Touch by Touch (Riggins Brothers #4) - Kaylee Ryan Page 0,35
stopping her movements. “We need to talk about last night.”
“We will. I promise, but not right now. Get moving, Riggins!” She pulls my sweatshirt over her head and starts picking up blankets and pillows.
I stand frozen as I watch the nest we created be torn to pieces, and something in my chest tightens. “Conrad!” She stomps her foot.
“Sorry, I’m moving. Why don’t you go on up and shower, and I’ll get the living room back in order?”
“We need to wash the blankets.” Her face turns red.
“I’ll start a load.”
“They’re going to ask why.”
“We’ll tell them that I made love to you, and they needed washing.”
“No! Are you crazy? We can’t tell them that. No. Nope.” She shakes her head. “Okay. I’ll just tell them I was trying to freshen them up since no one has stayed here for a couple of months.”
“Fine,” I grumble. “Go, so we can talk.”
She gives me a look I can’t decipher before grabbing an arm full of pillows and rushing up the stairs. The thick blanket that we slept on and the one we covered up with should be sufficient as far as washing them. The one on top was thick, and well, I came inside her. My cock twitches at the memory.
Aspen takes the world’s fastest shower and is back downstairs in less than thirty minutes, just as I’m moving the first load to the dryer. I did a quick cycle to speed up the process. “Hey, go grab something to eat. I have everything down here handled.”
“You sure?” Her eyes scan the room, and when her shoulders relax, I know she sees that I do indeed have the downstairs back in order. No one will ever know about the night we shared in our fort by the fire. No one but us, and I promise it’s a night I will never forget.
“We have an hour,” she says, looking at her phone. “That’s good. Go shower, and I’ll make us some breakfast.”
“Thanks, babe.” I lean in for a kiss, and she flinches. “Aspen.”
“Sorry, I’m just… nervous, I guess. Last night and now they’re going to be here soon, and it’s just a lot to process. We’ll talk. Okay. Go, shower.” She waves her hand in the air. I lean in again for a kiss. This time she lets me, but she’s stiff and the first to pull away.
My heart sinks. No way am I letting her push me away after what we shared. Her touch is branded on my skin, and I can’t just forget something like that.
I rush through a shower, hoping to have some time with her to discuss us while we eat. In ten minutes flat, I’m back at the kitchen island just in time for her to plate up some eggs and toast.
“Quick and easy today.” She smiles, but the smile doesn’t reach her eyes.
“Aspen?”
“I’m sorry. It’s been the two of us in this bubble we’ve been in the past few days, and that bubble’s about to be burst. I’m just feeling… off.” She smiles again, and although it’s not forced, it still lacks the brightness I’m used to from her.
“Come here.” I hold out my hand, and she takes it, allowing me to pull her between my legs and hug her tight. “It will all work out. We’re in this together. It took both of us,” I tell her.
“Yeah,” she agrees. “Eat up.” She moves out of my hold and digs into her food.
I wait until she’s finished to try again, but I’m stopped when the front door to the cabin opens. “I’m getting married!” Aurora cheers as she makes a beeline for her sister.
“Hey, bro.” Grant laughs. “She’s all kinds of excited that the roads were cleared early.”
“Of course, she is. Your wedding day is a big deal.”
“You good?” he asks.
“Yeah. I stayed up late reading over a new code for the security system,” I lie.
Grant holds his hand up to stop me. “Say no more.”
The rest of our families file into the cabin. There are handshakes, hugs, and between Mom, Aspen, and Aurora’s mom, Sheila, orders are given out. I’m instructed to help my brothers salt the sidewalks and driveway. I should have already had it done, but spending time with Aspen was more important. There are five of us. We can knock this out in no time, same as we did as kids. I don’t know when, but I’ll find time in the chaos of this wedding to talk to my girl.