N2L: Regan's romance, ch.8

Chapter Eight

Ayla had ordered Chinese, their favorite, and he had to laugh when he saw all the cartons. As bright as she was, Ayla was rather scatterbrained and could never quite remember what he liked, so she just ordered a lot of food.

Smiling, she loaded a plate for him and brought it over to him as he sat on the couch with a beer. She had insisted on bringing it to him, and a moment later, joined him with her own plate. After the initial awkwardness, he was pleased that she always ate, never picking at her food or ordering salads, which he knew she didn’t like. Sometimes she hedged over dessert, so they ended up splitting it, often feeding each other. He liked her rounded, soft figure, and tonight it was shown off in her low rider jeans and a pretty pink halter top with beads on the neckline.

They ate silently for a few minutes, until he noticed she kept looking at him.

“What?” he finally asked.

“You look very uncomfortable,” she sighed. “Are you still mad at me?”

“No,” he answered, which made her smile. “Your friends, yes. Myself, yes.”

“Why yourself?” she took a bite of her chow mien.

“Because I should have talked to you instead of taking off the way I did. But I was so angry, I just left.”

“Well,” she chuckled, “you may have an Irish temper but I have a German one. So we’re pretty evenly matched.”

Regan grinned at her before taking a swig of his beer.

“Good point.”

Ayla had to force herself to eat. She wanted him. No other man had made her so hot so easily, and he didn’t even know it. Ayla had fully intended to seduce him last night before things went wrong. Of course, she had been wanting to seduce him from that first day. Those freckled hands of his were big and strong, and she wanted to feel them against her skin. Ayla wanted to just pin him to the bed and ride him.

Regan set his plate down. “All right, now you look funny. What’s going on in that pretty head of yours?”

Ayla set her beer and plate on the coffee table, and suddenly crawled toward him, straddling him as she pressed her lips against his. Regan kissed her back, pulling her up against him. Her slender hands began to unbutton his shirt and slid over his bare chest. She shivered as his rough hands moved over her back.

Regan marveled at her soft skin. Their make out sessions had never gone too far. He always lost his nerve and pulled away, but tonight, it was obvious she wasn’t going to take no for an answer.

Her lips moved to his jawbone, and then down his neck. Shifting from his seated position, he lowered her under his large frame on the couch.

“Regan,” she whispered.

“Yes, Cupcake,” he murmured, kissing her throat.

“Do you have any idea how much I want you?” she laughed.

He grinned.

“I think so.”

“C’mon.” She pushed him back and stood, pulling him to his feet and almost losing her balance. He caught her before they both toppled over, kissing her gently. Taking his hands, and with a wicked smile, she led him to the bedroom, and her bed.

She slipped her hands around his neck, lowering his head for a long kiss as his hands skims his hands down the side of her neck, trailing his fingers gently over her collar bone, past her shoulder, and down her arm. Regan entwined their fingers together for a moment and slowly pulled her hand to his lips, lightly kissing her hand. Stunned and turned on, her blue eyes just stared at him as he released her hands, sliding his under her low cut tank top. She shivered pleasurably as his calloused hands moved over her back and up, pulling her shirt off. He hesitated when she shivered.

“I don’t want to hurt you. I know my hands aren’t exactly soft,” he murmured.

She giggled.

“Are you kidding. I love that they’re rough. Real man’s hands,” she pulled his face to hers for a kiss as he undid her jeans pushed them down, and she shimmied out of them. “No wonder you’re so strong,” she murmured, making him chuckle.

“Some of those horses are pretty wild,” he closed his eyes blissfully as her lips found his neck and her hands began to touch his chest. “Have to be strong to tame them.” He groaned as her lips made their way to his ear.

“The only thing you better be thinking about taming right now is me,” she whispered in his ear, nibbling on his earlobe gently.

“Oh I am,” he groaned, his hands caressing her back. “Woman, you’re killing me.”

“Can’t have that now, can we?” she purred.

“Damn, I left the condoms in the other room,” he started to move but she stopped him, admiring his broad shoulders as she ran her hands over them.

“Don’t need them,” she gave him a sexy smile as her hands ran down his torso, dragging her nails lightly and making him twitch. “I’ve been on the Pill for years and get tested regularly because I donate blood.”

“You’re sure?” he asked, his lips grazing her neck. He wanted her so badly it was almost painful and it was taking every restraint he had to not ravish her. She was setting the pace, slow, leisurely, teasing, and he let her, enjoying the torment.

“Yes. You?”

“I’m clean,” he answered. “I get tested twice a year because I work with animals.”

Moments later, the weight of his body fell on hers.

“Damn, too quick,” he apologized, raising his head to look at her.

She shook her head.

“Don’t be. It’s been a long time for both of us, so I wanted that first one over with. Second time,” she grinned seductively at him, “second time, we’ll take it slow.”

Regan smiled at her and kissed her gently. “I don’t ever want to disappoint you.”

“You didn’t and won’t,” she laced her fingers around the back of his neck. “Not my Regan.”

Regan liked that. My Regan.

***

Regan stirred at six am, like he always did. The soft bed made him panic for a just a second, then he remembered where he was. Propping himself up on his elbow, he looked at the beautiful naked woman next to him. She was sprawled out on her stomach, her long hair everywhere. They had made love until the wee hours of the morning, finally falling asleep, and Regan was startled to find himself already aroused and ready for her again.

Calming his body down, he slipped out of bed and found his boxers. Wandering out to the living room, he wondered if he should bother with the horses. He didn’t want to leave yet, and Dan had said he’d take care of them.

Returning to her room, he looked down at her. She had moved onto her back, arm flung out. As they had drifted off to sleep, she had warned him that she was a space hog, but he didn’t mind, especially if it meant she wrapped her soft body around him.

Relieving his bladder, he washed his hands and crawled back into bed. Moving her arm so he could lay down, he smiled as she stretched, giving him ample opportunity to study her curvaceous form. She then snuggled up against him and wrapped her long leg over his, laying her face against his broad chest.

Smiling, Regan drifted back to sleep.

***

He was woken a while later when she began to kiss his chest. A light sleeper, it took only a couple times before he realized what it was. Smiling, he opened his dark green eyes to her blonde head moving over his chest as she kissed him, her fingers trailing over the light smattering of red hair.

“That’s a nice way to wake up,” he said mildly.

Raising her head, the golden hair fell over her shoulder as she grinned wickedly.

“I can think of several ways to wake you that you’d enjoy.” Her ocean eyes sparkled at him. Regan pulled her up to him to crush her mouth against his, rolling her onto her back as he touched her.

“Let’s explore those why don’t we,” he murmured.

***

Regan was just drifting back into sleep when her phone rang shrilly. Cursing, Ayla reached him over him and grabbed the receiver.

“What?” she snapped.

“Ayla Elizabeth Martin, I want some answers!” a shrill female voice came through. Ayla rolled her eyes as Regan winced at the pitch of the voice.

“Mother, it’s nine am on Sunday. Why are you calling me?”

“What’s this nonsense I hear about you bringing some horse rider to the Astin’s party the other night? I was told-”

Ayla slammed the phone, then turned the ringer off. Flopping back on her pillow she shook her head.

“The woman drives me nuts!” Ayla turned to curl up against him, but he had sat up, looking disturbed. “Regan?”

Regan ran his hand through his hair. “Your mother doesn’t know about me.”

“I don’t enlighten my mother into my personal life.” She sat up as well, kissing his freckled shoulder, but he moved his shoulder away.

“Does she even know you’re dating someone?”

“No,” Ayla said quietly.

Regan turned to look at her, eyes dark with anger. “Were you planning to tell her at all?”

Ayla just stared at him, incredulous. “Regan, my mother is a Class A bitch. She fits in with the whole high society crowd and all she cares about are appearances. I don’t tell her jack about my life and at my age, I don’t need to!”

“We’ve been dating what-a month now? A little over? We spent the whole night together and she has no clue you’re seeing anyone? And she thinks you brought a horse rider to the party?” His temper rose with each statement.

“There’s no telling who she talked to.” Ayla could feel her temper brewing. “Probably someone who’s mad I brought you. But I don’t care, and I don’t care what my mother thinks either!”

“Apparently you do!” He snapped. “Unless you’re just too ashamed of me to tell her!”

“Regan!” Her eyes turned stormy as he threw the covers back and got out of bed, stalking into the bathroom and almost slamming the door.

Palms on the sink, Regan tried to calm himself, count down, when what he really wanted to do was punch a wall. It hadn’t occurred to him to meet her parents, or even broach the subject. But the fact that her mother didn’t even know about him, that hurt. Right to the core. Dan had joined them more than a couple of times for dinner, had hung out with them, yet her family didn’t know a thing about them.

Exhaling, Regan tried to think of why she would keep a secret. If she wasn’t ashamed of him, why not tell her family that she had met someone? Because she wasn’t serious, he realized. Despite the professions of caring for him, she wasn’t serious about him. Yet she had taken him to that stupid party where he had met the people she seemed to move in circles with. They had shared their pasts, food, and last night, their bodies. Yet she hadn’t told her mother.

You’re not being fair, a small voice in his head said. Ayla had called the woman a bitch. That social status was important to her. Her mother had called him a ‘horse rider’. Ayla rarely spoke of her mother, and when she did, it wasn’t complimentary.

“You didn’t give her chance, Regan,” he muttered. “Just like the other night. You just got mad and took off.”

Splashing cold water on his face, Regan opened the door to find the bed empty. Locating his boxers again, he walked out to the kitchen, where he could smell coffee brewing.

She was standing with her back to him, in her pale blue satin robe, long hair messy and down. Her hand movement toward her face let him know she was crying. He came up behind her, wrapping his arms around her and pulled her into his chest.

“I’m sorry,” he murmured in her ear. “I did it again. I acted without waiting for you to tell me what happened. I do it a lot, and I’m sorry. I’m sorry for hurting you, and upsetting you and being a pigheaded male.”

Ayla turned to him, wiping a tear from her eye. Regan’s thumb brushed the other away.

“I don’t like my mother,” she said unhappily. “And you wouldn’t either. She’d be catty and mean and try to make you feel worthless. I’m not ashamed of you Regan, I’m ashamed of her.” Her sad eyes sought his.

Regan kissed her gently. “I finally figured that out. And I’m sorry. Again.”

Ayla pressed up against him, hugging him tightly and he returned the embrace.

“It’s ok,” she mumbled.

“No, it isn’t,” he sighed. “I had no right to snarl at you like that. You’re not like anyone I’ve ever met,” he said quietly, tilting her head up to him, “And it’s one of the many things I love about you.”

Eyes watery, she smiled up at him. “I kinda like your temper.”

“What?” he asked.

“If last night was an indicator, make up sex with you is great,” she giggled.

Regan laughed as he pulled her into another kiss.

***

Dan was brushing Pluto down after his ride when he heard his uncle’s pickup pull in. Dan grinned when his uncle strolled in.

“Good morning sunshine,” Dan looked at his uncle, who reddened slightly.

“Yeah, uh, good morning,” Regan muttered, turning redder. It was almost four in the afternoon.

Dan laughed and slapped his uncle on the shoulder. “I gotta admit Uncle Bill, I’d thought you’d chicken out.”

Regan just scratched his head. He wasn’t used to having something of such a personal nature to discuss with his nephew.

“Don’t worry, I don’t want details.” Then Dan grinned mischievously, “Your face says it all!”

Regan wondered if his face matched his hair yet as Dan laughed some more.

***

The following weekend, with the sun shining in the cool morning, Regan saddled an antsy Pluto. The big horse had been moody lately and Regan needed to exercise him. He was related to Jupiter, and feistier than Jupiter had ever been.

“Sorry I’m late,” Ayla breezed in.

With a smile, he turned and she lovingly laid a kiss on him that made him rethink their morning ride. His office door had a lock on it, he reminded himself.

“No problem,” he murmured, watching her round backside as she went to bring Ivory out. Ivory was the only horse she was comfortable on.

Pluto nudged his ear, reminding Regan he needed to bridled.

A few moments later, they were headed into the preserve, with the sun shining and Regan’s eyes on Ayla.

“Hold those reins a bit tighter, Cupcake,” he said, eyeing her hold. “And keep your heels down.”

“I’m working on it,” she said mildly.

“Don’t be so tense-”

Regan was cut off as Pluto suddenly reared up, whinnying loudly. Distracted by Ayla, Regan himself wasn’t holding the reins as tightly as he should have.

“Pluto, no!” he shouted.

“Bill!” Ayla screamed as Regan was hurled through the air. Horrified, she watched his body slam into the ground and lay still.

Author’s Notes
- thanks to Kate and Robin for editing! I don't always listen so any mistakes are mine!
- word count- 2,668

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