Love and Pancakes, page 21
“Then it’s a plan. I’ll finish the wiring in the bathroom in room three, and then run out and grab some food and drinks. We can have a cleaning party when I return,” he says, taking a step toward the door, which just so happens to be toward me as well.
“See you soon,” he says, kissing my forehead before he steps away and exits the room, nodding to Jensen as he goes.
“What was that?” my brother asks, his tone a little annoyed.
“What?” I ask innocently, knowing exactly what he’s referring to. I just don’t know that I want to talk about it with my brother. Harper, sure. She’s a girl. Hell, she’s the one that told me I could handle this no-strings sex thing, but Jensen? I really don’t want to have this conversation with him.
“You. Him. That,” he says, motioning his hands between me and the empty doorway.
“It’s nothing,” I mumble, grabbing my discarded sponge and heading back to the wall.
“A kiss on the forehead is not nothing. Plus, it felt like I was interrupting something when I walked in.”
“You weren’t,” I assure him, lying out my butt, of course, and scrubbing hard on the light green wall.
“Marissa.”
“Jensen,” I mock, dropping my sponge and turning his way. I cross my arms, mirroring his stance. “We’re friends, okay? We’ve been hanging out.”
“Friends? He kissed you.”
“On the forehead.”
“And that’s all that’s happened?” he asks in total big-brother mode. When I stumble for words, he adds, “That’s what I thought.”
“Don’t patronize me. I’m a big girl. I know what I’m doing,” I say, turning back to the wall and scrubbing.
“What are you doing?”
“We’re having sex, okay? Is that what you wanted to hear?” I practically holler, knowing he can probably hear me in the room he’s working in.
“Eww,” Jensen grumbles, looking down.
“You’re the one who has been pushing it, so now you know. That’s all it is, that’s all it can be. I’m tired of defending myself and my choices to you people,” I mutter.
He approaches slowly and takes the sponge from my hand. “You people are your family, and we care about you. We just don’t want to see you hurt.”
“Well, you won’t. I knew what this was when I entered into the agreement. He’s here for a short period of time and then will move on. I know that.”
He reaches over and sets his hand on my shoulder. “Okay, I’m not trying to upset you. I just wanted to make sure you were both on the same page, Riss. I don’t want to see you hurt.”
I want to reply that I won’t be, but I’m pretty sure that’ll be a lie. Watching Rhenn walk away is going to hurt, no matter how much I plan and prepare for it, because at the end of the day, I care about him. I’ve come to appreciate the friendship he offers. I enjoy talking with him, and he makes me laugh. A lot. Not to mention the things he makes my body feel. “I appreciate it,” I end up saying instead.
Jensen pulls me into a quick hug. “Give me an hour to mow and trim the back, and then I can help you clean.”
“Thank you.”
He nods as he walks out the door. I can hear him talking in the hallway, and when Rhenn’s voice speaks up, my ears strain to overhear their conversation. With the construction commotion downstairs, it’s too hard to hear their words, but just as the saw stops running, I catch a statement. My heart hammers in my chest as I think about what Rhenn said to my brother.
I don’t want to hurt her. I’ve come to care for Marissa.
And that’s when I feel myself start to fall.
Only I know that when I reach the bottom, it’s going to hurt like a bitch.
Chapter Twenty
Rhenn
Listening to Marissa and Jensen carry on over the last three hours has a permanent smile on my face. They’ve been recounting numerous stories of growing up in this house, sharing details of their life together with two other siblings, and giving me a peek into their past. With three of us helping, we knocked out the fourth bedroom upstairs, and I’m not sure why they haven’t all gathered together sooner to take care of it. Other than Marissa being a bit of a control freak when it comes to the bed and breakfast, and wanting to do it herself. Harper even showed up as soon as we sat down to enjoy pizza and a few cold beers on the back patio to celebrate the completion of our task.
“On your way home?” Marissa asks her sister between bites.
“Yeah, it was a busy day. I don’t know why women always feel the need to touch every piece of lingerie in the place,” Harper says, grabbing a beer from the cooler and taking a big pull. “I bet I’ve refolded some of those pairs of thongs five dozen times.”
I glance back and forth between Marissa and Harper as they carry on about women’s fucking panties (yeah, it’s as sexy as you’d think), while Jensen just shakes his head. “You okay?” I ask their brother.
“I don’t know why they feel the need to discuss fucking thongs in front of us all the time.”
“Panties are part of life, killjoy. Everyone wears them,” Harper defends.
“Not everyone,” I reply casually, thinking about the moment I ripped Marissa’s fancy panties off her body and devoured her sweet pussy. She went without them for the rest of the night, not that she needed to wear them.
“Really?” Harper asks, her facing lighting up as she glances to her younger sister. Marissa blushes a thousand shades of red.
“Knock it off before my brain hemorrhages,” Jensen mumbles, taking another drink.
“Seriously, maybe you need to get laid. You and Ashley have been split for two years now. Please tell me it hasn’t been that long since you dipped the pen in the ink,” Harper says, making us all burst into laughter.
“Where did you hear that?” Marissa asks.
Harper shrugs. “I overheard Aunt Emma chastising AJ about making sure she was servicing her husband’s…pen.”
Marissa snorts. “She’s definitely…unusual.”
“That she is,” Jensen interjects. “I thought Samuel was gonna pop a blood vessel when she started offering blowjob advice.”
That makes us all laugh. “You should have heard the time she threw a divorce celebration for her granddaughter Lexi, and her now husband Linkin ended up as the stripper.” I spend the next ten minutes recounting a tale I’ve heard several times over.
We sit there in silence for a few minutes finishing up the beer we each have in our hand. “One more room upstairs?” Jensen asks, tossing his second empty in the trashcan.
“Yep, one more bed and bath, then on to the downstairs. The living room is definitely bad, but the kitchen and dining room are horrible,” Marissa confirms, curling up on her side in the lounge chair. My dick starts to harden as I picture taking her from behind right there. (Preferably without her family around us…)
“I’ll have Max, but if Mom will help watch him for a bit, I can help for a while Saturday. We can work on the furniture in the shed. I bet Samuel can lend a few more hours too,” Jensen offers, standing up and stretching. Just as he puts his arms down, his cell phone rings. I watch his face as he glances at the name on the screen, his features tightening in irritation. “Hello?”
We all try not to listen, but it’s hard, considering he’s standing in the middle of the three of us.
He’s quiet for a few minutes, his jaw tensing. “So sit with him for a bit,” he says, not even bothering to mask the bite in his voice. “Ashley, I don’t understand why there’s always an issue at bedtime. Max has no problems falling asleep when he’s at my place.” Again, he listens, and so do we. “Fine. I’ll stop by on my way home.” Quiet. “Yeah, see you in a few.” Jensen pushes on his screen with a bit too much force and jams the device into his pocket.
“Let me guess, Max won’t fall asleep for her?” Harper asks, her own disdain evident in her words.
“Again. You forgot to say…again,” Jensen replies, exhaling deeply. “I’ll talk to you guys soon. I’ll text Samuel and see if he can help Saturday.”
“I can help after the shop closes,” Harper adds.
“Thank you, guys,” Marissa says, yawning from her chair. I feel a little guilty for keeping her up so late last night (and early this morning), but then I recall exactly why she’s a bit tired today. My cock is already primed for another go.
Harper leaves just a few minutes later, and after making sure the house is secure, Marissa and I head to her little cottage. My bed in the boat is a bit bigger, but frankly, sometimes the smaller bed is the way to go. Now she won’t be able to get too far away from me when we’re naked and lying together beneath the sheet.
* * *
We continue to work on the remodel and renovation of Grayson Bed and Breakfast, sometimes side by side. Marissa puts everything she has into cleaning, redecorating, and getting each room ready to be occupied. It’s been pretty fucking cool watching the process throughout the week.
Speaking of occupied, since the weekend, we’ve occupied either her bed or my own. We’ve enjoyed dinners on her porch and a few on my boat, and even went sailing on Wednesday night during sunset. I’m still choosing to ignore the way my heart sped up with her in my arms and the way the moonlight illuminated her blonde hair, making it somehow shine even brighter than the stars in the sky. I’ll ignore it because, at the end of the day (or specifically, the end of this job), it won’t matter that I really just like spending all of my free time with her.
It’s Friday night and we’re heading to one of her favorite places in Rockland Falls. We both cut out of work just a little early, but with all the extra time we’ve been putting in throughout the week, we’re still ahead of schedule.
Let’s not talk about that fact right now either…
Marissa climbs up in my truck, her legs in a pair of jean shorts and a purple and gray flowy tank top showing just a smidge of stomach when she lifts her arms. Compared to some of my previous dates, she’s modestly dressed in a comfortable and casual way. But do you know what? It’s sexy as fuck.
Even her Nike tennis shoes are hot.
“Where are we going?” I ask when I hop in the driver’s seat and pull down their lane.
“It’s a surprise,” she says happily, her smile easy and infectious.
“Well, you will tell me how to get there, right?” I reach for her hand and set it between us, our fingers linked. That’s another thing I chose to ignore, mostly because her hand feels like it was made to fit within mine.
“Of course, silly. Head left on the highway and drive through town. When you get to the McDonald’s, turn left.”
“I can handle that. Why don’t you find some music?”
It only takes her a few stations to find the one she’s looking for, and I have to admit, I’m a little shocked. Blaring through my speakers is Godsmack. Glancing over, I find Marissa bobbing her head in beat to the heavy music, her lips moving ever so slightly with the words. She looks my way, seemingly feeling the weight of my stare, and says, “What?”
“Godsmack?”
“Yeah. You don’t like them?” she asks, getting ready to change the station.
“Like them? I love them. You just don’t seem like a Godsmack kinda girl,” I answer honestly.
Marissa shrugs her shoulders and gives me a shy smile. “I guess I’m full of surprises.”
“I guess you are,” I say, keeping my eyes on the road and enjoying the music. It only takes us a few minutes and I’m turning left at the McDonald’s, as instructed.
“When you get to the next stop sign, make another left. You’re going to follow that road around the river for a few miles,” she instructs, jumping right into the Breaking Benjamin song now playing. It still shocks me. I wasn’t necessarily expecting classical or jazz music, but I definitely wasn’t envisioning this. Maybe country or pop. Not rock.
The road we’re on starts to wind around the river as we drive farther from the ocean. Trees are in full bloom, bright green and full, and the sun still sits high in the sky. It’s the first of June and already indicating that the summer months will be warm ones. We pass a few houses, but there’s plenty of distance between them, nothing that would constitute neighbors.
As we approach a heavily wooded area, Marissa sits up and watches. “Slow down. You’re making a right up here. It’s almost hidden, so be ready to turn.”
She’s not kidding. I almost miss the turn, but as soon as I do, I’m completely stunned by what’s in front of me. The road is dirt, well worn, and completely tree lined. There’s plenty of room for two vehicles to pass, but appears to be somewhat deserted. I don’t say a word, just drive slowly down the road, ready to make my next move.
“Up here on the left will be a parking area,” she says, pointing to the clearing in the trees. It’s a gravel lot with one other car parked there. I steer my truck to a spot in the corner and turn off the ignition. “Ready?” she asks, tossing off her seat belt and sitting up high in the seat.
“I’m not sure what I’m ready for, but you seem super excited, so let’s get to it.” I jump out of my truck and head to the passenger side, helping Marissa down. I go ahead and take the opportunity to steal a kiss while I’m there, making sure to leave her completely breathless. “That should tide me over for a few minutes.”
She doesn’t respond, but I’ve noticed she doesn’t do that often when she’s flustered, and my kisses definitely get her all worked up. Much like me. Right now, I’m definitely up.
“Come on, pokey.” Marissa takes off at a fast pace, heading toward a walking trail. It doesn’t take me long to catch up with her, considering my legs are much longer than hers, and when I do, I go ahead and take her hand in mine once more.
The farther we head up the trail, the more serene our surroundings. There are a few critters running around and a bunch of sticks and branches. Off in the distance, I hear what sounds like water running, and I can’t help but notice that her pace picks up just a bit. When we meet the occupants of the other vehicle on the trail, we all offer a quick greeting, but continue on our way. “That was the mayor’s son and his wife. She just had a baby a few weeks ago.” I nod in acknowledgment, but keep my mouth shut and my legs moving. “Almost there.” She’s practically bouncing in her tennis shoes.
After a few minutes, we reach a clearing. I have a pretty good idea where we’re going, considering how noisy it is now, but what I wasn’t expecting was for it to be as beautiful as it is. Marissa stops in her tracks, me right beside her, and together, we gaze up at the most beautiful little waterfall I’ve ever seen.
“Rockland Falls,” she whispers, a smile spread across her face.
I tighten my grip on her hand and lead her toward the impressive sight. There are large boulders surrounding the falls, and a large pool of blue-green water at the base. “So I guess this is where your town got its name.”
“The first settlers used to call it Rocky Land because of the large boulders that surrounded the waterway. If you follow it up or downstream, you’ll see those boulders for miles. When Rockland Falls became an actual town, they took that name and shortened it.”
I gaze up at the waterfall, completely in awe. At the top, the waters rage, almost angrily and loud, and at the bottom, it seems almost calm and peaceful. “This place is awesome,” I tell her.
She smiles up at the falls. “It’s probably my second favorite place in town, after the bed and breakfast, of course.”
“Of course.” I pull her to me, lining up her body in front of me. Her back is pressed to my front, and believe it or not, I’m not thinking about all the ways I can make her scream my name. Okay, fine. I’m a dude. I’m still thinking about all the wonderful ways I could make her moan, but I’m mostly thinking about how special it is that she brought me to one of her favorite places.
We stand there, my body supporting the weight of hers, as she leans back against me, both of us gazing at the waterfall. No words are spoken, but they’re not needed. I can see why she loves this place so much. The falling water is almost soothing, and I’m damn lucky to have this opportunity with her.
Something about the ambiance makes you sit back and reflect on your life. Mine may not be exactly what I expected it to be, but I’m not complaining. I have a job I’m damn good at and a karate studio that’s thriving. My friends are loyal and just a call away if I need them, and I’m never lacking for female companionship when I want it.
My chest tightens and so do my hands as I think about the past, present, and future. My past isn’t horrible, but it’s filled with a few bumps in the road. The biggest bump is the reason I don’t do relationships anymore. She fucked me over – and fucked one of my roommates – and pretty much sealed the coffin on the idea of ever having a relationship again.
Until now.
The present.
The woman in my arms who makes me laugh and want to be a better man. Me. The man who has spent the better part of a decade screwing his way through more zip codes than he cares to admit. Light, carefree, and easy. That’s what I’ve always wanted. But here I am, actually considering having something more with Marissa.
Except, I can’t.
I’m leaving in nine days. A week from this Sunday, I’ll be pulling up anchor, never to return to this sleepy little bed and breakfast town. I’ll never again lay eyes on this site, or any of the others I’ve come to enjoy around Rockland Falls. But worse, I’ll never see Marissa again either.
And that thought pains me.
“What do you think?” she asks, glancing over her shoulder, a small smile playing on her lips. Totally kissable lips, that is.
“I think I want to kiss you,” I answer, pushing all other thoughts out of my head.
She doesn’t say anything, just turns in my arms and wraps hers around my waist. “Then, I think you should definitely kiss me.”
“I should,” I reply, slowly dipping my head toward hers. I love this moment – this time right before I kiss her – where her breath catches and her eyelids get all droopy. I take a mental photograph of how she looks right now, wrapped in my arms with the raging waters falling behind her. It’s this exact image I’ll carry with me when I return home to Jupiter Bay.
