Reed's Reckoning

Shaking my head, I suck her tongue the way she used to like. Then I slow down and nibble on her bottom lip. We’re both breathing heavy and when my eyes open, she is staring at me.

“Angel, let this be a new beginning for us. I’m going to find out what happened all those years ago, but I’m also going to prove to you that we can be good together again.”

“I’m not sure that’s a good idea. Reed, I was destroyed. Now I have a life and people that depend on me. I can’t be selfish and make poor decisions.”

“Are you saying I would be a poor decision?”

“No, I’m saying this is a huge risk.”

“No, it’s not. I’ll try my best to go slow, but promise me you’ll give me a chance.”

“Can you give me a little more time? I’m not saying no. I’m saying your version of slow may give me whiplash.”

I grin knowing she is referring to the night in the park I claimed her. Even though she held out on sex for months, I never cared. She was mine.

“Yeah, I can give you a little more time. But since we’re here and I’m comfortable, why don’t you lie back against me and fill in the gaps on you the last four years? We’ve spent so much time talking about Davis, I haven’t heard much about you.”

She looks at me a few minutes and then situates herself on her side. She leans her body weight into me and starts talking. I lose myself in the sounds of her voice and try to picture every detail she says. When she tells me she will know in the next week about her promotion, my mind goes back to the night I heard her on the phone with Luke. I listened to her run through the slides and marketing plans several times until she nailed it. She deserves the job.

“What are you thinking about?” she asks me, breaking my thoughts.

“Don’t be mad.”

“Not a good sign when you start a sentence out like that.”

“Well, I sort of heard you on the phone that night with Luke practicing your proposal. I had come to talk to you but when I heard you mention the big meeting, I couldn’t interrupt. I sat around the corner and listened to you.”

She doesn’t say anything but studies my face for a second before grinning. I kiss the tip of her nose and squeeze her. Her body feels so good pressed against mine and I wish I could stay this way all night. But I need to get home and soak my knee before my run tomorrow morning.

“I hate to do this, but I do need to get going. I have some rehab to do.”

A flash of disappointment crosses her face, but she lifts off me and stands so I can get up. She turns to walk me out but I grab her elbow, lifting her slightly so I can kiss her again. This time there is no hesitation on her part. She throws her arms around my neck and holds me tight. I intentionally rub my hands up her sides touching the underside of her breasts. She moans slightly and I swear she grinds on me. Shit! If I don’t’ stop this now, I will fuck her against the front door with our son asleep on the other side.

“Baby,” I whisper against her lips.

“Hmmm?” she groans back.

“You want me to carry you inside to your bedroom and finish this? Because that’s what’s going to happen if we don’t stop.”

My words register quickly because she pulls away so fast, she almost falls. Her face heats with embarrassment.

“Don’t get shy. I was trying to incorporate my new way of going slow.”

She nods her head but stays quiet. Then I get an idea.

“Do you think Katy would mind watching Davis for a few hours for me to take you to dinner tomorrow night?”

“I could ask her. But if not her, I could ask Sophie.”

“Do it. Try and arrange it and let me know in the morning. I’m driving us to the park so be ready by nine.”

“I can meet you there. Some of the mothers mentioned letting the boys play afterwards.”

“Then I guess I’ll be hanging with the moms.”

Before she can argue, I kiss her quickly and walk to my truck. She gives me a slight wave when I drive away.

When I get home, I grab a beer and change into my swim trunks. As I slide into the warmth of the hot tub, I pick up my phone and make the call I’ve wanted to make the last month.

“Hello?”

“Hey, Mama, we need to talk.”

Chapter 8

Ari

“Shit, Soph, I don’t know! What am I supposed to think?” I pack the cooler in the kitchen while Davis watches cartoons.

I spent the last thirty minutes telling Sophie about my entire night with Reed. She squealed, panted, and cried through it.