CHAPTER TWELVE
W ade was back on Riley’s porch. The flickering lights from the path, not the only thing shining bright. She was glowing. Had been all night.
Despite the glow, he could see that she was nervous. She wanted him to come inside but she didn’t know how to ask. It shouldn’t turn him on how flustered she was becoming. But it did. His heart rate spiking so much that he could feel the veins in his neck pulse.
Leaning into her, one hand went to her hip, while the other went to the trailer door behind her. He let his mouth hover over her ear, relishing in her quiver as his warm breath hit her.
“Tell me what you’re thinking.” He kept his mouth over her ear. His lips grazing it every now and again. The heave of Riley’s chest growing harder as she pushed against his shirt.
“That I...I want you to come inside,” she whispered into the night.
“And what do you want me to do once I’m inside, petal?” She didn’t reply. Not with words anyway. Her body began to melt into his, soft curves shooting fire into his veins. But it wasn’t enough. He needed to hear her. “Say it.”
“I,” she paused. He let her take her time, his teeth scraping all the way down to her earlobe, his heart now hammering as she mewed. “I-I,” she paused again. “I want you to take me. Like you did before. And...and tell me what to do.”
“Good girl.” Another shiver. She liked being called that. Noted.
Slowly, he let his mouth drag down her neck, inhaling oranges as he went. Riley threw her head back on a moan, giving him access to suck the sweet spot just above her collarbone.
It had only been a day since he’d had her in his bed, yet he felt like a starving man as he sucked and scraped. His cravings only getting stronger as she surrendered to him, her body becoming pliant beneath his touch.
Aching to feel her lips, his head lifted, and with a swoop he was tasting the berries she’d had for dessert.
Pressing into her further, he waited until she was propped up against the door before his hand drifted down to find the hem of her dress.
“Spread for me.” He sacrificed her lips for one second as he spoke into her. Before capturing her again once she’d given him access.
His fingers teased the inside of her thigh, stroking up and down and up again. Wade swallowed another moan as he continued to play. When his fingers slid inside her panties, it was his turn to groan as he was met with wet heat.
Goddamn.
Knowing she was slick and ready for him only made him more impatient.
One digit slipped inside her, then two, as his thumb circled her most sensitive spot. That’s when he lost her lips as her head drew back and her mouth dropped open. The evening air pierced by the sound of ragged breaths and pleading whimpers.
“That’s it.” His voice was rough. “Take it like a good girl.” Another moan escaped into the night. “Can you take another finger, petal?”
“Yes,” she whined, her eyes squeezing shut.
He let out a grunt as his third finger stretched her while she rocked against him. She was chasing her pleasure. And that was really fucking hot.
His intention was to take her to the edge. Hear her beg. But as her cries grew louder, he realized he didn’t want to wait. He needed to feel her come undone.
More purrs made his blood heat as his thumb pressed harder. And when he let his fingers curl, he felt her clench around him.
“I’m gonna...I’m...”
He kissed her hard. Catching her cry as she shattered beneath him. Her body trembled, fingers clutching at his waist, while he kissed her like he owned every breath.
When he finally drew back and removed his hand, he didn’t know who looked the most upset, him or her. Those big brown eyes were pleading for more and he didn’t want to wait a second longer to give it to her.
“Inside, darlin’.” He lifted his chin toward the door handle.
She got the message. Her keys were out, the lock was turned, and soon enough, Wade was following her into the living room. Illuminated by a single lamp, his gaze straight away went to the generously padded sofa. It looked damn inviting.
Riley turned to him; her eyelids heavy as she awaited her next instruction. He didn’t say anything though. He wanted her mouth. So he took it. Her taste on his tongue moments later as he walked her backward toward the royal blue cushions.
As her calves hit the couch, their kiss turned more urgent. Driven by a need so strong, it even shocked him. It was a desperate intensity he’d never felt before. And he already ached for more.
He couldn’t wait any longer. His hand went to the back of her dress where he tugged on the zip. Once opened, he carefully guided the straps over her shoulders, before letting the fabric skim her silky skin until it pooled at her feet.
Slowly breaking away from her soft lips, he spoke into her. “Turn around and place your knees on the couch.”
Feeling her breath catch did nothing for his patience. Nor did the sight of her dutifully obeying him.
God-fucking-damn.
He was practically drooling as black panties struggled to contain her perfectly rounded ass. Running his hand over his head, he was torn between what to do first. He wanted it all.
Dropping to his knees, he made his decision. Gently, he dragged the thin material down her thighs, stopping when it reached her knees. It was time for dessert.
***
I t was one in the morning and while he fully expected to be curled up with a naked Riley around about now, he had to admit he was enjoying watching her make fajitas just as much.
Their late-night snack was a well-deserved treat. They’d sure as hell burned off a whole lot of calories over the past few hours.
She looked damn sexy tossing meat and vegetables in the pan, and not just because she was only dressed in a thin t-shirt. But because he’d never seen her happier or more relaxed. She was sparkling.
Once Riley began preparing the tortillas, Wade went about setting the tiny table for them and poured them both some juice.
In no time at all, piping hot fajitas were being placed in front of him.
“I added some jalapenos and lime for an extra kick,” Riley excitedly gushed as she pulled up a chair next to him.
As soon as the mouthwatering spices hit his nostrils, his stomach growled. “So, is this your go-to midnight snack?” he asked before taking a big bite.
Riley beamed, “One of them. Next time I’ll make you my truffle popcorn.”
Wade managed to grin despite a mouthful of meat. When he was done chewing, his tone turned cheeky. “Next time, huh?”
Her neck started to flush. “Oh, um, I mean, if there is a next time. I mean, if you want to.”
Is she joking?
“Petal...” He gently brushed his thumb across her lip, wiping away a smudge of sauce, his touch lingering until her eyes held him hostage. “Not only do I want there to be many, many next times, I also want to be able to call you my girl.”
“Your girl?”
“Yeah, darlin’. My girl. My woman. My girlfriend. Whatever you wanna call it. I just want you to be mine...so...what do you say?”
The flush had spread to her cheeks now. “Yes. I say yes,” she exclaimed before practically jumping out of her seat and into his arms.
Wade held her tight. Their hearts beating in harmony as he drunk in the overwhelming warmth and comfort he felt every time she was close.
After a few minutes, he mumbled into her hair. “These fajitas are really fucking good.”
Riley giggled into him. “Is that why you want me to be your girlfriend...so I’ll make you more fajitas?”
“Well, yeah.” He grinned. “That and the sex.”
She pulled back just enough to smack him in the chest. He used the opportunity to capture her lips, their laughter fading as the air charged and their slow, burning kiss stole both their breaths.
It was too soon to get excited. It had only been four dates. But Wade was excited. Had been since the moment he’d set eyes on her. Getting to know her, and finding out she was just as beautiful on the inside had solidified their connection. And he already knew, he didn’t want to let her go.
Riley was the one to pull back, a twinkle in deep brown eyes as she said, “You’re gonna have to wait until I’ve eaten my fajitas before we can do that again.”
Wade barked out a laugh while safely depositing her from his lap to her chair. “Alright, I suppose I can wait until we’ve finished.”
He waited for Riley to tuck back into the food before he took his next bite. Somehow, it tasted even better.
Once they’d satisfied their stomachs, there was one question Wade had been dying to know the answer to. He’d waited, hoping that Riley would open up, but he didn’t want to wait any more.
“I gotta ask...how is it that a woman as gorgeous as you has never...never been with anyone?”
Riley was quiet for a while. Understandably. He let her take her time.
When she finally spoke, her voice was low. “I guess I grew up quite sheltered.”
“Sure, darlin’, I get that. But there’s sheltered and then there’s—”
“A thirty-year-old virgin?” she finished for him, her small smile fleeting.
Wade swallowed hard. “We don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to.”
He wasn’t sure he meant that, but he was trying to be a gentleman. Although he didn’t really feel like much of one. Taking her virginity in his truck was one thing, but going from that to some kind of dominant forty-eight hours later was playing on his conscience.
She asked you to tell her what to do.
She did. However, they could have gone slower. He could have held back.
“It’s okay,” Riley said. “I guess it’s a combination of things.
My parents were strict, and I lived at home right up until I moved to Woodvalley.
” Her gaze flicked between the wooden surface and Wade.
“I worked at my uncle’s motel. So when I wasn’t with my parents, I was with my uncle.
Throw in a good dose of social anxiety—and your virginity is pretty much guaranteed to stick around. ”
“So you’ve never dated anyone before?” She shook her head. “Are your parents religious?” She shook her head again.
He was still looking for answers. How strict could they possibly be and why?
As if reading his mind, she went on to answer his question. “My cousin went missing when I was young—she was okay, but my parents just kind of switched after that. They wouldn’t let me out of their sight.”
Bingo.
“So they weren’t strict before that?” She shook her head again, a flicker of sadness dulling her shine. “I take it they’re not too pleased with your move out of town?”
“That’s putting it mildly.” Riley pushed her phone across the table and urged him to look at the screen.
Twenty missed calls. Three voicemails. And six messages.
Holy shit.
“They call me twice a day. Once in the morning, once in the evening. If I don’t answer, this is what happens.”
That’s fucking madness.
A strange feeling came over him. The urge to fix this. Although he had no idea how. Yet the feeling penetrated deep. He wanted to make her life better. Had to. She deserved to have a life. She deserved freedom without guilt.
“Call them,” he said, just as surprised at himself as she was.
“I-I don’t think that’s a good idea. It’s one in the morning.”
Maybe not. But a part of him wanted them to know that not only was she safe, but she was also with him and would be for the foreseeable future.
That’s not at all possessive and slightly worrying!
“It is. And they’re worried. Call them and let them know you’re okay.”
She picked up her phone, and hesitated. Looking between the screen and Wade several times before making the call.
“Uh, hi, Mom.” Riley looked nervous as she nodded to herself. “Yeah. I’m okay. I was, uh, I was out.”
Wade put out his hand and gestured for the phone. He tried not to smile as panic filled her eyes.
“Hi, Mrs Clark.” He heard a gasp, before a rather annoyed sounding voice greeted him back.
“Who are you?”
“Wade Evans, ma’am. It’s nice to finally talk to you, Riley’s told me a lot about you.”
The line went silent. Wade gazed up to find panic still clear on Riley’s beautiful face as her mouth hung open.
“Has she now?” Mrs Clark replied. “And why has my daughter been talking about me to you? While you’re at it, you can also explain who you are and what exactly you are doing with her in the early hours of the morning?”
“I’m her boyfriend, ma’am. Seems only right that we talk about each other’s families. And in regard to why I’m with her...I’m just making sure she gets home safe and sound after our date tonight.”
He waited patiently for a response. Then waited some more.
Eventually, her mother replied, rather curtly, “Please pass the phone back to my daughter.”
“Sure thing, Mrs Clark. You have a good night now,” he chirped before handing the phone back.
Downing his drink, he waited for Riley to finish up the call. He could tell her mother had a lot to say as she barely got a word in other than “yes” and “okay.”
Once she was finished, she looked no less stressed.
“So, um, my parents want to meet you next week. They’ve invited us over for lunch.”
Perfect.
It was what he was hoping for. Which is what he told her. She wasn’t nearly as enthused as he was, though.
“Come on, petal. Time to cuddle.” He pulled her to a stand, and slowly led them back over to the bed.
It was time to sleep.