Never Tied Down (The Never Duet #2)(49)

“But aside from that,” I continued, “the whole experience sort of fit into what I’d pretty much built my entire adult life around. I’d told myself that I wasn’t ever going to be in a committed relationship with a man, that I wasn’t meant to have that as a part of my life.”

“And now?” he asked, still not looking at me, breaths shallow, hand still clasped around mine.

“Now I know that I was standing still before you, tethered to a good life with Marcus, but never reaching for greatness, never looking for anything more.” I leaned up on an elbow to look at him, my hand pulling away from his but smoothing over his chest and trailing down his rib cage. “You set me free, Riot. I’m never tied down with you, never stifled or smothered. The only thing I want to be tied to, is you.”

“You know I’m bound to you too, right? Being away from you was unbearable, but I knew it was something you needed. I knew that if I forced myself into your life, if I didn’t let you figure it out on your own, we’d never stand a chance. But I was never whole without you.” His hand came up and cupped my face, his eyes never wavering from mine. “That all being said, it’s Sunday morning and I want you in bed with me.”

I smiled at that. “Okay.” I leaned down and gave him a small kiss, then snuggled back into my place. A few minutes later, when I knew Riot hadn’t gone back to sleep, I asked, “Do you want to go to Ella and Porter’s beach house for Thanksgiving?”

“Sure,” he said immediately.

My brow furrowed. “You don’t need to spend Thanksgiving with your family?”

“Can we do Christmas there?”

“Sure…”

“Then it sounds like it’s settled.”





Chapter Fourteen


Park Place


Kalli

Thanksgiving at the Oregon Coast was, by far, the best way to spend the holiday. Ella and Porter’s house was full, but not packed. Megan and Patrick were there, along with Tilly, and Ella’s parents. All the parental units were only there for the day, and it was nice to have mom hugs from Tilly and Susan, but it was also great to spend time with Megan, Ella, Patrick, and Porter and not feel like the fifth wheel.

Riot, of course, was loved by all. Tilly nearly fainted when he walked in the house, Susan blushed as she introduced herself to him, but Patrick and Porter just shook his hand, offered him a beer, and then invited him to watch football in the living room with them and Richard.

I tried my best to help with the meal prep, but lucky for me, being the person who lived farthest away and saw her the least often, I got put on Mattie patrol, so I spent a good portion of the day playing with the sweetest and most adorable little girl ever.

“I think her cheeks have grown to twice their previous size since I saw her last,” I said, making faces at Mattie as she tried to fist my hair and shove it in her mouth.

“It’s not only her cheeks. The chub is everywhere,” Ella said, chopping something on the other side of the kitchen.

“You guys are going to give her a complex. She’s perfect,” Megan added.

“When are you going to have a baby?” I asked with a smile, knowing she would glare at me.

“That’s what I would like to know,” Susan said from where her head was buried in the refrigerator. It was then that Megan sent me the glare I was waiting for.

“I’ve told you all this before; Patrick and I are in no hurry to have kids. We have a perfect niece we can spoil whenever we want, then her return to her parents and go home to sleep all night. We’re just starting our careers. We’ve got plenty of time.”

“She’s right, you know,” Ella chimed in, coming to Megan’s defense. “Porter and I already had our careers all figured out before we got pregnant. I can’t imagine trying to do this at Megan’s age. Give her a little while to figure life out.”

“Are you and Riot going to get married?” This came from Megan and then she stuck her tongue out at me. I laughed while rolling my eyes.

“Now, that’s something I can get behind,” Susan said, emerging from behind the door of the fridge, eyebrows reaching for the sky, dreamy smile on her face.

“Yes,” Tilly agreed, expertly hand-mashing some potatoes. “Or you could just use him for his body until you get bored.”

At that, Ella, Megan, and I exchanged surprised glances until we all busted up laughing at the same time.



It was hours later, and Ella and Porter had walked her parents to their car, Tilly had left a few minutes before, and the rest of us were all sitting in the living room.

“We could watch a movie,” Megan suggested.

“I think if we sit on this couch any longer, I’m going to fall asleep, babe,” Patrick said, running his hand up and down Megan’s thigh. “It was damn good turkey.”

“Well, I’d say we could go for a walk on the beach, but Mattie’s asleep and besides, it’s cold as crap out there,” Ella said, locking the door behind her. “I know,” she said, rushing to a closet right off the dining room. “We could play a game, and drink!”

Ella obviously needed a reason to drink.

“That sounds fun,” I offered. Riot reached his arm behind me, resting it on my shoulders, and I leaned into him. We were both sitting on Porter’s large couch, our feet up on his coffee table which he insisted “was made for feet.” Everything about their house was gorgeous, comfortable, and handmade if possible, like his coffee table.