Chapter 27
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
EVE
“ H ave you ever seen a more gorgeous sight in your entire life? It’s like that volleyball scene in Top Gun, except it’s football, and we get to take them home.” Bella takes another sip of her wine as she watches her fiance, Maverick, throw the ball down the beach. Her long blonde hair is held back by a cute rolled-up red bandana that ties at the nape of her neck as her blue eyes follow his every move. They are a beautiful couple and very much in love as I watch him wink at her from across the beach. Maverick looks like he just stepped out of a surf magazine with his piercing green eyes and golden streaks in his wavy hair.
Everyone arrived this morning, and I immediately knew we were all going to get along. Sophia filled me in yesterday on who was coming this weekend. Bella is Sophia’s best friend, who also happens to be getting married to Sophia’s older brother, Maverick. They all grew up together, so it was a shock when Maverick shut down his playboy ways and fell hard for her. I think Bella’s older brother Noah was the most shocked, though, considering it was Maverick, his best friend, who was the one to fall in love with his younger sister.
“It definitely is a gorgeous sight,” Emma murmurs next to me as she watches her husband Noah high-five a grinning Miles for scoring a point. She turns her beautiful green eyes on me and grins. “I’m so glad I’m not the only one not drinking this weekend. You may regret telling me to call you with any questions. I have no clue what I’m doing.” She rests her hand on her barely there baby bump. She’s further along than me at three months and due at the end of January. Ryder and I went to our first doctor’s appointment last week and found out I’m five weeks along. We think it happened the first time we were together in the shower after his date.
“Are you kidding me? I love having someone to compare notes with. I may be the one bugging you,” I laugh.
Her long brunette hair is swept up into a high ponytail with a red tie to match her bikini. It blows in the breeze as she shakes her head, grinning. I immediately felt connected to Emma. She lost her parents a couple of years ago in a car accident, and even though they were nothing like mine, I still understand that feeling of loss not to have any.
My gaze goes back to Ryder. Bella is right. This sight couldn’t get any more gorgeous. All the men are shirtless in board shorts, with their broad, tanned chests glistening under the Florida heat. Tattoos cover muscles on every single one of them to some extent. I notice Noah, Emma’s husband grin at her before bending down in the quarterback position. You can tell from the look in his blue eyes that his wife is his whole world.
They do another play, and I watch Ryder go long before catching a throw from Jake and scoring a point. I can’t help but cheer as he grins over at me and winks. He runs a hand through his sweaty hair before replacing his ballcap, and I feel the heat rise up in my body. I don’t know if it’s pregnancy hormones or not, but I can’t seem to get enough of him. I’m turned on all the damn time when I’m around him, and when I’m not, I’m turned on just thinking about him.
I watch him talk to his team for the last play before they break. Maverick, Ryder, and Travis line up against Noah, Miles, Jake, and Cole. Ryder’s team assured everyone they didn’t need that fourth player to kick their ass which got the guys even more competitive.
When Maverick spirals the ball down the beach toward Ryder for the win, I hold my breath as he dodges Cole. Travis blocks Jake, leaving Ryder open as he catches the football to his chest for the win. Bella, Sophia, and I immediately jump and cheer. The guys get a few playful digs in at one another as they rub in the win. They’re all smiles, though, as they tease one another and head back over to us.
Jake and Miles dive into the ocean to cool off, and I watch the others swoop their girls up before running into the ocean for a swim. Travis and Sophia take Max to the water to throw the football as Savi picks up Ryland next to me where she was playing in the sand.
“I’ve got my little niece,” she grins at me before walking her to the water.
Ryder is all smiles as he reaches me and bends down for a kiss.
“You did so good out there,” I breathe against his lips.
“I don’t know how. I had a hard time concentrating between wanting to keep looking at you in this swimsuit and feeling you eye fuck me when I wasn’t,” he fingers the straps of my white bikini.
“I wasn’t eye fucking you.” He arches his eyebrow at me, and I laugh. “Okay, maybe I was a little. It’s not my fault my husband is hot, and I can’t keep my eyes off of him.”
“Trust me, the feeling is mutual.” His hands skim down my body before resting on my bottom. “And this ass,” he says, palming my behind and squeezing. “I could happily stare at this ass for the rest of my life.”
“Well, luckily, we have the rest of our lives to stare at each other.”
“Very lucky. I need to rinse off,” he says, scooping me up in his arms as I giggle. His chest is covered in sweat, and all I want to do is feel our bodies slide against each other. I run my tongue along my special tattoo, tasting the saltiness on my lips. When my eyes meet his, the greys scorch me to the core. “Change of plans,” he says roughly. He glances behind us and sees everyone in the water.
He spots Savi and Ryland and yells out to her, “We’ll be right back. You good to watch her for a sec?”
“I’ve got her.” She laughs as Ryland kicks her feet in the water.
“We can’t just leave everybody.” He carries us back across the beach toward the house.
“Yes, we can. And we are.” Reaching the stairs, we make it up to the deck in record time. He bypasses the pool and stops at the outdoor shower on the side. Stepping in, we are hidden by bamboo walls connecting to the house. Instead of the blue plank walls that match the rest of the beach house, this part is covered in smooth rock, giving it a waterfall feel. “We can go back down there if you want to, or you give me ten minutes to satisfy the ache you’ve been feeling all morning watching me play football.”
His eyes burn into mine, and I watch a drop of sweat slide down his neck before running over his chest. I swallow hard and glance back up at him as his greys brand me with their heat. Wetting my lips, I try and find my voice. “I think our friends will be okay a few minutes without us,” I whisper.
“Right fucking answer,” he growls, capturing me in a searing kiss. His hand reaches out to turn on the water as the big showerhead rains down on us from above. It’s like we are kissing in the rain as our bodies fuse together. Lifting me, I wrap my legs around him tightly as I’m pressed against the smooth rock that covers the house.
I moan into his breath as our tongues tangle together in a wild need that I feel deep inside. My fingernails claw at his back as muscles strain underneath my palms. A deep growl vibrates through his chest that’s pressed against mine.
“I need you in me, Ryder…please,” I pant against his lips as my throbbing increases with each touch he gives me.
“Fuck, Eve,” he breathes against me. “When you beg me like that, there’s not a thing in this world that I wouldn’t give you.” Supporting me with his strong arm, he reaches down between us and frees himself before moving my suit to the side and plunging deep.
My body wraps around him, gladly welcoming him in where I want him the most. His hands dig into my soft flesh as he holds my ass tightly, filling me deeper and harder. My body blazes with sparks, ready to ignite. His lips find my neck as he pulls deep into my skin, sending a deep pull to my center.
“Let go for me, Eve. Give me what’s mine.” His words send me over the edge as my body explodes around him. He silences my cry with his mouth as his tongue dives deep on a moan. Our bodies pulse together, taking and giving at the same time. I feel him tremble beneath me as his muscles strain against the intensity of it all.
He slowly lowers me to the floor and kisses me softly.
“I can’t believe we haven’t been in here yet,” I grin at him. The rain shower is lightly hitting our skin and cooling us off. “It’s my new favorite spot.”
“I’ll build you one when we get our new place.” He winks at me and adjusts my swimsuit before fixing his. He turns off the shower and holds my hand as we walk back across the pool deck. We join our friends still in the ocean. Everyone is so busy having fun that no one even notices we are already soaking wet before we even get in the water. Ryder lifts up a laughing Ryland as a wave comes through our group, caressing our skin.
I catch Noah and Emma’s eyes as they watch Ryder with our daughter. Noah whispers something into Emma’s ear, holding her against him from behind. She turns her head and smiles at him before he kisses her gently on the lips. I can already tell they are going to be amazing parents.
Skye, Emma’s childhood best friend, comes over to join them with her fiance, Cole. They flew in from Tennessee, where Emma is from, and were high school sweethearts like Ryder and me. With their blond hair and blue eyes, they remind me of Barbie and Ken…if Barbie had shoulder-length hair and a petite five-foot-four frame. I laugh as Cole easily picks up his beautiful fiance and tosses her into a wave. She comes up laughing and tries to tackle his six-foot-one frame but ends up being tossed again.
“Having fun today?” Ryder comes up from behind and wraps his arms around me in the water.
“So much fun,” I look around at all my new friends. I watch Miles give Ryland the football to toss back down into the water. “I’m so happy to be here. Everyone has been so nice and made me feel right at home.”
“You are home.”
I nod and lean back into his chest. “Anywhere you are has always been my home.” I feel his hand caress my stomach, and I place mine over his. “You’re my home.”
“Our baby doesn’t even have ears yet,” I laugh when Ryder places headphones against my stomach before putting some on Ryland.
“I know, but the thought of that tiny little seed being scared of the noise bothers me. Just humor me, okay?” He sits down next to me on the beach blanket and pulls Ryland into his lap. I look over at Emma, and we both laugh. She’s wearing a pair, too.
“I’ve learned to just go with it. We fell in love with overly protective men, and it’s only going to get worse the further along we get, so there’s no point in fighting it.”
“Truth,” Noah says, laughing. “I’m already second-guessing being this close after hearing about Miles nearly blowing his dick off.”
“Don’t worry. I already checked the wind map and direction,” Ryder says, holding up his phone with the weather app. “We are safe tonight.”
“And that’s why I let Ryder take home the win today,” Noah says, grinning.
“You wish,” Ryder chuckles. “We kicked your asses, and it only took three of us to do it.”
“Rematch tomorrow?” Noah lifts his eyebrow at him.
“You’re on,” Ryder grins.
Miles walks over with Jake, and I laugh when I read Miles’s grey t-shirt.
Professional Firework Director, If I Run, You Run
“Well, this isn’t making me feel any better,” Noah chuckles.
“We just wanted to thank you all for coming to the Montgomery fireworks show,” Miles addresses everybody in our circle. “I’m sure you have your little shows in Tennessee,” he says, looking at Skye and Cole. “And Crystal Isle,” he says, grinning at Maverick and Noah, but here in Blue Haven, everything is bigger, including the fireworks.” Between his t-shirt and speech, we are laughing our asses off.
“Not everything, I can guarantee you that,” Mav grins, earning an eye roll from Miles.
“So now, without further ado, enjoy the show,” Miles turns to walk back down to the water, and I read the back of his shirt.
“Oh my God,” I laugh, feeling the tears start to form.
Caution! I might explode in your hand.
Tipsy on a ton of wine, Sophia, Bella, Savi, and Skye are practically falling out of their beach chairs from laughter. Maverick stands up and grabs a bag behind his chair.
“Don’t worry, babe, I got some for us too.” He takes Bella’s hand and pulls her up out of the chair before lifting the t-shirt she’s wearing and putting the new one over her bikini top. He replaces his tee, and she starts laughing when she sees them together. “You have to stay to my left all night,” he grins before they both turn around.
Mav’s tee has a fireworks rocket pointing at Bella. I love the way she explodes is written across the front. Bella’s rocket is pointing at Maverick with I love the way he bangs .
“Well, it’s not wrong,” Bella giggles.
“You always did say you wanted fireworks,” Sophia says, meeting Bella’s eyes. They both start laughing again.
“Yes, she did, and lucky for her, she gets the grand finale every night.” He leans down and kisses her loudly on the neck before they settle back in their chairs.
“I’m going to pretend it’s not my brother we are talking about.” Sophia leans back against Travis as his fingers run through her long, dark hair.
“And I’m going to pretend it’s not my sister,” Noah mutters as he hugs Emma from behind.
A firework shoots up in the sky, causing our laughter to die down as we watch the burst of light illuminate the water. We all settle in to watch, and by the end of the night, the Blue Haven boys have impressed us all. This will be one Fourth of July that we will never forget.