✿ Aileen's POV

I close my eyes as the hot water envelopes me.

This feels amazing.

I hear a door close and before I can signal that Iʼm in the tub, the bathroom door opens and Reid is standing there with a bottle of Bollinger and two glasses. I arch a brow.

“Whatʼs happening?”

“Nothing” he smiles and starts filling the glasses.

When heʼs done, he whips off his clothes, leaving only his boxers on and slips into the tub with me, making me laugh.

“A toast.”

“What are we toasting to?” a nervous excitement suddenly trembles in my voice.

“Whatever you want.”

I think for a moment.

“To a successful dinner?”

“To how my family loves you. I'll drink to that.” He clinks my glass and sips.

“Some of your family” I correct.

“Most of my family, Lee” he gives me a look and I smile.

“Okay.”

“How do you feel?”

I sigh and nod.

“Pretty liberated actually” I take a sip and set my glass down. “Iʼm glad itʼs over.”

Reid hums.

“Howʼd your chat with your grandma go?”

“Great” he smiles. “Sheʼs really happy about you.” He sets his glass down and moves closer to me, “Iʼm really happy about you” he whispers and kisses my forehead.

I smile and move to the side of the bath that faces the window so heʼs right beside me. Below me, the ocean waves are beating against jagged black rocks, the bright plump moon hung so close and low that it feels like I can reach out and touch it.

“It's spectacular” Reid hums in my hair.

I hum back and smile, enjoying the moment.

“Lee are you sure youʼre okay?” Reid asks after we stay like that for a while.

I nod and turn to face him, lifting my upper body out of the water for him to see.

“Iʼm not completely sure, Armani” I whisper, and Reid canʼt hide his appreciation as a smile breaks out across his face.

He doesnʼt even attempt to hide the fact that his eyes slide down my wet body and stop at my breasts.

“Well maybe I can help” he says.

And in one swift movement, he clasps his hands to my hips and pulls me toward him so hard the water around us ripples and splashes. His hardness presses into my stomach as his hands move up to cup my face.

“Iʼd like that, Armnai” I whisper and he groans at the name, making me laugh.

Reid picks me up and carries me out of the tub, out of the bathroom, and across the room to the bed.

His strength is incredible.

I admire the muscles rippling in his shoulders as he lowers me onto the bed.

“God, youʼre sexy, Armani” I whisper when he gets rid of his boxers.

The moonlight was hitting him in just the right places, accenting his best parts.

Of course Iʼve seen him naked before, but he didnʼt look like this.

He turns and walks away from the bed giving me the most exquisite view of his tight, muscular bum. The view is further enhanced when he bends over to pick a towel. Then I feel the soft material of the towel wipe across my stomach.

Heʼs drying me.

And I canʼt help but smile. Thereʼs something so extremely erotic and intimate about this, so I close my eyes, giving myself over to him.

Reid rubs the towel over my breast, and down my arms.

“Armani—”

He pushes my legs open with his knees and ran the towel up and down my inner thigh, shutting me up.

“Shhh, shhh” he whispers with a smirk.

Down my legs and onto my feet and ankles, Reid  takes his time and carefully dries every inch of me. Once heʼs completed my front, he grabs my ankles and flips me  around to lie on my stomach.

A laugh bubbles out of me and I feel a little smack of terry cloth.

“I fucking love this part of you” Reid leans down and kisses the cheek of my bum before biting into it ever so gently with his teeth.

I gasp and arch my back. Then I feel him run his huge hands up my back and onto my shoulders. And with one fluid movement heʼs somehow able to flip me over onto my back again.

“And this part of you” His hands reach up for my breasts, cupping them gently.

I bite back a moan.

“And I love this part of you” He traces his fingertips across my stomach.

I lift my hips in a primal reaction I have no control over. His fingers come to rest between my thighs and he smiles.

“And I especially love this part of you” Reid leans down and kisses me gently on the mouth.

I respond with a pleased sigh and kiss him back. He wasts no time and his tongue slips inside to meet mine. Our tongues touch, which seem to have an explosive effect on both of us, as our mouths open hungrily and begin devouring the other. Thereʼs no longer anything gentle about this.

Reid has my arms pinned against the bed above my head and his whole body is pressing against mine with force. His tongue is making its way around the inside of my mouth, licking the inside of my cheek and running over the ridges of my teeth.

The kiss is so uncontrollable, so animalistic that we are both eventually biting at each others lips. At one point one of us must have pierced the skin, because I could taste the blood. Reid sucks hard on my tongue and just as quickly as the kiss had begun, it stops.

What is he—?

I take a moment and watch as he climbs off the bed to retrieve a condom out of a drawer. Heʼs back as quickly as he left and with a deep kiss, he settles between my thighs.

It surprised me that I didnʼt pass out from the sensations that were surging through my body right now. They were as intoxicating and powerful as a drug.

Our movements pick up pace together and Iʼm already clawing at him as our bodies begin rocking together in perfect unison; our breathing also in sync. I could feel my breathing getting faster and faster as his moaning was getting longer and his strokes were becoming more frantic.

The perfect rhythm is now gone, and is replaced by something frenzied. The feeling that is rising inside my body is so strong and intense that for a second Iʼm afraid if I let myself feel it full, it might knock me out.

I buck my hips and Reid cusses with a moan.

“Dammit Lee!”

And yet somehow he picks up the pace even more.

“God, Armani! Iʼm close!”

“Shit!”

Our movements escalate to something of a frenzy. I barely knew whatʼs happening, but suddenly Iʼve been hoisted up onto his lap and am nose to nose with him.

Lord, heʼs beautiful.

We look into each otherʼs eyes and we speed towards the finish line together. I see the moment Reid tips over, his green eyes glazing over with a look of wonder and his pupils dilate as his eyes widen.

And thatʼs the only moment he looks so vulnerable. So penetrable in that moment, all his defenses down. Like heʼs laying himself bare in front of me. And this is always the most intimate moment of my life.

Being able to watch him in this way, and know that I had taken him there.

A split second later itʼs my turn and I feel my whole body explode. Every single muscle in my body tenses up as I experience a release like Iʼve never experienced before. I close my eyes and everything in my head and behind my eyes goes white and fuzzy.

Suddenly I seem to lose control of myself and I scream.

“Thank goodness the doors and windows are soundproof” Reid teases with a small moan.

I canʼt help it, but as my body shudders and I feel the powerful waves of pleasure rushing through me, I open my mouth and a loud long scream comes rushing out. My scream only helps to prolong Reidʼs pleasure and the sense of satisfaction I feel at making him feel like this swells inside me.

Reid collapses on top of me and we both catch our breaths as our hearts beat in synch. When he tries to roll off me, I lock him in place with my arms and legs, making him chuckle.

“Iʼm heavy, Lee—”

“Shhh shhh...” I shut him up, pushing into him from underneath.

“What are you—”

“Shhh Armani...”

He does. But speaks up again.

“You know youʼre going to start feeling my weight any moment now—”

I shove him off me and he laughs, groaning a little.

“You couldʼve warned me at least—hey!” he exclaims as I wack him with a pillow.

I laugh and scurry under the covers.

“Hey! Cʼmere you” he tries to grab me, making me squeal and then snort when his fingers attack my sides.

“Armani... stop... please” I let out between snorts.

“What? What was that? I couldnʼt hear you over all the snorting” he goes, adding kisses to my neck.

“Armani... Iʼll kill you...” I laugh.

“Oh Iʼd love to see you tr—ow!” he lets me go when I pinch him.

I roll to the side and try to get my laughing under control.

“Youʼre a violent woman Lee. Itʼs not even funny anymore” he laughs alongside.

“Shut up” I chuckle.

“Only if youʼre in for a cuddle sesh” Reid grins and gets under the covers, lifting the part on his side for me.

I smile and slip beside him, kissing his chest. Reid kisses the top of my head and wraps his arms around me tightly in a certain sudden primitive possessiveness. Like if anyone else tried to take me away from him right now, he would fight them to the death.

No one says a word, instead we just hold each other tightly in an embrace so close, you wouldnʼt get a piece of paper between us. We are both wet with sweat and our skin is sticking together. But neither of us mind. We just stay cuddle up together till we drift off to sleep.

✯✯✯✯✯✯

The next morning Iʼm up before Reid. And just when Iʼm thinking about sneaking downstairs to make him breakfast, I hear him wake up.

“Lee?”

“In here” I call from the living room, turning on the TV to make it look like Iʼm watching before shuffling toward the kitchenette in the corner of the bedroom to get his morning coffee going. “Morning” I call to him over my shoulder.

“What are you doing out of bed this early?” he groans, rubbing his eyes.

“Itʼs eight-twenty, Armani. Iʼm sure everyone else is awake.”

He groans again and drags his feet towards the windows.

“Huh... look at that” he mutters.

“What?” I ask, setting two mugs down.

“The groundʼs all wet. It must have rained last night after we... fell asleep.”

I smile to myself.

“I haven’t looked outside this morning” I say.

“Yeah well it definitely rained. You can smell the petrichor.”

A laugh bubbles out of me.

“Wow, look at you, pulling out five dollar words to impress a girl” I tease.

“Is it working?”

“Nope” I grin, pouring him his serving first.

I hear a chuckle come from him and he shakes his head when I turn.

“Well either way, Iʼm not trying to sound cool, Freshie. Thatʼs just what itʼs called.”

“Well petrichor or no, Iʼm just glad it rained while we were safe here in our room instead of out on the rest of the tour you owe me.”

“Oh really?” he arches a brow, “And here I thought youʼd always dreamed about being kissed in the rain.”

I laugh and pick up his serving of hot coffee.

“I donʼt remember ever telling you that.”

“You didnʼt have to. You always cry every time we watch Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams kiss in 'The Notebook'.”

“Um, yeah! Who doesnʼt want to kiss Ryan Gosling in the rain?” I ask, stepping in front of him with his dose of less crankiness.

“Okay, fair point” he chuckles again, taking the mug from me. “Thank you.”

But before I can reply, he slips his hand into mine twining our fingers together.

“I might not be Ryan Gosling, but if we do get any drizzle, Iʼm happy to make that dream come true.”

I playfully shrug.

“Why wait for a drizzle?”

Reid laughs and meets me halfway to join our lips.

“Mm... better than my morning coffee” he moans when I pull away.

I laugh and gently push against his chest.

“Iʼm gonna go see if anyone needs my help with breakfast or anything.”

“No one needs you anywhere with them besides me” he says. “And we pay people to take care of breakfast.”

“I just wanna help.”

“Help me get into the shower” he smirks before taking quite the gulp of coffee.

How it didnʼt scald his tongue was a mystery.

“I wonʼt be long, Armani. Just sit tight and—”

“Nope. Iʼm coming with you” he says, already slipping his feet into his bedroom slippers.

I chuckle and shake my head, watching him finish his coffee and then slipping on a shirt and some pants before taking my hand and walking us out of the bedroom.

“Youʼre taking me on the rest of the tour today right?” I ask as we descend the stairs.

“Yep. A tour... and then some” he winks and I immediately get excited.

“I canʼt wait” I smile, resting my head on his bicep shortly. “Whereʼs the kitchen?”

“This way” Reid leads us there.

Itʼs empty when we step inside. And the size?

Holy smokes!

“Oh... I think I just had a foodgasm thinking about all th and meals I could make in here.”

“And all the desserts I can eat out right here on this counter.”

I look at him over my shoulder and he nods.

“I know, Iʼm terrible. I never take a day off, remember?”

I laugh.

“Okay, what do you wanna eat?”

“Cream cheese Danish of course.”

“Again, Armani?” I make a face, “Youʼve had that for days non-stop. How about a kiwi lime pie instead.”

“No. And you hate kiwi.”

“Yeah but you donʼt. And if you want it of course Iʼm going to—”

“No. Cream cheese Danish or Iʼm hoisting you back into our room to eat you out” he whispers the last part and gives me a quick peck on the lips.

“You canʼt say stuff like that, Armani. What if someone hears you?” I pout a little.

“Whatʼs wrong with me dirty talking my fiancée, huh?” he makes a face. “If anyoneʼs got a problem, they should take it up with the Reid Department.”

I roll my eyes with a laugh.

“Oh God.”

“Permission to help you say that in a different tone?” he smirks.

I throw a napkin at him and he ducks, dodging with a laugh.

“Cut it out and help me grab what I need” I chuckle.

“What are you doing in here?” a voice startles me.

I turn and see a woman around Noraʼs.

“Oh hi. Good morning. I just wanted to—”

“Youʼre not supposed to be down here Miss. I could get into trouble with—”

“Oh do you ever relax, Mrs. Docherty?” Reid cuts her off.

The woman pauses and looks behind me.

“Reid? Is that you?”

“Still believing you have a great eyesight huh?”

The woman laughs and rounds the kitchen island to give Reid a hug.

“Oh itʼs so delightful to see you, kid. Wow, look how big youʼve grown.”

Reid smiles down at the woman and it makes me smile.

“How have you been?”

“Good, Mrs. Docherty.”

“Oh I can see” she smiles.

“You doing okay?”

“Yes am I. And your grandmother is keeping us on our toes so.”

Reid chuckles.

“Well what are you doing down here and in the kitchen? Here to sneak out snacks?”

“Actually no” he replies, moving to my side. “My fiancée here was just going to make me something special” he smiles, kissing my temple.

The woman grins at us.

“Oh so itʼs really true huh? I thought the girls were just making it up. Itʼs really nice to meet you, miss. Agatha Docherty. But please call me whatever you want” she smiles, wiping her hands on her apron before extending it to shake my hand.

I smile.

“Lee. And I think Iʼll call you Mrs. Docherty too... if thatʼs okay with you of course.”

“It would be an honor, miss.”

“Just Lee, please” I chuckle.

“Hey whereʼs Chelsea?” Reid asks, “I havenʼt seen her since we got here last night.”

Mrs. Docherty checks the wall clock.

“Errands. But she should be getting back in about—”

“Holy shit!” a girl... Iʼm assuming is the Chelsea chick exclaims as she steps into the kitchen.

“Now” Mrs. Docherty finishes, shaking her head with a smile. “Iʼll leave you crazy kids alone. Iʼll be right back.”

“RiRi Weenie? Is that you?” the girl speaks up.

What the...?

And when Reid groans, I have to ask.

“RiRi Weenie?” I lift a brow his way.

Reidʼs face pales and he gulps.

“Please pretend you didn’t hear that.”

“Oh, no. I want details.”

I turn on my heel and face the girl.

“Hi.”

She grins at me, her big white smile almost blinding.

“Oh damn. You must be the fiancée I’ve heard nothing about yet is already the talk of this entire neighborhood.”

“Huh” I peek over at Reid. “Have you been talking about me, RiRi Weenie?”

The death stare he gives Chelsea almost makes me break out in hives. He looms over both of us, hands on his hips, stance menacing. His anger simmers in his eyes.

“I’m going to murder you, Chels.”

She waves his threat off.

“Please. Iʼve still got Ashaʼs protection” She turns to me. “I’m Chelsea.”

“Lee.”

“I’m sure you’re wondering where your fiancé got his nickname.”

I bob my head.

“Very much so.”

“Chelsea, don’t you dare.”

I turn to him, patting his chest.

“Hush.”

Chelsea giggles.

“Okay. So when he was a kid, he loved to be naked. He’d strip down to nothing whenever and wherever he could, then start flapping his weenie in the wind like that helicopter move” She wiggles her hips like I’ve seen guys do before. “Then he’d shout, RiRi’s Weenie, RiRi’s Weenie!” She shrugs. “Naturally, it stuck... and so did the nightmares.”

Reid swears and pinches the bridge of his nose.

“I regret knowing you.”

“Liar” Chelsea laughs.

“How has no one ever mentioned this?” I laugh.

“They all swore a pact. Not me” Chelsea smiles. “Itʼs good to have you back, Reid. And that you brought home a keeper” she winks at me.

Reid grunts, clearly still upset about his embarrassing childhood story.

“Chelsea, letʼs go. They found someone who can make Mrs. Antoinetteʼs pastries and heʼs very demanding” Mrs. Docherty says, hurrying back into the kitchen.

“Well, duty calls” Chelsea smiles. “Iʼll catch you two later. Donʼt do anything I wouldnʼt do.”

“Wait, whatʼs happening?” Reid stops Mrs. Docherty.

“Oh your grandmother found this lovely pastry shop on third and sheʼs been their biggest buyer. But just last week the owner packed and left and now we canʼt find any shop that makes cheese Danish the way Mrs. Antoinette likes.”

I suddenly perk up.

“Iʼm sorry... cream cheese Danish?” I ask.

“Yeah, yeah. Heard of it?” Chelsea asks. “Itʼs really good. I had a little nip two weeks ago and Christ. The best thing my tongue has ever tasted.”

At this point, Reidʼs already laughing. I chuckle and shake my head.

“What?” Mrs. Docherty asks, “Did she say something funny?”

“Yeah am I missing something here?” Chelsea adds.

“Well...” Reid begins, stepping directly behind me, “... I just so happen to know someone who makes the best cream cheese Danish in the entire...” he drops his head to the side of my face, “... continent, is it?”

I swat his hand away with a chuckle.

“No. And Mrs. Docherty, I think you should get going.”

“What?! What, no. Chelsea donʼt move” Reid exclaims, moving to stand in front of me. “What do you mean no?”

“Iʼm not making you or anyone else any cream cheese Danish” I whisper.

“Woah you know how to make a cheese Danish?” Chelsea asks.

“The best” Reid throws over his shoulder with a proud smile before turning on me again.

“Why not? Itʼll be a piece of cake for you. Plus this genuinely isnʼt about winning bonus points with Gammy. She already loves you.”

“Until something goes horribly wrong and she ends up in the hospital and your mother has solid grounds to bully me and I canʼt punch her or get mad because itʼs all my fault” I fold my arms.

“Wha—?” Reidʼs mouth drops.

“Ooh I like her” Chelsea chuckles.

Reid grabs my should.

“What are you saying? Nothingʼs going to go wrong. This is a piece of cake for you. Cʼmon.”

“No.”

“Lee.”

“No.”

“Aileen” he says firmly.

I unfold, then fold my arms again.

“This is the Dalton matriarch weʼre talking about, Armani.”

“Okay. So?”

“I refused to be blamed for attempted murder.”

“Wha— what is wrong with you?”

“Nothing. But something could go wrong. Like me ending up in prison.”

“Why are you hell bent on looking at the negative side of things today?”

“Because even if it's not negative, your mother has ways of turning everything to be negative for me. She doesnʼt like me, Armani. So why would I give her an opportunity to walk all over me when I canʼt punch her because youʼre holding me back? Why would I put myself through that, hm?”

Reid loosens his grip on my shoulders and lets his arms fall at his side.

“Okay. So your point?”

I groan, making Chelsea chuckle from where sheʼs standing beside Mrs. Docherty.

“Your mother doesnʼt like me for you, Reid.”

He frowns, “Armani. And since when did we start caring about that?” his grip on me is back.

“Since I...” I stop myself with a sigh, “After last nightʼs dinner I... I realized sheʼs never going to stop drumming it in my ears that I donʼt belong here. And I... I donʼt wanna be in that space for the rest of my life... our lives, Armani. Itʼs not going to stop.”

“Hey...” Reidʼs hands cup the side of my face. “No oneʼs going to keep us apart okay? And we donʼt have to see her all the time. Heck we donʼt have to see her at all...”

“No” I pull my face from his hold. “I canʼt let you do it that, Armani. I canʼt keep you away from your family.”

“Well we—”

“No. Iʼm not in support of that. Sheʼs your mother. And just because we donʼt get along, Iʼm not going to let you cut her off from your life to make me comfortable. I canʼt have that on my conscience.”

Reid sighs and then threads a hand through his hair.

“Well weʼll figure it out okay? And maybe weʼre overthinking it because who knows, she might start warming up to you any day now.”

I arch a brow.

“Neither one of us believes that, Armani.”

He chuckles lightly.

“Well whatever it is, weʼll take it one step at a time okay? Together.”

I sigh and give him a small nod.

“Okay.”

“Good. Now back to the topic at hand—”

“Armani” I groan.

“Weʼll help” Chelsea speaks up.

Reid and I turn.

“What?” I ask.

“I said, weʼll help. With the Danish. If itʼs sabotage youʼre afraid of, weʼll man the entrance.”

“No gets in, no one goes out” Mrs. Docherty adds with a smile.

“Oh and before you ask, weʼre on your team” Chelsea grins.

“Definitely” Mrs. Docherty chips in again.

“Sooo...? Are you gonna do it?” Chelsea drags.

Reid looks at me with an arched brow and a charming smile. I let out a defeated sigh and then chuckle.

“Fine, alright.”

“Yes!” they cheer.

“But...” I lift a finger at Reid and he stops his happy dance, “... the tourʼs still happening.”

“Oh definitely, angel” he takes my wrist and sensually kisses the finger Iʼm holding up.

And it takes everything in me not to moan and bite my lip. Reidʼs eyes twinkle with mischief as he pulls his lips away from my finger.

“Definitely.”

Thank you for reading!
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Ciao
~the_atticwriter