Chapter 23

23

It was about five more minutes before I finally arrived at the river. I thanked the driver before getting out, the evening breeze skating over my skin in welcoming.

I saw him immediately. Even in the early night darkness, I could recognise his form stooped on the edge of the pier. An immediate smile made its way onto my face as I recalled the night we met.

My footsteps echoed on the wood planks and he turned his head over his shoulder, my favourite smile appearing, showing the soft dimples on his cheeks. The stillness of the night wrapped us in a bubble and when I sat next to him, I almost melted into his side, feeling the relief of his comfort, even just with him sitting there doing nothing.

"I didn't expect you to be here so quickly," I said.

He bumped my shoulder. "You texted. I came. Always." He said it so simply like it was the easiest thing he could do. He reached over and laced his fingers with mine as they rested on my lap.

My heart lurched before I remembered what a dangerous game I was playing. But my heart never listened when it came to Reece.

"So, tell me what's going on in that head of yours?" He tapped a finger against my temple with his free hand and a soft smile graced his lips, inviting me in and reassuring me all the same.

I leaned my head against his shoulder and spilled the night's events. He listened quietly, leaning his own head on top of mine. It was scary how natural it felt with him, the tangling of fingers, and how I was absentmindedly fiddling with his, drawing random patterns. How natural it felt to lean my head on his shoulders and blur the line of friendship and more.

I sighed after I'd finished wrapping up my night, his hand was palm up on my lap as I traced lazy circles around it, almost feeling like I was putting myself in a trance. "I'm just hoping after this internship, that will be it. She can leave me alone."

He shrugged. "Maybe it won't be so bad. A week is better than a lifetime anyway."

I sighed, lifting my head off his shoulder to look over at him. "Yeah. Not how I saw my new year starting though."

He chuckled before reaching over to tuck a strand of hair behind my ear. "My year always starts the same. Alone on my birthday."

My eyes widened. "Oh my god. How could I forget about your birthday? Are you doing anything?"

His lips twisted. "I think Jake is organising a party at my house." His fingers curved over my cheek in a soft caress. "I want you to be there."

I smiled. "Of course, I'll be there."

"Good. Don't forget to come bearing gifts. You won't be allowed in otherwise," he said with a cheeky grin.

I laughed. I didn't realise when I'd inched closer to him, but our breaths mingled. "Depends. What is on your wishlist?"

He hummed and I felt it like it was rattling my rib cage instead of my heart. His eyes dropped down to my lips and traced a path back to my eyes in a slow drag. "I think what I really want is unattainable."

It felt like all the breath escaped me.

I should have pulled back then, cut the tension, and drawn the line back in the sand that was being wiped clean. But I couldn't resist. I leaned closer like he was the source of my oxygen, not the reason it had been taken away from me.

"Why would you say that?" My question came like a breath of air.

"Because I don't think I would be forgiven for taking what I want. And I've tried so hard not to cross the line for so long that now that I've had a taste, I greedily want to take more than I should. But, I've never had something that's truly mine, and when I think I've finally found it, something is blocking my way."

There was a touch of pain that mixed in his eyes but it clouded over so fast with lust, longing, and something else that I hadn't seen before. It was too hard to decipher when my brain was clouding over. And I just needed more. More of his caress like his hand brushing the side of my face down my jaw. More of his touch like our shoulders and our thighs glued next to each other. More of his breath like how it breathed life through my lips.

I swipe the rest of the line away.

"So, take what you want, Reece."

It was like my words were a lure to him, drawing him in as his forehead dropped onto mine. His eyes drew down to my lips and a long, drawn-out sigh escaped him as if that could evacuate the need within him.

I wanted him to take me. To have me. To indulge in the little bit of peace we provide each other and just exist before it can all blow up in our faces. I wanted to know what it felt like to truly be his before the ticking bomb inevitably went off. And then I would have to be prepared to fight to keep him.

"Kody, you know we can't. You don't know what you're doing. What you're asking."

My hand glided over his shoulder to wrap around the back of his neck, making his eyes jumped to mine.

"I know exactly what I'm asking," I punctuated, staring right into his eyes so he could understand that I knew the consequences. I knew there would be no coming back from obliterating that line.

His eyes flickered between my own, chewing his lip as if trying to hold onto whatever restraint he still had, the same war going through his mind. But I didn't care, I was going to break that restraint anyway. I just needed him.

His eyes dropped to my lips and his voice was a husky tone under his breath as he said, "Fuck it." And then his lips fused to mine.

Every time I felt the press of his lips, it was like every piece of the mismatched puzzle of my life finally fit together. Kissing him was like a reprieve from all the mess going on in my life. And the way he kissed me was like we were breathing air back into each other. Like if we parted, we would slowly die from lack of oxygen.

His lips moved with mine with urgency at first before he slowed it down as if to savour it. Every taste and lick and suck drew us closer together. I felt instantly consumed by him, in the languid stroke of his tongue against mine and the strong grip he had on my jaw. I breathed him in, taking every ounce of attention he gave.

He pulled me closer, guiding me to straddle his thighs. I hovered at first, unsure how far to take this, until he pulled me down and ground me against him. I couldn't help the whimper that escaped me and I felt his lips stretch into a smile against mine.

His lips glided down my jaw and throat as he held me tight against him while I tilted back, giving him space to attack my neck in nips, licks, and kisses. It was a good thing he had a hold on me because I felt absolutely weak against his touch and if he had let go, I was falling straight into the water below us. But maybe that would have been a good thing to shock me back into the presence.

He kissed his way back up my neck and to my ear before whispering huskily, "As much as I would love to keep kissing you here, I don't think people would appreciate the public display." He paused to swallow. "My car?"

I nodded eagerly, carefully manoeuvring off him and tugging him up with me. His grin was devastating and enticing, pulling every string inside of me that seemed to be attached to him. I wrapped my arm around his neck and kissed him again, melting with how good the curve of his lips felt.

His hands clasped mine as he pulled me towards his car with long sure steps. Luckily no one was around at that moment because I wanted more of Reece. The feel of his skin, his hair between my fingers, his passion feeding into my own.

I felt the sudden cold shock of metal against my back as Reece pressed me against the hood of the car, his hand wandering down my side as he fished in his pockets for his keys. The jingle of them rang through the fog and it felt like it had a direct line to my heart as it picked up pace, ramming against my chest, nerves and excitement mixing within me.

He picked me up with one hand under my ass and the other unlocking the car before opening the door to the back seats. Our lips parted for only a moment as he sat me in the backseat and my eyes fluttered open at the exact moment to see the view of Reece climbing in after me, hovering over me as he closed the door behind him, the sexiest grin in place. I crawled back against the opposite side door, leaning against it as he followed. The armrest dug into my back but I didn't pay it any attention, I just wanted Reece to keep looking at me like he was.

"Every time I look at you, since I met you, I have only ever seen beauty. But right now, I think this is my favourite." His voice was a deep husky whisper as he read exactly what was on my mind and I sunk deep into his orbit.

I grabbed the front of his shirt and yanked him down to my lips again, drinking in the groan he released.

It was a frenzy of touches and caresses and tugs and scratches, both of us wanting to map each other's bodies until they were memorised in the palms of our hands.

And then his hand was skimming the tops of my thighs, exposing my skin as my dress rose up to my waist. His knuckle grazed the inner crease of my thigh, right next to where I really needed him. It was the sweetest torture, having him caress me there but never coming close to the exact spot that ached for him. He did that for a couple moments before I parted from his lips with a whine.

"Hurry up and touch me, Reece."

His eyes rose from where they had travelled down my frame. "Just making you feel how I feel every second I'm with you."

I rolled my eyes. "What an exaggeration."

As soon as the words slipped past my lips, his face sobered, his gaze serious as it drilled into mine.

"It isn't an exaggeration, Kody. You have no idea how long I have wanted you."

"Then where were you? Why didn't you do anything about it?" I questioned, my brows curled.

He swallowed, so much conflict flickering in his eyes. It was like he could decide what truth to give me. He settled for one simple answer. "I was scared."

I softened under him, reaching up to cup his cheek, the tiniest bit of stubble scratching my palm as my gaze bounced between his. "You're not scared now?"

He leaned down so our foreheads touched, keeping our gaze locked. "I'm fucking terrified," he said, curling his hand around the side of my neck, thumb brushing my jaw. "But I'm tired of fighting it. The absolute longing I have for you."

Then his lips brushed mine to cut off any more of my questions. It worked tremendously because my mind blanked and surrendered itself to all that was him.

His lips wandered down my cheek to my jaw and my neck, and then he was back to skimming his fingers between my thighs, but this time giving me some resemblance of relief when cool air hit me as he tugged my underwear to the side.

One finger slowly circled my entrance, having my legs shaking already. Teasing me, he brought his finger to his lips and sucked as my lips parted, staring at the action before his lips split into a devilish grin.

"Your birthday party. I swear I thought I would never see heaven. But then tasting you, I think, was pretty well the closest thing. And that's still very much true."

I lost any semblance to gain any thoughts at that moment, especially when his hand dipped between me again and gave me exactly what I needed when two fingers circled my clit in a perfect rhythm. I tilted my head back with a sigh, closing my eyes as I just… felt.

It was a slow build. He took his time, and I felt him watch me as the flush rose from my chest to my cheeks. My breath stuttered and I held onto him for dear life.

But I didn't want to be the only one riding this wave.

I slid my hand down from the grasp I had on his shoulder, down his abdomen, feeling it ripple under my touch. His breath caught as my hand brushed against the length of him.

"Kody," he breathed, making my eyes flutter open and locking our gaze. There was indecision in his gaze but it was heavily doused in lust and desire.

"It's not fair that I get to feel like this if you don't. I want you to feel what I feel."

In more ways than one.

I swallowed the words down.

He leaned down so his forehead rested on mine. "Then keep going," he whispered heatedly, eyes flaring as I gripped him through his shorts.

He watched me as his fingers quickened, circling tight circles that had the pressure low in my stomach building, making my eyes flutter and my breath come out in broken shudders. I watched him as I pulled on the waistband of his shorts and briefs and snuck my hand under to grip all of him, skin against skin.

His breath trembled along with mine as I moved my palm from base to tip then back down.

We watched each other as we made the other fall apart with our touch, breathing heavily into one another and our moans filling the confines of the car.

It was earth-shattering, the way we fell into each other. The elastic snapped and we shuddered against each other before he collapsed against me and I cradled his head on my chest.

It was then that my heart clenched with a revelation. Why nothing ever worked with anyone else. Why it didn't work with Liam. Why all those little looks across a crowded room had my heart beating faster.

Because it was Reece. It was always going to be him. And every stolen moment, like this one, had me falling harder for him.

I understood when Reece said he was scared. Because I was too. Scared to truly fall for him. Scared to lose him if it didn't work. I'd already shared so many vulnerable moments with him by the river. I didn't want to lose that. I didn't want to lose the one person I could truly open up to. To lose the one person who let me see their vulnerability and taught me that it was okay.

I held him a little tighter as if he would slip from my fingers right at that moment. And it was like he seemed to know what I was thinking because he scooted closer into the space between me and the backrest before pulling me closer, holding me tighter.

We stayed like that for a while, wrapped in each other and afraid to let go.

Reece was the first to break the silence when he suggested taking me home, not wanting to worry my Dad. Reluctantly agreeing, we scrambled to the front, my cheeks heating when I saw a few people meandering through the park now, hoping they didn't see anything that had happened just moments ago.

Reece chuckled as if seeing my thoughts plastered on my forehead. "Don't worry. Tinted windows."

A tiny bit of relief rolled through me as Reece pulled out of the park and started on the way to my house. I hadn't paid enough attention in our rush to get into the car.

His hand curled around my thigh, squeezing it and leaving it there for the entire drive home.

When he pulled up in front of the house, I was reluctant to leave, wanting just a few more moments together before this spell was broken. Before all the reminders of our life crashed down on us and drove that line back in the sand.

His hand left my thigh and my stomach started to drop but then his other hand came around to cup my cheek, turning my face towards him before his lips pressed against mine in a languid pull and everything fell away.

He pulled away slowly, looking into my eyes with a hint of a smile.

"I'll call you?" he whispered.

I nodded in a daze. "Yeah."

His mouth quirked before his eyes flashed to my house behind and nodded towards it. "You should probably get inside before your Dad or Nate see us."

I nodded again, not moving. "Yeah."

He chuckled and kissed me quickly. "I'll see you at the New Year's party."

I shook myself out of the daze. Right, our New Year's party. The one Dad has every year and we all invite our friends. Reece was there last year because Nate invited him. Of course, he would be there again.

"I'll see you then." And then I grabbed my bag and got out of the car.

As I was a few steps away, Reece called my name through the passenger window he had wound down.

He grinned as his gaze raked up and down my body. "You look beautiful tonight, by the way."

My face almost cracked with how wide my lips stretched, and I practically skipped up the driveway to the front door before I heard Reece drive away.

And like a chain reaction, the high came crashing down as soon as I shut the door behind me and my phone buzzed in my hand.

If only I had ignored it and gone to bed like I had initially planned. But my curiosity got the best of me, and I couldn't stop myself from looking.

Liam:

Do you have time to talk?

My smile slipped. Now, reality was crashing down and I had to pretend my original bad night didn't turn into the best night of my life.