Three's a crowd

45

Riley tucked my hand in his as we went in the house through the garage and disappeared to his room. I didn't understand how in a time of such uncertainty, by mind and body still reacted and begged for him. Only him.

In a strange was maybe it always had. I remember a Christmas when we were nine or ten. It was the year that Riley had tried baseball, emphasis on tried.

We were all in the yard; Levi, Riley, me and Anna having a small friendly game when Riley smacked the ball, breaking the kitchen window and simultaneously letting go of the bat, which proceeded to crack loudly against the side of my head.

My brother and Anna rushed to the kitchen as soon as they heard the glass breaking, the first thing on their minds - getting rid of the ball. Riley however noticed straight away that I was on the ground and sat beside me in the grass.

"Are you okay?" He asked.

"My head." I cried as it pounded.

He had reached out and grabbed my hand before running both our hands over the spot that got hit. "There's no lump so I think you'll be okay, but you can come sit in my room until you feel better if you want?"

I nodded and he pulled me by my hand to his room where he sat with me until it was time to face his mom about the broken window.

Being pulled to his room, my hand in his, was kind of like that day. The only difference is that I wasn't physically hurt this time, just extremely nervous of what was to come.

He locked the door behind us and sat on his bed motioning for me to sit beside him.

"So" I said.

"Sooo?" He replied awkwardly.

"This is weird." I announced after a few more tense seconds. "I always figured if you broke up with me it wo-."

"Wait you think I'm breaking up with you?" He asked as I looked at him and shrugged.

"That's what it feels like?" I admitted.

"Damn my dad was right." He ran his hand through his hair nervously, the way he always did. "I'm not very good at asking for serious talks... but I'm not breaking up with you Britt."

"Your not?" I repeated his words.

"No, I just. I just wanted us to talk for a while. I know a lot happened before the wreck and I couldn't let us go back to normal without talking about it. I meant what I said the day I gave you this...." he brushed the promise ring on my finger and wrapped his fingers in mine. "I love you, I always will."

I smiled feeling slightly relieved and then moved back on his bed crossing my legs with both his hands in mine.

"Okay, let's talk." I smiled. "Because all I really want to do is kill you with kisses, but your right. So let's get this talk out of the way so I can show you how much I missed you!"

"So I'm genuinely curious why you thought I was talking to another girl? I feel like a terrible boyfriend for making you feel like that was even a possibility." He sighed rubbing my knuckles with the pad of his thumbs.

"I don't know. I didn't think like that until that day." I admitted. "I think it's just how the conversation sounded mixed with a lot of things."

"Like what?"

"Well everyone always says that once you have sex that high school relationships fizzle out, it's stupid but it made sense that morning when I heard you on the phone." I said looking down.

"So why didn't you just talk to me about it? I can understand how it sounded bad, but you wouldn't even give me a chance to explain."

"I couldn't." I admitted "I felt like my heart was being ripped apart. I meant to talk to you about it when I had calmed down, but then I was scared that if I heard you say it was true, that it would really be over and I just couldn't ..!"

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry that you felt that way and that I made you feel that way." He moved one hand to brush my cheek.

"I'm sorry too. That I didn't hear you out, that you got in a wreck because of me.."

"Britt the wreck wasn't your fault. The road was wet and some idiot threw a bunch of water on my windshield. I tried to over correct the car when it slid and it flipped. It was an accident and I'm fine now. I don't blame you!"

"Well I do."

"Well don't. Is there anything else you need to tell me?" He asked as my mind shot to the conversation with Kyle.

"No, not right now." I sighed. It didn't seem right to tell him about Kyle until I had figured it out. Obviously I would have to talk to Kyle to do that, and then once I understand that situation more I could tell Riley.

He smiled as he looked into my eyes, and that ache that had been in my chest for so long began to fade as his face inched closer to mine slowly.

"Do you want me to stop?" He asked when one hand grabbed my waist and his breath fanned my face.

"No." I whispered breathily.

"Good because I've really missed you!" He whispered before weeks of tension exploded frantically.

He gripped my waist and head fiercely as his mouth crushed itself against mine, soaking up the whimper of surprise that tried to escape. I could taste the sweet potatoes from dinner on his lips as I pulled his body flush with mine.

Each touch was rough with need and longing, like two magnets held close together until the pull finally became too much and they snapped together.

I had been a fool for ignoring him, for refusing to listen or talk things through. Now that it was in the open I needed this physical reassurance - needed him.

I tugged at his shirt, pulling it up over his head before my hands roamed the bare contours of his chest. I could feel the familiar ache between my legs, my body's way of telling me how much I needed him in every way possible.

I could tell he was letting me take charge of the situation as I pulled my dress over my head and threw it on the floor, my bra following soon after, while our lips smacked and sucked and tangled together as if any distance was too much.

I reached down and fumbled with his belt before he moved my hands and finished taking his pants off himself. He leaned into me, pushing me down on the mattress as his hand teased my nipple. Slowly he inched it down to my panties, gripping it at both sides before pulling it down my legs.

I grabbed the side of his boxers, tugging them down as he sprang free and ready. I didn't want to wait any longer to feel his body with mine, instead I pulled his waist down to mine as I raised my hips to meet his.

Our eyes were still closed, lips pressed firmly together when I felt him filling me inch by inch. My heart did a somersault as a euphoria of butterflies overtook my body. All the broken pieces of me slowly gluing themselves back together as the rush and comfort of being wrapped in his arms consumed every part of me.

"Riles?"

"Mhmm?"

"Did you mean what you wrote in your letter!" I asked as we laid beside each other in the afterglow of our first ever makeup.

"Of course I did. I love you Britt, I always will. I just wish you never would have doubted it. I don't think you know just how great you are. I've seen how other guys look at you, even my friends and maybe I should be jealous but instead I just feel lucky. I feel lucky everyday that you chose me out of everyone, that I get to hold you like this..."

"Naked?" I asked with a smile.

"Well yeah naked, but also with you looking at me like I'm everything you'll ever need. You make me so happy, and sometimes frustrated and recently sad, but I'll never stop needing you Britt, I'll never stop loving you!" He smiled as I leaned forward and pecked him on the lips.

After a few more minutes of cuddling and pillow talk we finally got up and got dressed as we stood by his bedroom door.

"So, do you think we should make them sweat out our fight a little longer since they wanted to meddle or do you think they've had enough?" He grinned mischievously.

"Good question. It would be fun to mess with them, but it is Christmas so maybe we should save the punishment for later?"

"Fine, but only if you promise to start with my sister and your brother!" He laughed.

"Deal!"