Finding June (22 page)

Reece pulled up to my apartment, and being a gentlemen, opened the door for me. This time it was Reece who took my hand as we walked up the sidewalk. I unlocked the door and turned to face him. His eyes were drawn together, and his lips were slightly open; you could see a puff of the cold air in the yellow porch light. But his eyes, they looked alive with flecks of gold in the moss green as they scanned my face, silently asking me the age old question of if he could come in. I bit my lip and walked into my apartment, but my hand never left his, and he followed me in. He closed the door and pushed me against the wall, those eyes coming even more alive than I thought possible.

With his hands on my hips and my back against the wall, he kissed me like I was his air and he was dying for a breath. Our tongues danced together, our lips connecting in a flurry of heat. His hands moved down to grab my ass as I jumped up and wrapped my legs around him. As I broke apart from him to breathe, I asked, “What are you doing?”

He gazed into my eyes and said, “Saying thank you.”

“For what?” He began to kiss me on the neck, the same passion and heat transferring from our lips.

My heart was racing a hundred miles an hour. I couldn’t think; could only give in to the turbulent feeling as I drowned in Reece’s touch. I never wanted to surface.

He bit my earlobe, and the pain brought on a wave of pleasure that shivered through my whole body. “For being Just June. It was exactly what I needed tonight.” I felt my heart melt at those words. As he held me up against the wall with my legs wrapped around him, I saw the emotion behind his words. Whatever we were doing we were both sinking deeper and deeper.

I moved my mouth to his and he pulled me off the wall, walking me to the living room, his mouth never leaving mine. I felt him reach the couch as he laid me down. He threw off his shirt, thank God, and laid down next to me on the tiny couch. I wasn’t sure how we both fit, but I knew our legs were intertwined together and soon our mouths joined. His hands moved up my body and under my tank top. Somehow I had already lost my tan jacket. I could feel his hand graze the bottom of my bra, and a rush of tingles went to my core as his hands reached under my bra to lightly touch my hardened nipples. I sat up and helped him by taking off my tank top. Reaching behind me, he expertly unclasped my bra. I was bare to him.

This was the farthest we had gone and I wasn’t going to stop anytime soon. Reece started to trail his infamous tiny kisses down my neck and my collarbone until he finally took my nipple into his mouth. I gasped at the feeling; never had anything like this felt so intense. I was breathing hard as I ran my hands through his thick hair. I could feel his erection against my leg, and all I wanted was for him to be inside of me.

As he ran his very talented tongue around my breast, I felt his other hand slide down and under my skirt. Wearing a skirt was a good decision. His hand crept up my legs and he reached inside of my underwear, running his fingers over me, teasing me. Finally, he slipped two fingers inside of me. In that moment, the only thing I knew was Reece. He was like a fire consuming me and the only way to escape was to go through the flames. His magical hands numbed my brain to only the pleasure I was feeling, the overwhelming feeling of having to combust, to let go. As he kissed me fiercely on the lips, I came apart, tipped over the edge and falling into pure bliss.

My breathing was labored and my hands gripped Reece’s strong arms as I came back down to see his green eyes trying to tell me a story I didn’t know if I was ready to hear. He kissed me lightly on the forehead, the gentleness soothing.

“I should go.” I didn’t really want him to. I didn’t know where his mind was and I wasn’t sure if letting him go by himself was a good idea. I still wanted him inside of me, and I could feel he wanted the same thing. I pouted, but he only smiled while he ran his hands through my hair, kissing me again, this time lightly on the mouth.

“You can stay here … we can finish what we started.” I was not only being honest, I was being brave. I could blame it on the deal and not thinking but that would be a lie. I couldn’t stop thinking about Reece in my bed or waking up next to him, especially after that.

I had tried so hard to push him away, away from my mess, but I couldn’t help it. I felt this pull to him I couldn’t explain. In the mess of my life, Reece was starting to be the only thing that made sense.

Reece sighed. “I want to finish what we started, too … but not tonight. Not on the night I saw Rachel’s parents for the first time in seven years. I don’t want being with you to be connected to her.”

While I was pouting over it, I understood where he was coming from. However, I was still a bit wary about letting him leave. I understood how quickly one could get lost in dark thoughts that totally messed with your head. I could see it in Reece all night. I got up from the couch and threw my tank top back on.

“If you don’t want to be alone you can always stay here. I won’t attack you or anything. But I can be here to listen,” I said as I walked to the kitchen. Reece sat up and also grabbed his shirt. Starting a pot of hot water, I grabbed my box of tea out of the cupboard. I went to let Morrison out, putting him on his leash and taking him outside quickly. When I came back in, I let Morrison run around in circles in my tiny living room until his heart was content.

“Making me tea?” Reece asked as he walked up behind me.

“Yep. Whenever I was sad or had a bad day at school, my mom always made me tea. It was really one of the few warm, motherly moments we would have. I was always better after a cup of tea. It’s my go to.” I didn’t look at Reece, but focused on my dog finally settling down on his doggy bed.

I turned around to see Reece right behind me. He tugged me close and wrapped his arms around me, kissing me on the top of my head. We moved to the kitchen and I poured two cups of hot water as Reece grabbed herbal sleepy time tea. I handed the cup to Reece and sat down next to him at the tiny table that took up most of the space in my kitchen.

Reece blew on his tea, the steam rising from the plain red cup that must had been Owen’s at one point. I copied his movements, blowing on my own, the steam rising in my eyesight, filtering my vision of Reece. I took a small sip before asking, “Looks like I saw a part of your story tonight.”

“That you did.”

“It must have been hard, all those confrontations.”

Reece sat back in his chair, his long legs stretched out. He looked past me as he spoke, “It was expected. Didn’t mean it was exactly fun, but I was expecting it. I can’t keep running from it all. You’re right, it’s a part of my story and it’s a part of me, good or bad.”

“You always seem so brave. Like you can face anything head-on with the knowledge you’ll make it out on the other side.”

Reece sat up in his seat and pulled my hands from my cup. This time, his eyes zeroed in on me, his gaze never wandering. “It’s not easy to think that way, it’s hard to take all that negative energy and throw it away, not give it the time of day. It took me years to even have moments like that. Moments, June, not all the time and honestly, you being there tonight helped. With you by my side I knew I would be okay, you were a part of my strength.”

Gripping his hands, I moved from my seat to sit in his lap. I wrapped my arms around his neck. “I don’t know what to do with you, Reece. I feel caught in your presence, hypnotized by your words and entangled in your actions. What are you doing to me?” I softly said into his ear, admitting quietly so only we could hear. His arms wrapped around my waist, pulling me closer to him, our limbs intertwining around each other like the string holding our lives together.

“I don’t know, June, but I don’t want to let you go.” His lips met mine as we kissed, and while it was as passionate as the one from earlier, there was something more in this kiss, unspoken truths coming out from us, both of us giving in to the unknown.

We pulled apart, my hands tracing the strong features of his face; the slightly crooked nose, the strong chin, and those thick eyelashes. “Stay tonight. It’s been a long day and I want you with me. Just to sleep.”

Reece took a few moments to think about his answer. “You sure? Last time you had a bit of a freak out.”

“I’m sure,” I said. And I was.

Reece and I climbed into my bed. He pulled me closer to him, placing his hand on my stomach and I could hear his breath in my ear. I felt secure in his arms. With Reece next to me, I felt like I had on the mountain, like I could breathe a little easier tonight. For tonight, things made sense. I couldn’t think of anywhere else I wanted to be. I fell asleep peacefully with thoughts of the heat of the solid body next to me.

The sunlight streamed through my window, waking me up from my peaceful slumber. I felt the warmth from the sun and the body lying next to me. It took me a minute to recall why there was a warm body next to me, but then I remembered the night before. Oh did I remember it as I felt the blush creep up my neck. Slipping Reece’s hand away from me, I crawled out of bed. As I headed to the bathroom I heard a small noise. I looked over to Reece who was still asleep. I watched him take the rest of the blanket and burrow further into the bed. His hair was sticking up and there was a bit of a scruff on his face. He looked adorable lying there in my bed. I also wanted to have my way with him. Concentrate, June. Coffee then possible make out session.

I finished up in the bathroom and went into my small kitchen to make coffee, which was always the first order of business for me. Since I had company I made a full pot. After starting the coffee, I took Morrison out for a brief walk. When I returned, I opened the fridge to grab creamer for my coffee and heard a cough behind me. I spun around to find Reece watching me.

“Sorry. I figured I would give you some warning I was staring at your ass,” Reece said as he passed by me and took the creamer out of my hand. Gone was the sad Reece from last night, the one facing his demons, and back was my Reece.
My Reece
. I had apparently become possessive overnight. He set the creamer down on the counter and reached above the coffee pot to grab two cups out of the cupboard. He started to laugh as he pulled down the mug. I sighed, realizing Reece just had an insight into how weird I was.

When I was in high school there was a guy named Matt who had a crush on me. It was Valentine’s Day and he gave me a coffee mug with a gorilla on it and the saying “My love will crush you.” He was a nice kid but a little off. When I brought home the mug my siblings thought it was hilarious, but I kept it because I felt bad throwing it out, I didn’t want to hurt the kid’s feelings. Ever since then my siblings started to give me coffee mugs with animals on it. My parents thought it was all ridiculous and never joined in the fun, but after Jo saw the cups when we moved in together she added to my collection. All of my coffee mugs—and I had a large collection of about twenty—had random animals on it. Reece had pulled down the infamous gorilla mug and one that had cow spots on it. Awesome.

“You know, I am not going to ask. Somehow I am not even surprised you have all of these, June.”

I grabbed the pot and poured coffee as Reece laughed at me. I couldn’t help but smile, too. I was proud of my coffee mugs. Owen thought they were ridiculous and made me put them in a box when we lived together, so when I moved into my own place I made sure I put them out.

“Do you want me to make some breakfast?” Reece asked.

“Oh well I don’t have a lot, but I think I have some cereal …” I didn’t entertain a lot nor did I have much in the food department.

“That’s okay, I just need a few things.” Reece started to raid my kitchen, obviously making himself at home.

“Sure. Good luck. Do you mind if I take a shower while you try to cook something out of nothing?”

“Why would I mind? It’s your place.”

“Um. I don’t know. Sorry, I usually don’t do this.” I motioned with my hand to him and me and this morning conversation.

“Go shower, June, and when you come out breakfast will be ready.” Turning around, I headed to the shower, but Reece made sure to get in the last word. “Feel free to eat breakfast in your towel. I won’t mind.” Yep, my Reece was back.

Shaking my head, I headed to the bathroom. Afterwards, I walked out to the small kitchen, the scent of something delicious filling the tiny apartment. I was braiding my hair as I walked out, not in a towel, but in sweats and a tank top. I saw Reece at the stove cooking me food.

“What are you making?” I asked, grabbing my coffee mug and refilling it.

“Crepes. I found some yogurt and strawberries in the fridge so you can put those on them.”

I was about to take a sip of my coffee when he told me he was making crepes. I stood there with the mug halfway to my mouth and stared him down. In hindsight, there was really no way for me to fully understand why Reece making crepes made me upset . It was completely irrational, but humans tended to be irrational during random times. When I didn’t respond he, expertly, flipped the thin crepe and turned around to me with a raised eyebrow.

“June?” he asked, a question in his voice.