10. Wren
TEN
WREN
I can’t remember the last time I was this horny. It’s almost shocking. Guess I didn’t realize how much of myself I was repressing towards the end of my relationship with Trent, but now that I’ve given myself permission to mess around with Ridley, it’s like being a teenager again.
Every free moment I had between managing the kitchen tonight was spent focused on him and what we might do later. The way he looks at me doesn’t hurt either. Did he always look at me like that and I never noticed it like everyone around me seemed to? I suppose it doesn’t matter. I know now.
I finish wiping down the stove, then do a brief check of the kitchen to make sure every station is done. Carlos lingers behind me, practically swaying as he leans on the counter. He has deep bags under his eyes too.
“You don’t look so good, man.”
He jerks his head up. “I’m okay. Just a little tired.”
I set the clipboard down. “You’re barely standing up.”
“Baby didn’t sleep last night, but my in-laws are staying over tonight to help out.”
I nod, chewing my bottom lip for a second. “Did you drive in tonight?”
He nods.
“Okay, let me call you a ride. I don’t want you driving back to New Onyx in your condition.” He starts to object but I hold up a finger to stop him. “No arguing.”
His shoulders slump and he nods, dragging his hand through his thick black hair. “Okay. Thanks, Chef.”
“You busted your ass today without calling for backup. It’s the least I can do.”
I open the app on my phone and order the car, then we turn off the lights and head out front. Ridley, Bane, and Jerryn are talking with Florian while he stacks clean glasses. Ridley’s eyes automatically go to me, but only briefly as he notices the condition Carlos is in. He hurries over.
“Everything okay?”
Carlos nods. “Just a little overtired. I’m okay, boss.”
“I ordered him a car. Just waiting for it to get here.”
“Good. If you need a day, take it. We can figure it out.” Then Ridley looks at me. “Sorry. It’s your kitchen.”
“No, it’s okay. You’re right.”
I see the concern in Carlos’s eyes. “It’s so busy though.”
“Which won’t be helped by you passing out.” I smile, squeezing his shoulder. “Take care of yourself and your family. We’ll figure shit out.”
Relief washes over his features. “Thanks, Chef.”
“Of course.”
The car pulls up a few minutes later, and we watch Carlos slip inside, waving as it pulls away from the curb.
“He looked rough,” Ridley says.
“I think he was barely holding himself up. He said his in-laws are staying over tonight so he can sleep. The baby, you know.”
“Must be rough.”
I glance up and down the quiet sidewalk. We’re the place open latest in town and once we close, it’s pretty desolate. Salem and Indy already locked the front doors and are several blocks ahead of us, along with the other guys.
We turn in the direction of the house and start walking, while questions about the handsome man beside me swirl through my head.
“Did you ever want them?”
“Want what?”
“Kids?”
Ridley practically chokes. “Dude. No.” He laughs. “Can you imagine?”
I shrug, also chuckling. “You never know.”
“I’ve never even committed to a pet. What about you?”
I shake my head. “No. Maybe I’m still too young, but I’ve never seen myself in that role. It’s a lot of pressure.”
“True.”
“I guess marriage has never been a thing for you either?”
“Nah.” Ridley shakes his head, glancing over at me. “I think it would be cool to stick with someone for a while, but with my record I’ve never seen it going to an altar.”
“Believe it or not, same. Even though I’m a serial relationshipist, I’ve never pictured myself as someone’s husband.”
“Serial relationshipist?” Ridley snorts a laugh. “That’s hilarious.”
Grinning, I slide my hands into my front pockets. “Guess I could’ve said monogamist.”
“Your word was funnier.”
“Thanks.”
We walk on in silence for a bit before Ridley’s next comment surprises me.
“Despite it all, I’m a total optimist when it comes to this stuff. I’ve never been in love, and I don’t expect to be, but man, watching Indy, Kit, and now Lowen fall has made me reflect on my attitudes towards it all.”
“What do you mean?”
“I thought we’d be six single guys forever. I never saw Kit and Indy settling down, and I thought it would take a miracle to get Lowen back in the game. I figured Bane will just pine after Jerryn for eternity, and me?” He shrugs, but doesn’t elaborate.
“You?”
“I don’t know. Maybe I’m still deciding how I see myself, but I’ve never had a long-lasting thing, so I figure I just don’t have what it takes.”
His words have a tinge of sadness to them. “Does seeing some of your friends in happy relationships make you want that now?”
“I don’t know, but it’s made me realize that I believe in love. Maybe it’s not for me, but it does exist.”
“Healthy love exists. Not just fucked up, toxic shit.”
Ridley glances over at me and nods. “Right. There’s hope if that’s something you still want in the future. I mean, you should. You’re young.”
“You’re young too, Rid.”
“Young at heart.” He winks.
We finish our walk while I reflect on the conversation.
Ridley might be a deeper guy than I knew.
Finding out he used to be a chemical engineer was surprising.
Not that I didn’t think he was smart, but he just didn’t seem like the type to pursue a conservative career.
He seems to float through life, but maybe there’s some weight behind him after all.
When we enter the house, it’s surprisingly quiet.
“I guess everyone went straight up to bed,” Ridley says, lingering in the hall.
“It is pretty late.”
“Are you tired?”
I shake my head. “Not yet. You?”
“Nope. I was thinking a hot shower might be nice.”
“And then?”
He shrugs, taking a step forward to close the distance between us. “A movie?”
My mouth practically waters from his delivery, laced with promises of something far dirtier than a film. “That does sound good.”
“Meet me down here in twenty?”
“Yeah.”
He leans in so close that I brace myself for a kiss, but instead he whispers, “Good. I can’t stop thinking about your cock in my mouth.”
“Fuck,” I whisper, grabbing my bulge as my dick swells. “Same here.”
“See you soon, Chef.”
“Yeah.”
We walk up the stairs together, parting ways to go to our own rooms. I lean against my door for a few seconds to compose myself. I don’t know why I don’t just go into his room, but maybe he’s right, and the thrill of potentially being caught in the living room is too delicious to let go.
Whatever it is, it’s enough to get me to the shower to scrub down. My dick is rock hard, begging for release, which is gonna make this interlude all the better. One day, I’m gonna ask him to fuck me, or maybe he’ll ask if I can fuck him.
My cock jerks as I slide a soapy hand over it quickly, then pull away before I get caught up in it. Ridley is hot, he has a dirty mouth and an incredible dick. I hit the hookup lottery for sure with this one.
I force myself out of the shower to dry off and throw on a pair of shorts and a t-shirt, then casually walk downstairs in case I bump into any of the other guys.
Flickering light and hushed voices come from the living room, guiding my steps, and when I get there, Ridley is splayed out on the couch, wearing nothing but loose navy blue sweatpants.
Tracing all his tattoos with my tongue could be a fun activity.
He looks up and gives me one of his sexy smirks. “Fancy meeting you here.”
I chuckle, shuffling across the room to settle on the couch with him. He spreads his legs apart to give me space between them, and the scent of his bodywash tickles my nose. He reaches out and twists his hand around the hem of my t-shirt, tugging me closer.
“Get up here and ride my face.”
My stomach flutters as heat floods my body. “Okay.”
I scramble to get my shorts off, then I straddle his chest, stroking myself as he gazes at me with hooded eyes.
“All the way up, rabbit. I’m starving.”