Chapter 40 How Are You Even Real?
how are you even real?
HAYDEN
“How is Riley?”
“She’s doing good,” I tell my brother as I step into the penthouse.
“Dr. Bell was very happy with her thyroid hormone levels at our last appointment.” With the phone tucked between my ear and shoulder and a bouquet of pink tulips in hand, I slip off my shoes.
“And our baby girl is growing. We’re good. ”
“That’s great. I’m happy for you. We all are.”
Warmth spreads through me. “Thanks.”
My phone pings in my ear, so I pull it away to check the notification.
Nastya:
How is Riley?
The question has my pulse spiking. From Hunter it’s fine, a casual topic, but from Nastya? Did something happen?
Another ping.
Nastya:
She’s not picking up my calls. I’m worried
My stomach lurches. I swallow thickly, then press my phone to my ear again. “Sorry, Hunter, something came up. I need to get going.”
“Are you okay?” The concern in his voice is undeniable.
“Yeah, it’s all good. Just got a text from…Glenn. Need to call him back.”
The last thing I need is for Hunter to say something to Piper, while I know nothing myself yet.
Once I’ve ended the call, I head straight to the living room.
What I find breaks me. The lights are off, the only source of light Riley’s laptop on the coffee table.
She sits on the couch, a throw blanket wrapped around her and a pack of tissues on the cushion beside her.
Her eyes are glued to the screen, her face tearstained.
What the hell happened?
I rush to the couch, put the bouquet on the table and crouch in front of her.
“Hey, babe.”
She fixes her focus on me, her lips trembling. “Hey.”
“What happened? Are you okay? Is our baby okay?” The questions leave me rapidly, my mind racing. My heart is beating so fast I fear it’s ready to take off into space.
Eyebrows pinched together, she sniffles. Then she taps a key on her laptop and pauses a movie. “I’m okay. We’re okay.”
I blink, a breath gusting out of me. “Er, really? Nastya said you aren’t picking up your phone.”
Her eyes dart to the device next to the tissue box, then she focuses on me again. “I just wasn’t in the mood. I wanted to watch something that would make me cry…because I needed a good cry.” She sniffles, dabbing under her eyes with her fingertips.
I study the screen, but I don’t recognize the movie. “What were you watching?”
“Love, Rosie. It’s one of my go-to movies when I feel low, and want to bawl.”
Relief washes over me. She’s not hurt. The baby is okay. But the sensation is short-lived, because something must’ve happened for her to feel this way. And to have Nastya so worried about her?
“Yeah?” I stand and drop onto the couch beside her. “Do you have many movies on your list for a good cry?”
“Way too many, but my top three are A Walk to Remember, Love, Rosie and Coco.”
“Haven’t watched any of them.” I drape an arm over her shoulder, pulling her closer. “Wanna tell me what happened?”
She ducks, fiddling with a tissue in her lap. “It’s stupid.”
“Nah-ah. That’s not how it works.” I tut. “Remember how we made a promise to tell each other everything? Especially when something bothers us?”
Nodding, she peeks up at me.
“I’m here for you, babe. Tell me what happened.”
She worries her bottom lip, eyes darting away. “Can you please let Nastya know I’m okay? I’ll call her tomorrow.”
“Sure.” I pull out my phone and send a quick voice message to Nastya. Then I lock the screen and toss the device onto the table.
“You bought me flowers.” Riley hiccups, her eyes finally back on me. They’re full of tears, but at least there’s a cute little smile playing on her lips. “They are beautiful. Thank you.”
“Anything for my girl.” I kiss her forehead, then cradle her against my chest. “Talk to me.”
She slots her head under my chin, her light caramel scent wafting over me.
“I probably would’ve been fine with what I heard if it wasn’t for my mood swings.
But I woke up cranky, and it only got worse once I got to the studio.
” She pauses, taking a deep breath. “The girls made me feel better pretty quickly, but after my last class, Nastya came over so we could go to have lunch, and as we were leaving, we heard two moms talking about me. They were saying how disappointed they were that I’m pregnant.
How they’ll need to look for another teacher once my maternity leave starts.
” Her head is down again. “Trust me, I get it. It’s hard to find a teacher who’s both good with kids and knows what they’re talking about.
But then they started talking about my body.
About how much I’ve changed. Wondering out loud if I’d ever ‘look the same again.’”
Fiery anger ignites in my chest. What the hell? They are moms themselves, how could they be so mean to her?
“Nastya snapped at them. Said they lack respect and human decency. They said they were sorry, that they were just worried about their girls because they love me. But I don’t know.
At that point, I just didn’t have it in me to be strong about it.
” She shrugs. “All I wanted was to come home and cry. So I did.”
The anger burning in me flares brighter at the defeat in her tone. Nastya was absolutely right for telling them off, and I’m so beyond grateful she was there to do it and to support Riley.
But no matter how pissed off I am, this is not about me. I need to make sure she’s feeling better.
“I’m sorry, Ry baby. They have no right to talk about you like that.
” I shift so I can have a look at her face.
“You have no idea what I see when I look at you. The way your body’s changed, the way you move, the way you carry our baby…
fuck, all of it does something to me. I swear, you’ve never looked more beautiful. ”
Her lips tremble and another tear slides down her cheek. “Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me. I’m telling you how I feel.” My eyes drop to her mouth. “And I’ve never wanted anyone more than I want you right now.”
We’re both silent then, watching one another, the air crackling between us, electrifying energy surging around us.
I take her hand in mine, thumb brushing over her knuckles. “Come here.”
She lets me guide her to my lap, the throw blanket slipping to the floor as she swings a leg over mine and straddles me.
I put my hands on her hips, digging my fingers into her ass and the world falls away. The only sounds are the steady pounding of my heart and our breaths mingling.
Inching closer, she presses her lips to mine. Tentative, almost featherlike.
I grab the back of her neck, deepening the kiss, slipping my tongue between her parted lips.
As I kiss her, desire builds inside me, fire spreading beneath my skin.
Her tongue, her soft lips, her hot breath consume me, making me lose all sense of time.
A quiet moan slips out of her mouth, as I drag my lips down to her neck.
I suck and nibble, then trace the delicate column of her throat with my tongue.
“Hayden, please…” She moans, rolling her hips over my groin.
With my mouth at her ear, I whisper, “You have no idea what I want to do to you.”
“Then show me,” she murmurs, sliding her hands under my hoodie.
“I’m going to enjoy every second of my time with you.” I suck her earlobe into my mouth. “There’s no rush, and only your pleasure matters.”
She smiles, her eyes finally full of her usual fire. “I love the sound of it.”
I take off my hoodie then toss it to the floor, her tee follows. The sight of her full tits in her bra sends a rush of energy straight to my dick. It strains against my jeans, already eager for release.
“How are you even real?” I cup her breasts. “Fuck, you’re making me lose my goddamn mind.”
Slowly I caress her sides, then I cover her growing baby bump with my palms.
“You are absolutely breathtaking, Ry.”
As I lightly drag my fingers over her skin, molten need flows through my veins.
Riley takes the opportunity to explore my body too, tracing my tattoos and along the ridges of my abdominals. By the time she sneaks her hand under the waistband of my briefs, I’m hanging by a thread.
“Dammit, babe.” I stand, making her stand too.
I quickly get rid of my jeans, and give my hard dick a single pull. With a seductive grin, she zeroes in on it. Then she wraps her hand around my shaft and gives it a long slow stroke. A whimper—a fucking whimper—leaves me. Fuck. Never in my life have I made a sound like that.
“Don’t even think about it.” I hiss.
“Why?” She shuffles closer and cups my balls.
“Ry...” My voice is barely audible, but I gather my willpower and take a step back. “Take off your shorts, and turn around.”
“Are you going to boss me around all the time?” she asks, though she shimmies out of her shorts as she does.
“No. Only when you’re being a tease.” I step into her and grasp her hips. “Turn around, Ry.”
Teeth dug into her bottom lip, she obeys.
I push her hair away, and then plant a kiss on her shoulder while unhooking her bra. I slip it down her arms, then fling it to the floor, joining the pile of our clothes.
I pull her against my chest, then slide my hands to her hips. “You’re so beautiful, babe. I swear to God, I can’t get enough of you.”
She wiggles her ass against my groin. “I want you so much. I’m dripping already.”
I cup her breasts from behind, tenderly caressing her sensitive tits and when I tug on her nipple, her breath hitches.
“Hayden, please…”
“Get on the couch, babe.”
She puts one knee on the cushion, then the other, and rests her elbows on the back.
As I watch her body move so gracefully, every inch of me is tuned in to her.
Tingles spread through me as I center myself against her core.
Slowly I push into her, then pull away. I repeat the motion again and again, sliding deeper into her warmth each time.
“God, baby, you’re so wet.”
“I’m so full.” She lets out a moan, her head lolling back. “Your barbells…”
Smugness rolls through me, making my chest expand. “Not yet you aren’t. You can take more of me.” I slide back again, then sink farther in. “One more, baby.” In a slow thrust, I slide home, now balls deep inside her. “Fuuuuuck.”
A shuddering breath leaves her, followed by a loud moan. “So good…”
I keep my pace slow and gentle to start, relishing the sounds our bodies make together. She moves her hips, meeting me half-way, sucking me impossibly deep.
It’s raw, the sensation that crashes over me and takes my breath away. No other thoughts or worries. The rest of the world disappears. All that’s left is us and our desire for each other.
I palm her breast, kneading it and playing with her nipple. With a gasp, she slips a hand between her legs, adding more pleasure with her fingers on her clit.
When her whimpers and moans get louder, I pick up the pace.
She cries out, arching her back, as her orgasm crashes over her.
Her insides spasm around me, strangling my dick.
I only last three more pumps before I’m spilling inside her.
I keep my rhythm going, fucking her in a calculated tempo, letting her ride out her release.
Her muscles relax, and I pull away, my breaths coming fast and shallow.
Riley peers at me over her shoulder, a mischievous glint in her eye. “How about round two?”
Chuckling, I slap her ass. “I’ll never say no to that.” I snake my hand around her middle and pull her to me, soaking in the warmth of her. “But how about we move this to our bedroom?”
She turns in my arms, and loops her arms around my torso. “Yes please.”
I lower my head and kiss her gently. Her soft lips are my addiction. I can’t get enough of her.
She eventually pulls away, gasping for air, so I take the opportunity given and kneel in front of her and press my lips to her belly. “I love you, baby girl. I hope you can forgive me for the fun your mom and I are having.”
“Hayden,” Riley murmurs, her voice full of emotion.
“What? I want our baby to know that I love her just as much as I love her mom. Is it that bad?”
“No. Never.”
We still need dinner, but first, I’m dead set on eating my favorite meal—Riley’s pussy.
So I get to my feet, and then with a wink, I scoop her into my arms and carry her to our bedroom.
She giggles the whole way, not a trace of her gloomy mood in sight.
Good. I love seeing her smile more than anything in the world.