Chapter 38
Riley
I wait for Coach to finish the post-game wrap up. As soon as she tells us we’re free to shower, I grab my bag and start to head towards the door. “Blackwood, my office.”
I grit my teeth and follow Coach Parella to her office. I don’t sit because I haven’t showered yet, something I’m regretting about now. She looks up at me. “Reese said she thinks it’s a virus.”
I nod, not saying anything. I feel like the less I say in this situation, the better chance I have of getting out of this unscathed.
She sits back in her chair and studies me with that hard gaze of hers, and I resist the urge to fidget under her stare.
“You’ve lost weight. You’ve got dark circles under your eyes, and you just passed out on my court. Anything else you want to tell me?”
My heart picks up speed. “No.”
“Your boyfriend, Reid Marshall...” I go still. “Are you two physical?” I blink, totally surprised at the direction of the conversation.
“Um,” my mind goes on the fritz when I think of the way we just kissed and how I have his bite marks on my shoulder. My insides warm, and I wonder if she can easily read everything on my face. “We’re not...we don’t...”
She cuts me off. “Is there a chance you’re pregnant?”
Shock hits me hard. “What? No. Absolutely not. We've never...done that,” I finish weakly.
“Sex, Child. It’s sex. Let me put it bluntly. Have you had sex with your boyfriend or with any guy?”
“No. Never.” I hold her gaze, so she knows I’m not lying.
She seems to relax. “Okay, so it’s probably just a virus like Reese said.
Get some rest this weekend. Lots of fluids, and we’ll see you Monday at practice.
” I nod and take a step towards the door, knowing I’m dismissed.
I practically flee her office and make my way as quickly as I can to where Reid is waiting for me.
I throw open the door and head over to where he’s leaning against his car.
He opens my door for me as soon as I get close and takes my bag from me. I pause right before I climb into his car, regretting missing that shower once again. “Ry?” he asks.
I turn to him. “I didn’t shower.”
He puts his hand on my lower back and ushers me into the car. “I don’t care about that,” he pretty much growls at me. He takes my hand in his as soon as he’s in the car. “How did it go getting out of there? Any problems?”
“Well, Coach called me into her office,” I start.
He shoots a look at me. “Did she accept the virus theory?”
I rip the band aid right off. “No, she asked me if I was pregnant.”
He looks over at me in shock. “Gotta admit,” he says after a moment. “That was not what I thought you were going to say.”
“Tell me about it.” I shake my head. “I was so shocked, I didn’t respond right away. Then she asked me flat out if I’d had sex with you or any other guy.” His growl is so loud, it hurts my ears. “I assured her I was not and have not been doing...that.”
“And you won’t be,” he says in a low voice.
I turn to him and give him a challenging look. “I won’t be. Like ever?”
“Right.”
“Not even with you?”
“Only with me.”
I laugh, but it quickly turns into a yawn. “Okay, Caveman.”
He pulls up in front of the house and parks and then pats my leg. “Come on; let’s get inside and sleep.”
I force myself to keep moving, even though all I want to do is put my head back and close my eyes. Reid pulls my door open. “Come on, Baby.”
My legs feel like they weigh a thousand pounds as we walk inside. It’s quiet; it’s the first thing I notice. “Is nobody here?”
Reid puts a hand on my back, propelling me forward. “Slate and Tessa are at a soccer game, and Quint’s at his football game. We can take advantage of the peace and quiet.” We head back to his room. I step inside and want to drop right onto the bed but know I need to shower first.
“Can I borrow your shower?”
“Yeah.” He walks into his bathroom and starts the shower, so it can warm up. He comes out a moment later, and I still haven’t moved. “Here.” He opens his drawer and pulls out one of his FMU shirts and hands it to me. I bring it up to my nose, not even the least bit embarrassed to sniff it.
“You realize you’re never getting this back, right?”
He smiles. “Keep it; I’ve got plenty more.”
I quickly grab clean underclothes from my bag and head into the bathroom. “I won’t be long.”
“Take your time. I’ve got food coming; I’m going to go wait for it.”
I glance over at him. “You didn’t have to do that.”
“You need food.” He walks over to me and kisses me on the forehead. “Get a hot shower. I’ll let you know when the food gets here.”
“Thanks, Reid.”
I make my way into the bathroom suddenly more than ready for a hot shower. I stay under the water until it turns cold. I have a hard time getting out, even though I know I need to. It sounds like too much work to get out and have to get dressed. But I hear Reid’s voice. “Food’s here.”
That prompts me to get moving. A few minutes later, I open the door to the bathroom, wearing Reid’s shirt and my hair up in a towel. I turn to find Reid watching me carefully. He doesn’t say anything; he just tracks my movements. I lift an eyebrow. “I heard there was food.”
He visibly swallows. “Yeah.” The smell of food hits me, and my stomach cramps painfully, reminding me I haven’t been eating well. My stomach growls loudly. That seems to knock Reid out of whatever trance he’s in. “Come on. Let’s eat.”
I throw a pair of shorts on under his shirt and pull my hair out of the towel.
I brush it and braid it quickly before following him out to the kitchen.
The closer we get to the food, the more my stomach complains.
Reid opens a plastic bag and pulls out several white Styrofoam containers.
He slides one in front of me, and I open it.
“Fajitas. Mmmm. Thanks, Reid.” I spear a piece of chicken along with a grilled onion and pepper and pop it into my mouth.
Flavor explodes on my tongue, and I close my eyes and chew. “Mmmm.”
“Ry, have you not been eating?”
I open my eyes to see Reid not eating, only watching me.
I swallow my food. “I haven’t had much of an appetite lately.
” His eyes narrow, and I know he’s getting ready to tell me I should have told him or something.
“I know. I should have told you.” I use my fork to point at the box in front of him.
“You should eat that because if you don’t, I will. ”
He slides it towards me. “Eat it; I’m fine.”
I roll my eyes and slide it right back to him. “You had practice tonight; I know you’re hungry. Eat; I’m fine.” He moves towards me to give me some of his, but I don’t let him. “Reid, I’m fine now. We bonded.” I make sure to meet his eyes. “I’m okay; I promise.”
His anguished eyes meet mine. “It’s my job to make sure you’re taken care of and protected and healthy, and I failed.
Royally.” He runs a hand through his hair, obviously frustrated.
I’m not really sure what to do to make things right, but I stand up and walk over to him anyway.
Bracing myself on his strong shoulders, I climb onto his lap. He goes still beneath me.
“Hey,” I run my fingers through the back of his hair, marveling at its softness. “Look at me.” He looks up at me, and a thrill goes through me at the heated look in his eyes. “None of this is your fault.” He runs his hands up my side, and his eyes heat even more. "Hey, are you paying attention?”
His voice is rough when he answers. “If you wanted me to pay attention, you probably shouldn’t have climbed into my lap.”
I can’t help my smile as I run my hands through his hair again. Memories of his lips on mine assail me, and suddenly, I can’t concentrate either. I lean close enough to feel his breath on my lips. “Reid,” I whisper.
He puts his hand in my braid and pulls lightly. “Riley.” His eyes are on mine as expressive as I’ve ever seen them. “Thank you for letting me mark you.”
I swallow. “Thank you for making me yours and letting me mark you.”
His intensity ratchets up another notch.
“You are mine; you’ve made me the happiest guy in the world.
You are so kind and tenderhearted, the life of any party, and yet so strong.
You don’t let people walk all over you, and you know how to make people feel good about themselves.
You’re the most beautiful person in the world, and I’m going to spend my life making sure you’re happy.
” Before I can say another word, he dives forward, catching my lips with his.
I lean into him and let all the love I feel for him flow through our bond.
I know he can feel it because his arms tighten around me.
He’s not gentle, and I love it. He kisses me roughly with an intensity that should scare me but thrills me instead.
I love that he doesn’t treat me like I’m fragile, because we both know I’m not.
Distantly, I hear the front door open, but I’m lost in a world where only Reid and I are present.
“Oh man. Not you two now. There’s no place for a single guy around here.”
I laugh and pull back from Reid, though he doesn’t let me pull back too far. I glance over my shoulder. “Hey, Quint, welcome back. Did you guys win?”
“Did we win?” he repeats. “What kind of a question is that? Of course, we won.”
I shake my head and look back at Reid. Can we get rid of him?
I laugh at his words in my head. He’s pack. Pretty sure that’s frowned on.
He runs his hand over my braid and pulls it over my shoulder. When can we get our own place?
I laugh and then realize he’s serious. I grimace. I can’t. Freshman, remember? I run my hand over the back of his neck. But next year...
I’ll start looking for a place for us.
“Okay, well, I can see I’m forgotten,” Quint says dryly. “It was good to see you, Quint. We missed you, Quint. How many touchdowns did you score, Quint?” he continues on without a word from either of us.
“Get lost, Quint,” Reid murmurs against my lips.
“Yep, on it.” I laugh against Reid’s lips, but he silences my laughter when he kisses me again.
I hear Quint close the front door; he must have decided to leave. I relax fully against Reid. I can’t believe we’re bonded now. I send him as we continue to kiss.
You have no idea how long I’ve waited for all of this with—
“No. No, no, no. Get up, Riley.”
Zane’s voice shocks me, and I pull away from Reid, who growls low in his chest. My head whips around. “Zane, what are you doing here?”
He stands behind us with his arms over his chest. Evie stands next to him with an apologetic look on her face. Zane doesn’t answer my question; he just continues glaring at Reid. Reid pulls me closer and kisses me again, delighting me. Are you worried about my brother?
What brother? He kisses me slower this time, definitely making it obvious that he could care less that my brother is a few feet away.
He'd better get used to this, he says, running a hand down my spine. You may be his little sister, but you’re my mate.
One day, you’ll be my wife and the mother of my babies.
He’s going to just have to learn to deal.