Bound to You

Chapter 24: Good Morning

Darcy groaned at the sunlight filtering in through the open window blinds. She kept her eyes shut tight, hoping by some miracle if she ignored the daylight it would go away. She felt her cheeks flush slightly as memories from the previous night began drifting back into her memory. Riker…the kitchen…his bedroom… She felt her heart momentarily stop. His bedroom. Her eyelids flew open. She was still in his room. She suddenly became aware of the feeling of bare skin beneath her cheek, and an arm wrapped securely around her waist. Her own hand was rested lightly on his abdomen. She could feel his chest moving up and down slowly as he breathed. The light scent of his cologne washed over her every time he exhaled. His breath lightly tickled her face, moving the strands of hair that fell messily from her loose bun. She closed her eyes contentedly, listening to the sounds of Riker’s heartbeat as it steadily pumped. “Mm.” she moaned again, still bothered by the bright light coming in through the window. She felt Riker shift slightly underneath her. “You awake?” he asked quietly. She nodded slowly, her head still rested against his chest. “Unfortunately.” She mumbled. She heard him chuckle lightly as his fingers moved a strand of her ginger hair away from her face. “About time. It’s almost noon.” Her eyes flew open again as she immediately sat upright. Riker laughed as he moved his arms to rest underneath his head. “Good morning to you too.” he said, a coy smile playing at the corners of his mouth. She rubbed her eyes tiredly as she looked around the unfamiliar bedroom. “Why’d you let me sleep so late?” she questioned. Riker shrugged. “You looked so cute. I didn’t want to wake you up.” He said simply. Darcy felt her cheeks flush once again. She glanced down at the unfamiliar fabric that rested against her skin. Riker’s button up shirt, the same one she’d so hastily stripped him of the previous evening. The top few buttons were undone, revealing her black lace bra underneath. She bit her lip lightly. ‘Happy’ didn’t even begin to describe how she felt. The previous night… It felt as if they had been building up to that one, perfect moment since she’d arrived in Los Angeles. She turned her head hesitantly to look at Riker. He was staring back at her with a contented smile on his face. His brown eyes sparkled in a way that she had only seen a handful of times before. “Why are you so smiley?” she questioned. He shrugged once again as his hand moved to gently tug at the hem of the oversized shirt she wore. “I’m just…happy.” He answered honestly. Darcy smiled in return. “I am too.” she said quietly. Riker’s grin widened as he slowly sat up to join her. His thick, navy colored comforter fell to the side, offering a peek at the hem of his boxers underneath. Darcy felt heat rise in her cheeks. Every moment from their night together was etched into her memory. She could still feel the touch of his calloused hands against her soft skin. The feel of his lips, so warm and perfect, against her own. The way they had moved together, so in sync. Like they had been designed solely for eachother. “So…” she started, unsure of how to begin. Riker laughed awkwardly as he ducked his head to focus on his lap. “So.” He echoed. “That was…unexpected.” Darcy nodded as she tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. Now that she was more alert she was beginning to feel self-conscious. Sitting in bed, half-dressed, beside Riker… It wasn’t a position she’d been in before. Not just with him, with anybody. “Very unexpected. But… I liked it.” She admitted, keeping her gaze focused on one of Rocky’s old Fall Out Boy posters across the room. She could see Riker nod out of the corner of her eye. “I did too.” His voice was low and gravelly, presumably from a lack of sleep. Darcy bit down on her lip again. It was…sexy. She glanced over at him, taking in the sight before her. His mussed blonde hair, the lean, toned muscles of his chest and abdomen… She suddenly became aware that the only thing separating their two bodies currently was the thin fabric of the shirt she wore and the equally thin fabric of his underclothes. Surely they might have a little while before someone came looking for them… “Oh my God!” She suddenly cried. Not just someone, his family. They were still in his family’s home. “Oh my God, your mom! Rocky!” She snapped her head back over to the younger brother’s side of the room. His bed was still neatly made, thankfully showing no signs of having been disturbed recently. “Oh my God I fell asleep in here?? Did anyone see-” Riker quickly shook his head. “Darce, calm down. I was up early so I told mom you fell asleep in here watching a movie and I slept on the couch. She left with Rydel a few hours ago to go shopping. Dad had an early golf game today and he took Ryland-” “And Rocky??” Darcy questioned frantically, cutting him off mid-sentence. He shook his head again in reassurance. “Rocky and Ross stayed with Ell last night, remember?” he prompted. Darcy felt relief wash over her as she settled back into the folds of the plush comforter. They were alone. She felt butterflies stir within her as the realization struck: they were alone. “So…” she began, lightly fingering one of the buttons on the oversized shirt. “No one else is home?” she asked innocently. The corner of Riker’s mouth turned up into a not-so-innocent smirk. “I don’t believe so. Why, what’s on your mind Ms. Davis?” he questioned. Darcy shrugged as she shifted her position on the mattress, bringing herself closer to Riker. “You tell me.” She said quietly, allowing her lips to lightly graze his ear. He uttered a barely audible moan as he wrapped his arms securely around her waist and pulled her onto his lap. She brought her lips crashing down onto his roughly, the same passion and sparks from the night before reigniting. They seemed to burn even brighter now. She felt Riker’s hands wander from her waist up her back, grasping at the fabric of the shirt. He pulled her impossibly closer to him, not leaving even a fraction of space between them. She moaned as his lips left her own and traveled down to the soft flesh of her neck, to the exact spot he’d only hours before discovered could drive her wild. Without warning he rolled over, pinning her against his mattress on the flat of her back. His lips immediately reconnected with hers, sending another wave of electricity flowing through her body. Just as his fingertips touched the last remaining clasped button of the oversized shirt, he heard the faint echoing of his phone ringing from downstairs. Darcy groaned as he slowly moved to sit upright. “You’ve gotta be kidding me.” She muttered. Riker shook his head as he climbed off of the bed and made his way towards the bedroom door. “Just a second.” He called over his shoulder as he disappeared down the hall. Darcy sighed as she gazed upwards at the ceiling. Although she was thoroughly enjoying this new relationship with Riker, she still didn’t know what exactly that meant for them. Were they together? Was ‘together’ even a possibility for them right now? Would it ever be a possibility? She shook the thoughts away as she heard Riker’s footsteps echoing back towards the bedroom. She propped herself up on her elbows as he stepped through the doorway. “Took you long enough.” She said teasingly. Her heart sank when she noted the strained expression he now wore on his face. “Riker?” she asked quietly, slinging her feet off onto the carpeted floor. Riker pressed his lips together tightly as he remained, unmoving, just inside the room. “Darce, that was Ross. Sean’s asked to see both of you in his office. Now.”