Chapter Eleven
Marissa
The sun is starting to set, but this get-together is showing no signs of slowing down. We’re still gathered in the backyard, bellies full of delicious food and enjoying each other’s company. I can’t believe how much I’ve loved this evening. I’ve gotten to know a big part of the family I never knew, and can already feel the bonds being formed.
Even though Rhenn is on the opposite side of the yard, I’ve secretly kept one eye on him most of the night. In fact, every time I glance his way, I either catch him looking at me or he busts me checking him out. At first, I was embarrassed, but now? Now, I don’t care. Of course, he doesn’t either. Rhenn is clearly used to being ogled, and why wouldn’t he be? He is stunningly gorgeous for a man, with his bright blue eyes and extremely muscular physique. He probably makes nuns contemplate tossing away the habit.
And he can cook – or grill, actually. He wasn’t so coordinated in the kitchen, but the man was a wiz on the grill. Even with my anxiety at a peak, he handled the massive amount of chicken breasts with the ease of a master chef who has been doing it half his life.
Breasts. *giggle snorts* He’s obviously well versed in the way to handle those…
“What’s so funny?” my sister asks as she sits down beside me in the swing.
“Nothing,” I reply, covering up the blush that’s burning up my neck.
We’re quiet for a few seconds, both of us taking in the activity around the yard. Sawyer is playing catch with Max again, showing him how to scoop up the ball off the ground and fire it back before it even really touches his glove. Max’s eyes are alive with excitement in a way I’ve never seen before from my four-year-old nephew. He’s clearly eating up the attention and practice. Ever since Jensen and Ashley’s divorce, I’ve barely seen the little guy smile, let alone let go and have fun the way he is today.
Mom is visiting with Meghan and Nick and Brian and Cindy, while Emma and Orval have Samuel cornered over by the firepit. If the look on my poor brother’s face is any indication, I’d say he’s getting an earful of inappropriate comments, much like we all have throughout the afternoon. They’re definitely a not for the faint of heart – or in this case, my brother, Samuel.
My eyes seek him out once more. Rhenn is standing off by the firepit after just lighting the fire. He’s not engaging in any conversation, but mostly just sitting back and observing. Actually, he’s observing me. Our eyes connect once more from across the fire and I hate the way my heart skips a beat. I hate it because even if I wanted to act on this attraction I feel for him, I can’t. He’s leaving soon.
“You might want to close your mouth or everyone will see you drool.” Harper’s words break through the Rhenn-laced fog in my head. Her smile is all knowing and a bit smug, which only irritates me. Stupid sister. “You should just sleep with him and get it over with.”
“What?” I gape, my jaw surely hanging down to my chest.
“Oh, you heard me. Don’t be a ninny.”
“A ninny?”
“Yeah. A pansy, a baby, a pussy.”
“Don’t say that.” Again, cue the blush.
“What, pussy? That’s my favorite P-word. Besides, it’s not really a bad word anymore. Hell, I heard Uncle Orval use it about an hour ago,” Harper says, trying not to laugh.
“Gross.”
“Yeah, it was in the context you’d imagine too. I almost had to throw up,” she says, taking a drink from her beer. “Anyway, let’s talk about you sleeping with the hot electrician.”
“I’m not sleeping with him,” I defend.
“Not yet, but you should be.”
Exhaling deeply, I close my eyes. “I can’t, Harper. He’s leaving in a of couple weeks.”
“So?”
Turning her direction, I see she’s completely serious. “Did you hear what I said? I can’t just…sleep with him, Harper. He’s L-E-A-V-I-N-G soon.”
My sister turns in her seat and faces me. “You know, Riss, you can enjoy a little casual sex every now and then. Not all sex has to be in a relationship, despite what our parents taught us when we were thirteen.”
That makes me snort. “Yeah, and look how well that turned out,” I reply, referring to our cheating father.
“That must have fallen under the ‘do as I say and not as I do’ category,” Harper practically growls. Our lives were completely disrupted and shattered when his affair came out. Hell, he wasn’t even doing a good job at trying to hide it. You don’t take a woman half your age to a rival’s bed and breakfast in town; not when the bed and breakfast is owned by one of the town gossips.
I make a noise to let her know that I heard her. Talking about our dad and his lack of decorum when cheating on our mom isn’t an easy topic for any of us. Especially since he’s off touring the English countryside with his new bimbo wife. Not the one he cheated on Mom with, but the one he cheated on that young homewrecker with.
These are the days of our lives…
“Anyway, let’s get back to the casual sex thing,” she says, a bit too chipper as she tries to steer the conversation away from the landmine-filled one that centers on our dad.
“There is no casual sex thing, Harp. I can’t do that. I’m not wired that way,” I tell her honestly. All of the sex I’ve had has been within the boundaries of a committed relationship. I’ve never gone home with a guy, only to have him sneak out before daylight. I’ve never left in the morning under the assumption that it’s only a single night of passion. Hell, I’ve never even kissed a guy that I wasn’t on at least a second date with.
Until Rhenn.
“Well, maybe you should consider it a bit more. I’m not saying that’s how you should approach all sex from here on out, but that guy is clearly into you. He can’t take his eyes off you, and if you’re not careful, you’re going to get pregnant from the ‘I want to fuck you’ eyes he’s throwing.”
I gasp. My eyes fly to the other side of the yard, where Rhenn’s are clearly focused solely on me. The look in his eyes? Lust. Pure unadulterated lust, and my body shudders involuntarily. I’ve known there was an attraction. Hell, I felt it pressed against me when he kissed me earlier outside the gym. But this? I’m not sure I’m prepared for this.
“Listen, Riss,” Harper says, leaning in closer so no one can hear our conversation. “I’m not saying you should definitely do it – though, I really think you should – but I don’t think you should completely count it out. Think about it. It’s a short time, I know, but think of it as a summer affair. They happen all the time around here.”
“But I’m not twenty anymore. Adults don’t have summer affairs,” I retort.
“Speak for yourself,” Harper whispers with a smile. “Remember that guy who stayed at the B&B for a week last summer? The hot writer who was finishing up that novel?”
My eyes widen and my mouth hangs open. “Seriously?”
“Hell yeah,” she giggles. “He was smoking hot. Remember?”
I gulp. “Yeah, I remember.”
“Well, we ran into each other in town his first night here and got to talking,” she says with a shrug.
“Talking?”
“Well, we talked…at first. Then, there wasn’t much talking. He said I was good for his writing; helped him clear his head,” she adds with another shrug. “All I’m saying is that sometimes, people come into our lives at the right time for a reason. Sometimes those reasons are for things like fun and sex. Mark was definitely fun and the sex phenomenal, and when he finished his book and left? Well, I had nothing but a smile on my face. There was no drama, no sticky goodbyes. Only over-used lady bits and memories that help keep me warm at night.”
I look at my sister as if she grew a second head. “Really? Just like that? No complications, no expectations?”
“Really, Riss. Just like that. We both went into it knowing it was just a little fun, a lot of sex, and nothing more. It was easy, but most of all, it was what I needed after the whole Joey thing.” Her eyes darken just by saying his name. Last summer, my sister found out her boyfriend of a year had sex with some girl in the bathroom of Mara’s bar. She was devastated, no doubt, especially because he blamed her for his actions.
“I don’t know,” I reply, risking another glance at Rhenn. He’s not alone this time, but his eyes are still on me. Even through the slowly darkening sky, I can see the lust, feel the heat. My thighs clench.
“Well, just think about it. You don’t have to do anything, of course, but something tells me,” she starts, leaning in again to whisper in my ear, “sex with that man would be nothing short of magnificent.”
Harper laughs as she gets up and walks toward the cooler to retrieve another beer. She’ll probably leave her car here tonight and ride back to her place with Mom. It took a little finagling, but we were able to arrange beds for everyone here. Mom and Harper will bunk together in Harper’s bed, while AJ and Sawyer take Harper’s guest room that Mom has been staying in since the fire. Orval and Emma will take Samuel’s guest room, while Brian and Cindy volunteered to take the foldout couch in his family room. Meghan and Nick are staying with Rhenn on his boat, which is a good thing because with Jensen only having a two-bedroom place and my tiny studio-like house, there just aren’t any more beds available.
Rhenn continues to watch me watch him. He says something to Nick and slowly makes his way toward me. My entire body starts to hum as he sits beside me, the swing rocking under the weight of his large body. “I think everyone is having a good time,” he says casually, glancing around at my family.
“I think so. Thank you again for grilling the chicken. It was wonderful.”
He slowly starts to rock us back and forth, a gentle motion that does nothing to calm the nerves racing through my body at his close proximity. “You’re welcome, though I’m sure it wasn’t as good as you would have done.” There’s a twinkle in his eyes as he glances me way. Damn that stupid twinkle and the effect it has on my girly bits and pieces.
I don’t say anything, but stare up at the early night sky. Even though I’m on edge sitting next to Rhenn, I can’t help the contentment that’s also present. Maybe it’s the rocking or the sky full of stars, but something speaks to me in a weird calming manner. Yes, weird because I’m never one to be relaxed or at ease around guys. Even though I’ve dated.
“You’re still going tomorrow, right?” he asks, breaking through the sound of the crackling fire and my family’s laughter. Before I can speak, he adds, “I’ve got Dramamine.”
“I’m not sure. What if it doesn’t work?”
“Then we turn around and come back.” He says it so matter-of-factly.
“What can I bring?” I ask, after a few long seconds of pause.
“Yourself. Your swimsuit. Something comfy to sleep in.” He leans in closer to my ear, his warm breath tickling my lobe. “Unless you sleep in the nude.”
“I don’t,” I reply quickly.
“Pity.”
“You’re sleeping in the chair,” I remind him.
“I am, and I would be a complete gentleman if you happened to be sleeping naked. I promise I’d sleep with one eye closed,” he replies with a smirk. That damn smirk.
“I just bet you would,” I grumble.
He continues to use his long legs to rock us back and forth, my own much-shorter ones barely touching the ground at this point. “I thought we could pull anchor around ten. We can sail for a while, swim in the ocean, and catch a few rays.”
“Why don’t you guys use your little…dingy thingy…” I say, stumbling on the words and causing my entire face to erupt in flames. “I mean your…boat…the little one…” Rhenn laughs. “Stop laughing. I was going to offer you breakfast, but now I’m changing my mind.”
Rhenn stops the swing and turns to face me. “You were going to make breakfast? Those pancakes you were talking about? The lemon blueberry ones?”
“Maybe? But not if you’re laughing at me.”
“I’m not laughing,” he replies very seriously, fighting the grin that threatens to spread across his handsome face. “My dingy is small, but mighty, Angel. Just promise me you’ll make me pancakes.”
I fight my own smile. “Come ashore around eight. We can eat and then head out,” I tell him, finally giving in to the smile.
“I’ll bring an extra appetite with me.”
“And your friends. Bring them too. I’ll make plenty.”
“Hell no, I’m leaving them on the boat to starve,” he says, leaning in once again. “More for me.”
Something in the way he says it sounds dirty and completely naughty, and suddenly, I find my panties completely useless. I can’t breathe.
“You okay, Angel? You’re a little…breathless.”
“Fine.” It’s a squeak, but I manage to speak, even though my blood is pumping and my entire body charged with electricity.
“So, eight tomorrow morning?” he asks, his eyes turning as dark as the ocean under the midnight night sky.
“Yes,” I confirm, and am rewarded with a genuine smile. His smirk makes him sexy, but this smile? One that’s real and natural against bright white, straight teeth? This smile is my kryptonite.
We all hang out for another hour before Max turns into a cranky little monster and baby Nolan spits up his food all over his last outfit. After that, the party quickly breaks up. Jensen and Max head back to their place, a quick bath in my nephew’s future before he heads off to bed. Samuel leaves with Brian, Cindy, Emma, and Orval behind him. Mom drives Harper back to her place, as I suspected, with AJ, Sawyer, and Nolan hot on their heels. And Rhenn gets ready to walk back to the dock with Meghan and Nick.
But not before they walk around the yard and gather up the chairs and help stack them on the deck at the back of the house. I make sure the garbage is cleared away so we don’t get raccoons coming up and tearing apart the trash, while Rhenn makes sure the coals in the firepit are spread out. Just to be safe, he grabs the hose and sprays them down with water. I instantly start to relax, letting go of an anxiety I never had before.
Not before the fire.
When the backyard is put back together, I head over to the walking path. Meghan and Nick are holding hands, walking a few feet ahead of me, and talking about sailing tomorrow. They both seem really excited to spend the next day and a half on the water. Well, at least they are…
Rhenn comes up beside me and takes my hand. My heart pounds like a snare drum in my chest, a heavy beat I’m sure everyone in town can hear. He doesn’t say a word, just runs his thumb along the tender flesh between my thumb and index finger. I try to keep my composure, my cool, but with every graze of his finger, I lose myself a little more into the brush of his finger, his touch.
Harper’s words from earlier flash back. Could I engage in a little fun, a bit of no-strings sex? With Rhenn? I’m pretty sure he’d be on board. He screams late-night-booty-call, and something tells me he’d make it completely worth my while.
“You okay?” he whispers as we approach the clearing to the beach.
“Yeah. Just…thinking.” We stop when we reach the sand. It’s the first time I’ve seen his sailboat, and even though it’s dark, it practically glows under the full moon. “Wow.”
“She’s a beauty, isn’t she?” he replies, pride in every word.
“She is.”
“Wait until you see her in the light of day,” he adds. I stop at the edge of the dock, watching as Nick helps Meghan down into the small boat that’s tied there. “I should walk you back.”
“What? Oh, no, there’s no need for that. I’ve managed out here just fine by myself for a while now.”
He watches me, those deep blue eyes boring into me. “I don’t like it,” he says, almost absently.
“I’ll be fine. Nothing is going to get me on my own property.”
Rhenn hollers to his friends, yet doesn’t remove his eyes from mine. “I’ll be right back. I’m going to walk Marissa back to her place.”
“Okay,” Nick hollers, not seeming to care that Rhenn is leaving him and his pregnant wife in a tiny boat.
I start to protest, but know immediately that it’s fruitless. Rhenn pulls my hand back toward the timber, essentially causing me to fall in line with his plan. “You really don’t need to do this. I’ve been back here a million times by myself. I know the way.”
“I know that, Angel, but I just can’t leave you here. It’s not in me. And besides, I’m pretty sure Nick would kick my ass if I didn’t. He’s a stickler for escorting his employees to their cars at night. Especially after Meghan got jumped one night in the parking lot behind their office.”
I gasp. “That’s terrible.”
“Yeah,” he says.
Is it just my imagination or are his steps slowing down?
“He was on the phone and didn’t walk her out. Some dick tried to take her purse and was going to hurt her. He blamed himself for a while after that,” Rhenn confides in me.
Neither of us speaks as we make our way up the familiar beaten path. When we reach the clearing of our yard, the moonlight illuminates the area enough that I can see the faint smoke coming from the firepit. The light above my sink is the only light filtering through the backyard, which is still a little spooky. The large house is completely black, the electricity still out as the construction process continues.
“Thank you for walking me back,” I say as we step onto my little front porch.
“It was no problem,” he says, rocking back on his heels as he looks down at me. He has yet to release his hold on my hand, which, if I’m being honest, I kind of like. “I’ll see you in the morning?”
Nodding, I reply, “Eight.”
Rhenn gives me a smile. “I’ll be here, ready to eat my fill of breakfast.”
Returning his grin, I say, “I’ll make sure to have plenty of big fluffy pancakes, just for you.”
That seems to be exactly what he wanted to hear because when he turns the full-wattage of his smile on me, I feel it clear down to my toes. This man is lethal, and I’m not talking about his karate abilities. His smile, his build, his manners, his cocky disposition. It’s all part of what makes Rhenn…well, Rhenn.
“See you soon, Angel,” he responds just before his head dips down. I tighten my hold on his fingers and my breath catches in my throat.
He’s going to kiss me again.
His lips tease the corner of my lip, as if testing the waters, so to speak. When I make no move to stop him, he slides his lips slowly across mine. He’s gentle, as if savoring the feel, the taste of me. When his mouth is squarely over mine, I open to him, giving him full access to deepen the kiss. I shiver as his other hand comes up and cups my jaw, his finger tenderly stroking my cheek. My entire body seems to fire to life, a slow burn settling between my legs. His tongue gently slides against mine, igniting my soul and releasing the craving I’ve been trying to trample down.
Before I can climb him like a tree, wrapping my arms and legs around his incredible body, he releases my lips. I almost groan in protest, but keep it from spilling from my wet, swollen lips.
“Good night, Angel,” he whispers, placing another kiss on the corner of my mouth, before slowly pulling away and standing to his full height. He towers over me, and all I can think about now is the way his large body would press me into the mattress as he thrusts inside me, each stroke a bit more powerful than the last.
“Good night,” I manage to croak through my very dry throat.
Rhenn seems to understand exactly where my brain is: Smutville. He throws me that cocky grin, a smug little wink, and releases my hand. I don’t miss the way he tries to discreetly adjust the front of his shorts as he steps off my porch and into the moonlight. My hands shake as I reach for the doorknob, my entire body alive with pent-up desire and sexual frustration. There’s no way I’m sleeping tonight.
Before I shut the door, I glance over my shoulder, only to find Rhenn standing at the edge of the timber. His hands are in his pockets, but it does nothing to mask the bulge in his pants. His desire is written all over his body and his face. His eyes practically devour me as I slowly shut the door, closing him out for the rest of the evening.
As I head into the kitchen to finish cleaning up, my legs a little too wobbly for my own liking, I already know what my answer is to Harper’s burning question. Can I engage in a no-strings sexual relationship with Rhenn Burleski?
The answer is a definite yes.
Now, I just have to figure out how to ask him…