We’ll Be All Right Now

RAINEY

^ONE MONTH LATER^

“…So that’s the main guy. He’s the mafia drug lord. He’s about to wipe out all those people, and—”

“Arden, can you just let them watch the movie? You’re ruining it.” Aiden’s frown is met with giggles from Riley and me, amused by the boys’ irritation.

“Arden is the worst person to watch a movie with,” Alex chimes in. “Especially ~Reborn of the Mafia Lord~.”

Arden lifts a finger. “Can I just share one last thing?”

“No!” the boys shout in unison, sending Riley and me into fits of laughter.

Arden pouts, crossing his arms and staring straight ahead. The room falls silent as everyone returns to the movie.

“I can’t help it. Just one thing! That guy’s about to bust into a brothel, save some girls, take out the trafficker, then that pretty redhead is going to—”

A pillow flies at him from Alaric’s direction, which he skillfully dodges, causing the room to erupt in laughter.

Melissa appears in the kitchen doorway, wearing an apron. “Dinner’s ready. Someone go get Ansel.”

“Rainey, go get Ansel,” Alex suggests, and Aiden grins mischievously.

“If she goes up there now, she won’t be back down for a while.”

I look at him, puzzled, as everyone else chuckles. I have no idea what he means.

Melissa shakes her head, suppressing a smile. “I’m going to pretend I didn’t hear that. Rainey, honey, could you go get Ansel for me?”

She heads back into the kitchen as I rise from my seat.

Alaric smirks, and Alex waggles his eyebrows suggestively. Riley shoots him a glare, then slaps his shoulder. “You’re such a perv.”

He laughs and leans in for a kiss, which she returns, causing Arden to cover his eyes. “Get a room, you two. I’m trying to watch my movie.”

“Should we pause the movie?!” Riley calls after me, and I shake my head.

“No, I’ll be right back!”

“Definitely not right back!” Aiden shouts, and everyone laughs again while I give them a confused look over my shoulder.

“You guys are strange,” I laugh as I disappear up the stairs.

Ansel has been resting as much as possible to aid his recovery. He’s doing much better than a month ago. His wound is healed, and he’s regaining his strength.

To say I’m thrilled would be an understatement.

I approach his room and knock twice. When he doesn’t answer, I turn the knob and open the door, immediately noticing him lying shirtless on his stomach.

I smile softly as I enter the room, quietly closing the door behind me.

I tiptoe over to him, climbing onto the bed and looking over his shoulder. His eyes are closed, and he looks so peaceful, fast asleep.

I trace his long lashes with my finger, smiling as his forehead wrinkles in response.

I draw a line from his nose to his lips, stifling a giggle as he stirs in his sleep, a soft groan escaping his lips.

Getting a kick out of this, I start to trace his lips with my finger, when suddenly a hand reaches up to lightly squeeze my butt.

My cheeks flush at the intimate touch, and his eyes open, sleepy and hazy, looking into mine.

Without a word, he flips onto his back and pulls me onto him, so I’m straddling his waist. His dark hair falls into his face as he gazes up at me.

He takes my hands in his, intertwining our fingers.

“Why’d you wake me up?” he whispers, and I smile.

“Melissa says dinner’s ready. I came to get you.”

He bites his lip. “Is that really why you came?”

I furrow my brows, chuckling. “Yes. What are you implying?”

He shrugs, pouting slightly, and I tilt my head, smiling. “Say it.”

“Say what?”

“What you’re thinking.”

“I just think you knew what could happen if you came up here, alone. In this cute little skirt.”

He tugs at the hem of my skirt, and I blush even more, pretending not to understand.

“I don’t know what you mean.”

“Oh, you don’t?”

“Nope.”

“Let me show you then.” In a swift move, he flips us over so I’m lying flat on the bed with him hovering above me, his hands pressing into the mattress on either side of me.

I blush furiously as I look up into his lustful eyes, his biceps flexing as he effortlessly holds himself above me.

I swallow, fully aware of what this position implies. “What—what about dinner?”

“Dinner can wait. I want you right now,” he murmurs, making my heart race. “Since my mom could walk in at any moment, let’s skip the undressing.”

I nod nervously as the sexual tension rises between us. He kisses me while his hand travels down my body.

Our tongues dance together as he presses into me, letting me feel his arousal. The kiss isn’t slow this time, but fast and rough, showing his impatience.

His fingers slip into my underwear, and the first touch against my opening makes me gasp into his mouth.

He continues to kiss me while rubbing me, and I close my eyes, savoring the sensation. His fingers enter me, and he strokes me slowly while still kissing me passionately.

The teasing doesn’t last long before he gently moves my underwear aside, breaking our kiss to look me in the eyes.

“You’re my everything, Rain. I love you so much.”

His words make me smile, and I watch as he fumbles with the strings of his shorts.

“I love you too,” I whisper, and his lips curve into a smile as he lifts the pillow next to my head, revealing a shiny packet hidden beneath it.

He tears it open with his teeth, pulling out the condom, and I trace the healed scar on his chest as he rolls it on. Even with this small mark on his torso, he’s perfect to me.

This permanent scar will always be a reminder. A reminder of his unwavering love for me.

He kisses me again as he positions my thighs apart, and with a firm push, he’s inside me. I gasp into his mouth as he begins to move.

It’s not as painful as the first couple of times, thankfully. I guess my body is slowly getting used to this.

I hold onto his biceps as he moves in and out of me, the pleasure building as his lips travel from my cheek to my neck.

I tilt my head to give him better access as he gently nips at my skin, marking me with signs of his love.

As our bodies move together, he straightens up to meet my gaze. Those intense eyes. They’re enough to send me over the edge, and he knows it, because he doesn’t look away, not even for a second.

He places his hand on my neck, his thumb massaging my throat—a habit I’ve noticed he has—and I lift my hips to meet his thrusts as I feel my climax building.

“You’re close, I can feel it,” he murmurs, resting his forehead against mine. “Let go for me.”

I moan loudly, and his strokes become more forceful as he covers my mouth with his to muffle the sounds. His body is hot and slick against mine, moving with a desperation as if it’s his last day on earth.

With every thrust, I feel myself soaring higher and higher, and I start to pant heavily as I feel a wave of pleasure building.

Ansel tugs at my lower lip as he quickens his pace, and I dig my nails into his biceps as my orgasm rips through me like a lightning bolt.

I cry out against him, and he lifts my chin, my cheeks wet with tears as he claims my mouth.

He continues to move inside me, and I whimper through the aftershocks until he shudders against me.

His movements slow down before he finally stops, and I struggle to catch my breath as he rolls onto his back.

I push damp hair from my forehead as I try to steady my breathing, and Ansel props himself up on an elbow to dispose of the used condom.

Once he’s done, he lies back down, giving me a smile as he pulls me closer to him.

I rest my head against his damp chest, and he brushes hair away from my eyes.

“You okay?”

I nod, smiling up at him. “Just fine.”

He chuckles, and I tighten my hold around him. “Can I ask you something?”

“Yeah, anything.”

“You remember that time Olivia was bullying me in gym class? The time she squirted ketchup all over my bench.”

He frowns as he looks down at me. “Who’s Olivia again?”

I stare at him in disbelief. “Are you serious?”

Ansel squints, looking genuinely confused, and I try to hide a smile. “She’s the girl who has a crush on you. The one who teamed up with Jace to harass me in the school bathroom.”

Understanding dawns on his face, and I realize he truly didn’t know. I press my lips together to hold back a laugh, and he traces his fingers along my arm.

“I remember now. What about it?”

“When you came over to tie your sweater around me, you said, ‘Don’t react. It won’t be good for you.’

“It was like you knew something about me. But we barely spoke back then, so what did you mean?” I look at him expectantly, and he gazes up at the ceiling as he thinks back.

“The truth is, I did know something about you.”

I narrow my eyes. “Really?”

“Yeah. Remember when you saw me and my brothers leaving the police station? While I was inside and the cops were looking for Arden’s file, I saw your name.

“I realized you’d had some trouble with the law before.”

I raise my eyebrows at this, and he continues.

“So I just thought you didn’t need any more problems.” He shrugs, and I smile.

“How considerate. So you’ve loved me since then.” I grin wider, and he chuckles.

“Maybe. What about you? Watching me from your locker mirror.”

I laugh as he pulls me closer, wrapping me in his arms.

“Checking me out every chance you got.”

I bury my face in his chest. “I was not. We just happened to look at each other at the same time.”

He laughs. “Really?”

“Yes, really. Okay, let’s say I was checking you out. Then why were you looking back?” I raise my eyebrows in challenge, pouting playfully.

“Because I have eyes.” He kisses my forehead, and I close my eyes, laughing at his response.

“Thank you for looking at me,” I say in a more serious tone, lifting my head to look at him. “You changed my life.”

He smiles at me, his eyes filled with affection. “I’ll always love you.”

I sigh, comforted by his words. “Me too.”

He leans down, and our lips meet again. When he pulls away, I start to giggle, and he smiles at me. “What?”

I rub my eyes. “You know, Aiden said if I went up to call you down for dinner, I wouldn’t be coming back anytime soon. Now I know what he meant.”

Ansel chuckles, shaking his head. “Those dirty minds.”

I burst into laughter, and he grins at me, his eyes filled with admiration. He tucks a loose strand of hair behind my ear, and I lean into his touch, savoring the warmth.

“With Greg and Jeff finally getting their comeuppance and Ron Moretto out of the picture, I feel like a weight’s been lifted. Life seems so much brighter now.”

Ansel nods, his eyes serious. “I told you we’d be okay. Things can only go up from here.”

His words fill me with hope, and I can’t help but smile. “I believe that too.”

“Ansel! Rainey! Your food’s getting cold!” Melissa’s voice echoes from the doorway.

I can feel my cheeks turning red, and Ansel grins at my embarrassment. He smooths down my skirt, his eyes twinkling. “You know, you were pretty loud. I wouldn’t be surprised if they heard us all the way downstairs.”

My eyes widen in shock, and he laughs, swinging his legs off the bed. He extends a hand to me. “I’m just messing with you. Come on.”

I take his hand, and he pulls me to my feet. Our fingers remain intertwined as we leave the room.

Melissa’s no longer at the door, so we head down the stairs and into the living room.

Aiden’s eyebrows shoot up the moment he sees us, and the rest of the room is filled with wide, knowing smiles. “I told you guys, you wouldn’t be coming down anytime—”

He’s cut off by a finger jabbing him in the head. He rubs the spot, turning around with a scowl, ready to lash out. But when he sees it’s Melissa, his face softens.

“Ouch, Mom…”

“Enough with your nonsense. Get in the kitchen,” she orders, and he rises, looking like a scolded puppy as he carefully sidesteps his mother and heads for the kitchen.

Laughter fills the room as we follow him.

Life really couldn’t get any better than this.