Chapter Twenty-One
“I’ll be there to get you in about twenty minutes,” Reed said.
“I can just meet you there. It would be easier. My house is in the opposite direction, completely out of your way.” He was just being crazy and protective. It felt good to have him going all caveman on me, I just couldn’t let him know that.
“Will you just stop arguing with me and stay put? The roads are getting slick, and I would feel better if you and Rhett were with me. Do you always have to be so damn stubborn?” I covered my mouth to laugh, because he was getting all flustered, and it was so cute.
“Are you laughing at me?”
“No,” I snickered, and once again covered my mouth.
“Whatever, smartass, just stay put. I’m on the way, be ready.” He hung up, and I only laughed more.
I gathered Rhett and my things and waited by the door. When I saw his truck coming up the driveway, I made my way outside.
We were celebrating Christmas at my parents’, followed by a late dinner with Reed’s dad. Our day was planned, and now I also had a chauffeur.
Reed grabbed Rhett from me, along with the bag. “Merry Christmas, baby,” he whispered just before kissing me sweetly.
Turning out on to the main road, I noticed just how much snow had fallen. “I guess the snow has gotten pretty heavy.” Something was strange about the weather this year. Granted, a little snow to us was a lot, something we sure weren’t used to. This year, though, we’d had record snowfall, and the town didn’t know how to handle it. People weren’t used to driving in these types of conditions.
He looked over at me with a smile that clearly said he had already tried to tell me that. I could only smile, and in turn he winked. “I know it’s not that common, but the ice, that’s what makes it worse.”
Momma and Daddy had invited Gavin, since he was new in town. He really had no place to go, and Momma wasn’t having that. At first, Reed was quiet and stuck to my side like a second skin. After a couple hours he warmed up to Gavin, realizing that he and I had no interest in one another. Sure, the man was pretty to look at, but he wasn’t the man who warmed my heart.
Dinner with Reed’s dad was a little different than I had been used to. Not bad different, just interesting different.
What I found amazing was the fact that he went shopping for Rhett. The moment he brought out a pile of gifts and sat them on the floor in front of Rhett, even Reed looked shocked.
“What the hell is wrong with you two? You don’t think an old man knows how to shop for a toddler? I bet my old ass bought him better gifts than you did. What’d you get him, clothes?” I laughed when Reed’s face fell a little. I couldn’t hold back my laughter.
His dad snickered and shook his head. “Go ahead, boy, dig in and tear it up.” He leaned forward and tore at the paper, helping Rhett get started.
My eyes filled with tears while I watched him open toy after toy. With each one he became more and more excited. I excused myself to pull it together.
A light tap on the door came first, before Reed pushed it open. “You okay?” I only nodded as I blew my nose. “Why the tears then?”
“Just means a lot to me that your dad has accepted Rhett. I can’t believe he went to all that trouble.” I sniffled.
“When are you gonna accept that we care about you two? It isn’t any trouble, babe, it’s what family does.” Reed closed the distance between us and caged me in against the counter. When my eyes met his, he smiled. “I love you, Kori, and I love Rhett. My dad loves both of you too. Understand that, please…I want you both for the long haul.”
I dove for him, taking his lips in a fierce kiss. “I love you too, so much,” I whispered before kissing him once more. Things got a little heated there in his dad’s bathroom, and it needed to come to a halt.
“Spend the night with me,” Reed asked. His forehead rested against mine, his eyes closed tightly. He looked like he was doing everything he could to calm himself down.
“Okay, but I’ll need to borrow a shirt to sleep in.” He grinned, and I already knew what he was thinking. “Or I could just sleep naked.” He chuckled and pulled me in tightly against his chest.
We had yet to take that step in our relationship, but I had a feeling tonight that would change. I wasn’t sure I could wait that long to get my hands on him. I was a little worked up from our make-out session.
“Naked would be the best Christmas present. Having you in my bed, under me, I think I could get used to that.” He kissed me once more before pulling me back toward the living room.
***
Just the small walk from Reed’s father’s house was too much for Rhett, he was out like a light. Reed carried him inside and took him to the spare bedroom next to his own. I was surprised to see the side rails hooked on the sides of the bed. He must have just gotten them, he had no other reason to have them. It only made my decision to go forward with tonight seem even more like the right one. It was our time, no more holding back.
I stood back near the doorway as he tucked Rhett in the bed securely. Reed leaned over and placed a soft kiss against his forehead, and my heart became just a little more his. It was then that I realized how lucky I was. How lucky we were, to have Reed in our lives. I heard him whisper against Rhett’s forehead that he loved him and tears pooled in my eyes.
Reed met me in the doorway and pulled me against his chest. “What’s wrong, sweet girl, why you crying?” He soothingly rubbed my back while continuing to hold me close.
“They’re happy tears, I promise.” I buried my face in his chest and breathed in his intoxicating scent. Backing out of the bedroom, he pulled the door closed, leaving it cracked slightly.
He continued to back me up until I felt the wall hit my back. Our eyes met, and his were filled with such love and adoration.
Raising up on my tiptoes, I pulled him toward me, our lips meshed in a slow dance of desire. He began making love to my mouth, and my legs began feeling less steady. I could feel his hardness against my stomach as he pressed his body to mine.
“Let’s go to bed,” I whispered.
He didn’t answer, only lifted me up, and I wrapped my legs around his waist. Carrying me down the hall and into his room, he lowered me to the bed. His body covered mine almost immediately, our mouths continuing to devour one another.
“I love you, Kori, I never stopped.” I felt his breath dance over my neck as he spoke. I arched back, opening up more for his torturous game. His tongue rolled over my neck, down over my collarbone. This was happening, it was time to move forward with Reed. It was time I let go and loved Reed the way I needed to be loved.
Reaching for the hem of his shirt, I began raising it up and over his head. He really was a beautiful man, and I couldn’t stop myself from running my hands over his broad chest and abs. He closed his eyes tightly and took in the feel of my hands, touching him.
Over the next ten minutes we kissed, touching each other, enjoying the feel of each other, so close, so intimate.
We slowly began removing our clothes, piece by piece. Leaving nothing untouched, nothing not treasured.
“You are so beautiful, baby. I want you so much, I want it all with you,” he declared. His eyes filled with such gravity, he wanted me to know he needed me.
“Me too, Reed. I’m ready for this with you, all of it. I need you, we need you.” A tear fell from the corner of my eye. What I was feeling was so intense, so final. I felt no reservations with what we were about to share.
His eyes never left mine as he slowly began to sink into me. A small gasp escaped my lips when he was seated deep. He bit down on his lower lip and groaned in pleasure. “Home, right here. This is where I belong,” he whispered in a deep husky voice, slowly moving inside me.
Our mouths harmonized in a dance of love, desire, and complete bliss. Our lovemaking was overwhelming; we fit perfectly. There was nothing rough or rushed. Reed made love to me, slowly.
His forehead rested against mine, he slowly, leisurely slid in and out. Kissing me, he rolled his tongue with mine, mocking the movement of his hips. I was building toward release, and his eyebrows scrunched as he fought his own.
“I’m close, Kori, you almost there, baby?” I nodded, arching my back as the warmness erupted deep in my core. “That’s it, so good…so damn sweet.” His movements sped up as he thrust his hips. Only seconds passed when his body began to shake from his own orgasm.
The slick layer of sweat coating our bodies mixed when his body rested against mine. Reed’s hips still continued to thrust gently as he groaned and released every last drop. We both held one another tightly, coming back from the high we had just shared. Every moment was so beautiful and meaningful.
When he had calmed, he lifted his head just enough to look into my eyes. “I’ll be right back.” He whispered before placing a gentle kiss on my lips. Withdrawing from me, I watched his naked ass walk toward the restroom. After he removed the condom, he walked back to the bed and crawled in next to me.
Reed skimmed my shoulder with his fingertips while watching my eyes. Neither of us spoke, only memorized one another in silence. His fingertips continued to graze my skin along my neck and chest. It was as if he were telling me with his fingers what he was feeling. I was so overwhelmed with love that my throat burned and my chest ached.
Reed settled in behind me and pulled me against him. He kissed my forehead and then my nose. “I love you so much, Kori. Having you here, right here in my arms, feels so right. Don’t fight us anymore, just know that I want both of you completely. Don’t question that, just accept it. Please.”
His lips hovering over mine as he continued. “It’s not about replacing your past, it’s only me wanting to be your future. Let me take care of you, let me love you and Rhett.”
Kissing me gently as the tears rolled from my eyes, I accepted that this man loved me. I gave it all to him through that kiss. I hoped he understood how much his love meant to me, how much he had saved me. His love made me feel like my future was no longer a dark place. I could lean on a man who knew how much I loved Blake, he understood that he would always be in my heart. He loved me anyway.
“I love you too. Thank you for being such a great man, thank you for loving us.”
“Always,” he grinned, holding me against him as we both faded off into a peaceful sleep.