Always Have, Always Will

MELISSA

“So, when’s your dad heading out?” Alaric asks, taking a gulp of his beer.

Rainey, Riley, and the brothers are all sprawled out on a big blanket in the front yard, their bodies sinking into the damp grass as they stare up at the star-filled sky. Their hearts are heavy, and the mood is somber.

The night air is cool and carries a hint of moisture, filling their noses with the scent of fresh grass and pavement.

“I don’t know.” Rainey’s lips tighten, a wave of sadness washing over her. “He hasn’t given me a date yet.”

“Ah. Well, time’s been flying by lately.” Arden tries to lighten the mood with a smile. “Before you know it, you’ll be back.” His voice is filled with hope.

“Are you leaving too?” Alex pulls his knees up to his chest, turning to look at Riley as the wind tousles his thick hair. She nods, her face clouded with gloom.

“Yeah, her dad asked me to come along. To keep her company.”

He sighs, turning away to take a swig of his beer. “He’s taking everything.”

Aiden picks a blade of grass and starts to strip it of its leaves, tossing them onto the lawn. “We’re gonna miss you guys. Don’t forget to FaceTime us.”

Rainey manages a smile, but it fades as quickly as it appeared. “Yeah…we’ll do that.”

“And call us. Write. Maybe even send a carrier pigeon or something. Or ride one of those camels they have in Dubai to come see us.”

Rainey and Riley burst into laughter, while the brothers can only manage weak smiles.

“No, seriously, don’t forget about us,” Arden says, his voice filled with longing.

“That’s impossible,” Rainey reassures him. “You guys are the best thing that’s happened to me lately. I’ll never forget you. And I’ll be back before you know it.”

Alaric nods. “Remember your promise, kid.”

She smiles. “I will.”

A soft sniffle draws their attention to Arden. His head is bowed, and he quickly wipes his eyes with his wrist. Aiden tilts his head, staring at his twin in disbelief.

“Dude, are you crying?”

Arden, his eyes glistening, blinks at his brother in denial. “Crying? What? No way.”

“Dude, you’re seriously crying.” Aiden’s mouth hangs open. “You’re actually shedding tears.”

“I’m not. It’s just the wind. And it’s cold out here.” Arden tries to defend himself, but the wet streaks under his eyes give him away.

“And you said I didn’t stop using a baby bottle until I was six.”

Arden just shakes his head.

“Let me see your eyes. Look at me.”

Alaric uses his handkerchief to smack Aiden on the head, and he yelps, clutching the spot and shooting a surprised look at his older brother. “Ow.”

“Leave him alone.”

Rubbing his head, Aiden stares at him, taken aback. “That hurt, Ric.”

The girls smile softly, and Ansel reaches for his beer on the grass. Finding the bottle empty, he sighs heavily and puts it back down. “Is there more beer inside?”

“Yeah, on the kitchen counter.” Alaric takes another sip of his.

“Ansel, that’s enough drinking for tonight,” Aiden chuckles, and Alex and Riley join in.

“Why?” Ansel crosses his legs, resting his elbows on his knees.

“Because we don’t want poor Rainey to deal with your hormones. We all know how ~frisky~ you get when you’re drunk. You’d kick off your first night together.”

Everyone starts laughing, but Rainey and Ansel look noticeably flustered. She’s biting her lip nervously, while Ansel’s face turns a deep shade of red.

The brothers notice their strange behavior and gasp in realization.

Riley covers her mouth in shock, and Alaric smirks, his eyebrows shooting up.

“Wait a minute.” Alex’s eyes are wide as saucers as they dart between the two blushing figures. “Don’t tell me you guys have already done it.”

Rainey and Ansel stay silent, both shifting uncomfortably.

“Oh, shit.” Aiden slaps a hand over his mouth. “They did.”

“I’ll go get the beer. I need some water anyway,” Rainey says quickly, jumping up as if the ground beneath her is on fire.

She hurries away from their prying eyes, while the brothers try to grill Ansel, who refuses to satisfy their curiosity.

Aiden scoots closer to him. “So, did you guys…?”

“Don’t even.” Ansel cuts him off, and he slides back to his spot like a scolded puppy, causing everyone to burst into laughter.

Rainey walks into the kitchen and grabs a glass from the dish rack, filling it with water from the tap. As she waits, she watches the bubbles form and pop.

“Hey, sweetie.”

She turns to see Melissa approaching, a bright smile on her face.

“I thought you’d gone to bed.”

“No, we’re outside, just hanging out.” She smiles as she turns off the tap.

Melissa’s eyes twinkle under the kitchen lights as she beams back.

“I see. Usually the boys would be out at some party on the weekend. They’ve been staying in more now that you’re here. I love that.”

Rainey forces a smile. She lifts the glass to her lips, hoping to distract herself.

The more she thinks about it, the more upset she becomes at the thought of leaving this city.

Melissa sighs, shaking her head. “That man, Ron Moretto, he’s caused a lot of trouble for our family.

“Your dad’s really pushing it, isn’t he? He’s already taken so much, and now he’s messing with the one good thing my boys have had in a while.

“We’ve been doing our best to steer clear of him, but he’s hell-bent on causing trouble.”

She gives her a somber look. “It’s a shame your dad’s decided to take you back to Dubai with him. Austin and I tried to talk him out of it, but your safety is paramount.”

Rainey’s grip on the glass tightens as a fresh wave of despair washes over her.

“My husband and I are going to miss you.” She gives a sad smile. “And I know the boys will too.”

“I’ll miss you guys too.” Rainey’s lips tighten as she turns to rinse the utensil under the faucet. She’s on the verge of tears, but she puffs out her cheeks to hold back the sadness.

~Hold it together. You’ll be back before you know it.~

Melissa reaches out to rub her back, and the simple gesture is so comforting that Rainey has to bite her lip to keep from breaking down.

Her mom doesn’t comfort her like this anymore, and given their recent disagreements, she probably never will.

“I want you to know that we’ll always be here for you. We’re not going anywhere. We’ll wait for you to come back. Hopefully, that’ll be sooner rather than later.”

~I hope so too~, Rainey thinks as she puts the glass away.

“Is your friend leaving too?”

“Yeah. My dad doesn’t like us being apart. He knows she’s the only family I have. So he talked to her parents, and they agreed. They’re good people, so…”

Melissa’s face lights up at this. “That’s great. I’m glad she’ll be with you. Before you know it, you’ll be back here with us—”

She stops herself, chuckling awkwardly. “I’m sorry. I just said ‘here.’ Getting ahead of myself.”

Rainey quickly shakes her head. “No, this house feels more like home than anywhere else I’ve ever been,” she says sincerely. “This is home to me.”

Melissa’s lips curve into a smile, and her eyes glisten with unshed tears. “You’ll be back before you know it. Don’t worry. Come here.” She opens her arms and pulls the distraught eighteen-year-old into a comforting hug.

Rainey has to admit that even her confrontations with her mother haven’t hurt this much.

RAINEY

The boys can really hold their liquor, and Riley and I just couldn’t keep up.

We were about to fall asleep on the damp grass, and the chilly night air was making us sniffle, so we called it a night before them and headed upstairs to sleep.

The brothers seem to be immune to the cold, since they were only wearing tank tops and shorts and didn’t seem to be freezing at all.

The bed dips, and the faint scent of Old Spice deodorant stirs me awake. I open my eyes to find Ansel wrapping his arms around me from behind.

The room is dark as I crane my neck to look up at him.

“You’re here.” I smile sleepily.

“Yeah,” he murmurs, pulling me closer.

“Mm. What time is it?”

“Around 2 a.m.,” he whispers, pressing a kiss to my temple.

His voice is slightly slurred, and I can smell the strong scent of alcohol. I furrow my brow. “Are you drunk?”

“Maybe…,” he sighs.

I reach out to turn on the lamp, but he quickly grabs my wrist. “Don’t turn it on.”

The smell of alcohol is stronger now, and I sigh. “You drank too much, didn’t you?”

“Whose fault is that?”

My neck starts to ache from the awkward position, so I turn to face him, looking up into his shining eyes.

“Mine?”

“Yeah. If you’re the one getting on a plane to leave me, then yeah.”

I chuckle and watch as he frowns slightly.

“You’re funny when you’re drunk,” I whisper. My smile fades when I see the sadness in his eyes.

“You could just ask me to stay,” I say softly, “and I wouldn’t leave.”

He sighs deeply, pressing a hand to his forehead and rubbing it, grimacing slightly. “I can’t.”

I furrow my brow. “Does your head hurt?”

“Yeah, a bit. I think I drank too much.”

“Do you have any aspirin?”

“Yeah, I think there’s a packet in the bathroom cabinet.”

I slide off the bed and tiptoe to the bathroom. Riley is a light sleeper and can be woken up by the slightest noise.

I turn on the light and stand on my tiptoes to open the white cabinet, looking for the aspirin.

A noise behind me catches my attention, and Ansel comes into the room, quietly closing the door behind him.

“Why’d you come in?” I ask as I continue my search, flipping over a packet to read the label. “I could have brought it out to you if you’d just waited until—”

The feeling of his chest against my back silences me instantly, and my face turns a deep shade of red. I grip the packet tightly, nervously lowering myself back onto my feet.

“I don’t need an aspirin,” he whispers, gently taking the pill from my hand. “I just need ~you~, Rainey.” He sets it on the counter, and my breath quickens.

“But your head—”

“My head isn’t what’s hurting right now.” In one swift move, he spins me around, lifts me onto the countertop, and steps between my legs.

He kisses me hard, his hand cradling the back of my neck as he plunges his hot tongue into my mouth.

I’m caught off guard, my hands instinctively clutching the counter edge to keep from stumbling backward.

He’s drunk, and I know he tends to get a little wild when he’s in this state.

“Ansel…” I pull away quickly, struggling to catch my breath as I hold onto the counter edge. That kiss was so forceful. Where did that come from?

“What’s wrong?” He steps closer, and I place my hand on his chest.

“You’re drunk,” I say softly, mindful that Riley is asleep just a room away.

“I know what I’m doing, Rain.”

I look up at him. “Then what are you doing?” I ask, trying to gauge his level of sobriety.

He places his hands on the counter on either side of me. “I’m kissing you,” he murmurs, his gaze fixed on my lips.

I swallow nervously as I see the desire glinting in his hazy eyes.

“And we’re about to go a little further than that.”

My cheeks heat up at his words. His drunken side seems to be more sexually bold than any other side I’ve seen.

Before I can respond, his lips are on mine again, just as hungry as the first kiss. His tongue explores my mouth skillfully as he keeps his hands on the marble counter.

The scent of mint mingled with alcohol stirs me, and I clutch the sides of his shirt as I kiss him back with equal fervor. Our breaths intertwine, our mouths moving in a wild dance.

Ansel reaches over to turn on the faucet, trying to mask the sounds beyond the door.

If he’s coherent enough to think of that, maybe he’s not as drunk as I thought.

Assertive. Eager. Dominant. These are three powerful words that still don’t quite capture the intensity Ansel is exuding.

He presses against me, leaving no space between us, and my short cream dress has ridden up to reveal my thighs.

His hand caresses them as he moves his kisses down to my neck, then to my collarbone, before kissing the top of my breasts.

The fact that I’m not wearing a bra makes undressing much simpler, and Ansel reaches up to the cupboard above my head to grab another shiny packet.

He rips it open in a hurry before his lips are back on mine, his hands busy with the drawstrings of his athletic shorts.

I’m lost in the kiss, oblivious to when he slipped the rubbery sheath onto his arousal. His fingers tug at my underwear before he slides the thin fabric down to my ankles.

My cheeks flush as the cool rubber brushes against my inner thighs. Ansel breaks the kiss to look into my eyes, his lips swollen and red, his eyes heavy with desire.

I swallow hard. We’ve done this before, but my stomach is still aflutter with nerves. He notices and kisses my forehead, whispering against my skin.

“It won’t hurt this time. I promise.”

He cups my bottom under my dress, then gently slides me along the counter and onto him. I gasp as he enters me, and he lets out a strained sigh, his head falling back.

His chest rises and falls with his breaths, and his jaw tightens with pleasure. The sight is breathtaking.

“You feel so good, Rain.” He goes still inside me, looking into my eyes. “You okay?”

“Mm.” I can only manage a sound that’s close to a response as my hands grip the counter edge, my body temperature rising.

He pulls me closer, filling me completely. A soft moan escapes my lips, the sound of water splashing in the sink drowning out my breathy reaction.

There’s a slight sting, but it’s quickly overshadowed by the hunger and desire.

Ansel starts to slowly thrust into me, his lips grazing my neck as he quickens his pace.

He straightens up to look me in the eyes, and his hand presses against the side of my neck as he massages my throat with his thumb.

With each deep, firm stroke, a soft breath escapes my lips, and I watch as his face reddens with each gasp I let out.

All previous gentleness gone, he plunges into me relentlessly, and my moans match his rhythm. He kisses my neck again, his warm breath fanning my skin as he nips at it.

The counter is cool against my bare thighs as the force of his thrusts makes me slide along the surface.

“Hold onto me tight,” he breathes.

I wrap my arms around his back, burying my face in his T-shirt. The sounds of our intimacy echo off the walls as his hips grind against mine, skin against skin.

We’re slick with sweat, and the air coming in through the bathroom window does nothing to cool our heated bodies.

Closer and closer to my climax, I cling to him tightly, and he speeds up, moving in and out of me in a rapid rhythm.

I won’t last much longer.

I’m moaning his name, and he’s saying mine, as the familiar sensation builds in my stomach.

Five more deep, hard thrusts are all it takes to send me over the edge, and Ansel follows right after, our moans and groans drowning out the sound of the running faucet.

His body trembles against mine, and I’m panting heavily as my sweat soaks through his thin T-shirt. I start to pull away, but he holds me close, burying his face in my shoulder.

“Don’t move. Let’s stay like this for a bit. Please.”

There’s a note of sadness in his voice, and my heart aches with sympathy.

“Okay.” I close my eyes.

“I love you.” He squeezes me tighter.

Those words, though he’s said them many times, never fail to stir my heart. They sound new each time he says them, as if with every second, every minute, his love for me grows.

Our bodies are pressed together, and I can hear his heart pounding as he rests his head against my damp neck. A soft smile spreads across my lips as I rest my chin against his sweaty back.

“I love you too, Ansel.”

~Always have. Always will.~