Fireflies From Heaven (8 page)

“You heard me.”

“Have you ever
done that?” I whispered, suddenly curious.

Reed laughed
softly. “No, but we can try it if you want.”

I could tell he
was joking, but the visual in my mind was surprisingly arousing.

“The idea turns
you on,” Reed noted, his gaze heating. In an instant all playfulness vanished
and he asked pointedly, “Have you ever done that?”

I opened my
mouth to tell him that he was my only lover, but I stopped, intrigued and
empowered by the jealousy in his eyes.
 
Reed’s chiseled jaw clenched at my hesitation and a thrill shot through
me at the possessiveness I sensed coming from him. “I’ve never done that.” I
answered finally.

Reed let out a breath,
visibly relieved. “I’m not in love with Amber.”

“You’re living
together, Reed.
 
Can you see how
Amber and I might have my doubts about your feelings for her?”

He stared at me
as if I’d grown another head. “Ellie, I live here.”
 
He gestured toward the house. “Alone.”

I frowned.
“This isn’t Amber’s house?”

“No.
 
This is my house.”

I was relieved
and speechless.

“You thought I
was hitting on you while I was living in my ex-girlfriend’s house?” He raked a
hand through his hair.
 
“Maybe the
reason you don’t want to go out with me has more to do with the fact that you
think I’m the kind of guy who would do something like that.”

I’d misjudged
him. Again.
 
I didn’t know what to
say so I apologized again. I examined his leg, and for the second time I left
Reed’s house feeling like I’d just been hit by an emotional tornado.

“My brain short
circuited at the part where he said he couldn’t decide if he wanted to kiss you
or spank you.” Cora’s eyes were sparkling with interest.
 
“Sounds kinky and fun. Maybe you should
have let him.”

I sat down on Cora’s
bed and watched her apply a taupe eye shadow.
 
“I thought about it,” I admitted.

“You didn’t?”
She looked up at me, dropping the shadow brush.

“You’re
shocked.”

“Yes, but if
Reed Bentley wanted to kiss or spank me, I’d sure as hell let him do whichever
he liked.”

“Really?”

“Hell yeah.”

 
“You don’t think it’s wrong?” I asked.

“It’s kinky but
not wrong.”

I laughed.
 
“I meant is it wrong to want Reed when I
know that Amber wants him back, and Isabelle wants them together too.”

Cora set aside
her makeup and looked at me.
 
“At
first I wasn’t sure about you and Reed because I didn’t want you to get hurt,
but after hearing everything, I have to say that I agree with Reed.
 
If the two of you want to be together,
the only thing stopping that is you.
 
Amber and Isabelle have nothing to do with it.”

“That’s sort of
what Reed said. I guess you’re on his side.”

“Nah, I’m always
on your side.”

“I’m making a
big deal over nothing, aren’t I?”

“Not over
nothing, but it doesn’t have to stop you and Reed from being together.”

“I just don’t
want to hurt anyone.”

“Ellie, when we
were in school you always let kids cut in front of you in the lunch line. Since
the mystery meat wasn’t that great it didn’t matter much. Reed is way better
than the school lunch special,” Cora said meaningfully.

“I’m sure he’d
be thrilled to hear that.”

“Don’t let
anyone cut in front of you, not Amber or anyone else.”

“What should I
do now?” I asked, always eager to hear Cora’s advice.

“For starters,
the next time Reed brings up kissing or spanking, pick one and don’t forget to
come home and tell me every single delicious detail!”

We both started
laughing.

“Tonight,
forget about the drama and let’s just have fun.”

We finished
getting dressed and left to meet Isabelle at Shooters, a local bar.

Isabelle
already had a pitcher of beer and a table when we got there, and a couple of
good-looking guys had joined her. Spotting us, she waved and we headed over to
the table. Isabelle hopped off her chair, her boots hitting the floor with a
thud.
 
She hugged Cora and I before
turning to the guys.

“Girls, this is
Brian and Clayton.”
 
She turned to
the guys.
 
“These are my friends, Cora
and Ellie.”

Everyone said
hi and we talked a few minutes before Brian and Clayton asked us if we’d like
something to drink.
 
Cora and I
declined, having listened to my dad’s lecture at least a thousand times about
letting anyone give us drinks, and plucked a plastic cup off the table
intending to help Isabelle finish her pitcher.

“They’re hot,
right?” she said with a wicked smile. “Brian is mine, but you two can fight
over Clayton or I guess Cora can have him because I heard you’re already taken.”
Isabelle wore a huge smile.

“What?”

“Dr. Hot Kiss
says the two of you have a second date this weekend.”

Cora shot me a
questioning look.
 
I’d forgotten
about the date.
 
“Right.
 
We do,” was all I could say.

“So Amber is
joining us tonight?” Cora asked, changing the subject.

“Yeah, she’s
been bummed because things aren’t rolling with Reed like she’d hoped.”

“That’s too
bad,” Cora replied with false sympathy. I nudged her beneath the table and she
glared at me.
 
“Maybe that ship has
sailed,” Cora continued.

“No way,” Isabelle
insisted. “Reed is crazy about Amber. He’s been in love with her since he was
five-years-old.
 
I’ve told you guys
the story.”

I nodded,
grimly. “I remember.”

Isabelle turned
to me. “I’m worried that Reed is depressed.
 
He’s afraid he might not walk again
without a limp, and he doesn’t want to burden Amber.” She shook her head and
looked me in the eye. “Have you noticed that he’s been down lately?”

Reed seemed the
complete opposite of depressed, but then I had no idea he was worried about his
leg not healing properly. “He seems fine. His leg is healing well.
 
There’s no reason to think he won’t make
a full recovery, and he shouldn’t worry about that now.”

“That’s what I
told him,” Isabelle said nodding.
 
“I wish he and Amber would work things out and get back together. I mean
I know it’ll happen eventually, but she doesn’t want to push him.”

“Has she told
him she wants him back?” Cora asked bluntly.

“No. She still
feels guilty for going out with Cade even though she and Reed were broken up at
the time.”

“So Reed has
been talking about getting back with Amber?” Cora persisted.

Isabelle
frowned. “No, but I know he still loves her.”

Brian and Clayton
returned and the conversation turned directions, but not before Cora leveled a
look my way that clearly said, ‘I-told-you-so.’
 
I wasn’t going to argue with her.
 
I drank my first cup of beer and was
nursing a second when Amber showed up, turning the heads of several guys as she
made her way toward us.

Wearing a red
spaghetti-strapped dress with sandals and her straight platinum blonde hair
tumbling down her slender back, Amber was stunning.

 
“Hi, everyone!” she chirped, looking even
more gorgeous when she smiled.

We all greeted
Amber, and I almost laughed when Clayton’s jaw dropped. Sometime later when Clayton
pulled Cora out on the dance floor and Brian had gone to the bar, the three of
us, Isabelle, Amber and I were left alone.

“Spill it
sister,” Isabelle demanded of Amber.
 
“You’ve had that look on your face all night. I know something’s wrong.”

Amber’s
beautiful face crumpled and for a second I thought she might cry.
 
“I’m not going ruin the fun,” she said
weakly.

“We’re not
having any fun,” Isabelle told her.
 
“We haven’t had fun tonight, right Ellie?” Isabelle asked, urging me to
play along.

“The entire
night has sucked,” I assured Amber.
 
“There is absolutely no possible way you could ruin it.”

Amber’s mouth
lifted at the corners.
 
“You guys
are awesome.” When she didn’t say anything else, I suggested, “Why don’t I let
the two of you talk while I go chat with Brian at the bar.”

“No, don’t go
Ellie.” Amber placed her hand on my arm, stopping me. “I want you to stay.”

“Yeah, Ellie.
 
Definitely don’t go hang out with Brian
at the bar,” Isabelle replied in a half joking, half
stay away from my man
tone.

Amber and I
laughed.

“I’m afraid I
screwed up things with Reed,” Amber admitted. “Maybe it’s not meant for us to
get back together.”

I stifled a
sigh of relief and tried to appear sympathetic.

“What
happened?” Isabelle asked.

“I went to see
him this evening, and he’d just gotten out of the shower.”

A sliver of
unease snaked through me, but I told myself it was because Reed wasn’t supposed
to get his leg wet, and it had nothing to do with Amber seeing him naked.

“I heard him
stumble and swear, and I thought he might need help so I went in and found him bare-assed
naked.”

Did she expect
to find him fully dressed in the shower? I did not want to hear this.

“I don’t want
to hear this,” Isabelle protested, voicing my thoughts.

“Nothing
happened.” Amber’s crestfallen expression supported her statement. “I just
stared at him.” Amber turned to me.
 
“Reed looks amazing naked.
 
He’s build like a God.”

Oh yeah, I
knew. I wanted to cry or scream.

Isabelle
grimaced. “That was a visual I could have lived forever without.”

“Before I knew
what I was doing, I was in his arms and kissing him,” Amber told us, with a
helpless look that said she couldn’t have done anything else.

“I thought you
said nothing happened?” Oh my God, I prayed my voice wasn’t as sharp as I
thought it was.
 
Thankfully, neither
Amber nor Isabelle was paying me much attention.

Amber shook her
head. “It took me an embarrassingly long time to figure out that he wasn’t
kissing me back, and I wasn’t in his arms.
 
I actually had my arms tangled around him.
 
He was gentle about it, that’s Reed, but
he pushed me away.”
 

“Reed pushed
you away?” Isabelle asked shocked.

“He apologized
and told me he cared about me, but he wasn’t in love with me anymore.”
 
Amber dropped her head into her hands.
“He held me and tried to make me feel better, but he was serious when he said
that we were over.”
 
When Amber
lifted her head, her cheeks were stained with tears.

I felt awful
for her.

Isabelle wrapped
her arms around Amber. “Oh honey, Reed didn’t mean that.
 
He’s been through a lot and he’s not
thinking clearly.
 
Give him some
time.
 
If you want, I can talk to
him.”

Amber frowned,
looking unsure. “I don’t know. Reed doesn’t act like he wants me anymore.
 
I never should have let him go.”

“It’ll be
okay.
 
Just leave my brother to me. You
and Reed are getting back together,” she insisted.

Amber looked
hopeful.

I tried not to
look miserable.

Out of the
corner of my eye, I saw Cora watching me and I knew she’d heard
everything.
 

Late that
night, Cora came into my room.
 
“Are
you awake?” she asked.

“I can’t sleep.
 
Did you see the look on Amber’s face
when she was talking about Reed?
 
And
Isabelle, she was so upset.”

“Yeah, I know.
It was weird.”

I sat up in the
bed. Cora plopped down in my futon.

 
“She’s just worried about her brother,” I
told Cora.

“Look, I’m not
judging Isabelle. Lord knows I’ve got enough baggage to keep the Texas therapists
in the black, but Isabelle is too fixated on getting Amber back together with
Reed.”

“I noticed,” I
whispered.

“She’s obsessed.
 
Why do you think that is?”

I’d thought
about the question ever since we’d left Shooters.
 
“She’s close to Amber’s family. Maybe
she’s afraid of losing them if Amber and Reed aren’t a couple.”

“That makes
sense.
 
Ellie, you should talk to Reed.
 
Don’t let what happened tonight change
your mind about being with him.
 
That’s not fair to you or Reed.
 
Whatever happens, Amber and Isabelle will be fine.”

“Thanks, Cora,”
I told her before I drifted off into a restless sleep, hoping she was right.

Reed was out
back on the deck grilling something when I showed up at his place the next
day.
 
As always he looked
incredible, this time in khaki cargo shorts and a navy t-shirt. Reed had
certainly enlightened me to the power of one hundred percent cotton, especially
when it was molded to a chiseled chest, rippling abs, and carved biceps like
his.

Sometime
between last night and this morning I’d decided two things--one: I was going to
pursue Reed, and two: I was going to have some fun with him.

He flashed a heart-stopping
smile when he saw me, and I noticed that he was wearing Aviator sunglasses.
 
“Hi, Ellie.” He glanced at the sports watch
on his left wrist. “You’re late. I was beginning to think I scared you off
yesterday.”

“It’ll take
more than the threat of a mere spanking to scare me off, Reed Bentley.”
 
I grinned.
 
“Then again that might be fun.”

Reed turned,
but I couldn’t see his eyes and had no idea what he was thinking. He laughed, I
guess, deciding that I was joking.
 
“I’m
grilling burgers.
 
How about you
stay and have dinner with me?”

My gaze landed on
the table where plates, napkins, buns and other condiments were set out.

“Sounds good,”
I told him.

“Great.”

“Can I help you
with anything?”

“The burgers
are about done, but I forgot the chips. You can go inside and grab them from
the pantry if you want.”

“Sure.” I
turned to go inside for the chips, but stopped and glanced back at Reed. “Hey,
I brought some things that I thought we could play with—I mean that you
can use for therapy to strengthen the muscles in your leg.
 
You might want to check my bag.”

He slid off the
shades, and looked at me, making me wonder if he’d heard the tremor in my voice.
“Okay.”

I walked away
barely able to suppress my laughter and took my time getting the chips, pulled
out my phone, checked email and Facebook.
 
Fifteen minutes later I returned
outside.
 
The sight that greeted me
sent a mixture of alarm and excitement soaring through me.
 
Reed was staring intently at items I’d
brought for his ‘therapy’, handcuffs, a blindfold and a riding crop, which he
held in his hand.

“Oh good,
you’ve found them,” I replied easily, managing to keep a straight face. “So
what do you think?”

Reed’s
ocean-blue eyes darkened like a turbulent sea. I was dying to crack a smile,
but I was too interested in seeing his reaction. When he still hadn’t spoken, I
said, “I thought we could take turns using these on each other. I glanced at
the riding crop in his hands. “You like the crop? We’ll do that first. Unless
you want to be adventurous and use all three at the same time.”

The corners of
Reed’s sensual mouth tugged upward in a smile that made my heart skip a beat.
 
“You said that you’d never done anything
like this.”

“I
haven’t.
 
I’ve always been afraid of
scaring men off, but you seem willing so I thought we could have some fun.”
 
I was definitely having fun with him.

“Yeah,
right.
 
Yesterday I couldn’t get you
to go out with me and now here you are with whips and handcuffs.
 
Although, I have to say we’re making
damned fine progress.”

 
I pretended to be upset and frowned.
“You’re not interested.”

“Oh, I’m definitely
interested,” he replied smoothly.

“Awesome! Most
guys aren’t as open to experimenting with new things.” Out of the corner of my
eye I caught Reed’s expression and almost ruined everything by laughing. “You
don’t think badly of me, do you?”

“I think you’re
crazy as hell.”

“But in a good
way, right?” I asked with a smile.

“No. Not in a
good way.” His expression was intense. “How many guys have you shown this stuff
to?”

“Just you.”

He seemed to
relax a little.
 
I couldn’t stop the
corners of my mouth from lifting, but I covered it quickly. Looking over at
Reed, I caught him watching me with a glimmer of something in his eyes that
made my heart race. Reed’s fingers caressed the crop. “Which one of us are we
using this on?” he asked casually, a wolfish gleam in his eyes. I got the
distinct feeling that he already knew the answer to the question.

“You?” I
suggested, helpfully.

“No.”

I swallowed,
wondering how far I should carry this.
 

“You’re not
scared, are you Ellie?
 
You look a
little nervous.”

“I’m just
excited.”

“Yeah, that
must be it.” He smirked.

“Alright,” he
said, sitting sideways on a lounge chair and motioning with the hand holding
the riding crop to come to him. “Lie across my lap,” he ordered.

I was
surprised, aroused and unsure exactly what I should do.
 
Not for one second did I think Reed
would hurt me, and I was too fascinated, too curious about what he would do next
to do anything but obey him.

Slowly, I
walked towards Reed, feeling his gaze on me the entire way, hot and
intense.
 
Careful of his leg, I awkwardly
turned and lowered myself across Reed’s lap and immediately felt the hardness
of his erection pressing into my belly.
 
He was as turned on and I was breathless with the knowledge.

Reed’s fingers
lightly pushed the hair off of my neck in the lightest of touches.
 
Leaning forward, he pressed his lips to
my ear, sending shivers down my spine.
 
“Are you sure about this, Ellie?”

He smelled
incredible. I nodded, then realized he probably didn’t see me so I said, “I
trust you, Reed.”

“Good girl.”

I waited
anxiously. Reed lifted his arm. The riding crop slid lightly over my neck and
back before sliding over my butt in a slow circular motion that was almost like
a caress.

His lips kissed
the back of my neck softly, licking in between feathery kisses and I sighed my
pleasure.
 
My nipples hardened and
were sensitive enough to make me gasp when they brushed Reed’s knee. He notice
and groaned.

“Ellie?”

“Yes?”

“Turn over,
sweetheart.”

I didn’t have
to be asked twice. Rolling over so that I was on his lap and in his arms, I
wanted Reed to kiss me so badly that I couldn’t think of anything else. He
didn’t disappoint. His mouth crushed into mine and I heard a moan of pleasure
but wasn’t sure if it came from Reed or myself.
 
His tongue slid against mine. I was on
fire.

“No riding
crop?” I breathed in between kisses.

I felt Reed’s
smile against my neck while he kissed me.
 
“You had me going for a while.”

My fingers
laced in his hair.

“Until I saw
that beautiful smile,” Reed said huskily.
 
His hand cupped my left breast and flicked the nipple with his thumb. I
gasped, “Reed!”

“I can’t
believe—“ His mouth covered my nipple. “you let it go that far.”

“ I told you I
trust you.” I was breathless, pressing my thighs together to ease the tension
building between them.

“Ellie,” Reed
whispered, kissing my other breast and lightly pinching the other nipple with
his thumb and forefinger. “You’re so damned sweet.”

His gaze slid
to my thighs, pressed together, and his hand moved between my legs, finding my
sweet spot.
 
My back arched.
 
He moved his fingers in a slow, circular
motion that made me wild.

“And you’re
more fun than I’ve ever had in my life.”

“Thank--” My body
clenched. “you.” I shattered into a million pieces and cried out Reed’s name
while I came.
 

“Jesus,” he
breathed, holding me while the tremors of the powerful orgasm racked my body.

It took me several
moments to catch my breath, and once I did I glanced around Reed’s fenced
backyard and was thankful for his oversized lot. Still, I hoped none of his
neighbors were outside or had an inclination to peek over the fence.

“Where’d you
get all that stuff?” Reed asked curiously.

I looked down
at the heavy bulge in his shorts and reached out to touch him. “Are you sure
you want to talk about that now?”

“That asshole
Brooke is marrying didn’t give you that stuff, did he?” Reed asked, seeming
more protective than angry.

 
“One of my friends from work had a sex
toy party before she got married. I won a door prize.”

He relaxed
beneath my touch and chuckled. “Must’ve been some party.”

Before I could
answer, Jase’s voice called from the doorway. “Hey, Sergeant! You out here?”

Reed swore, but
he didn’t seem that upset about the company. His eyes raked over me and I
realized the problem, he was concerned that I would be embarrassed and,
thinking about the way I probably looked, he was right.

I jumped off of
Reed’s lap, knowing there wasn’t going to be any hiding what Reed and I had been
doing. Fingering my tousled hair back from my face, I knew there wasn’t much
else I could do.

Reed got up and
stepped in front of me a second before Jase and two other guys walked onto the
deck, staring at us with looks varying from amusement, interest and surprise.

“Uh, hey Ellie,
Reed.” Jase seemed shocked, and I pegged him for a guy that didn’t shock
easily. He seemed to be fascinated with something behind us. Suddenly, I knew
what Jase was staring at, and I froze.
 
I didn’t have to look to know what was holding their attention—handcuffs,
a blindfold, and a riding crop.

Reaching behind
his back, Reed took my hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze. I felt calmer,
but still humiliated.

“Sorry, I
forgot all about the card game,” Reed said simply as if nothing out of the
ordinary was going on. “Next time the beer is on me,” he told to his friends.

They seemed
cool with the promise of free beer.

“No problem
man.”

“Hey, you’re getting
around good,” one guy said, looking at Reed and I and flashing a wicked smile.

“Don’t forget
the beer next week!”

Jase was the
last to go.
 
“Mind if I borrow those
handcuffs?” he asked laughing.

Suddenly, I
felt like laughing too at the absurdity of the situation. I laughed hard enough
to bring tears to my eyes.

“Get the hell
out of here,” Reed growled without any real anger. “You’re embarrassing Ellie.”

Jase stopped
laughing immediately, and seemed contrite. “I’m sorry Ellie.
 
I didn’t mean to offend you, really.”

“No worries,
Jase,” I assured him, picking up the discarded handcuffs and tossing them to
him. “Don’t forget to give those back.”

“You’re one
amazing girl,” Jase said with a wink, taking the handcuffs and grinning.
“Later.”

As soon as Jase
was gone Reed turned to me, cupping my face with his hands and brushing at the
tearstains on my cheeks with his thumbs. “I’m sorry about that. You came over
and I forgot all about the game. You okay?”

He was looking
at me with such tenderness that I my heart swelled. “Yes. I may not be able to
face your friends again.”

“Sure you
will.” Reed smiled. He dropped a quick kiss to my lips. “You’re not going to
turn me down again, are you?”

“Are you asking
me out on a date?”

His gaze held
mine. “If that’s all I can get you to agree to, then yes.”

Lifting my
brows in surprise, I asked, “You want to play with the sex toys?”

Reed laughed
softly. “ Maybe later. I want us to only date each other, Ellie. I’d like for
you to be my girlfriend if you’re ready for that.” He brushed a wisp of hair
away from my face. “If you’re not, I’ll take whatever you’re willing to give
me.”

His words were
sweet and warmed me from the inside. I tested the word. “Girlfriend. I like the
sound of that. And you’ll be my boyfriend.”

Reed nodded.
“That’s usually how it works.
 
That
okay with you?”

I stood on my
tiptoes to touch my lips to his and he leaned down and gave me a slow
kiss.
 
“I don’t want to hurt Amber
and Isabelle,” I told him.
 
“Can you
give me some time for figure out how to tell them?”

A shadow fell
across his features.
 
“Amber stopped
by last night.”

“I know.” I did
not want to hear about the naked,
just
out of the shower
kiss. “She told Isabelle and I.”

Reed’s
expression was instantly wary. “She told you?”

“Yes.”

“I’m sorry,
Ellie. That had to be awkward for you.”

“Don’t apologize.
 
I’m fine, but Isabelle was really
upset.
 
She thinks you and Amber
belong together.”

“I’ll talk to
my sister,” Reed promised. “No worries, I’ll let you tell her about us, but she
shouldn’t be encouraging Amber. That’s not going to help anyone.”

“Reed, about
Amber. Are you sure?”

He sighed
softly and rubbed his jaw, something I noticed that he did whenever something
was on his mind.
 
“Ellie, I don’t
want this between us.” Reed glanced away, as if searching for the right words,
and when he turned back to me his gaze locked with mine.
 
“You know Amber is a friend.”

I nodded.

“I cared about
her. I even loved her, and, honestly, I still I do.”

His words felt
like a physical blow.