Flaw (The Flaw Series) (18 page)

Read Flaw (The Flaw Series) Online

Authors: Ryan Ringbloom

He lets out a growl and gives me a hard smack on the ass for teasing him.
Ow…oh yeah
. As soon as I’m done packing I’m going to tease the hell out of him.

I slide open my lingerie drawer. “Okay, I’m going into the bathroom to pack a few things. Maybe you could help pick out a few pieces from this drawer that you think I might need this weekend.” Aidan gives a curious glimpse into the drawer and looks back up at me. His eyes darken with lust. I throw a seductive glance over my shoulder and leave him alone in the room. That should keep him busy for a while.

From the linen closet I take down a travel bag I use for toiletries. Gathering travel-sized bottles up, I start feeling guilt-ridden about our conversation in the car. Things with Aidan have become serious. He’s my boyfriend. I’m in love. I know it’s time to introduce him to everyone. But the dread I allow to creep in at the thought turns my stomach sour. Imagining their reaction and what awful things might be said makes me ill. If it was up to me, he would never meet my family.

Bzzzzzzzzz…

“Is that my phone?” I yell through the door.

“No.”

Bzzzzzzzzz…

“Is it yours? Why aren’t you answering it?” I reach for my brush, running it over my hair checking my reflection.

Bzzzzzzzzz…

“Nope, it’s not my phone,” he says.

What is that?
I stop brushing my hair and listen. The noise still sounds from my room. I fling open the door, drop the brush, and cover my mouth, gasping.
Holy Shit!
Aidan holds up my efficient, sleek, multiple speed friend. The one I keep neatly tucked away in my lingerie drawer.

“Should I pack this?” he grins.

Becca

Josh’s father is being discharged from the hospital in a few days. It’s a race against the clock to get everything ready before he comes home. I wait with Josh as the workers come in and transform their beautiful large house. He’s spent hours planning the necessary preparations and making sure everything is done in time. The den that we spent half the night cuddled in with the electric fireplace has become a bedroom. A hospital bed is now where the leather couches were. Small ramps are being built inside the house and a larger ramp has been built outside leading into the home. The house is being equipped to accommodate all the new needs for his father.

With each new change being made, I see the torment in Josh’s eyes. I’m doing what I can for him but it doesn’t seem like enough. If only there was something more I could do. I would do anything to be able to take away his pain, even if it was only for a short time.

“Let’s go out,” I say, after the last of the workmen leave his house for the day.

“I don’t have the energy to go out.” He slumps down into a chair in the front room.

“Well, then, let’s go out but stay in.” I walk over and reach for his hands. “We can go to my apartment, get Chinese, watch TV and just be away from here for a little bit.” He takes my hands and I see a smile cross his lips for the first time all week. “I’ll call and order our usual. It should be ready by the time we get there.” I slip out my phone and start dialing. “Go get ready, we’ll leave in five. Put on sweats or something so we can relax and be cozy.”

“Have you ever seen me wear sweats?” he asks with a chuckle.

I haven’t. He’s always in jeans. Always well put together, even with all he’s been through. Aside from a few hairs out of place he’s never let his appearance get sloppy. I look down at my pink sweats and t-shirt. I used my comb clip as a brush before sticking all my hair up on top of my head. Brushing my teeth and applying lip gloss is my daily beauty routine. Compared to Josh,
I’m
a joke.

“Hello, Becca,” Burt, the guy who owns the Chinese restaurant, greets me on the phone. I call so often he knows it’s me when he sees my number pop up.

I give Burt our order and Josh drives us over. We grab the food and carry it up the stairs to my apartment. I know it must feel weird for Josh being back here since he moved out. What’s going through his mind? Was coming here a good idea?

I grab us forks and we take our containers over to the couch. The TV goes on and after only a few bites, Josh puts his carton of chicken down. I brought him here because I wanted him to forget for a while. Take him away from his home and the changes going on all around him. It’s not happening. My chicken goes down on the coffee table next to his. “Do you want a drink?”

“No,” he shakes his head. “That won’t help anything.

Getting up from the couch, I grab our containers and bring them into the kitchen. Josh stares ahead absently at the TV while I sneak into my room and come back out holding onto a blanket. “Here, we can snuggle up.”

I sit next to him on the couch, covering us with the warm blanket, nuzzling into his chest. I’m not stupid. I know why I grabbed this blanket. He shifts, holding in his breath before letting out a shaky one. This isn’t snuggling. My body can’t find a position to land in. I squirm and fidget unable to relax. Josh appears as unrelaxed as I am. This tension building between us is too much to keep ignoring.

I know what he needs. I know what I can do to help him forget for a short time. I know this has to happen.

Underneath the blanket, my fingers slide in little circles over Josh’s thigh, working my hands up from his leg to his stomach. He doesn’t move. I undo one of the buttons on his shirt, my fingertips working their way under the fabric.

Gradually I position myself so that my lips press up against his neck. The small kiss sends a powerful shiver through him, so strong it shakes us both. My hands reach up to his cheeks, turning his face to meet mine. I’m desperate to feel his lips on mine. When our mouths finally meet for an emphatic kiss, my skin comes alive. Visible chills form bumps down my arms.

He pulls away, his chest rising in deep breaths. The eyes staring back at me are filled with desire, not sadness. In this moment I’m able to make him forget the horrible things he’s faced with right now. My hands go up to the soft skin of his face and bring his lips back to mine. His hands seem hesitant, waiting for permission. I take his hands and place them on my sides, covering them with my own and steering them up. Josh lets out a groan once his hands graze the sides of my breasts. He reacts fast, pulling me onto his lap, reaching up to cradle the back of my head. His mouth comes down hard on mine and our tongues collide for a deep kiss that sends me spiraling. I fall back on the couch, bringing him down with me.

Hot kisses are trailed down my neck, each star on my chest receiving special attention. The hem of my shirt is lifted and Josh’s breath is on my stomach, his lips teasing their way across my skin. His tongue circles my belly button and his teeth nip at the dangling pink stones of my piercing. I lift my hips and he removes the clothes from the lower half of my body. I’m ready. The breath flees from my lungs when he leaves his jeans on and returns his mouth to my stomach. His eyes connect with mine before continuing down on a fiery path down until…
Oh God
.

This has never been done to me before. This is wrong,
amazingly
wrong. This is supposed to be about him.
Yes

Oh God
. But there’s no way in hell my body will allow me to say the words to stop this. Instead my fingers slip into his hair, grabbing on fiercely, guiding him to just the right spot.
Oh fuck…right there
.

The sensation building inside me is something new and hard to control. Fighting it is useless and it takes over me fast. I’m lost in the ecstasy of the pleasure he is generously giving. My head twists back and forth as I grab onto the side of the couch, gasping for air, reaching, giving in to the overwhelming amazingness overtaking me. The loud moan that escapes turns quickly into a filthy little shout out to God.

Josh tenderly kisses the inside of each of my thighs before he sits up on the end of the couch. Still lost in a haze of blissful surprise, I bring my knees together and sit up on my elbows. He looks over at me with a shy smile. “That was good?” he asks, as if the experience was something new to him.
But it couldn’t have been, could it?

I nod my head and crook my finger, inviting him to come back down to me. After that, we are so not even close to being done.

His hands move slowly, exploring me, sending tingles and shivers through my body. He lifts my shirt gently over my head. My bra comes off next and Josh admires each of my breasts with soft hands. I turn my head to the side, biting down on my lip, delighting in the tantalizing touches and delicate nips on my neck.

I reach down to his brown leather belt and tug it through the buckle. His hand stops mine. “Are you sure?”

I’m so sure. So unbelievably sure. “Yes, yes, yes,” I say breathlessly and the hand on top of mine relaxes. I lie back on the couch watching and waiting eagerly as he stands up, slowly unzips and lowers his jeans. I peel my eyes away from the growing desire on his gorgeous face down.
Oh my, um
. I’m not sure if it’s the angle I’m looking from or if he’s really that blessed.
But holy shit
. I can’t stop staring as he takes a condom out from his wallet. I hold my hand out and he hands me the packet. Before tearing it I sneak a glance and read.
Magnum XL. Wow, I thought these condoms were a myth
. Okay, no, it was not the angle. And, no, it’s not a myth. I roll the condom into place, glad I’m not a virgin, although this may feel like I am all over again.

His hand eases in between my legs and rubs. My body responds readily, growing impatient for what comes next. I run my hand through my hair, brushing it away from my face. He leans forward, skimming his lips against mine. Our eyes are locked as he enters me slowly. I gasp, holding my breath, then exhale steadily.

“Are you okay?” he asks.

“Mmhm,” I say, wincing. I know I just need to relax.

The movements start off slow, picking up speed. The first moan he makes causes my hips to move faster. The frenzied pleasure builds up in me again. Josh’s breathing becomes a mixture of groans and broken words. His body begins to tremble. I know he’s ready to let go.

“Josh,” I whisper, my own body rising for the fall.

“Becca, I love you.” He brings his lips down to my ear, panting heavily, his body shudders over mine. “I love you so fucking much.”

Chapter Eight

Jordyn

I close the compact after checking my teeth and hair for the tenth time, smooth my hands down the front of my dress, and brace myself for inspection. They’re already sitting around the kitchen table, sipping tea and chatting away when I walk in.

“Darling, good morning, you look beautiful, as always.” My mom stands up, pulling down on a faded shirt that looks likes it shrunk. I can see she still hasn’t bothered touching up her gray roots yet, either. No effort has been put into her appearance whatsoever; she looks sloppy.

“Seriously, Jordyn, it’s nine o’clock in the morning. No one should look that good,” my cousin Erin greets me, shaking her head, then stands up and kisses my cheek. She’s dressed like she’s all ready to work out, not that she’s going to. I guess this is her “casual wear.”

My aunt looks somewhat put together in a pair of tan pants and a white blouse, but her lips look dry and I almost feel the need to hand her some lip balm.

I take my place at the table, poised with my hands folded in my lap. Erin starts right in telling us all about her incredibly romantic honeymoon and we all discuss at length the beautiful details from her wedding. Aidan is in the front of my mind the entire time. My plan is to mention that I’m seeing someone, give them minimal information, small steps, before I actually introduce him and share the big news of what he actually is to me.

“So, what about you gorgeous? Is there anyone special in your life?” My aunt turns towards me, giving me the opening I need.

“Yes,” This is it. I take in a small breath through my nose. “I’ve met someone.”

Three shocked faces look in my direction.

“Who?” My mother is stunned. This information is coming out of nowhere to her, I’m sure. She’s always asking about my love life and I’m always telling her there isn’t one.

“Is it the guy you brought to my wedding?” The strained look on Erin’s face informs me what she thinks of Josh. “Because Tucker, kind of… he wasn’t really, um, a big fan of his.”

“No, it’s not Josh. He’s just a friend.” I slant my eyes at her frowning. See, they’re already starting with the judging. “But you tell Tucker that Josh is one of the nicest guys I know. You can’t go around judging someone for things they did in high school, because if I remember correctly, he didn’t have the best track record himself.”

“You’re right.” Erin backs right down.

“So then, who is this mystery man? Do we get to meet him?” My mother is on the edge of her seat.

“Settle down, Mom. His name is Aidan. And yes, you will meet him… soon, I guess.”

“The prince?” My mother sits up straight, beaming. “The one who helped us out with the benefit? The one who told you to put his pay towards the children’s hospital?” She gives me an approving smile. “Oh, that’s wonderful, honey. I can’t wait to meet him. Well, officially meet him. That one time I met him was a little rushed.”

“Oh my Gosh, he dressed up like a prince for the children’s hospital benefit? How amazing is that? I can’t wait to meet him, too,” Erin gushes, and my aunt nods her head along, agreeing.

A smile spreads across my face. Aidan is amazing. He’s kind, thoughtful, generous, and sexier than any other guy I’ve ever known. The scar on his face is unnoticeable once you meet him and see the man he really is. I’m worrying for no reason.

“Your father’s birthday party is this Saturday.” My mother throws her hands in the air excitedly. “Bring him. That way we can all meet him. Oh, this is just wonderful.”

It is wonderful. It’s time they all meet my amazing man. “Yes, I’ll ask him. I know he’s anxious to meet all of you.”

“I can’t wait!” Erin claps her hands. “Do you have any pictures?”

On my phone I have plenty of pictures of me and Aidan from our weekend away. The two nights we spent in Vegas were the best two nights of my life. I didn’t even stop by the convention like I was supposed to. We spent every minute together. Walking down the strip with his arm wrapped around me, leaning into him in the casino, betting on number thirteen, and kissing him passionately in public. No one knew us there. When people stared, I flashed them a smile and curled into Aidan tighter. I’m madly in love and there for the first time, I really got to show it off for everyone to see. The weekend was life changing. Now it’s time to show him off here, at home, with the people I know and love.

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