Reed's Reckoning (18 page)

“Well, well, well, who and what do we have here?” he asks with his signature smile.

“Bobbie, this is Arianna Williams, my girlfriend.” I introduce them. She shakes his hands but before she can pull back, he kisses her knuckles. I see her face flush and my instincts kick in. “Hands off, Asher.”

They both laugh at me but I don’t see anything funny.

“So you’re the infamous Ari? I didn’t believe you existed.” He ignores my death stare and speaks directly to her.

“You’ve heard about me?”

“When this loser gets drunk, he’s been known to talk about a beautiful woman named Ari that broke his heart. There’s a few of us who were convinced you weren’t real.”

“Asher, shut it. Not cool.” I warn him.

“Oh, I disagree, tell me more. What exactly has he said about this imaginary Ari?” she encourages him.

I lean down and whisper in her ear, “Watch it, Angel. Don’t play with me tonight. I have you all to myself and can think of several ways to punish you if you encourage him.”

She ignores me completely and listens to him tell my ugly secrets. Her laugh is addicting and I smile at her happiness. A little humility on my behalf is worth hearing her. We move our little threesome to a table, and we are joined by several more of my teammates and their dates or spouses. As expected, the conversation is all about Ari and me. When one of the wives asks about how we reconnected, she looks at me with concern in her eyes.

“I’m not really sure how to answer that. I guess honesty is best. We ran into each other at the beach one day and things progressed from there. Reed and I have a son together. He’ll be four this year.” She answers and grips my hand tightly.

The silence is uncomfortable until Bobbie slaps his hand down hard on the table and lets out a cheer. “That’s fucking awesome. Apparently, there’s more to the story, but who gives a shit. Matthews is a dad.”

Others join in with their congratulations and the women talk loudly over one another to Ari asking about Davis. The excitement at the table grows and a crowd forms around us. Everyone hears the news and starts firing questions.

When dinner is announced, the player’s wives who have taken her in as one of their own, have swarmed Ari. The whole conversation around our table is about our reconnecting. Little do they know the fucking hell we went through. The guys and I talk about the upcoming season. So far so good. No encounters from any of the ‘player pussy’ hanging around tonight. I saw two women giving us dirty looks earlier, but I shielded Ari from them.

“I need to go to the ladies room, I’ll be right back.” She whispers in my ear, grabbing her purse. I get up to pull her chair back and before she can turn away, kiss her softly on the lips. She looks at me surprised, but gives me the dimples.

Everyone at the table stares at me when I sit back down. I raise my hands in surrender at them. “I know guys; this is the craziest shit in my life. But you can’t imagine how it feels. I did my first fatherly function yesterday at the daycare with Davis. The kids were rambunctious, the cookies were stale, but it was the best time of my life. He made me a mug with his handprint, and to me, it’s a treasure of art. Now Ari, she’s another story. Having her back makes my life complete.” I don’t say anymore because I am in pussy territory.

A few of the wives wipe their eyes and excuse themselves to the ladies room as well. Bobbie slaps me on the back and calls the waitress over to order a round of shots. We don’t talk anymore about my relationship but instead move to more manly subjects.

When the girls return from the restroom, I know something happened because Ari’s smile is forced. She shakes her head at me and gives me a look that says she’ll tell me later. Little does she know, I don’t plan on doing much talking later.

My feet are going to fall off. Why did I think it was a good idea to dance in these shoes? I start to undo the straps and kick them off when Reed’s large hand covers mine.

“What are you doing?”

“Saving my feet from a terrible death. If I don’t let them loose, I’m afraid I will never walk again.”

“No, leave them on. Maybe you shouldn’t have said yes to every man that asked you to dance tonight.” His tone is snarky.

“You’re kidding, right? You started it! I didn’t want to dance at all.”

“I didn’t start shit. I asked my very beautiful woman to dance with me, not the entire offensive line. You should have declined.”

“You are a Neanderthal!”

He shrugs and squeezes my knee, making my skin tingle. His fingers draw light patterns over the skin on my thigh and the sexual tension in the car is scorching.

When we get to his house, he surprises me by picking me up and carrying me inside, and doesn’t stop in the house, and instead, walks us back to the cabana. The area is dimly lit with lanterns spread out and lights illuminating the pool, which seem to be changing colors. There’s a bottle of champagne in a cooler on the bar with two flutes. I gasp when I see rose petals scattered everywhere including the water.

“How did you do this?”

“I had help.” He doesn’t tell me more

Reed stops at the bar and places me on top, then shifts and pours us some champagne. When he hands it to me, he raises his hand in a toast.

“Finally, after too many fucking years, I have you back in my arms alone tonight. You are beautiful, Arianna Rose Williams, and you are mine. I’m a lucky son of a bitch.” He stares into my eyes and the depth of his crystal blues penetrate through to me. I sip the champagne and set my glass down carefully not breaking the stare.

Wrapping my legs around his waist, I pull him in closer and bend to kiss him. Starting softly, I outline his mouth with small pecks while massaging the back of his neck. Turning my head to the side, I slip my tongue through the slit of his lips and urge him to open wider. He’s holding back, letting me control this kiss. I scoot up and feel his growing erection against the wet silk of my thong. My sundress is bunched up around my hips and his hands grip my thighs tight as I continue the assault on his mouth. My body is strumming with need.

Leaning back slowly, I resume staring into his eyes–his face reflects the same longing I feel. When I start to unbutton his shirt, he doesn’t move to help me but instead steps back so I can reach every button. When I pull the shirt over his shoulders, he shakes his arms and it drops to the ground. His torso glows in the dim light and I lick my lips at the sight. I’ve seen him shirtless several times over the last few weeks; hell, he even sleeps without a shirt. But it’s like I’m looking at him with a new appreciation. His muscles are tight and firm and my fingers slide over his biceps and abdomen softly feeling every ridge. The level of intimacy surrounding us electrifies the air. His rough hands work their way up my sides taking the dress with them. Lifting my arms to help, I hear him moan when he realizes I’m not wearing a bra. My skin tingles with a chill in the night air once the dress is fully removed. My hair falls down against my chest partially covering my breasts and Reed gently swipes it over my shoulders. His face is level with my hard, aching nipples and he looks at me before taking one gently in his mouth. The feeling of his tongue and teeth against the sensitive skin has me panting. He has to be able to feel my heart racing against his lips.

After a few minutes, he switches sides and gives the other nipple the same attention. His hips rotate against mine and I realize he is sliding off his shoes. I lift up and reach between us to his belt buckle, fumbling several times, it finally comes undone, and he helps me with his button and zipper. I slide them down over his ass and watch his cock spring free. He’s so close to my aching core, I scoot up and grind against him. He moves back and bites gently on my breast before gazing at our bodies pressed together.

“So fucking incredible. This image will be burned into my brain forever. I don’t mean to embarrass you babe, but you’re drenched. I feel it through the silk touching the tip of my dick. Hope you aren’t fond of these panties.” He yanks on both sides roughly and they tear in two.

We are skin to skin with only my sandals wrapped around his waist. The heat in his eyes puts butterflies in my stomach because making love to Reed Matthews now is going to be a lot different to the Reed Matthews I used to know. He’s demanding and in control. The anticipation is killing me.

“Ari, I need you to trust me. Can you do that?”

I nod slightly.

“Good, baby, because I am going to spend all night worshiping your body. I’ve wanted to fuck you in these shoes since you walked into the kitchen, but now, I want to feel them dig into my back as I lick every inch of you.

“Lie back, Ari, and hold onto the edge of the bar.”

Doing as he says, I squeal when I feel the freezing condensation of the Champagne chiller on the tile bar top. He grins naughtily and grabs the bottle then backs up and nudges my legs free of his waist. I try to keep my head raised to watch him but can’t. Goose bumps cover my body when the cold liquid pours over the bottom of my stomach and then trickles down my hips and legs. I clinch my core trying to ease some of the excitement. At this rate, he won’t even have to touch me before I come from sensory overload.

Both of my feet are lifted and placed around Reed’s shoulders. His eyes rake over my body with animalistic hunger. “I’ve always wanted to drink champagne off your skin.” He licks from my ankle to my knee before switching legs then takes his time reaching the hip bone on both sides before finally kissing my stomach and sucking on my belly button. I’m still squeezing my vaginal muscles as hard as I can, trying not to explode. His mouth lowers and finally reaches my entrance. “I think I missed some.” He swipes his tongue along my slit and I can’t help but cry out.

“Absolutely delicious.” He resumes kissing, licking, and teasing me until I arch up and push down on his mouth. The anticipation is unnerving. I feel the vibration of his chuckle but I don’t care because he finally grabs my ass and concentrates on my center. His tongue swirls inside of me as he massages the skin below his mouth. The sensations shooting through my body are too much. The orgasm builds in my chest and works its way down. I try to move but he holds me still and inserts one finger, scraping the sensitive wall as he pumps it in and out. I thrash against the tile trying to hold out and make this last as long as possible. I pant and moan, and feel him doing the same against my skin. He bites lightly down on my clit then sooths it with a kiss. This sets me over the edge and I scream his name. My thighs tighten around his neck but he doesn’t stop licking, prolonging my release.

“Shit, babe, I think the heels broke skin.” He says against my stomach and moves his hands to loosen my legs gripping around him.

My hands hurt from holding onto the edge of the bar so tightly. I let me legs fall but decide that’s all the movement I can take right now. My vision is spotty and my body shaking. Reed’s hands slide under my shoulders and he lifts me up gently so our faces are inches apart. I expect him to kiss me, but instead he lifts me and turns around.

He walks us into the pool and over to an edge closest to the cascading fountain. The water sprays us slightly which helps cool my overheated skin. Our chests are pressed together and his heart beats in rhythm with mine.

“Is this alright Ari? Are you ready?”

“Yes.” I whisper against his lips.

His hands move to my hips and he positions me so his tip is at my entrance. He slides in very slowly, stretching me as he fills me. I push back trying to ease him all the way in.

“So tight, baby, let me do this.”

“I’m not sure I have a choice.” I moan when he’s all the way in. He doesn’t move for a second letting me adjust to him. The expression on his face goes from soft to completely possessive. I move against him as much as our positions allow.

“Stop, babe, you can ride me later. I’m in control here. Don’t move. Right now, right here, feels like heaven–it feels like home. You and I connected as close as we can get. Your heart beating against mine is the closest I’ve come in all these years to feeling whole.”

The very small wall I had remaining crumbles. He has done the impossible. Reed Matthews owns my heart again. One tear escapes and he puts his lips to my cheek to stop its fall. Gently, he rocks back and forth in me with his forehead against mine.

The water ripples around us and the lights change from red to blue hues. It may seem a bit shady to reconnect with my first and only love in the pool, in the middle of the night, out in the open where anyone can see; but to me, it’s the most romantic thing in my life. I move to kiss him as he speeds up his movements.

With our mouths connected and our bodies joined, he turns us around so he is against the concrete wall holding me completely.

“Ari, lie back. I want to make love to you floating in front of me. I want to see your entire body.”

Following his command, I feel every inch of him in me. The sensations are erotic and the familiar tingling starts. I clench around him and he moans loudly. His speed increases and I shoot out of the water screaming my release when he touches my clit. He groans my name loudly and then clamps his mouth against my neck as he lets go and comes with me.