Chapter 14
Walking on clouds was the only way Brianna could describe her life currently. Entering into her relationship with River she’d felt like she knew her pretty well. But nothing had prepared her for relearning River as a dating partner. River’s sweet and romantic side had cracked Brianna’s heart open from day one.
Today, was a big day. They were having lunch with River’s parents, and they were finally going to tell them that they were a couple. Brianna had been around River’s family a lot since they’d become roommates, but that did very little to quell her nerves.
“Are you still nervous?” River asked.
Brianna glanced over at River, and immediately found her breath taken away. River was leaning against the kitchen counter, her hands folded across her chest. River’s smile had a way of disarming Brianna to the very core of her being.
“I know your parents like me. It’s just that this is different. I’m not just your roommate, now I’m your girlfriend. Not only that but you and Tiff haven’t been broken up for very long. I’m just worried about how they’re going to feel about everything. Is it going to come across like we’re moving too fast…”
River closed the distance between them and cut Brianna off by kissing her on the lips.
“Sweetie, if there’s one thing I can say about our relationship. It is that we moved painfully slow. And if I have to explain that to my parents I will. But I think they’ll be really happy for us,” River assured her.
“You think so?”
“Babe, my parents adore you,” River smiled.
“Thanks,” Brianna said. She leaned her forehead against River’s shoulder.
“For what?”
“For making me feel better.”
“I’m always happy to stomp out your anxiety.”
Brianna’s whole body felt warm. There was something about the way River always tried to take care of her that felt special. Brianna had always been the friend that people could call. Everyone in her life knew that they could count on Brianna for just about anything. What was more Brianna often could look at a situation and know exactly what the person needed. She could show up without needing to be asked. But it was rare for Brianna to find someone who could do that for her. River had a way of knowing exactly what Brianna needed when she needed it. And Brianna felt like she did the same for River.
Their relationship was new, but it felt perfectly reciprocal. It was a good feeling to have about a new partner. As they pulled up to Emily and Tom’s home, Brianna took in a deep breath. River was right, her parents loved her. Brianna knew that Emily and Tom loved her. The question still remained; would they still love her when she was River’s girlfriend?
Emily was sitting outside on the front porch. Emily and Tom’s home always looked like it belonged in a home and garden magazine. Emily had a real eye for decorating. While Tom’s green thumb kept their garden looking immaculate. River walked up the walkway and up the front steps. Emily jumped out of her chair and gave her a huge hug.
“It’s so good to see you without a cast or a brace,” Emily smiled.
“It’s nice not to have to wear one,” River laughed.
Emily turned to Brianna and held her arms out. Brianna allowed herself to be swallowed up in a hug. For the first time, Brianna truly noted the similarities between Emily and River. Emily’s hair had silver strands in it but her hair was the same dark color and fell across her back the same way. Their eyes too, were the same dark brown. The only hint of Tom that Brianna could see in River was the shape of her eyes and her nose.
“Brianna, we can’t thank you enough for helping River while she recovers,” Emily gushed. Brianna was sure that her face was probably three shades of red.
“It was nothing. River is a pretty easy patient.”
Brianna met River’s eyes and smiled.
“I know for a fact that isn’t true,” Tom laughed.
“Dad,” River whined.
“What? I remember how hard-headed you can be. Especially, when you’re being told that you can’t do something.”
“Sure. But you’re not supposed to tell Brianna that,” River laughed.
“Sweetie, I don’t think there’s anything your father can say that’s going to scare Brianna off,” Emily teased. Emily gave Brianna’s arm a squeeze then gestured for them to all come inside.
Emily’s home had the appearance of a home that was staged to look lived in but that actually wasn’t. Everything seemed purposefully done. Emily led them all into the dining room and invited them to sit. With Tom’s help they brought out an entire tray of yummy looking food.
Emily wasn’t a cook. Never in the history of her friendship with River had Brianna seen Emily cook. But the woman could put together a charcuterie board worthy of a Pinterest board. Brianna marveled at the spread in front of them. Emily brought them each a tiny plate to use for their food. Brianna took a small sample of everything. She tried her best to prepare herself for what would come next.
“So how are things going with you and Tiff?” Emily asked.
Brianna knew that when it came to romance River kept her family at arm’s length. She didn’t want her family to get attached to someone that might not be around for long. She supposed she should be flattered that she’d spent as much time with Emily and Tom as she had.
“We actually broke up,” River shrugged.
“Really? What happened?” Tom asked.
“I caught her on a date with someone else.”
“I say good riddance,” Emily blurted.
“Mom!” River blurted.
“What? Tiff was objectively the worst,” Emily shrugged.
Brianna had to chuckle at the exchange. There was something very real about Emily’s words.
“I thought you liked Tiff?” River objected.
“I could get along with Tiff. That’s different from liking her as a person.”
“Yeah, but you never said anything,” River demanded.
“It’s your life. It isn’t my place to tell you who you should date or not date.”
River nodded her head, but Brianna could tell Emily’s answers had thrown her for a loop. Emily could see the shift in River too. She walked over and gave River a pat on the back.
“I want you to be happy. And I was never convinced that Tiff was going to be a good fit for you.”
Emily’s tone had softened.
“We still never wanted you to experience her cheating on you,” Tom offered.
“That’s true. She may not have been our favorite but we didn’t expect that,” Emily agreed.
Brianna was beginning to wonder if this was the best time to tell River’s parents about their relationship. Maybe they needed to break the news into sections. Today they could tell them about the breakup with Tiff. Then maybe next week they could come out as a couple. River met Brianna’s eyes and smiled widely; her dark eyes sparkled. Brianna was just about to change the subject when River crossed the distance between them. She took Brianna’s hand in her own.
“Well, I guess now that we’ve gotten the subject of Tiff out of the way there’s something else I want to tell you,” River announced.
Brianna could feel Tom and Emily’s eyes settling on them. Emily seemed to clock them holding hands first and elbowed Tom in the ribs. Tom lurched away from the pain and gave Emily a stern look. Brianna watched as Emily tilted her head in River’s direction.
“Brianna and I have been through a lot together. So much so that we’re together now. Like as a couple.”
Brianna glanced over at River. She could see the pride written all over River’s face. River was excited to show her off, it made Brianna’s heart swell inside her own chest. She shifted her focus waiting for Emily and Tom’s reaction. Emily’s face broke into a huge smile.
“Oh honey, that’s incredible news. I don’t think you know how long we’ve been waiting and hoping for this.”
Brianna arched an eyebrow she hadn’t been expecting that reaction at all. She had thought that Emily might be happy. Or that maybe she would question why they were moving so fast. It had never entered Brianna’s mind that Emily would be this level of excited.
“It’s true. Your mother has been hoping the two of you would get together from the first time Brianna visited our house,” Tom laughed.
One glance at River’s face told Brianna she was just as surprised as she was.
“You never said anything,” River said.
“Well of course not. As soon as I tell you something is a good idea you disregard it on principle,” Emily laughed.
“I wouldn’t say that’s true,” River pouted. Brianna squeezed her hand, a gesture meant to comfort River.
“I’m just glad you’re happy,” Brianna smiled.
“Why wouldn’t we be happy?” Tom asked, obviously confused.
“Brianna was afraid you would both think we were rushing into something,” River explained.
“Oh goodness, as far as I’m concerned y’all are running behind,” Emily teased.
Brianna couldn’t stop smiling. There was no way to come down out of the clouds. This had been even better than she’d ever imagined. Her relationship with River threatened to exceed all of her expectations.
Once they were home, they sat on the couch together.
“That went better than I expected. Don’t get me wrong, I knew it would be good. But even I wasn’t expecting that level of support,” River explained.
“I couldn’t be happier if I tried.”
Brianna gave a tiny chuckle.
“Aww, babe. I told you it was going to be great.”
“Everything about this relationship just keeps getting better and better,” Brianna stated.
She allowed her eyes to slide over to River. The light pouring through their windows made River seem as though she was glowing. She had never looked more beautiful to Brianna. She slid over and kissed River gently on the neck. She’d learned that this was pretty much guaranteed to start a fire inside River.
River turned into the kisses and caught Brianna’s mouth with her own.
“I love you,” Brianna said.
“I love you, too,” River smiled.
Brianna pulled her shirt off over her head, followed by her bra. She quickly undressed the rest of the way until she was bare in front of River. Brianna helped River undress. She took a moment to appreciate River. To take her in and enjoy the lines of her body. She knew River was doing the same to her.
Brianna began kissing River’s mouth, then slowly migrated south. She stopped at River’s nipples, fitting her mouth around one while her fingers pinched the other. River sighed and it pushed Brianna to keep going. She kissed down River’s stomach, then her hips. Finally, Brianna reached her destination. She pushed River’s thighs apart with her elbows. Brianna ducked her head between River’s thighs. Her tongue found River’s core already wet and waiting for her. She slid her tongue up River’s center until she found the right spot. River’s response to her tongue was immediate. River rocked her hips allowing Brianna more access to her clit.
Brianna slid a hand up River’s stomach and cupped one of her breasts. Her tongue made fast swipes side to side against River’s clit. River’s hands grabbed the back of Brianna’s head, her fingers tangling in Brianna’s hair. River gasped then moaned as her orgasm hit her. Brianna pressed her tongue firmly against River’s clit, helping her ride out her aftershocks.
River lay her hands on Brianna’s shoulders pushing her back to the floor. Brianna laughed at the motion. River mounted her quickly. Brianna knew that once River was turned on, she was practically feral. River’s mouth covered one of Brianna’s nipples, biting it gently between her teeth. Brianna sucked in a sharp breath and bucked her hips. River’s hand traveled down Brianna’s body, then sliding between her legs. River alternated between powerfully sucking Brianna’s nipple and teasing her clit with her fingers. Brianna’s body tensed, her hips bucked. When Brianna’s body finally let go her orgasm was powerful. The pleasure washed over her ripping a groan from somewhere deep inside.
The two of them lay on the floor intangled around one another. Brianna managed to haphazardly grab the remote and turn on a show for them to watch. This was as good as Brianna had ever imagined her life being. She could only imagine things going up from here.