear.
“I’ll be waiting.” Slowly, reluctantly, I let him go and started up the stairs.
Ren watched me at the foot of the staircase, a smile dancing across his lips. “I’ll be right up. Do you want me to set out some water for Cody?”
“He’ll be okay, there’s a pet water dispenser in the kitchen. They’ve always shared it, and I’ll feed him later.”
Ren turned and headed into the living room, phone in hand, while I walked up the stairs. The warmth of his kiss still lingered on my skin and filled me with a sense of comfort and security. As I stepped into the bathroom, I turned on the water, letting the sound of the running bath soothe my thoughts.
Ren's voice echoed softly from downstairs, murmuring into the phone. I knew he was making sure everything would be alright, so I trusted his judgment and let my worries drift away.
Moments later, I heard his footsteps coming up the stairs. He appeared at the doorway, his eyes soft as they met mine.
“I’ve run the bath,” I said, turning to face him fully. “But it’s not for me. It’s for you.”
Surprise flickered across his face, followed by a look of gratitude. “For me?”
I nodded, stepping closer to him. “Yes. You’ve done so much today, and I thought you might enjoy a little time to relax. I want to take care of you too.” I reached out, my fingers brushing the hem of his shirt. “May I?” I asked softly, looking up into his eyes. He nodded, trust and desire evident in his gaze.
With gentle hands, I peeled off his shirt and placed a kiss on his shoulder, guiding him towards the edge of the bed to remove his shoes and socks.
“You don’t have to wait on me.”
I smiled, feeling a rush of affection for him. “I know, I want to. Remember when you offered to sleep outside my door the night of the raccoon invasion? You take care of me already, and that’s just one example. Now, it’s my turn. Plus, I don’t think we’ll both fit. You’re way too tall. I was going to take care of you up close and personal, but we can do that later.”
“Gotcha,” He chuckled, then stood, slipping out of his pants. He allowed me to lead him to the tub with a bemused smile on his face.
My gaze lingered on him, the soft light casting him in a golden glow. His broad shoulders and chiseled chest spoke of power, yet there was a gentleness in his demeanor, a tenderness that made my heart ache in the most beautiful way.
“Get in,” I whispered. “I’ll wash your back.”
Ren sank into the bath, his eyes closing as the warm water enveloped him. I watched him for a moment, appreciating the rare sight of him relaxing in the water. He deserved this, more than anyone I knew.
“How does it feel?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
He opened his eyes, a soft smile playing on his lips. “Perfect. Thank you.”
I leaned down, pressing a kiss to his forehead. “You're welcome. Be right back.”
Leaving him to enjoy his bath, I stepped back into the bedroom and found the caftan I'd laid out earlier. Slipping it on, I felt the silky fabric brush against my skin, a gentle reminder of the evening's peacefulness.
I returned to the bathroom, where Ren was still soaking, his eyes closed as if he could fall asleep at any moment. He opened his eyes when he heard me come in. “Ahh, there she is.” He smiled as he looked me up and down. “Did you miss me, golden girl?” he murmured, his voice thick with contentment.
“Always.” I knelt, grabbing the soap to wash his back, and smiling when his muscles relaxed under my touch. “You’re a bit tense.”
“Just worried.”
“About Cody.” I deduced.
“Yeah. I don’t want Richard to mess this up.”
“Let’s think about it tomorrow. Jake has it under control. Let’s try to enjoy tonight,” I whispered, letting my fingers trail up and down his back and sides, then lower, between his legs where he was already hard for me.
“I’d enjoy it a lot more if you got in here with me.” His voice was deep and growly, and I wanted nothing more than to climb into his lap and drive us both wild, but he had to be at least six feet five, and I was five eight. We were too tall for bathtub shenanigans, at least in this tub.
“We might flood the bathroom.” I laughed lightly.
“Then I’m taking you to bed. I can’t wait.” He pulled the plug, then stood. I watched as water ran down his gorgeous body, over his broad wall of a chest and through the ridges of his abs, then he raised his arms to slick his hair back, and I almost started drooling.
I handed him a towel, savoring the sight of the droplets glistening on his skin. He dried himself off quickly, and we walked together to the bedroom. Ren's touch was never far away, his fingers brushing against my arm, my waist, my hip. Each caress sent ripples of warmth through me.
As he pulled me into his embrace, I couldn't help but feel a mixture of excitement and concern. Our relationship had layers and complexities that the world wasn't privy to. It was like we were in two relationships. The fake one that everyone thought was ten steps ahead of what it actually was. And the real one, where we were slowly falling in love with each other. But in this moment, everything felt simple—just us, at home, away from prying eyes.
He slid my caftan down, and as it pooled on the floor, his lips found mine, a kiss of reassurance and longing. We fell onto the bed, naked together, our bodies tangling in a mess of limbs and whispers.
With every touch, every kiss, it felt like we were stitching together the fragments of ourselves, making something whole and new. His hands mapped the contours of my body, tracing paths that felt both familiar and thrillingly uncharted. The worries of the day melted away, replaced by the intoxicating immediacy of the present. I was drunk on him, and I never wanted to lose this feeling.
We moved together with an unspoken understanding, each gesture a promise, each breath a shared secret. His lips trailed down my neck, then lower, sucking a nipple into his mouth, igniting a fire that spread through my veins. I clung to him, feeling the solid strength of his body against mine.
There was a tenderness in his eyes that was more than desire. It was a connection, a bond that went beyond mere physicality. I knew he felt the same way I did, that we were building something that could withstand anything.
He paused to sheath himself with a condom from my bedside table, then slid inside me, holding my hands above my head with our fingers intertwined as he found my lips with his, kissing me deeply as his thrusts grew harder, faster, more frantic.
“You feel so fucking good. I’ll never get enough.” His voice was a whispered groan in my ear.
I planted my feet on the mattress and began matching him thrust for thrust. “Don’t stop, please, Ren.”
Sliding a hand between us, I pressed my palm against my clit and spread my fingers apart so I could feel him as he moved inside of me, he was so hard and slick with our combined desire. It was perfect. We were beautiful together, like nothing I’d ever experienced.
“I love how you feel,” he groaned. “Like I’m home for the first time in my life.”
This moment was suspended in time, a perfect crystallization of everything we could be. In that instant, I wanted to believe we could find our way through whatever challenges lay ahead, as long as we had each other.
The intensity of the moment washed over us, leaving us breathless and spent as we fell apart together, breaths ragged and hearts pounding.
He rolled onto his side, his gaze locked to mine, with a soft smile on his lips. He reached out, tracing the line of my jaw with his fingertips, a gesture that was both tender and possessive. I mirrored his smile, feeling my heart surge with emotions I didn’t quite know how to handle.
“I never want to forget this,” I murmured, my voice barely audible.
His smile widened. “You won’t because we’ll have more nights like this to share. We have all the time in the world, sweetheart. No rushing, no pressure, just us.” He brushed a strand of hair away from my face, his gaze softening as he leaned in to kiss me again.
“I want this,” I whispered back. “With you.”
“I know you do. And I do too.” He rolled to his back, pulling me into his side. He held me close, sighing into my hair, then kissing the top of my head. “I want it more than anything.”
“Good. Maybe we should talk about birth control. We can use condoms as long as you want to, but I have an IUD, and I got tested after Richard. I’m all clear.”
He tipped his head down, his eyes smiled into mine. “I’m fine too. I just had a physical before I moved here.”
We lay there, entangled, savoring the intimacy that words could never fully capture.
“I’ve never felt this close to anyone before,” I admitted softly, my fingers tracing patterns on his chest.
“Me neither,” he replied, his voice hushed as if the moment could shatter if spoken too loudly.
“There’s something I need to tell you,” I confessed, my voice trembling slightly. “It’s important to me that you know where I stand. Um, before we go any further.”
Ren’s brow furrowed slightly in concern, but he continued to hold me, his embrace unwavering and warm. “What is it, sweetheart?”
I took a deep breath, summoning the courage to speak. “I don’t want kids, Ren. It’s nothing medical, not trauma, I just don’t want them. I was worried about bringing it up, but I think I have to.”
He smiled warmly, his touch reassuring and gentle. “Then we’re on the same page. No deal breakers here. I don’t either. We can build something just for us.”
The room seemed to cocoon us in a world where time stood still. I felt a profound sense of peace, like all the pieces of my life were finally clicking into place.
“How did we get so lucky?” I whispered.
“Maybe it’s fate,” he answered. “Or maybe we just have too many people in common and it was inevitable.”
I burst out laughing. “God, Paige will definitely be gloating when she finds out how serious we are.”
“Now, it’s my turn to make a confession.”
I tilted my head, curious. “What do you want to confess?”
Ren's eyes twinkled with mischief. “I used to sneak into the neighbor's yard to play with their dog when I was a kid. I wanted one so badly, but we couldn’t afford it. And until now, I haven’t had the time for a pet. So, when I moved into my place, I considered getting a dog, maybe two. How do you feel about that? I mean I’d like to think that someday the two of us?—”
I pressed a finger to his lips. “You’d make a great dog dad. I think you should. Obviously, I’m a fan of dogs. Cats, too. The more the merrier.”
His smile lit up the room. “How about domesticated raccoons? I mean, you have the space…”
“I’d hit you with a pillow for that, but I’m too comfortable to move.”
“Should we put on some pajamas and let the kids in?” he joked.
“Could you be any more perfect?” I kissed his pec, then lifted on an elbow to look at him, tousled, satisfied, mine.
“I mean, I could try,” he teased.
“No, then you’d be too good for me.”
“Hey,” he tipped my face up to his. “There’s no such thing.”
We got out of bed and into our pajamas, then fed Cody. We spent the rest of the night cuddled together.