Page 62 of Embers in the Outfield

He begins to move, and I’m meeting him, thrust per thrust, loving the sounds that this connection is bringing out of him just as much. Seeing him lost in our movements turns me on even more, and I look down to see him moving in and out of me.

Fuck, he is so hot, and this link between us feels like my heart is soaring now. Before, I believed we could separate and live our lives independently. Now that I see us, this spark we ignite when we’re together, I realize I was in complete denial. He doesn’t complete me, but he certainly makes me see pieces of myself coming to life more than they ever would on my own.

His movements only push me closer to the edge, and soon, I can’t control the fall I take into that blissful state that makes me see stars clouding my vision. I feel like my skin is on fire, and it’s a heat I never want to see extinguished when it comes to us.

River is pumping in and out of me, his movements becoming erratic and his moans getting louder. He’s holding my hips as he moves, and I swear I can already see the marks etching themselves into my skin. Tomorrow, I’ll look down and know that this man has claimed me, body and soul, and I will never be able to turn away from it.

“Fuck, Kennedy, fuck, I’m coming. Fucking take it, shit,” he keeps yelling, and he throws his head back, eyes closed as he comes. A sense of ease takes over his features as his thrusts slow until they stop.

He drops his body next to mine, bringing me closer to nuzzle his neck. I kiss him slowly under his ear and down his neck.

I feel his hand caressing my hair, his nose breathing me in.

“I didn’t know it could be this way. I didn’t know I could feel this type of completion with someone. Not until you,” he tells me, and it feels like, for the first time, my life has exactly what it lacked: River Nichols holding my heart.

CHAPTER 27

River

“So,should I just tell them you finally fell for my charms?” I still hope to get a rise out of Kennedy where I can.

“Sure, I’m the one who finally fell for your charms? Is it opposites day or something because I think you’re the one who broke into my hotel room and fucked me with my dildo.” She smiles, batting her eyes at me, feigning sweetness and innocence.

We’re trying to figure out how we break the news to Ash and Sam later today. Samara was in the hospital, and she’s going home in the next hour. To make their night a little easier, we’re swinging by in the afternoon to leave some dinner for them. Of course, Kennedy said she’d buy something, but I decided something homemade would be best.

“Seriously though, what should we do? Do you think this will upset Sam more and cause more stress on her and the babies?” I don’t know what to expect as a reaction from our friends. This will be out of left field for them, and I don’t want to upset either of them. However, I already know I can’t walk away from this with Kennedy.

“Honestly, who knows? Pregnant Sam is a whole other creature.” She laughs, looking over my shoulder to see what I’m doing.

“How did you get so good at cooking?” She seems absolutely perplexed by anything regarding food prep.

“Well, after my dad passed, my brother and I took on one night of cooking a week to help around the house. Of course, we were young when he died, so it was many peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, but then we graduated to using the stove and oven. We just tried different things. Burned many things. Drove my mom crazy at first, but we got the hang of it.”

“Well, I’m really good at microwaving, so if this recipe requires that kind of help, I’m here,” she says, utterly proud of her accomplishment of using something in her kitchen.

“I will definitely let you know.” I give her a kiss on the nose and get back to layering this lasagna.

“So, back to our news. What if you and I show up together? That’s at least a foot in the door, no pun intended.” She makes her way over to the stool and sits down, her eyes seemingly mesmerized by what I’m doing.

“Okay, then what? Just come in, drop off food, then hold hands? Or should I grab your ass in front of them and yell, ‘Mine!’” I’m so lost on how to go about doing this. I may have dated women, but none who meant something to me.

“Ha! I dare you to do that and see how it goes from there.” She rolls her eyes and takes a swig of her water. “I guess we sit down and just tell them. I mean, how the hell do I know? I’m the female version of you with relationships.” She shrugs her shoulders.

“I guess it’s the blind leading the blind,” I say as the last layer is placed on the lasagna.

* * *

The unusually warm fall breeze is doing nothing to calm my nerves now that we stand at Sam and Ashton’s front door. I don’t know why I’m so nervous to tell them Kennedy and I are dating.

“Hey guys!” Ashton looks exhausted after a night in the hospital, but his smile is genuine, and I can see he’s happy to have some support. The fact Kennedy and I are standing at his doorway together doesn’t seem to phase him in the least.

He ushers us inside, and I make my way through to the kitchen. Kennedy is walking quietly behind me, probably letting her nerves get the best of her too. It’s still strange to see someone usually so composed let something like our newfound relationship ruffle her feathers in such a way.

Once I set the food in their oven and get it turned on, I make my way back and sit on the couch. Kennedy could not be any farther away, but at this rate, I think we need to start slow with our little announcement.

Sam comes down the stairs, and the moment she sees Kennedy, her face lights up.

“Yay! There’s Auntie Kenny and Uncle River!” Sam waddles her way over, her belly seeming to have popped overnight. I swear her stomach was half that size a little over a week ago.

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