16. Lily
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
lily
I think I’ve died and gone to heaven. The whole way to dinner, my nerves were lit with excitement that only doubled as we rode the elevator up to the restaurant. The minute those elevator doors opened, Thoren’s warm hand settled on the exposed skin on my lower back as he led us to the hostess. Between the heat of his rough hand, and the dining room completely surrounded by windows overlooking the city, I was dying.
“Reservation under James,” Thoren says to the hostess, still not dropping his hand from my back. If he leaves it there much longer, I’m afraid my dress will catch fire with the way my blood is heating.
“Right this way. The rest of your party is already here.”
The server leads us to a table by the window where River and a beautiful woman sit. They are a good looking couple, and I have to admit, River is hot. He has the same hazel eyes as his brother, but with a clean-shaven face and longer, straighter hair. River’s smile stretches wide when he sees us, standing to greet his brother. Thoren is a big guy, but River stands a few inches over him, and is more bulk and less defined in his frame.
They wrap each other in a tight embrace. “It’s good to see you. Looking more like Thor every day, eh?” River jokes, squeezing Thoren’s shoulder.
“He wishes he looked this good,” Thoren quips back. His hand snakes around my waist again. “River, this is Lily. Lily, my brother, River.”
River wraps me in a tight hug before stepping back. “It’s so nice to meet you, Lily.” He looks back to the girl who is still sitting, watching us. “This is Vanessa, my girlfriend.”
Thoren pulls out the chair closest to the window for me to take, and I reach my hand across the table to shake hers. “It’s nice to meet you.” She shakes it with a soft, “likewise.”
The sun is just setting outside, and the views are beyond what I could have imagined. You can see the mountains, the Puget Sound, and the islands, along with every tall building and the unique hilly landscape of the area.
I’m so busy staring, I don’t realize the conversation has been flowing around me. Thoren’s arm wraps around my chair as he leans in, his lips brushing against my ear, sending shivers down my spine. “What would you like to drink?”
I turn sheepishly, his face mere inches from mine. His minty breath skates over me. “Sorry, it’s just so pretty. A glass of wine would be great.”
River keeps his eyes fixed on us from across the table. “Do you like red? I can get a bottle for the table.” At my nod, he orders a bottle from the waiter, who hurries off to get it for us. “If you want to know how it is dating me, take a look over your shoulder,” he adds, nodding behind me. There is a table not too far from us where the patrons are not so subtly taking photos of us, or more realistically, River.
“Does that happen everywhere?”
“Not always. Rainiers fans always recognize me, but not everyone is a baseball fan, so I can get away with flying under the radar sometimes. It happens, though. Sometimes they are subtle, sometimes kind, and sometimes, not so much.”
“Someone ran up to him last week and all but knocked me over to throw herself on him while we were at Alki Beach. Times like those are a little rough,” Vanessa adds in, not looking thrilled about the situation. I can’t say I blame her. Heck, I didn’t like Sherry fawning over Thoren, and he isn’t even mine. That thought sits heavy in my chest, and the realization hits. Do I want him to be mine?
I think I am getting around to that idea. He has been slowly immersing himself in my life, offering friendship and support. His subtle touches and hand holds haven’t gone unnoticed, and I am starting to crave his hands on me. If this was his plan all along, it’s working.
The server brings the bottle of wine and four glasses, pouring them for us before taking our orders.
“How many books have you written, Lily?” River asks, leaning forward with his hands folded on the table.
“I have four currently published. I am hoping to turn this one into a series, following a few of the different players. I can’t thank you enough for allowing me to get a behind the scenes look. Research only goes so far, you know?”
“It’s no problem, but make sure you stay by Thoren’s side tomorrow. Some of the boys can be a little rowdy.” Thoren’s hand that was resting on my chair reaches forward, his fingers drawing small circles on my shoulder. I like his subtle claim on me, his quiet reassurance that he has me.
“How long have you guys been together?” I ask River.
“Three months,” Vanessa answers. She seems nice, but is a little standoffish with her responses. “It’s going really well, though.” She leans into him, putting a hand on his chest. It’s a claiming move, but in a way that is wholly unnecessary.
I let the comment drop, and River picks up the conversation. He and Thoren catch up with how the search and rescue team is doing, how their parents are, and how River is feeling about his season. Vanessa and I listen and add in our two cents when it’s welcomed. It is heartwarming to see the bond between Thoren and his brother. I have picked up on the fact that he feels he lives in River’s shadow, but he doesn’t let it show when he’s with him. They both seem proud of the other and just happy to get to spend time together.
“Tell me more about yourself,” River says as the waiter delivers our desserts.
“Not much to tell. I grew up in Phoenix, I’m an only child, and now I live in Cedar Ridge. You kind of know the history there,” I feel my face getting hot. “Thank you for connecting us with Kinsley, by the way. But now I’m fixing up my cabin and pursuing my passion for writing.”
Thoren’s hand wraps around the back of my neck, giving it a reassuring squeeze before going back to stroking my shoulder. River’s eyes darken, a scowl taking over his face. “You’re welcome. If you need anything else, please call me.” He takes a bite of his cheesecake before continuing. “How’s the renovations coming? I hope you’re putting my brother to work. I’ve heard Thor knows how to swing his hammer.”
I choke on a laugh as Thoren chokes on his bite of chocolate cake.
“Dick,” he mutters.
River’s laugh is loud and hearty, head thrown back at his own joke. “What? I meant because you renovated your place recently, too.” He smirks, winking at me.
The sun is set by the time we are finished, the city lights flashing below us, and I am dead on my feet. It’s been a long day, and although everything was really wonderful, it’s also been overwhelming. As we pile into the elevator to head back down, Thoren puts a hand on my hip pulling my back to his chest, letting me lean against him. My breaths mimic his as his heat soaks into my exposed skin. It’s a comfort I didn’t know I needed after today. We say our goodbyes at the bottom, setting a time to meet at the stadium tomorrow so we can get a small tour before the game.
By the time we get back to the hotel, I am beyond ready to crash. He lets me take over the bathroom first, where I go through my nightly routine. I remove all my makeup, brush my teeth, and put on my silky tank and shorts pajama set. I didn’t know when I packed these that he would see me in them, but I’m glad he is. There is something changing with us, and I’d be lying if I said I’m not eager to explore it.
Thoren is already lying on his bed when I step out, dressed only in shorts, with one hand behind his head while he reads something on his phone. Tattoos swirl over his chest, leading to abs above the perfect Adonis belt. It’s visible with the low set of his shorts, a light smattering of hair trailing down just below his navel. He glances up, dropping his phone as he does a double take. A chill runs down my spine as his intense gaze lingers on me, causing my nipples to tighten and ache under the scorching heat.
“Your turn,” I breathe out, breaking his stare. His muscles flex as he sits up, the tension in the room building. The attraction between us is palpable, and if I wasn’t so exhausted from not sleeping much the night before, I would climb this man like a tree. I watch him retreat to the bathroom, every movement flexing the muscles in his back. When the bathroom door closes, I take my first real breath since walking in here. I quickly retreat to my bed, tucking myself in so I don’t do something rash.
A few moments later, he slips from the bathroom, and I try to keep my eyes anywhere but on him. When the rustle of his sheets settles, I finally turn to face him. He’s lying in his bed, the blanket tucked under his arm, facing me as well. Thoren reaches forward, turning out the light.
“Goodnight, Lily,” his soft voice breaks through the dark.
I want to say goodnight and let sleep drag me under, but I also don’t want this night with him to end. Thoren has wormed his way into my life and into my heart. From a young age I was accustomed to being alone. Before Tyler, I found it hard to date and nothing ever turned into a relationship. There was this sense that my life was destined to be spent alone. After Tyler, that thought became overwhelming, like I really was meant to be alone and bad things happened when I wasn’t. I’m starting to see that’s not the truth at all. I just hadn’t found the right person. Thoren feels like the right person, and I want to call this man my own.
“Was it nice to see your brother?” I ask instead.
His chuckle is low and smooth. “Yeah, it was. We only see each other a couple times a year, so it’s always nice to get to spend time with him.”
“Hmmm.”
“How are you feeling after everything today?”
I take a deep breath, mulling it over. I was hoping for things to be settled outside of court, so hearing that likely won’t be the case was rough. It feels nice to have a plan in place, though. Meeting River and Vanessa surprisingly brought on a lot of nerves for me, too. I realized I wanted River to like me. That his opinion matters simply because he is Thoren’s brother. “Overwhelmed. Good. Scared. Overwhelmed some more. It was all a lot.”
It’s his turn to hum in response. “Hey, Lily?”
“Yeah?”
“Can I hold you?” his soft voice asks.
“Like right now?”
“Like all night, baby. You’ve had a long day, and I just want you to feel secure. Let me take care of you?” Now that my eyes have adjusted to the dark, I watch as he lifts the covers and scoots back.
There it goes. Thoren just took down the last barrier I had around my heart. Without hesitating, I slide out of my bed and crawl into his. He drapes the blanket over me, pulling me into his body. His strong arms wrap around me, securing me just like he promised. Warm hands gently rub up and down my back as his legs tangle in between mine. My body doesn’t know how to respond; my heart feels like it’s going to beat out of my chest while my muscles completely succumb to him.
“I can feel your pulse racing,” he whispers into my hair. “Relax, I’ve got you now.”
“You called me baby,” I whisper back. That little sentiment didn’t escape my notice, and I like how it felt.
“I did.”
My chin lifts as his lowers, our faces hovering inches from each other. I watch every flutter of his lashes, the slight uptick in his lip as he takes me in. His chest breathes deep against mine, rubbing my sensitive nipples against him every time. When the look in his eyes changes to something headier, I close that small gap between us and press my lips to his.
It’s soft. Sweet. His lips part slightly, deepening the kiss, his short beard scratching deliciously against my skin. I lick along the seam of his lips, begging for entrance. I need more of him like I need my next breath. He parts our lips further, taking control of the kiss as one hand glides into the base of my hair, gripping it tight.
A soft whimper escapes me as his tongue strokes against mine. His minty breath mixes with mine as his tongue languidly explores my mouth. All too soon, he pulls back, panting for breath. His forehead leans against mine until our breathing is back to normal, his warm breath tickling my face. Ever so slowly he shakes his head, dropping a lingering kiss to my forehead.
“Go to sleep, Lily. We have a busy day tomorrow.”
I should be upset that he pulled away, but I’m too exhausted to fight it. I wiggle in closer to him, wrapping my arms around his strong back. His erection nestles heavily between us and I fight the urge to reach down and stroke him; to feel the weight of his soft skin as it hardens under my hand.
His hands move down to my back again, this time kneading into my muscles. His woodsy, amber scent envelops me, his soft lips brushing tender kisses onto my forehead and in my hair. I realize as I’m falling asleep that I was wrong earlier. This is what heaven must feel like.
I’m warm, wrapped tight in heavy blankets that cocoon me in place. There’s a bone deep comfort that I feel in this bed, and I know it’s not the mattress I have at home. My brain catches up to my body, remembering that I’m at a hotel in Seattle with Thoren.
Thoren.
Thoren that I kissed last night. Thoren that is currently wrapped around me, not just the blankets. His chest is to my back now, his skin warming mine in all the places my pajamas don’t cover. Blinking against the bright morning light, I see one of his hands stretched out from underneath my pillow. There’s a tingle between my thighs seeing evidence of his hard work written all over the rough calluses. They lead up to forearms wrapped in corded muscle, and I get the urge to run my fingers through the hair on them.
His other arm flexes around my waist, pulling me further into him. His erection digs into my ass as he buries his head in my neck and inhales.
“Good morning, how’d you sleep?” His sleepy voice is raspy, adding to the growing heat in my core.
“Like a rock. How’d you sleep?”
“Best sleep I’ve had all year. I want nothing more than to stay in this spot all day, but I have morning activities planned before we need to head to the stadium. Want to order us room service while I go shower? Get anything your heart desires,” he says, slipping out of the bed already.
I feel the loss of him immediately. I’ve never been great at flirting or expressing what I want sexually. With Thoren, though, I don’t want to be this quiet, timid woman. I want to do things that make him call me a good girl again, and feel his lips on mine. No time like the present to take those steps, right?
“Are you going to take care of that in the shower?” I ask, letting my eyes trail down to his hard cock straining to break free from the confines of his shorts.
He chokes, trying to cover it with a cough. “Yes,” he says as a blush rises on his cheeks.
“Will you say my name when you come?”
Waking up in his arms solidified the fact that I want this man. Body and soul, Thoren is the best man I have ever known and I want this small ownership of him. This small claiming, that for one moment, with his hand wrapped around his hard cock, saying my name, he will be mine.
“Fuuuuck, baby.” Both of his hands run through his curly hair, pulling at the ends. “You don’t know what you’re saying.”
“No?” I ask coyly.
He is on me in an instant, his broad chest hovering over me, hands on either side of my head. There’s a wild look in his eyes, and I revel in it. Sweet and submissive, if not dismissive, is all I have ever known. This feral, demanding side of Thoren is a mystery to me, and it’s one I want to explore.
“You don’t think I’ve been saying your name every day since you walked into the shop? That your blue eyes don’t meet me in my dreams every night? That I don’t wake up aching for you, my cock wrapped in my hand wishing it was yours? That it's your hand, your soft mouth, your pretty pussy that I know is dripping for me? I’ll say your name, like I always do. Just know that one day very soon, I am going to make you mine. And when that day comes, it’s my name you’ll be screaming.”
Just as quickly, he pushes off and heads straight to the bathroom. I lay in stunned silence, fanning my face that has to be beet red. My panties are soaked, and all I want to do is follow him into that shower. Something he said stops me, though. He said he was going to make me his first, and after that little show, I will happily wait for that moment.
Pulling myself together, I try not to focus on the fact that Thoren is less than ten feet away, stroking himself to thoughts of me. Instead, I busy myself with ordering a mix of healthy and sweet breakfast foods for us through room service. With the food ordered, I have two options; stand at the bathroom door and drool over the man behind it, or enjoy the views from the balcony far from the object of my desires.
I decide on option two, reveling in the city’s noise below to distract my thoughts. The soft whir of the balcony doors sliding open alerts me to Thoren’s presence, but I didn’t need the noise. I felt his heated gaze the moment it landed on me. His hands grip the railing on either side of my elbows, where I’m leaning over the railing. The scent of a warm forest day radiates from him, enveloping me like a hug.
His hot breath tickles my ear as he whispers, “When I saw you standing here yesterday, just like this, all I could think about was how good you’d look bent further over with my face buried between your thighs. Watching the world below you like the queen you are.” He stands up, giving my ass a sharp smack. “Go get in the shower before I do just that.”
I turn to face him, taking in his black tee, fitted tight around his shoulders, and jeans that hug his thick thighs. “What if I want that?”
“When I finally get my mouth on you, I won’t want to come up for air. Our breakfast is already getting cold, and you need to get ready for the day. Please, baby, I’m hanging on by a thread here,” he pleads.
“Okay,” I relent, walking past him toward the bathroom. At this point, I might need to do some stroking of my own in the shower. I know I’m pushing both our boundaries and limits, but I never knew it could be this fun. It's thrilling to see what he might say or do next. “Only because you begged so sweetly.” His groan is deep as I slip into the bathroom, laughing as I shut the door. I am giving him one week to make his move before I incinerate.
After I finished getting ready in jeans, some comfy sneakers, and a blue tank top, we ate breakfast together. The food was a little cold, but still delicious. Thoren told me about his plans for us to explore downtown for a bit, checking out the widely known Pike Place Market and going to ride the ferris wheel by the water before we would have to make our way to the stadium.
It was everything I wanted out of the trip, and the fact that he listened and delivered was not lost on me. With our breakfast finished and our teeth brushed, we packed up the last of our things to head out. I grabbed the jersey River had bought for me and threw it on over my tank as we walked out the door.
Thoren looked down at me when we got to the elevators, doing a double take at the jersey.
“What?” I ask. “Does it not look okay?”
His eyes softened as he picked up my hand, brushing his lips over my knuckles. “It looks amazing. I like seeing my last name on you.”
With that, he dropped my hand to grab the bags, stepping into the elevator. Thoren can say what he wants, but if that statement isn’t him making me his, I don’t know what is.