Our Kind of Love Read online

  My naughty thoughts take over and everything and everyone disappears. All that’s left is me and Micah.

  Claudia elbows me and I snap out of the spell to say hello to Mr. and Mrs. Richards, who are smiling oddly at me. I laugh like an idiot when I shake their hands.

  Before I can utter a word to Micah, Mom leads everyone through the kitchen and out on the deck where Dad has hotdogs and burgers cooking on the grill.

  I feel as if I’m being grilled as well. Heat’s rushing all over me. Damn, this guy has invoked something intense and untamable within me. I have no idea how I’m going to make it through this day without running my hands all over his body.

  This is surely going to be one long scorching day.

  Twenty-Seven

  Micah

  I FIND IT interesting how I manage to make Reign get so rattled up from only staring at her. By the glimmer in those sensational eyes, she’s remembering last night as much as I am. Hopefully we’ll find a way to at least brush lips before the day ends.

  John’s talking to Claudia, Aislin, and me about something. I can’t hear a word; my attention is fixed on Reign. She’s standing across from me. Her mom’s friends are questioning her about college and her business major. She keeps her gaze steady on me as she speaks. I can’t help but glide my eyes to her soft lips, wanting to taste them again.

  “Excuse me, Micah,” Mrs. Aldridge’s voice draws me away from Reign. I wonder if she noticed me gawking at her daughter with a dirty smirk on my face.

  When I turn around, she’s towing her husband over to me. I see where Reign inherited her cinnamon-brown hair and hazel eyes.

  John, Claudia, and Aislin resume their conversation as I break away from them. Then my stomach clenches because, holy shit, I’m meeting Reign’s father.

  “Micah, this is Ben, my husband. Ben, this is Micah, the new employee I was telling you about.”

  Oh wow, she told him about me? Should I be worried?

  I straighten and reach for his hand; Mr. Aldridge grips mine firmly as he regards me in the same intense way Reign likes to read people.

  “Pleasure to meet you, sir,” I say politely.

  He nods. “Likewise. Sophia says you’re a great worker.”

  I can’t help my modest grin as I glance over at her. “Thank you, Mrs. Aldridge. I do my best.”

  The doorbell rings and she slips away from us, hastening her steps to the kitchen to go answer the door. I hope I’m not starting to break out in sweat from the way Mr. Aldridge is staring at me. Because it’s as if he knows something that I wouldn’t want him to know.

  Please God, please don’t let him know about juvie.

  He nudges over my shoulder and says, “You and Reign must have gotten close. She was asking if we invited you.”

  Ahh! So that’s what this is about. He suspects us. “Well, we’ve become good friends,” I say. I’m not sure how he’d feel if he knew just how close. “You have a really nice daughter. She has a great heart.”

  Mr. Aldridge bobs his head and drinks some of his cocktail, peering over the glass at me. He shakes it around then mutters, “Humph, I don’t think I mixed this right. I’m gonna make another, would you like one, son?” Him calling me son throws me a bit and I actually think of my own father.

  “Micah?”

  “Hmm…oh,” I quickly straighten and answer, “Yes, sir. Thank you.”

  I stand in place and catch my breath as Mr. Aldridge wanders over to his tiki bar, making us two glasses. I nearly jump out of my skin when Reign comes up to me and whispers fast, “Wait two minutes after I go inside then come upstairs.”

  She struts off as Mr. Aldridge turns and starts back my way. He didn’t see her talking to me. Thank God.

  He hands me a glass as he reaches me.

  “Thank you,” I say.

  “It’s a hurricane, but I didn’t make it too strong.”

  We drink at the same time.

  “So, uh, you’re nineteen, Sophia says…” he waits for me to confirm.

  “Yes, sir,” I reply, the palm of my hand feels sweaty around the glass.

  “Call me Ben. Any plans for college?”

  I calm my nerves to answer, “Not yet, sir, still looking at my options.”

  “Humph…”

  Maybe I should have lied, because he appears to be disappointed by my answer. I didn’t know I’d be drilled today. My impression prior to being invited by her Mom was that Reign hasn’t said anything to her parents as yet.

  Mr. Aldridge flashes a half-smile before slanting to move away. “Well, enjoy yourself, Micah. I’m gonna go relieve Paul at the grill.”

  “Thank you, sir.”

  Thank the heavens.

  I watch him walk over to the grill, and then I turn my eyes towards the kitchen door. I want to go inside and meet Reign upstairs, but I’m scared that Mr. Aldridge or even Mrs. Aldridge will see me.

  I look around the deck for my boss; she’s busy entertaining her friends. Mr. Aldridge is caught up in a conversation about the Red Sox with Mr. Richards. Claudia’s dancing with John to a Bob Marley song blasting from the stereo. Aislin is glaring at them a few feet away.

  Everyone seems preoccupied.

  This is my chance.

  Taking a deep breath, I discreetly make my way from the deck and inside the kitchen, placing my drink on top of the island as I hurry around the corner and sneak upstairs. I have no idea which room belongs to Reign.

  As I’m about to whisper her name, a door on the right cracks open, and she sticks her head out. Teasingly, she points her index and calls me over.

  I grin broadly and bustle up to the door, slipping inside. The moment she closes it, my lips find hers. I draw her into my arms and run my hands all over her body.

  Reign moans, runs her tongue against my bottom lip, and then starts to kiss on my neck. She lifts up my shirt and touches my stomach, making her way up to my chest.

  In a whisper she asks, “You think we can?”

  I pull away to really look at her. “Think we can what?”

  She smiles, kisses me lightly on the lips again then places her back against the door. She lifts her dress and pulls down her black panty, tossing it at me.

  Breathing heavy, she trails her eyes all over me—hungry and waiting for me to take her now.

  I glance behind at the window. It’s open and I can hear laugher coming from outside. In any moment, someone will notice that we’re both missing. Hopefully, it won’t be her parents.

  Looking back at Reign, I say, “Maybe we shouldn’t. It’s risky, and I don’t want to be killed. By the way, I think your dad suspects there’s something between us.”

  Easing off the door, she inches close and pulls me back with her, ignoring my warning. “We’ll be quick,” she whispers, then presses her mouth hard on mine. “Please, Micah. I’ve wanted you the moment you stepped through my front door.”

  She plants kisses all over my face and neck, then traces her fingers down below my waist, caressing my abs.

  “Shit! You’re making me so hard right now.”

  Reign wraps her arms around me, hauling me in further against her body. That’s all it takes for me to forget about being caught.

  I pull down the zipper, unbutton my jeans, and drop it to my ankles. She tugs at the waist of my briefs then yanks it down, revealing my hardness. I pick up her left leg, move her dress out of the way, and ease up into her.

  She gasps and tightens her hold on me, squeezing into my upper back. As I lift up her other leg, Reign coils them firmly around me. Her heart accelerates. Air gushes from her as I drive up and down, making her squirm and cling to me even more.

  Her body shivers. Nails dig into my shoulders. She purrs and rolls her eyes back in her head. I almost relieve myself inside of her then, but think better of it. As much as I don’t want to, I ease out of her and back away. Pulling up my jeans, I get myself together and take a moment to cool down.

  “You’re trouble,” I tell her.

 
She laughs and winks at me. “It’s your fault. You’ve corrupted me.”

  Reign stabilizes her breathing, fixes her dress, and hurries into the bathroom. She comes back shortly and puts on her panty, smiling brazenly at me.

  “You know we could get caught, right?” I remark, keeping an eye out the window.

  “I’m sorry,” she giggles. “I just wanted to be with you so bad, Micah. I don’t know what it is, you make me feel…”

  I flick back to her. She’s staring at me speechless. Her eyes are like a whole different world, inviting me in. I fill the distance and cup her face in my hands, kissing her softly.

  When I manage to wrench myself away, I tell her, “You make me feel like that too. Gosh, you’re so beautiful.”

  She reels her eyes and laughs short. “You’re not so bad looking yourself.”

  “I know, I’m superhot and you can’t get enough of me.”

  “Uh,” she laughs and pushes me back playfully. “How presumptuous.”

  I run a hand through my hair and pose like a model for her. “I’m only stating the obvious.”

  Nudging over her shoulder, she contains her laugh and says, “Okay, Mr. Superhot, let’s go back downstairs before they notice we’re missing.”

  Reign heads out first, with me following slowly behind. When she reaches downstairs and walks into the kitchen, I hear her mom before I turn the corner. I stay back on the stairs so she doesn’t see me.

  “There you are. Nate’s here with his parents.”

  My chest tightens.

  “Why are they here?” Reign asks. “Did you invite them?”

  “I did,” Mrs. Aldridge answers, sounding surprised. “Why do you look so upset? Did you two have a fight? I thought that’s who you were with last—”

  “I wasn’t with Nate last night,” Reign says in an innocent tone. “Look, Mom, there’s something I have to tell you.”

  Silence engulfs the room until a familiar voice breaks in. It turns my stomach. I clench my fist and try to fight back my anger.

  “Hey, babe, my parents have an early birthday gift for you, since they won’t be here to help you celebrate.”

  Babe? An early birthday gift? When is Reign’s birthday? I feel horrible that I still don’t know those little things about her. Then again, I haven’t been completely honest either.

  “Nate, you—” she starts to say something but gets cut off.

  “Come say hi, they miss you.”

  I’m waiting for Reign to tell him to leave, clue in her mom about their breakup and that this guy is clearly a lunatic. But it doesn’t happen. She’s not saying anything, she doesn’t even mention me.

  I hear footsteps leading out of the kitchen. As I peer around the doorway, I see them out on the deck. There’s a couple gushing over Reign, giving her a large gift. I can’t believe the fake smile on her face as she accepts it, hugs them back, and pretends like we didn’t just have sex in her bedroom minutes ago. To make it worse, that moron places his arm over her shoulder like they’re still together. Are they? Did she lie to me?

  Pacing over to the island, I pick up my drink and chug down the rest of it. I’m boiling over with anger and should probably get the hell out of here. But I can’t. I like her, a lot. And I’m not losing another person I care about.

  I walk out to the deck. Reign glances at me, seeming remorseful. The smirk on Nate’s face crumbles when he sees me. He looks at Reign, then back at me. Yeah, that’s right. I stole your girl.

  Stepping away from his parents, he ambles up to me, asking sharply, “What are you doing here?”

  I laugh short and straighten in his face. “Her mom invited me, prick.” I fight the urge to sock him, walking around him over to the tiki bar to pour myself some punch.

  Aislin saunters up to me. She keeps her voice low as she advises, “Dude, I wouldn’t get liquored up if I were you. That definitely won’t look good to the company we’re in.”

  “I’m not having alcohol,” I retort, waving my punch in her face.

  She blows out an air of relief. “Cool. I just thought that idiot had gotten under your skin.”

  Pulling out a chair, she sits down and pats the stool next to her. I sit with my back turned to the bar, watching Reign with Nate’s parents.

  I’m waiting for the ball to drop, for her to tell them and everyone else here the truth. That it’s me she’s with now. Why won’t she do it already so it’ll be my hands around her waist, laughing with her parents?

  “I’m not good enough for her,” I hear myself say.

  “What?” Aislin remarks, touching my shoulder. “What do you mean?”

  I glance over at her and confess, “Reign broke up with Nate to be with me.”

  Her face brightens. She nods in her understanding of what I’m going through now.

  “She probably doesn’t want to ruin the day for her parents. Look how happy they are.”

  I peer over at them as Aislin adds, “I don’t think Mrs. Aldridge has smiled this much in weeks. I think this is her last summer as the owner of Captain’s Choice. Something’s up, and she’s probably waiting for the right time to tell us at the restaurant.”

  Turning back to her, I’m amazed by the sadness that masks her face. It’s the first time I’ve seen Aislin wear her emotions so visibly.

  I follow her gaze and notice she’s watching John. He’s having an entertaining conversation with Claudia it seems, because they can’t stop making each other laugh.

  “You should tell him,” I say to her.

  Aislin scoffs and drinks her hurricane. “What are you on about?”

  “John. It’s obvious.”

  She glances across the deck at him, frowns, then turns her gaze back to her drink.

  I look at Reign, happy that at least now she’s keeping her distance from Nate and avoiding his parents too, chatting with Mrs. Richards instead.

  As the day progresses, Nate’s parents finally leave, and others start to head out as well. When there’s none of her parents’ friends left seeking her attention, Reign looks over at me.

  I want to be mad at her but I can’t. Aislin’s words repeat in my head, and I feel as if I have to let Reign handle this her way, no matter how badly I want to shout to the world that she’s mine. That in spite of what I’ve done in the past, I have something this great in my life now.

  Twenty-Eight

  Reign

  MAYBE I AM a bad girl. I had sex with Micah in my room and shortly after, I pretend to still be dating Nate so I don’t make Mom and Dad feel embarrassed for inviting him and his parents to their barbecue.

  But what about Micah? I must have hurt him.

  I’ve discreetly watched him for the past few hours, sitting with Aislin at Dad’s tiki bar. Jealousy pricks at my heart as I wonder what they’re talking about.

  She managed to make him laugh earlier. No matter how short and halfhearted it was, it still bothered me. I don’t want him talking to other girls, not even my friends. Then again, he probably hates me now for not telling everyone about us.

  Claudia throws her arms around my shoulder and jerks me lightly. “Whatcha thinking about, girlie?”

  I feign a smile as I answer, “Nothing.”

  “Anyway, my dad and stepmonster will be back from their vacation tomorrow. Think your mom will let me hang out at the restaurant, since it’s Sunday?”

  “I guess.”

  “Well,” She untangles her arms. “I’m gonna meet someone real quick and be back here in time for your dad’s fireworks. Everyone knows he puts on the best shows around here.”

  “Okay.” I nod and watch as she ambles off. I don’t ask who she’s meeting, because it really doesn’t matter to me now. I’m only interested in making sure Micah isn’t mad at me.

  Dad’s wiping down the grill, and Mrs. Nunez and John are helping Mom bring stuff inside. I catch my breath and walk over to Micah and Aislin at the bar, they’re wrapped up in a conversation that they don’t notice me until I say “Hey.”
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  When he turns and looks up at me, my legs feel weak and my heart thumps.

  “Look who finally remembered me,” Micah says. He doesn’t sound like his usual playful self. “What’s up?”

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t get a chance to tell them earlier and they’d already invited Nate and his parents.”

  He doesn’t say anything, only stares at me. Aislin slides off the stool and takes up her drink. “I’ll go help your mom clean up before fireworks.”

  When she walks away, I ask him, “What were you two talking about?”

  Micah raises a brow and stands up. “Why? Are you jealous?”

  A part of me wonders if he was deliberately giving Aislin his full attention to bug me.

  “No,” I lie. “Just that, you two seemed to have exchanged a lot more words than you usually do at the restaurant.”

  He releases a sarcastic laugh before saying, “At least she acknowledged me.”

  That only makes me feel guiltier. I lower my eyes to the concrete away from his piercing gaze.

  “Enjoy the fireworks,” he says under his breath. “I’m heading out.”

  When I look at him again, Micah picks up his cup and brushes my arm lightly as he steps past me. I watch as he makes his way inside the kitchen.

  No. I don’t want him to leave, not like this.

  I suck in a deep breath then hurry over to the kitchen. I see him heading for the front door.

  “Micah,” I call out. His hand freezes on the door handle and he looks over at me. So does everyone else, including my confused parents.

  “Um…” I chip at my nails as I build up the courage to tell them, “Micah and I are dating now.”

  John laughs because someone like him probably thinks my announcement is a bit dramatic. Aislin slaps him on the arm to be quiet. Mrs. Nunez smiles warmly at me. Dad’s face is unreadable, and Mom just looks worried.

  “Well, can’t say I didn’t notice,” Dad remarks. He glances behind at Micah, still standing at the door.