Chapter Nine
Alina
I sigh as I sink deeper into the tub, letting my head sink halfway into the water and then blowing bubbles as I laugh at the noise it makes. It’s been four days since my brother attacked me, and strangely enough, I’m happier than I've ever been. I’m still at the cute beachside inn, staying with Riley and holding up in our own little bubble. I know it's almost time for reality to creep back in, but I'm just not ready to let go of the magic this room seems to have held.
The first two days after the incident, as I’m now referring to it, Riley and I both took off work. Luckily, Riley had already had one day off, so he only had to skip one day of work. I took off the entire week, not wanting people to ask questions about my face. Hopefully, it's healed enough for me to cover with some makeup soon. For the past two days, Riley had to return to work, but he stops in and checks on me regularly when he can get away from the front desk. He brings me food constantly, too, causing me to smile at his thoughtfulness. I've never been cared for like this before, and I'm scared I've already gotten too attached to it. How am I supposed to return to my reality when I have everything I could ever want here?
Well, almost everything. Riley seems to want to keep treating me with kiddy gloves. I swear that first night he laid me on the bed and hovered over me, vowing to protect me, that memory is burned into my brain, and I never want to let it go. It was the sweetest and hottest thing to ever happen to me, and I've been trying every night to get him to take the hint. That's the kind of closeness I want again. Still, no matter what I do, he just softly takes care of me, gently holds me, and occasionally kisses me here and there.
I finally got up the courage last night as we were lying in bed. He leaned over to kiss me softly, and I took the opportunity before he could pull back to run my tongue lightly over his bottom lip. He froze for only a second, not giving me enough time to have a panic attack, thankfully, before groaning and pressing his tongue inside my mouth to explore. I got lost in the bliss, in the feel of his hands on my waist, gripping my sides and making me feel wanted. It was magical and addicting, and it's all I can think about. I wrapped my leg around his waist and lifted my hips, and that somehow broke the spell. He pulled back so quickly my head was spinning. He quickly hopped off the bed and headed straight to the bathroom, closing and locking the door.
That was when I started to panic. Did I do something wrong? I hope I didn't make myself look like an inexperienced idiot, or worse, a very experienced hussy. I sat up and pulled the covers close to my chest even though I was still fully dressed in one of Riley's shirts and a pair of basketball shorts that were three sizes too big. I quickly climbed out of bed, my face heated and embarrassing tears gathered in my eyes, but when I walked past the bathroom, I heard a noise that had me stopping in my tracks.
Riley was in the bathroom and he was groaning. I stayed there even longer, creeping closer to the door, almost close enough to palace my ear to the door. I know I shouldn't be eavesdropping, and I swear I would die of embarrassment if he opened the door and caught me listening. Still, the moaning coming from the other side of the door had a massive ache, a throb hitting me low in my belly. My breasts felt sensitive, and I swear I was about two seconds away from pressing my hands against them to try to calm down. I heard a noise coming from the bathroom, followed by my name.
That's when I had to clamp my hand down over my mouth and scurry back from the door. He said my name. While he was climaxing, it was my name that he had called out. It made me almost combust right along with him. After that, I realized I hadn't done anything wrong. He was just too worked up. I almost giggled at the thought but instead kicked my butt back in gear, climbed back in the bed, and snuggled underneath the covers.
When he came back out, I didn't want him to be embarrassed, and one look at my face would have given me away, so instead, I pretended to be asleep. It seemed to work. Riley climbed into the bed, pulled me back into his arms, and kissed the back of my head.
I heard him whisper softly, “You're safe with me.” He took another piece of my heart, just like that. I couldn't fall asleep after that. I just lay there and listened to his breath even out, basking in the feelings of safety and care his arms provided. I never wanted that moment to end, and I knew in that minute he was the one. I was pretty sure before then, but the way he thought of me and my comfort first, told me everything I was still hesitant about regarding Riley.
He’s one of the good ones; he is the absolute best in my book. He doesn't realize that the heroes in the books he reads are just words. They don't hold a candle to him, but I get to make it my reality. If I’m brave enough to take that step and take it for once, it will finally be all I've ever wanted. In that moment, I knew I had to do something drastic, so I lay there planning my next move. The bravery came easily in the late hours and darkness of night.
Now, here I am, sitting in the tub and shaving myself from head to toe, making sure every surface of my body is sparkly clean, and getting ready to put my plan into motion. Okay, ready is a very, very strong word. I would actually use determined but still scared absolutely shitless at the idea I concocted. I still don't even know how I'm going to go through with it, but I know if I want this to be my future, if I want Riley as mine, I have to be the one to take this step. If not, I’ll hide in the shadows and be that wallflower for the rest of my damn life. I’ll find comfort there, living behind Riley instead of beside him.
Hoping out of the tub, I check the time and see I have exactly three minutes before he clocks out, which means four minutes before he’s walking through that door. I use that time to lather myself down with some lotion I had in my purse. It's my favorite lavender scent, and I don't wear perfume, but isn't that what you're supposed to use when trying to seduce a man? Ugh, I have no clue what I'm doing here. I grab the robe from the closet and wrap it around me. I stand in the middle of the room, waiting for Riley to walk through the door. This was my genius plan.
Yup, not kidding. Stand here in the middle of the room in a robe and drop it as he walks in the door. He won't be able to resist a naked woman standing there in the middle of the room offering herself to him, right? But the longer I stand here, the more uncertain I get.
What the hell am I doing? This isn't me? I'm not some sexy temptation he's going to fall to his knees for. Especially seeing as my bruises have not fully healed and my skin is still an ugly mix between purple and blue from the attack. I hear the key in the door right in the middle of my freakout, and it only makes it worse. He’s going to laugh at me. This is going to be the most embarrassing moment of my life. I could make a break for it, run to the bathroom, and lock….
“Siren, I…” He stops when he sees me in the middle of the room. That's it. All the bravado leaves me, and I turn to run to the bathroom, but the tie on the robe trips me, and I start to fall. How could this get any worse? Now I'm going to burst my face open on the floor. Though I brace for impact, I’m caught in two strong arms before I can hit the ground. My arms wrap around him, and I don't realize the robe is completely open until my naked chest is pressed against his polo shirt.
It's like an electric current running down my body, and the moment is frozen. He doesn't let go, and I look up. His eyes are darker, and he looks at me as if seeing me for the first time. I lean forward, pressing my lips against his, and the sensation sends a tremor through me. We are standing so close that there's barely an inch between our bodies. The scent of his cologne invades me.
The kiss deepens, and I am overwhelmed by a surge of desire. We pull back and stare at each other, not quite believing what happened.
"You taste like chocolate," I whisper, feeling shy.
"You feel amazing," he breathes against my lips, surprising me.
"Oh, really?"
"I need to kiss you again, just to be sure." His fingers run through my hair, and I melt at his touch, leaning into him, needing him more than the air I breathe. Our lips barely touch, and every muscle, every pore, is aching to feel him. And then the gentle kisses turn demanding, and his tongue finds its way to mine. He moves us back, and the back of my legs hits the edge of the bed, and the world spins.
He lays next to me, his head resting on one hand, while the other gently touches the curve of my hips.
"Do you trust me?" he asks, his eyes burning with heat but still gentle, letting me know I can trust him to take care of me.
"Yes," I say without hesitation.
His kisses start out slowly, gently. He traces his tongue along my jaw and my neck. It's all a haze of pleasure and soft moans. My skin tingles and shivers in anticipation, and I ache, yearn, and long to be consumed by him.
"Please…" I hear myself saying, "Please don't stop."
"You taste delicious, but the best thing about you is your mouth. Do you know why?" he says against my skin, the feel of his lips as he forms the words sending chills down my spine.
"Tell me," I all but pant, shocked I can still form words.
"Because those pretty pink lips can't lie. And they are begging me right now to have their way with you." His tongue continues to explore, and he cups one breast in his hand, teasing and massaging the nipple, sending little waves of heat down between my legs. "Your skin is so soft."
I whimper in response, and the fire is stoked, burning deep inside. I am drowning and flying. He makes a sound, almost a growl, and then he moves his lips across my belly, and a part of me wants to protest and stop him, but a louder part screams for him to never stop. My mind goes blank, and all I can do is hold on and hope to survive. I gasp, and his name slips from my lips as he parts my thighs. I feel a rush of embarrassment and try to close my knees, but his hands keep them open, and he looks at me, his dark eyes gleaming, his expression filled with lust and adoration.
"Don't be shy, Alina. You are magnificent. All of you. So fucking perfect. I will show you. Every inch, every freckle, every curve will be worshipped."
He leans his head and tastes me. His tongue flicks lightly against me, and my fingers sink into the mattress.
"I've dreamed about doing this. Tasting you, kissing you. God, how many nights I have fantasized about it. Tell me. Tell me, baby. Are you enjoying yourself? Does this feel good?"
"So good. Please… More."
"As you wish."
His fingers join in the torment, and my muscles clench. There is no more shyness, no self-conscious thoughts, just an exquisite agony, building and expanding until the world bursts.
He watches me the entire time, and I cry out his name.
When I return to reality, he's holding me in his arms, his face buried in my neck, tension raditating off him.
"Did I do it wrong?" I ask shyly, unable to meet his eyes at the sudden flood of nervousness.
He looks up. "Why would you say that?"
"You seem upset,” I say, gently running my hand over his shoulders, trying to release some of the tension there and not sure when he shed his clothes, only now noticing the miles and miles of his bare skin pressed firmly against mine.
"Baby, no, not upset. Turned on beyond belief, yes. But not upset,” he admits, nuzzling further into my neck, nipping gently at the tender spot behind my ear.
"What happens now?" I ask, knowing I want more but not sure how to ask for it.
"That's up to you. Whatever you are comfortable with."
"What if I said I was ready to finish this?"
"How exactly?" he asks, raising up on one elbow to look at me, his expression open and questioning, clearly trying to hold himself back and not pressure me. It’s the last push I need to find my strength and courage to make the next move.
"Like this." I slip my hand between us, and he gasps when I wrap my fingers around him.
"I will not be able to control myself," he groans, his eyes turning desperate.
"I don't want you to. Just… be gentle. Don't hurt me."
"I would never, ever hurt you, Alina. Never."
"I know."
I stroke him, and the sounds coming from him make my head spin. He's above me now, and I guide him to my center, and I close my eyes and wince, waiting for pain, but he's careful, gentle. He stops and asks me to look at him.
"You feel amazing." He starts to move, slowly. "Look at me. If you're not okay, I will stop."
"Don't. Stop." I say between panting breaths.
He fills me completely. Our bodies become one. A part of him becomes a part of me. I never imagined this could feel so intense. He rocks into me, his movements controlled and unhurried, and I am lost. His mouth and hands are everywhere, and when his fingers dip into the place where our bodies meet, finding my clit, a firecracker explodes inside of me, and the wave takes me under.
"Alina. Oh, god,” he calls out as I clench around him, following me over the ledge, getting pulled under the crashing waves with me as he loses himself inside me.
We stay wrapped around each other as we come down from the high. He's heavy, but I'm reluctant to let him go. I’m not sure how long we lay there, still connected. Our hands slowly trailing over one another before he finally asks, quietly, "Are you alright?"
"More than alright. Thank you," I respond, smiling up at the ceiling.
"For what, beautiful?" he asks, lifting his head to meet my eyes again.
"Being my first. You made it… perfect," I say, refusing to look away or let my shyness win.
"Thank you for trusting me,” he responds before giving me a soft, sweet kiss.
"Do we have to leave the bed today?" I ask, snuggling more deeply into the pillows, still reveling in his weight over me.
"Nope,” he responds, popping the P as he trails lazy kisses over my neck and jaw.
"Good," I say with a sigh, tightening my hold on his shoulders, letting myself be swept away in him once again and knowing there is nowhere else I ever want to me.