Reed's Reckoning (34 page)

“Almost done baby then you get my dick. While I was out, Connor’s PR lady called me. My statement was simple and to the point. It will go out tomorrow. I’m not sure if it will work, but I did ask for privacy.”

“Eight hours seems like a long time for furniture and gun shopping. Why didn’t you answer your phone?”

“Luke and I made one more stop and I couldn’t answer. That’s why I sent a text telling you I’d be back soon.”

“What stop?”

“I got a new tat.”

“You did!?” I say a little too loudly. “Where?”

“It’s on my upper shoulder and shouldn’t get wet. I’m not sure I can fuck you in this position and keep it dry.”

I try to respond, but he moves both hands to my thighs and spreads them. The feeling of his fingers rubbing through my slick folds in the warm water cause me to buck into his hand. He teases me by massaging the sensitive area with one hand and playing with my clit with the other. He finally moves one finger inside swirling it around. Desire pools in my stomach and I push my hips forward again. He inserts another finger and picks up the movement.

I turn my head to the side and capture his lips. My fingers thread through his hair and I hold his mouth tight against mine, scared I’ll scream if I move away. He continues to play with me to the point of no return. When he puts a third finger in and flicks my clit, I come undone moaning my release into his mouth.

I pull away trying to catch my breath and let go of his hair.

“Nope, not going to be able to fuck you like this.” Before I can ask what he means, he turns us where my body is against the side and he’s behind me.

“Bend forward, Ari, and hold on. Don’t move your hands.”

I do as he says and feel the tip of him nudging my entrance. I’m still sensitive and moan lightly as he slides in.

He kisses up and down my back while gliding in and out painfully slow. I try to push into him and he pinches my ass.

“No, babe, I’ve got this.”

He moves us slightly to the side and I whimper as the jet forces water right where he is inside me. The sensations take over my body and I feel tingling everywhere. My fingers tighten on the edge and I try my best not to scream.

I throw my head back and arch as much into him as possible. My nipples strain against the wet fabric and ache to be touched. Both of our heavy breathing fills the quiet night as he moves. The intensity is too much and I clench my muscles trying to prolong.

“Yeah, baby, I feel you tightening around me. Let go.” He pumps harder and presses me against the spray. His grip on my waist in so tight, I’ll have bruises.

I hold on as long as I can, but the orgasm hits me hard and I cry out. “Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God…” It doesn’t stop and I continue coming against the pressure of the water and his pounding from behind.

Pleasure pulses through my body when I feel him explode in me groaning loudly. He doesn’t stop moving as his own release takes control of his body. I shift to the side away from the jet. Reed doesn’t pull out but turns and sits down, holding me flush against his body. Our hearts beat in rhythm as we regain our breath.

“You are incredible.” He whispers in my hair.

“Reed, I think you may have broken me. Seriously, I’m still tingling.”

“Then I did it right.”

I lean into him and let my head fall back onto his chest and listen to the waves in the distance. I feel sleep taking over until he moves us.

“Let’s get you to bed.” He reaches for the towels and stands us up.

We wrap in the towels and when he turns, the faint light catches the bandage on his upper left shoulder. I run my fingers gently over it and he grins at me.

“Can I look?”

“Here? Now?”

“Well, yeah, what’s wrong with here?”

He looks at me nervously and doesn’t answer.

“Reed, why are you acting funny?” I reach for the tape and he grabs my wrist.

“Let’s go into the light so you can see it better.” He leads me to the other side of the patio and sits me in a lounge chair. Then he gets on his knees beside me and turns.

I peel the bandage back gently, and suck in a breath when it’s fully exposed.

The black ink is elegantly scripted, and it reads
Davis Luke Matthews
with his birthday etched under it.

Tears spill down my cheeks. I can’t describe the emotions coursing through me. He turns around and takes my hands into his.

“Baby, I should have asked, but it felt right. I need him to have my last name. Please say it’s okay?”

I nod my head and try to pull my hand back so I can wipe my eyes but he holds tighter.

“He’s not the only one Ari. I want you to have my last name too.”

Air leaves my lungs and I start shaking.

“Arianna Rose, I’m serious about forever with you. There’s a reason we saw each other on that beach in April. We are meant to be together. I will work every day of my life on this earth to be the man that deserves you. You are selfless, strong, smart, beautiful, caring and above all, the most loving woman I have ever known. There is no doubt I am not worthy of you, but I would be privileged if you would marry me. Say yes to me and to our forever.”

My mind stops working as I try to process his words. Did he ask? Was this a proposal? It sure seemed like a proposal. Tears continue to fall down my face and my vision is blurred.

“Angel, will you marry me?”

Okay, he definitely asked that time.

“Yes!” I croak and throw myself at him.

Our bodies join together and he holds me so close there’s not an inch of us not touching. I cry softly into his neck with happiness. I feel his tears touching my shoulder and squeeze tighter.

“Reed Matthews, I love you with every breath I take.”

He moves quickly and pulls me with him. One arm goes under my knees and he lifts me up. “I need you in bed. And after tonight, I’m having that hot tub moved to my house.”

I giggle a bit and think of a better place. “Sweetheart, we have your pool, dock, and entire home. Why don’t you move it to my place?”

He grunts but doesn’t say anything as he walks us to the bedroom.

Once again, I gasp as we enter. There are dozens of post-its around the room. In his handwriting is the single phrase ‘say yes’. When he sets me down, I look at him with confusion.

“I had this all planned out—the seduction, the sex, then the romance. You caught me off guard wanting to see the tattoo.” He reaches around to the shorts he was wearing earlier and takes out a box.

“You already said yes, Ari, this is just the icing on the cake.” He is still behind me, holding me close. He doesn’t move but slides his hand down my arm and ends at my ring finger. I feel the cool medal as he slides it over my knuckle and upwards.

“Forever, Ari, that’s what I want—you, me, our children, forever. You have always been it for me.” He kisses my temple and I feel the weight on my hand as he turns me.

I run my hands up his bare chest and finally get a look at the ring he put on my finger. I am paralyzed, it’s beautiful, it’s flawless, and it’s HUGE! My entire lower knuckle is taken up with the diamond encrusted solitaire surrounded by baguettes. My expression must give me away because Reed chuckles.

“It’s you, Ari, every diamond on that band represents the times I thought about you ten-fold when we were apart. I told Luke what I wanted and he helped me with a jeweler in Jacksonville today. And soon, you will have the matching band that will tell you how much I missed you.”

“Reed, I don’t think my hand can handle any more.” I joke.

“Honey, you need to get used to handling more. This is just the beginning.”

I smile up at him and soak in everything in the last hour. “We’re getting married.” I whisper.

“Sure the fuck are. And no one—I mean no one—is stopping us this time.”

He lowers his mouth and kisses me with determination and desire. I tug both our towels free and urge him back to the bed.

Even with all the shit that happened this morning, he made this the best day of my life.

Reed Matthews responded publically today about the accusations made against him regarding infidelity. While he prefers to keep his personal life private, he vehemently denies he was in a relationship with another woman. Reed confirms he has a son with fiancée, Ariana Williams. Any claims regarding him fathering another child are completely false and unfounded. He asks for privacy and respect.

—Online Reporter

I read the statement out loud for everyone at the breakfast table. We invited Jack, Katy, and Sophie for a celebration breakfast. Ari’s eyes bulge when she realizes I made the statement before I asked her to marry me.

“Reed, honey, how’d you know she’d say yes?” Grandma Katy asks.

She’s a sly one. I went to her first, well after Luke, and asked her permission. She encouraged me but gave me a stern warning. I called my mom on the way to Jacksonville yesterday and told her my plans. She cried with excitement.

“Katy, I was taking a big chance. But I had several alternate plans if she said no. I would have convinced her eventually. Even if it took all night.” I wink and Katy laughs.

“Can I finish my food without vomiting? I already had to deal with your pussy ass yesterday. I don’t want to hear about your sexual antics, ever.” Luke grumbles.

Ari’s face is so red I worry if she’ll remember to breath. “Angel, deep breaths.”

“I’m going to kill you both.” She points between Luke and me. “First of all, don’t discuss our sex life with my grandmother! And Luke, if I hear Davis use the p-u-s-s-y word, I will personally strangle you.”

We all laugh at her, which pisses her off more until the tornado known as Sophie rushes through the door screaming. “Let me see!” She reaches for Ari’s hand.

“Jesus Christ! Reed, did you pick this out on your own? Have you seen how small Ari’s hands are? This thing swallows her finger.”

“I tried for a larger diamond, but they didn’t have one in stock. I wasn’t waiting.”

“Yeah, being in a jewelry store with him was torture. He whined like a little bitch until he got his way, then nerves of steel when a man holds a needle to his shoulder for an hour.” Luke tells everyone.

Ari’s eyes get misty at the mention of the tattoo and she smiles at me.

“So yesterday was complete shit. What do we do today?” Sophie asks.

“Yesterday wasn’t complete shit.” Ari corrects her and looks at me with a face full of love.

“Jack is coming up and we’re going to celebrate our last day here. I’m going to pack up tomorrow and go ahead and give up the beach house a week early. I’m not going to practice tomorrow but the rest of the week will be hell.” I answer.

Ari and Katy are done cleaning the kitchen when Jack walks in. He and Sophie share a look that tells me they are both glad he is here. Davis runs up to him and plows into his legs and they go to the floor wrestling.

“Congrats, man! Heard you’re getting hitched,” he yells from under a pile of arms and legs.

I nod my confirmation and tug Ari into my lap. She leans down and kisses me briefly, which causes a stir in my shorts. I can’t get enough of this woman. She knows it too because she wiggles a few times before jumping up and running to the bedroom to change. It takes two whole minutes before I can stand up and not embarrass myself in front of Katy. I don’t give a shit about Sophie.

All the guys carry the stuff to the beach and I try to set us up away from everyone else. Unfortunately, there are people everywhere but I put us close to a family with a boy about Davis’s age.

Ari and Sophie join us, and the conversation turns to wedding planning. Shit! This could go either way. When I tell her, she may be pissed or excited.

“Do you have a date in mind?” Sophie asks.

“I’m thinking—”

“Labor Day weekend.” I interrupt and answer for her.

All heads swing to me and Luke falls back in the sand howling.

“Smooth, Matthews. Thought you had this thing in the bag. Did you forget to tell her?”

“Shut up, dickhead. I was preoccupied. If you were doing what I was doing, talking wouldn’t be on your mind either.” I throw a shell at Luke’s head.

Ari’s staring at me in shock and confusion.

“Angel, I forgot to tell you. We’re getting married in five weeks.”

Her expression changes to disbelief. “We
can’t
! There is no way I can plan a wedding in five weeks—I don’t even want to! These things take months.”

“Not ours. Five weeks.”

“Are you insane? It’s impossible unless you want to get married at the courthouse.”

“Not happening. Only problem is we can only have about twenty guests at the actual wedding.”

I see it dawns on Ari what I’m talking about and her jaw drops. “You didn’t,” she whispers.

“I did and booked the place for the reception.”

“Hello! Did what? Some of us don’t understand Reed speak.” Sophie waves her hands in the air dramatically.

“Arianna has always wanted to get married in the little chapel on Cumberland Island. I reserved it for us the Saturday of Labor Day weekend. It’s the only weekend I can do it because of the season and I am not waiting until possibly February to get married.”