27. Riot
Riot
I jumped in my car with nervous, giddy energy and it was hard to mask my anxiety the closer to home we drove. I was nervous as all get out and I tried making small talk but it was hard to focus. It had been almost twelve years since I’d been with a woman and Nicolette wasn’t just any woman.
She was beautiful. And talented. And sexy as hell and I was terrified I would disappoint her.
Naturally, I didn’t want to make any assumptions but the way shethrewscaldinggazes down my body at dinnerhadme all butconvincedIwasthe only thing on her mind.
And now in the confines of my truck, Ifelther eyes running up and down my thighs.
As wepulleddown the road thatledto my property, wesettledinto a fiery silence, the air thick with tenuous anticipation.
When I finally threw the truck in park, she sat still, amused, while I jogged around to open her door. She slid down, and we were impossibly close. Her tongue darted between her lips, pulling her bottom lip in between her teeth.
“I have to send a quick video to my mom,” she murmured. Her eyes lingered on my mouth. “Come by in ten?”
I swallowed and nodded but neither of us moved. I inched my face toward hers, holding my breath. If I inhaled her scent, it’d be all over and I’d never let her walk in that house. The image of us writhing naked in the backyard made my clothes feel tighter.
Her soft lips pressed against mine and every bit of tension, fear, or anxiety melted from my body .
I had always gotten nervous before football games too.
The anticipation was the worst. Once the whistle blew, I was in it and I could rely on my practice and body to carry us to victory.
It felt similar to Nicolette. Kissing her was like a magnetic pull.
Like it was something I was supposed to be doing all my life.
Her lipsparted, and Itracedher mouth with my tongue. A soft exhaleescapedher lips and if I didn’t pull back, I never would.
Nicolette’s eyes were heavy and those red lips remained parted.
“I’llbe over in a few,”Iwhispered, walking her to the outside door thatledto her screen room.
Iwalkedaround the house andenteredthrough the main door under the carport,smilingstupidly to myself the whole time.
“Hi Mom, I’m here, alive and in the flesh…” I heard her singsong voice muted through the closed door. The illumination from her computer cast a soft glow behind the curtains.
I walked to the bar and grabbed two wine glasses off the rack. They were old with weird etched designs on them and were way too dusty. I hurried to the sink to wash them before pulling out a bottle of champagne that I’d gotten earlier that day.
Iraninto my bathroom to brush my teeth. I could still taste her on my lips and Ibeganto harden.
“Fuck,”Icurseddown at my belt buckle. Irememberedone of the guys in prison saying hejerkedoff before every date so he wouldn’t finish too fast and Iwonderedif Ihadtime to try to do the same.
Iwasjust about to unbuckle my belt when sharp shoutscutthrough the night.
“No good, it’s no good! I don’t like it! Don’t like it!”
My heart picked up an unnatural rhythm. I bolted from my room. It sounded like Brennan’s angry growls were coming from the screen room. I didn’t want to invade her privacy but when I heard Nicolette shushing him, I let all reservations go and pulled the sliding door open.
Theywerefacingeach other just outside the entrance. Hewastoweringover her with a harsh scowl and her backwasshrunken against the door. Imadeit across the lanai just as Brennanbeganto slap himself in the head.
Shovingmyself between the two of them, Iputmy hands on Brennan’s shoulders andeasedhim backward, further from her.
“Hey, it’s okay, Brennan, just breathe and calm down.
”But hewasfumingand what on earthhadsethim off?
IeyedNicolette to make sure shewasokay.
Shehada curious look in her eyes,watchingthe two of us.
“Hey, Brennan, remember that camping trip with Dad? Wehaveto go fishing this year. It’s almost season, right? ”
Brennan started seething through his teeth but I could see that he was deescalating.
“I made a promise to you. That we’d go back? Just like you made a promise to walk away when you’re upset, okay? Remember that? That was an important promise.”
His eyesglaredfrom me to Nicolette. What the hellhadhappenedbetween them? Hethrewone last scathing look at her beforestalkingback to his house across the yard. Iblewout a heavy breath of relief.
“You alright?” I asked, pulling my eyes over her body. Her face was etched with worry but beneath the surface, I could tell she was warring with something. She turned around and went inside without a word. The fear of loss gripped my heart.
She sat on the edge of the bed, appearing deep in thought and my heart picked up. Had Brennan scared her away?
“I’m sorry,” I looked down at my hands. “He just has these episodes. Do you know what set him off?” I stole a glance over to her but she continued to stare aimlessly, her mouth twisted in regret.
I pushed a lock of hair behind her ear and her eyes floated down to her hands. She was wringing them so tightly. Trying to control my heart, I kept a hand on her cheek and her skin was so soft I wanted to sleep against it.
“Hey,” I whispered, “what’s going on in there?” I gazed at her forehead .
She turned her body to face me, pulling her face away and my stomach lurched but the look on her face wasn’t one of withdrawal.
Nicolette Parker took my hands in hers and spoke the words that I’d always feared someone like her would speak.
The tightness in her voice didn’t go unnoticed.
“You didn’t kill your mother. Did you, Riot?”
Everything in my body went cold.
My heart stopped.
The cicadas froze.
The wind chimes moved in such slow motion I began to think I was dreaming.
The room felt far away.
My worst fear.
The only real fear I’d ever had.
Laid plain like it was being hung on a clothesline.
I was distantly aware that I’d pulled away and stood up, bringing my body closer to the open window so that my lungs might retrieve more air.
“It was Brennan, wasn’t it?” Her voice was soft and tender and it cut through me like a finely sharpened filet knife. I wanted to lie. I’d done it so many times before. I had the whole spiel memorized by now and I should have gone into autopilot.
“I returned home after I’d received a phone call from my brother.
He was upset. He and Mom had gotten into a particularly nasty fight so I drove home to try to diffuse the situation.
But when I arrived my mother had gone crazy, she’d gone mad.
I tried to get her to calm down, but she pulled a knife on me and my brother and I just snapped. ”
Thatwasthe story. For a dozen years now.
Until she came.
My voice was strangled in my throat. I closed my eyes, resting my head against one of the storm windows. The nighttime air was crisp and had a distinct chill.
The silencewasteeming with energy,dilutedby her words and my inexplicable incapacity to lie to her .
The worst person to give the truth to.
My bodystartedto shake. Iturnedto face her. To face my truth. The truth only one other person on this planetknew.
Her chest looked concave and her eyes brimmed with tears. For me. For him. For Grace. My lips parted but my voice was caught.
Without hesitation she stood up and wrapped her arms around my neck, pulling my head down into the crevice of her neck and shoulder. When that lilac scent hit my nostrils, my chest hitched. All the anger and sadness I kept in came silently flowing out of me.
I’m not sure how long we stayed there. I’m not sure if my eyes shed actual tears or if I just imagined them but her raw femininity moved me and I could melt into her body.
She pulled back and ran a soft, tender hand under my eye and over my cheek before pulling my face to hers and claiming my lips like they’d been hers since the moment I saw her at that library.
A rush of needhitme like a tidal wave and my armswrappedaround her back. Ipulledher tight against my chest.
Her lips and tongue tangled with mine and I was amazed at how her shape complimented me. She pushed her chest against me and I could feel the soft tips of her nipples. I needed more.
My handsbeganto roam, shakily, my fingertipsgrazingthe skin of her belly,forminggoosebumps in their wake.
Our hipsconnected, eager to be closer, and itwasall I could do to pull away so that she could pull my shirt over my head.
Shetuggedhers off, and wepaused,drinkingthe other in, our hair disheveled and eyes heavy with want.
Shetooka step closer andrana hand over the zipper of my jeans and I couldn’t help the groan of relief thatescapedmy lips. Her eyesliftedtoward mine. Sheregardedme through her dark lashes and I swear Ilovedher.
Her hands moved me toward the bed. I fell to my back, holding my breath as she climbed on top of me.
She found my lips once more before dragging her chin down my body.
My breath grew shallower when I heard the clasp to my belt come loose.
I was hardly aware of how exposed I was until I felt her lips close around me. My body went weak.
A deep sighrolledthrough me, my body melting into the bed. I couldn’t open my eyes; Iknewif Ilookeddown andsawthat blonde headbobbingI would come that very second and her mouthwastoo good.
Better than good. Incredible. No. Mind-blowing. Shetookme in further and a deep shudderrolledthrough me.