Reed's Reckoning

“Oh, I think it’s a very good idea.”

“Reed, what about taking it slow?”

“Shit, Ari, do you feel what you do to me?” I move her small hand to the bulge in my shorts and press into her. Even with the fabric between us, my body buzzes with need. She licks her swollen lips slowly and looks between our hands and my face. Her expression shows the same desire I have.

“Reed, I need to tell you something.”

“Anything, baby.”

“I haven’t been with anyone since we broke up.”

“What?” I ask in disbelief.

“I tried, I dated a guy when Davis was about a year old, but we never actually had sex.”

A sense of possessiveness washes over me and I growl in my throat. The thought of her with another man at all makes me fucking insane.

“We tried but something always happened. He was a little older than me and was patient, but finally he got tired of always being second. Between finishing school, starting a new job, and being a single mother, there hasn’t been much time for dating.”

I stare at her for a few seconds trying to let the words sink in. My gut clenches with regret thinking about all the women I’ve had over the years. While Ari was busy putting her life on track and raising Davis, I was playing ball and whoring around.

Having her body pressed up against mine, I regret every single one of those women. It’s always been easy to get laid, but I’ve never felt anything during sex except the search for release. Not many of them were repeats because it became messy. Now, with the sexual energy surrounding Ari and me, I crave intimacy and closeness.

“Are you going to say something?” Her small voice breaks through my thoughts.

“Would it freak you out if I said thank fucking God?”

“Why would you say that?”

“There are a lot of thoughts running through my mind right now, but it thrills me beyond measure that I’m the only man to ever cherish your body.”

“I didn’t say I’d been completely celibate. Just no sex.”

“Ari,” I growl. “Not a good idea to talk about this anymore. I can assure you, I never want to hear about you with another man. At all.”

She tries to step back, but I hold tighter and kiss her forehead. “Maybe we should finish the tour another day. There’s not enough hours left before our date for me to do all the things I want to your body.”

It’s all I can do to step away from her and jog up the stairs to get dressed. When I throw my shorts across the bed, the note from my car falls out. I look at again and reluctantly dial the number. It rings a few times while I pull on my swim trunks and decide to leave off my shirt.

“Hello.”

“It’s Reed.” I try to sound indifferent.

“We need to talk privately.”

“Can this wait? I’ve got plans.”

“No, make time for me this afternoon.”

“What the fuck? You know I’m with Ari today.”

“That’s exactly why we need to talk. I know where you’re staying. I’ll be there at five.”

He doesn’t give me a chance to reply before he hangs up. Anger boils in my blood. What in the hell does Luke Adams need to talk to me about?

Ari’s on the porch when I get back downstairs. Irritation from my phone call with Luke disappears when I see her. She’s piled her hair on top of her head in a messy bun and removed her cover up. Her towel is wrapped around her waist. She turns when she hears me and my mouth goes dry. She’s a fucking vision. Red triangles barely cover her tits and the ties around her neck and back scream for me to untie them. Images of her sprawled on the deck while I rip the top from her body and devour her tight nipples flood my mind. My dick jumps and I instantly grab it trying to calm down. Her eyes flick from my hand to my face and she blushes.

“Come here.” My voice is rougher than I meant.

She walks inside and stops two feet away from me. I step into her space and run my hands down her arms lightly. Goose bumps trail my touch and I’m thrilled to have this effect on her.

“You’re fucking gorgeous. How do you expect me to behave when you look like this?”

She shrugs and grins.

Tugging at the towel, I watch it fall to the floor. Raking my eyes up her body reinforces my hard on. The red bottoms hug her hips perfectly. I lick my lips looking at her toned legs and flat stomach. She’s the only person in my life that makes me lose my mind without even touching.

I drop slowly to the ground making sure to be gentle on my bad knee. She bites her bottom lip watching me nervously. Without words, I grip her waist and move her to me. My face is at perfect eye-level with the red triangles that stand in the way of my lips connecting with her flesh. I blow a breath on her skin and feel her shutter. Her hands come up to my hair and I kiss every inch of exposed skin making sure to lick the fabric over her tits. I leave a trail behind and it’s obvious where my mouth has been.