Lakeshore Candy: The McAdams Sisters (By The Lake Book 4) Page 16
Abby’s palms pressed his chest cornering him against the wall.
“Take your shirt off,” her husky voice demanded, between deep breaths.
He wanted her to take her shirt off so he could see the breasts rising and falling under the chiffon material.
He ripped his shirt off and tossed it in their pile.
The hallway to his apartment was lit only by one bulb above the middle of the staircase. Abby hit the light switch and the room went dark.
“Abby...” He reached for her. He wanted her. He needed her.
“Shhh...” Her hands touched his and moved them to his side leaving them alone to rest when they itched to touch her. “Stay still.” Stay still? Stay still? Had she lost her mind? His mind was running visions of the body he wanted to reach for and she wanted him to stay still!
“My turn.” Her turn? Her turn! No, my turn, let me touch. As her lips touched his stomach it stopped his objecting thoughts and his mind could only focus on the pressure and tingle of her wet tongue against his skin. Her hands gripped the sides of his waist, digging her fingertips deeply into his flesh and he closed his eyes in pleasure.
Never had a woman appreciated his body the way Abby’s touch told him she did. In Oakston it had been quick, lust-filled bangs that ended before they even began and if they’d kissed him it was never with the gentle, soft, affection manner like Abby McAdams.
She worked her kisses, licks and nibbles across his waistline, up his side and down the other, then started right up the middle of his stomach to his chest. The whole act had him holding his breath and clenching his fists so as not to reach out and grab the back her hair and pull those tantalizing lips against his. Her tongue flavored each of his nipples teasing them between her teeth before she moved up to his throat. Her hands gripped each side of his neck, with slight force, gaining access to his throat where she applied hard kisses. When her lips finally grazed his, so lightly, one of her playful hands grabbed his manhood bulging against his pants for her, then her lips crashed against his and he couldn’t keep his hands off her any longer. He pulled her shirt off her body not caring if it landed anywhere near their pile and he ran his hands up her warm front, stopping to squeeze her breasts, releasing light moans out of her mouth. His hands moved down her side, over her ass, giving each cheek a squeeze, and then he lifted her up and against him. They needed to get to his apartment and out of the hallway Mrs. C had access too. She might be forgiving, and agreeable about them as a couple, but he sure didn’t want her to walk in on them in the middle of the act.
Their lips couldn’t get enough the whole way up the stairs, stumbling, stopping, laughing and shuffling. He reached the door and needed to get his keys out, so he slid Abby to her feet. She whined an objection that he caught in his mouth while his fingers dug in his pocket for the keys.
Abby pulled away from Riley and leaned against the door. She was hot, sexy, and ready for him.
The cold metal touched his fingers as Abby’s fingers touched the button on her pants, flicking it open, and then pulling the zipper down. His eyes didn’t move as she wiggled the pants over her hips revealing bright purple lace panties.
She paused.
Riley’s hands abandoned the keys.
How often did Mrs. C ever come up these stairs?
His hands gripped the sides of her pants and pulled them down her longs legs, skimming the smoothness to the floor and she stepped out of them. He started at her foot, kissing the top, moving to the ankle, then slowly up her calves, across her knees and when he reached her thighs her hands gripped the skin of his shoulders.
His turn.
Chapter Twenty-Two
RILEY KNEW HIS way around Oakston without a second thought. He took shortcuts, avoiding the busy main streets, and knew where to find the cheapest parking, and the best restaurants. They spent most of the day walking the streets of Oakston and before supper they headed toward Riley’s house for quick showers, a change of clothes and then to hit the night scene for supper and drinks.
It was a full vehicle with the four of them jam-packed inside, plus their luggage for the week. Abby sat in the back seat of Avery’s small car with Izzy to her left. She tried to focus on the city itself, enjoying the passing scenery. Tall skyscrapers, large advertising billboards and unique shops peppered her view. The bustle and hustle of the people distracted her, but her eyes always fell on the back of Riley sitting in the passenger’s seat in front. She was amazed at how much she’d learned about him in such a short time and exhilarated that he wanted to share the sorrow of his life, as well as his guilt and honesty with her. It drew her deeper to him and her feelings intensified, which she hadn’t thought was possible.
Abby didn’t notice with each turn they were driving into an upscale area with wrought iron and brick-gated entrances protecting large properties around houses that looked like mansions you would find in Willow Valley on the rich cliff. She did notice Riley’s muscles flexing with each turn and the uncomfortable shift of his body.
“Man, did I take a wrong turn?” Avery asked, slowing his speed to stare at the properties as they passed.
“No. Keep going,” Riley said. “We’re almost there.”
At the end of the street, Riley told Avery to turn right and as a double wrought iron gate unlocked and automatically opened for them.
Abby and Izzy exchanged looks before Abby caught Avery sending Riley a, do I go in there and a, are you serious look.
Riley must have answered because Avery pulled in and parked on the stone wrap-around driveway that was centered around professionally maintained flowerbeds. They all stared, open-mouthed. A three-story glass house towered before them.
Riley said he had a house...not a glass architectural masterpiece!
Riley climbed out of the car, not noticing the shock of the others. He climbed the stairs, and pulled out a key. No one else moved, as if they thought Riley’s key might not work. Abby and Izzy had unbuckled to crane their bodies around the front seats for a better view through the windshield.
“Is he shitting us?” Avery asked. “Did he say this was his house?”
The door opened and Riley walked inside.
“Yes,” Abby said, recognizing doubt in her voice.
Get it together McAdams. Riley is depending on you to hold a strong front and if your twin catches wind that you don’t know what’s going on he’s going to be down Riley’s unready throat with a slew of private questions. Riley was dealing with enough. But, a glass house? Seriously?
Abby pushed open the door, grabbing her purse from the floor. “No. We’re breaking into a strangers house for the week, Avery...wanna come?”
Abby climbed out with Izzy’s chuckle, but Izzy caught her arm before they reached the stairs and stopped her. “You didn’t know this was Riley’s house did you?” Izzy asked.
“Between us, not a clue. But Avery has been on Riley’s case since we met up in the driveway.” That warning over breakfast the morning before hadn’t been empty and Riley was dealing with enough just coming home for the first time in years that she didn’t want him to feel obligated to entertain Avery and his bullshit.
“He’s protecting you.” Izzy’s tone held a hint of caution as well.
“I don’t need protecting from Riley,” Abby clarified. When it came out harsh, in a mind your own business tone, she chided herself for speaking to Izzy that way, when she was only concerned for her too.
Izzy braved her next words, regardless of Abby’s tone. “We don’t really know Riley.”
Abby turned her whole body to face her best friend eye-to-eye. She didn’t want any confusion about the words to follow. All dolled up in another brand new designer zig-zag dress with her slouch purse slung over her shoulder in the same beige color as the braided grass she had wrapped around her forehead and tied at the back of her lose curls, Izzy looked confident and strong. Her big blue eyes read a different story. She’d caught Abby’s warning, but she was going to press anyway because that’s what friends and
family did when they cared about each other.
Abby hadn’t had a chance to talk to Izzy about her relationship with Riley, not that this was the right time to do it. Riley had disappeared in the house and Avery was pulling their bags out of the trunk, so it was as much privacy as they’d had all day.
“Izzy, I don’t intend for this to come out mean. I love you and thank you for your concern, but you don’t know Riley.”
“I’m worried about you,” Izzy said, surprising Abby with a serious tone. She generally went around making her point across with smirking comments rather than serious words.
“You don’t have to be. I promise.”
Izzy continued anyway. “Last night when you and Riley hooked up I thought that was all it was: a hook-up. But now, I see there’s more between the two of you. The whole ride here you were both sending each other googly-eyed looks through the mirror. At the rest stop, he touched the small of your back and there are these looks you two keep sharing. I’ve never seen you look at a guy the way you look at Riley...ever...and you didn’t even tell me that it wasn’t only a hook-up.”
Had they really been that obvious? She’d thought they’d been hiding it so well and here Izzy had caught every single giddy, excited, silly thing the two of them had done. For a moment Abby felt like a teenager busted by her parents for making out with the boy next door. Abby shouldn’t be surprised Izzy saw right through to Abby’s true feelings about Riley, they had been friends forever and Abby felt guilty for not taking the time to tell her.
“I’m sorry Izzy. You’re right. There is more between me and Riley than a hook-up, but we are both new at this...this...” This what? What did she call it?
“Love game?” Izzy supplied.
Love...there was that word again.
Abby shrugged. “I don’t know what it is, but we are trying to figure it out.”
“It’s alright.” Izzy sighed loudly and Abby knew there was more to follow. There was always more whenever Izzy sighed like she was contemplating. “I just don’t want to see you hurt. I’m sorry if that offends you, but I love you and you’re right...I don’t know Riley...but how much do you really know about him?”
Avery dropped the luggage at their feet. “I’m not your bell boy ladies,” he said, moving past them toward the house. He certainly didn’t look like a bellboy in his black pants with a matching black vest thrown over a deep purple plaid shirt. His grey fedora finished his style and instead he looked like a musician...his dream.
“We will talk later,” Abby promised Izzy with a hug.
They carried their luggage inside the spectacular twenty-six foot ceilinged house. Riley stood in the center of an open floor design in neutral beige, grey’s and whites. The gourmet commercial kitchen was to the left with polished shining appliances that matched a dividing wall. A gorgeous, formal dining room sat on a raised platform to the far back left and to the right was a glass staircase, open and leading to two more floors. Straight in front of them, beyond the encased glass wall of the contemporary great room was a tropical setting drawn around the focal point of the incredible courtyard and kidney bean shaped pool. Contemporary, sleek, and impersonal furniture popped out here and there, like the white square sofa and chairs, the glass coffee and end tables, and hall table to the right with a mirror above, like a hotel.
“Make yourselves at home,” Riley said. “There won’t be any food, but there’s a drawer of take-out menus in the kitchen. Avery and Izzy there are two bedrooms on the second floor, take your pick.”
Izzy shoved her suitcase at Avery. “Come on Avery.” She turned to Riley. “This is awesome. Thanks for letting us crash. Right Avery?”
Avery didn’t look so easily pacified. “Yeah, thanks,” he muttered, reluctantly following Izzy up the glass set of stairs, sending Riley another warning. The warnings were getting exhausting and Abby was thankful Izzy was on her side, even if she was unsure about Riley.
Once they were alone, Riley’s eyes fell on Abby. “The master bedroom is on the main floor, down that hall.” He looked jittery and distant like he was trying to cover his true feelings with a facade of calm, collectiveness. He wasn’t fine.
Abby stepped toward him and touched his flexing arm. This was the most privacy they’d had all day and when normally she would want to send him her seductive smile and rope him into the shower with her, the dark shadows behind his eyes told her he was dealing with his grief. She wanted him to know there was more to her than sex, that she was here for him if he needed her.
“Are you okay?” She knew he wasn’t. “Do you want to talk?”
Riley took a deep breath. Abby could see his raising muscles even though he was dressed. He finished with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes.
“I will be.” He kissed the top of her head, not her lips and held his hand out. “Let’s go get ready.”
***
RILEY CHOSE HIS favorite place to eat and have drinks, Oakston’s Corner Club, although he still wasn’t ready to have a drink.
He recognized the hot spot would be a top pick for Avery and was glad when Avery was too distracted with the indie bands playing on the stage to drill questions into Riley at every opportunity. He respected Avery’s protection over Abby, but right now Riley did not need this shit.
Walking through the glass doors of his house and taking everything in from the sight, to the smell, to the memories everywhere his eyes stopped, had drained his body. He would have rather stayed home then prowled the town for a good meal and entertainment, but the shit load of questions that would have followed would have been more exhausting.
“What’s your story man?” Avery asked Riley, taking a swig of his beer, during a band change. He’d been dying to probe all day and now that little happy liquid was helping overcome his resistance.
Riley had been hoping to avoid this conversation until after he visited to the cemetery, but it looked like Avery was content on getting it on now.
“What are your intentions with my sister?” Avery continued, when Riley didn’t answer his question fast enough. It could also be that he’d had a few too many drinks again. For someone that Abby always bragged did not drink heavily he was sure contradicting her since his return home. If Avery had been around the last year he could have watched Riley’s intentions, however he’d been away on tour...uh-huh...that sounded reasonable...a year tour. Riley considered bringing that point to light.
Abby beat him. “Avery!” she scolded, then turned to Riley and said, “You don’t have to answer that.” Abby’s angry stare met Avery’s serious eyes awaiting an answer. “Avery, what kind of question is that?”
“A plausible one.”
“That’s not plausible and if you keep up the untrusting eyes and inappropriate questions I will tell the sisters about Ems.”
Ems was probably where he’d really been while he claimed to be touring. Riley didn’t know Avery very well and he wondered just how serious he was about his music career...when he was clearly lying to everyone.
“Ems?” Izzy’s interest grew and she slanted her body sideways so her feet bounced by Avery’s side. “What happened with Ems?” she pried, like one of his nosy sisters. Riley knew she was helping distract Avery from his questions...even if Riley had seen the worry in her eyes too. Good thing Kate wasn’t here or he would have no choice but to start spilling everything. “Were you dating her? Did you bang her? Oh man, did she dump your ass?” Izzy laughed. “That’s hilarious. Rock star with a broken heart.”
Avery glared at Izzy.
“Doesn’t feel nice being on the other end of the date patrol, does it?” Izzy snarked, totally impressed with herself, while stirring the straw in her drink.
“If I said I was planning to date Abby, would that curb your curiosity?” Riley asked. Curb it for the night, please. I am drained.
Avery’s head spun around like he’d misheard Riley. “Date?” he asked.
Riley nodded.
“Like girlfriend and boyfriend?”
Another nod from Riley.
“You’re shitting me?” Avery asked.
Riley shook his head.
Avery laughed.
Abby and Izzy glared.
Why was he finding this so amusing?
“I thought you two were just shacking up. I would say good luck man. You need it.” Avery held his beer bottle to Riley in a salute before swigging back the rest and setting it to the side, reaching for his next full drink. “She’s going to be like taming a lion.” Avery looked at Abby. “I mean, I love you Sis, but...”
Riley saw Abby’s mouth drop open and her body moved forward, ready to tear a strip out of her brother. Riley leaned over and kissed the side of her head, inhaling her smell and finding the smallest quirks about her eased his own worry. He said, “I would never try to tame Abby. She’s perfect just the way she is. I will only work my best at keeping up with her.”
One of those surprised looks fell across Abby’s face as she turned to look at him and her eyes locked on his. For the first time all day it looked like the words eased the worry he’d seen in her. She was worried for him. Avery and Izzy were worried about Abby. Riley was worried about himself and Abby. Damn there was a whole lot of worry going around this table.
“Awww.” Izzy’s eyes softened for Riley for the first time all day. “That’s so sweet, Riley.” She put her hand across her heart. “That was the sweetest thing you’ve ever said. Listen to Tarzan having a heart.” Izzy slapped Avery’s shoulder. “Quit being a jerk, just because your woman doesn’t look at you the way Abby looks at Riley.”
Abby flushed and Riley felt his lips curve upwards. Abby was a lion, there was no doubt about it. As she sat beside him with her thick hair spilling around her bare shoulders in her skin-tight black mini dress...the woman had dozens of black mini-dresses...her confidence was unmistakable. The way she held herself, how she knew she was damn sexy. The way her eyes could flicker from serious to seductive and how she liked to play rough. He hadn’t known he liked that until she touched him. But then one little tiny remark about the way Abby’s cast of affection fell on him...and she blushed. It was adorable.