Chapter 8 #2
Oz didn’t know why he suddenly felt guilty about that.
He wanted to explain that he’d set up the arrangements before he’d gotten to know her, but he let it go.
The last thing he wanted was to put a girlfriend on his FCP, then break up with her.
Not that he was planning on breaking up with Riley, but it still felt too early in their relationship for something as huge as looking after his kid when he was gone.
“I think she’s a great choice,” Riley said, and Oz couldn’t read any resentment or jealousy in her tone. “You have great friends, Porter.”
“I know,” he said. “And they’re now your friends too,” he told her.
“They are, aren’t they?” she asked with a small smile.
They sat in silence for a moment, simply listening to the birds singing and the water babbling over the rocks in the stream.
“Porter?” Riley asked after a minute.
“Yeah?”
“Thanks for bringing me here. And by here, I mean to this stream, but also to Grover’s house in general. I don’t get out much, and it’s been a nice change of pace.”
“You’re welcome. I wish I had thought to bring a picnic lunch or something. It’s not much of a date so far.”
Riley grinned up at him. “It’s the best date I’ve had in a very long time,” she admitted softly.
“You shared your friends with me. I got to be included when Aspen told the others about being pregnant. You were honest with me about what you do—and don’t worry, I won’t say anything to anyone, not that I know anyone I’d tell, but still—and you introduced me to four-wheeling.
I appreciate that you didn’t drive crazy to try to impress me, that would’ve just scared me to death.
You’ve shared so much with me, and I’ve got absolutely nothing and no one to share with you.
I know this is a one-sided thing between us, but I’m still grateful. ”
“I don’t want your gratitude,” Oz told her honestly.
“And nothing is one-sided. You don’t get it.
I’m totally out of my element with Logan.
I don’t know how to be a parent, especially to someone who’s lost his mom.
Yeah, Becky was my sister, but I didn’t even know her.
I mean, I knew who she was when we were growing up, and I knew who she was when I stopped communicating with her, but I have no idea about Becky, the mom to Logan.
Sometimes I think I don’t want to know, that it would just piss me off hearing how Logan was treated, but then there are times I think she cleaned up her act and was a good mom.
“Anyway, I’m babbling, but you don’t have to bring anything to our relationship other than you.
You staying with Logan in the afternoons makes me able to relax and not worry about him.
And there’s nothing better than coming home to the sound of your laughter.
You’ve helped make my apartment a home, Ri, and I can’t thank you enough for that.
So no more thinking we’re on unequal ground, okay? ”
“I’ll try, but I can’t help thinking that anyone would’ve stepped up like I have.
And hanging out with Logan isn’t a hardship, not at all.
He’s wonderful, and even in the short amount of time he’s been with you, I’ve seen changes in him…
for the better. He’s respectful and he doesn’t take his eyes off you.
You might not think you know what you’re doing, but it doesn’t matter, because from where I’m standing, you’re doing everything right. ”
“I still want to take you out on a real date,” Oz told her.
“Okay, but this feels like a real date to me,” Riley insisted.
“So we’re officially dating, right?” Oz asked.
Riley blushed and nodded.
“And we’re exclusive?”
“I hope so,” Riley said.
“We are,” Oz said firmly.
She smiled. “Maybe we need to seal it with a kiss?”
“Great idea,” Oz agreed, lowering his head.
How long they sat on the bench making out, Oz had no idea.
It was taking all he had not to slip his hands under Riley’s shirt and pull it over her head.
He wanted to touch her all over. To see her hard nipples without her shirt and bra being in the way.
But he also didn’t want to disrespect her by taking her right here on this hard bench.
He wanted their first time to be in his bed.
He wanted to take his time and show her exactly how into her he was.
The sound of four-wheelers coming down the trail interrupted their peaceful solitude.
Riley pulled back and her eyes were glassy. Her lips were plump from his kisses, and it took everything within Oz not to lower his head once more.
She licked her lips and blushed when she looked up at him.
“God, you’re pretty,” Oz said, running the backs of his fingers against her pink cheek.
“And you’re hard to resist,” Riley told him.
He gestured to his lap with his head. “The feeling’s mutual. I’m not sure I’ve ever been this hard just from kissing someone before.”
His erection was pressing against the zipper of his cargo pants, and was definitely uncomfortable.
Oz was a little embarrassed about pointing out his need, but he also wanted to make sure Riley knew how she affected him.
She lit up in his arms, and he knew together they’d burn the sheets if and when they ever got there.
“I’ve never wanted someone like this,” she admitted. “I’m usually ambivalent about having sex. Which is why Miles and I only tried once.”
“That doesn’t make you frigid, as he accused, it makes you smart.
And I’m guessing it means you haven’t had great sex in your past. And you should know, even if it makes me sound over-the-top macho and conceited, I can’t wait to show you what you’re missing.
I’m gonna do my best to ruin you for anyone else. ”
“I don’t think it’ll be hard,” Riley told him.
“Oh, it’s hard all right,” Oz blurted, then winced as soon as the words were out.
But luckily, Riley laughed. “I walked right into that, didn’t I?” she asked.
“What I’m trying to say is that what I feel with you isn’t like anything I’ve experienced before.
I respect you, look forward to sitting across the table at dinner and talking about your day.
I enjoy spending time with you outside the bedroom, and that hasn’t happened to me in a very long time.
I love kissing you, and I’m happy to keep doing so until you’re comfortable with anything more. ”
“I’ve never met a man like you,” Riley admitted.
“Good,” Oz said immediately. “Because I’ve never met a woman like you either.”
The sound of the other vehicles faded.
“As much as I want to sit here and make out with you some more, we should probably get back. Make sure Logan’s good,” Oz said.
Riley nodded. “You think Aspen and Brain have told everyone else yet?”
“Probably. Normally they would’ve waited until I was there, but I’m sure Aspen was confident you’d let me know.”
“I still don’t get how they can be so welcoming. For all they know, we’re just friends.”
“They know better,” Oz said as he stood. He took her hand in his as they headed back to the four-wheeler.
“How?” Riley asked with a cute little tilt of her head.
“Because I’ve never brought a ‘friend’ to one of our get-togethers before. I never wanted a woman I wasn’t serious about to get any ideas.”
He felt Riley stumble a bit at his words, and Oz took the opportunity to wrap his arm around her waist and pull her against his side.
“And you’re serious about me?” Riley asked.
He was impressed with her courage to ask the question. “Absolutely. One hundred percent serious,” he said. Then without missing a step, he leaned down and kissed her on the lips. It was a quick, teasing kiss, but no less potent than the long, slow, deep ones they’d shared earlier.
“Well then. I guess it’s good that I feel the same. This would’ve been extremely awkward otherwise.”
Oz burst out laughing. “Yeah, it would’ve been, wouldn’t it?”
She smiled up at him, and Oz swallowed hard.
She was so beautiful. The sunlight was playing peekaboo in the trees and when a strand of light caught her brown hair, it sparkled.
Her hazel eyes seemed more blue in the sunlight and green in the shade.
Oz knew he’d never get tired of learning new things about her.
She’d keep him on his toes, and he loved that.
He helped her buckle her helmet once more, sneaking another kiss as he did.
Then he climbed on and fastened his own helmet.
This time when she put her arms around him, she didn’t hesitate to plaster herself to his back.
Her hands flattened against his belly once more, and her fingertips played with the hem of his shirt.
He pressed against her hands and took a deep breath. Before he started the engine, Oz turned to look at her. “Careful, Rile. You’re playing with fire.”
“It feels kinda good to be a bad girl,” she teased. “Are you saying you don’t like this?”
He did. He loved the feel of her fingers exploring him.
He wished she’d slip them under his shirt and against his bare skin.
Hell, he already knew he’d have fantasies later about her taking his cock in her hands and jerking him off while he drove.
Of course that wasn’t smart, safe, or very private on this public trail, but none of that seemed to matter to Oz’s very eager dick.
“You know I love your hands on me, but I’m begging for mercy. The last thing I want is to show back up at Grover’s with a hard-on,” Oz told her honestly.
He felt her breathe out a sigh of frustration. “You’re right. And I’m too much of a chicken to actually do anything out here. I’m more of a behind-closed-doors-sex kind of girl.”
“I’d never do anything that would embarrass you,” Oz told her. “I might talk a good game, but I’ve never been an exhibitionist.” He picked up her hand, kissed the palm, then placed it back on his stomach, a few inches higher than she’d had it a second ago.
Getting the hint, she moved her other hand up and clasped her fingers together. “Home, James,” she quipped.
“Yes, ma’am,” he replied with a smile, then started the engine.
The trip back to Grover’s house seemed even more intimate than the ride out had been.
Riley held him tighter, and he drove a little slower, wanting to draw out their time together.
He loved his nephew, but he made a mental note to do whatever he could to carve out time to take Riley on a date as soon as he could.
He knew his friends wouldn’t mind looking after Logan to give him that alone time either.
He was still smiling, thinking about how much he’d love having Riley all to himself again soon, as they pulled into Grover’s yard.
All the guys were on the porch with the women now, and everyone was smiling and laughing.
He’d been right, Aspen and Brain had most likely shared their big news.
Oz knew it wouldn’t be long until they were married.
If his woman was pregnant, Oz wouldn’t wait a second longer than necessary to put a ring on her finger.
In the military, being married meant a hell of a lot more protection and stability for his spouse.
“Come on,” he told Riley after he’d parked the four-wheeler and they’d put their helmets on the seat. “Let’s go celebrate with our friends.”
The huge smile on her face told him everything he needed to know.
Riley wanted to belong, wanted to be part of the group.
What she didn’t know was that she already was, without doing a damn thing but being herself.
He saw Gillian mouth “you know now?” to Riley, and couldn’t help but chuckle at how blatant his friend’s wife was about asking if he’d told her he was Delta Force.
But he saw the pleasure in Riley’s face when she nodded. He knew she felt accepted, and it made him want to kiss her again, right then and there in front of everyone. But instead, he simply shook his head at Gillian’s antics when she clapped her hands with excitement.
Then Brain said, “It’s about time you got back.”
Before Oz could ask him what the big hurry was, Brain got down on one knee in front of Aspen.
Oz heard Riley gasp, but all he could do was smile.
“I wanted to wait until everyone was here. I’ve been trying to think of something romantic and over-the-top to do when I proposed, but nothing seemed right.
Except doing it here and now in front of all our friends.
Marry me, Aspen. As soon as possible. Now that you’re pregnant, there’s no need to wait.
And I’m not asking just because you’re going to have my baby.
I just want you, and our little one, protected as soon as possible. ”
Aspen grinned. She immediately nodded. “Yes, of course!”
Everyone around them clapped and cheered as Brain stood and took Aspen into his arms. He spun them around in a circle, then leaned down to kiss her.
Oz looked down at Riley. She was grinning from ear to ear.
He reached out and took her hand in his.
She was now a part of their inner circle.
He just had to be patient to make it a more permanent thing.
And the fact that the idea didn’t freak him out went a long way toward making him know, down to the marrow of his bones, that she was it for him.
For him and Logan.