34. Huntley
Chapter Thirty-Four
HUNTLEY
It was quite the welcoming committee.
As soon as we walked through the door, Bre flung herself at me before anyone could remind her about my injuries. It hurt like a son of a bitch, but I didn’t give a shit because I was so damn happy to be there.
“Honey, be careful of Huntley, remember what I said about his ribs.”
The girl looked up at me after hearing her mother and bit into her lower lip—damn, it was a move just like her mother’s—before apologizing. “I’m so sorry.”
I gave her a wink. “It’s okay, beautiful.”
Bre’s blush was as endearing as it was when River did it. These two girls were not used to sweetness and compliments. They needed to hear it more and I was the guy to do it.
“What about me, what about me?” Stormi called out while she bounced up and down in front of me as Bre’s dog—not wanting to be left out—raced in circles around my legs, yipping.
I tapped the tip of her nose. “You’re beautiful too.”
Stormi beamed a bright smile and her big brown eyes glistened with glee at the attention. I caught River watching the interaction and flashed my gaze her way, giving her a wink like I’d given Bre.
“This room is full of beautiful girls,” I said with my eyes glued to River’s.
Her cheeks turned a pretty shade of pink. Yup, that blush was for sure endearing.
“Are you going to introduce me?” I heard my mother’s voice from behind me.
Well shit, I’d almost forgotten she followed us to River’s to make sure I was settled and had come into the house right behind us. I slowly turned around with a sheepish look on my face.
“Sorry, mom, come in and meet everyone.”
“First we need to get you settled on the couch. Then the introductions can be made after,” River scolded in her best mom voice.
Damn that was sexy.
“Yes, ma’am.” My voice came out slightly gruff as desire ran rapidly through my veins.
River’s eyes widened and that pretty pink color sparked to life again, mapping her face, neck, and disappearing down her shirt. The woman was on to me.
I swallowed the groan about to break free when I found myself wondering just how far that rosy shade went.
“That sounds great,” my mother’s voice, like a bucket of cold water to my libido, broke in, causing me to get my ass moving before everyone else figured out what I’d been thinking too.
However, as I made my way over to the couch, I glanced toward Bronson and Lake finding I wasn’t hiding crap from them. They both had shit-eating grins on their faces.
Just as I sat down, Lennon came through the door muttering how the store had been like a madhouse. Someone must have sent him to get something. He stopped when he saw me and gave me a chin lift. The sixteen-year-old was working to play it cool but I could see something in his eyes.
He needed praise and affection just as much as the girls needed their sweet-talk.
“Hey, dude, I missed you. Come tell me what you’ve been up to and meet my mom,” I called out.
Something sparked in his gaze and I knew I’d been right. He may have acted like a tough guy, but I had no doubt that after going through some bad shit, it was his way of coping. I may not have had all the details since River always said it was his and Bre’s story to tell, not hers, but he was just a kid who cared a lot more than he let on.
“Sure, let me put this away first,” he answered before heading to the kitchen.
My mom had made her way over and sat down beside me, while everyone else gathered around too. I took in the ‘Welcome Home’ sign—one that looked to have been made by Bre and Stormi—hanging on the wall and I smiled while my heart nearly burst wide open.
I knew that for me, home was wherever River, Bre and Lennon were.
And I wasn’t the only one that adored the trio. Before my mother left it was clear that she adored the kids and they seemed to be taken with her too. I smiled, thinking maybe one day they’d call her grandma.
I wanted nothing more than to marry River. My mother already thought of River like a daughter. She’d held her in her heart since the night they met.
I’d watched their interaction as the two women said goodbye. My mom tenderly placed her hands on my girl’s cheeks, brushing away a few stray tears that had fallen after they exchanged words.
Then my mother leaned in and kissed her cheek, whispering something only River could hear. The others in the room looked on with curious glances and that was when I realized none of them knew about the connection those two had yet.
But I did.
It was beautiful and a bit surreal too.
Everything had been put into motion long ago.
River and I were always meant to be.
My woman definitely had a stubborn streak.
It was because of it that I’d found myself taking up residence in her bed and not on the couch. I chuckled as I recalled our conversation about the sleeping arrangements.
With her hands planted on her hips, she’d glared at me. “If you insist on sleeping on the couch then I’m sleeping in the chair.”
We’d been going back and forth for a few minutes about it, the kids having already gone to bed, and she wasn’t giving in.
“With your size”—she fluttered her hand in a motion up and down my body—“and your injuries, the couch is not acceptable.”
The mom tone was back and I couldn’t contain the smirk on my face while I worked to not only hold back the laugh rumbling in my chest, but also control the way the rest of my body was responding to her sass. It seemed to be getting harder and harder.
I’d say no pun intended but I’d be lying.
River flared emotions that I’d never experienced, and they’d been roaring to life since the first time I’d laid eyes on her. But since she told me she loved me and that she wouldn’t run again, my body had been vibrating with the urge to make her mine in every way.
To make her my wife, my lover, and my everything.
But no matter what, just her being in my life was all that mattered. Even if it meant things stayed the way they were. I just didn’t want to lose her again. I knew there was much I didn’t know that could change everything.
Never for me, but maybe for her.
“I am not taking your bed, sweetheart.”
She let out an exaggerated huff. “Fine, I’ll sleep in it with you.”
And that had me caving.
I got to lay next to her in the hospital bed and it was amazing. The idea of sleeping in her bed, with her in my arms, sounded like heaven.
“You sure?”
She sent me a sweet smile. “Yes, I liked lying next to you last night. Only the bed will be more comfortable.”
So, there I was, a mound of pillows behind me, propped up so I was comfortable in her bed, waiting for her to come out of the bathroom and join me.
The door opened and I almost swallowed my tongue.
Sweet baby Jesus.
I was sure River thought she was downplaying her appearance by slipping on a gray pair of soft, cotton sleep pants and light-lavender, V-neck T-shirt, but she was mistaken. The easy, girl-next-door look, paired with her long, damp—just out of the shower—hair falling around her face and her violet eyes that sparkled like crystals was enchanting.
River was a dream.
The fact she didn’t know the appeal she had only made her that much more beautiful.
She stared at me, then the bed, and worried at her lower lip .
“Sweetheart.” I leaned forward and patted the bed in front of me. “Come talk to me.”
Tentatively, she walked toward me and sat down where I had indicated. Turning her body slightly toward me, our eyes connected. I reached out and took one of her hands in mine.
“I never want you to be uncomfortable or scared. It would kill me if my presence did that to you.” I rubbed my thumb back and forth across the top of her hand. “I would be okay on the couch.”
She was shaking her head, that stubbornness of hers setting in again, but the unease in her eyes was saying something different.
“I think...” River blew out a breath. “I think the hospital was just… different.”
It was clear her mind was working through something and she wasn’t done talking so I just nodded in understanding, waiting for her to keep going when she was ready.
“There’s never been a man in my bed.”
As the words left her mouth, her eyes grew distant and she was no longer looking at me. Her body started to tremble and it was clear she was somewhere else.
“Well, only once,” she whispered in a tortured tone. “But I didn’t want him there.”
When tears started sliding down her face, my heart felt like it had been through a shredder. “Baby, if you’re not ready to tell me, it’s okay.”
Her eyes focused again and I could tell she was seeing me then.
“Huntley, I need to.” Her palm gripped mine like a vice. “But I don’t think I can do it here.”
She glanced down toward the mattress and understanding dawned instantly.
“Are you sure you want to do this now?”
When she looked back up, the mesmerizing eyes that met mine were filled with pain, fear and sorrow, but also determination.
Her lower lip quivered. “It’s what I need to do to move forward.”
Releasing her hand, I slowly brought mine up and cupped her cheek. “Okay, sweetheart. Do you want to go out to the front room?”
She nodded and brought her small hand up to her face, placing it over mine.
“I want to move forward with you,” she said softly.
My heart pounded in my chest, her words hitting me as hard as when she said she loved me. This woman was a warrior. Even if she didn’t believe it, I’d known it right away.
“We’ll get through this, baby.” I leaned in and kissed her forward. “Together we can do anything.”
Her sigh as my lips brushed her soft skin floated through the room and I leaned back so her eyes were on mine again.
“I need you to know, and I’ve said it before, nothing you tell me will ever change my love for you or how I see you.”
Her eyes misted with tears like small droplets of dew left behind on a leaf in the early morning.
“Promise?”
Taking her hand, I brought our clasped ones and laid them on my chest.
“With all my heart, I promise.”