The Shore (23 page)

Having reached the end, Cody turned the bike so they started traveling back up the island. As they approached what looked like a large gift shop, Ryan tapped on Cody’s shoulder and pointed to the building. He took the direction and pulled into the parking lot.

“What’s up?” he asked.

“Let’s go inside. I want to get a little memento,” she smiled.

“Okay.”

They climbed off the bike, setting their helmets on the seats. Cody reached down for Ryan’s hand and she laced her fingers with his.

Inside the store was every piece of crapola a tourist could possibly want. Frames with shells, bottles of sand and shells, knick-knacks with every conceivable name written on it and a thousand other things. They goofed around, looking at the various signs available as home décor. Cody walked toward the back where there were large buckets that held different flavored taffy.

“I haven’t had this stuff in years!” Ryan exclaimed.

Cody grabbed a bag from the shelf and opened it. “What flavors do you want?”

Ryan was literally a kid in a candy store. She went from one bucket to the next and dumped in a small handful of each flavor.

“You know, they sell the mixtures over there,” Cody said, pointing to the selections on the shelf.

“I know, but it’s not the same. Plus,” she said as she dumped a big handful of the cinnamon flavor in the bag, “this way I can add more of the flavors I really like.”

Cody chuckled and continued to follow her, holding the bag until she was ready. He figured there must have been about two pounds of taffy in the bag.

Once she was happy with her taffy selections, Ryan walked toward the back of the building and found a huge room dedicated to t-shirts. Just t-shirts. It was kind of crazy, actually. She started going through the options and eventually found a navy blue shirt with white writing that simply said “Ocracoke.”

This will work.

When she walked into the main room again, she saw Cody trying on miscellaneous pairs of glasses. She laughed to herself, happy he was confident enough in himself to be that goofy.

“I like those on you. Very sexy,” she said with a grin as she approached him.

“You like these, huh?” he asked. They were red with heart shapes for each of the eyes.

“Yep. I think you should get them.”

“What do you have there?” he asked as he took the glasses off and put them back on the shelf.

“Just a t-shirt. Something to help me remember today,” she smiled.

He smiled gave her a quick peck on the lips. “You ready?”

“Yep. Just let me pay for this.”

Cody took the shirt from her hands. “Let me, okay?”

“Okay,” she smiled.

They paid for their items and walked outside. Getting back on the bike, Ryan couldn’t have been happier if she tried. She was with a great guy who was good to her and they were getting along really well. She knew there would come a point tonight where things could go one way or the other. It was time to let her guard down there, too.

As they pulled into Cody’s driveway, Ryan started to feel nervous again. She knew where things would head tonight, and she wouldn’t stop him. It was time. She really liked Cody, they had made it through their first fight, and more than anything, she wanted to.

Ryan climbed off the bike and removed her helmet and jacket.

“Will you open the garage door? I’ll put her away for the night.” Cody asked.

Ryan walked over and opened the garage, noticing how clean it was. Garages could be complete disaster areas, but this one was well organized and neat. She smiled.

“What?” Cody asked as he pulled the bike in and turned off the engine.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen a garage this clean before,” she answered.

“Oh, yeh. I’m kind of be a neat freak, especially out here. Besides, it makes things easier to find.”

Ryan nodded. “That’s true.”

“You ready to head inside?”

“Sure.”

Cody closed the garage door and led Ryan into the house. They were instantly greeted by Berkley and Wrigley whose tails were going a thousand beats per minute.

“If you want to head in, I’m going to let them out,” Cody said.

“Okay.” Ryan turned and went into the house while Cody, Wrigley and Berkley went out the main door.

The sun had begun to set as she went into the house. She turned on a light in the living room so she could see where she was going. As she took a seat on the couch, she tried to calm herself.

It’s not like you’re losing your virginity or something, calm down!

Wrigley came into the room first and headed right toward Ryan. Berkley quickly followed and went to where Ryan’s unused hand was laying so she could receive her own pets. Ryan put her hands out to pet them both and they stood at her feet, enjoying the attention. She must have been doing a good job because Wrigley lowered himself to the floor and rolled onto his back so she could rub his belly.

“Rolling over for pets,” Cody grinned as he shook his head.

“Are you jealous? Do you want me to rub your belly, too?”

He just laughed. “Yes, please.”

She smirked at him.

“You want to watch a movie?” Cody asked, changing the subject.

“Sure.”

“Whatcha feel like? Action? Comedy?” Cody opened the cabinet under the TV that housed at least a couple hundred movies.

“Wow. Watch movies much?”

“A little. Most of the time I just put them on for background noise while I’m working.”

Ryan gave the dogs one last pet and walked over to the cabinet and sat down. She chuckled to herself as she read some of the titles: “Star Wars,” “Independence Day,” “G.I. Joe.”

“A little predictable, don’t you think?” she teased, nodding at the collection in her hands.

“I’m a guy, what can I say?”

Ryan just chuckled and continued perusing the options.

“You want anything to drink? Soda? Water? A glass of wine?” Cody asked as he made his way to the kitchen.

“A glass of wine would be great, thanks,” she answered, hoping the alcohol would help calm her nerves.

By the time Cody walked back into the living room, Ryan was sitting on the couch and a movie was laying on the coffee table. He set the drinks down and picked up the case.

“’Fast and Furious,’ huh?” he asked.

“What?” she asked. “After being on the bike today, I have an inkling for fast driving.”

Cody nodded slowly. “Is that so?”

“Well, and who wouldn’t want to look at Vin Diesel in American muscle?” she teased.

“Great, now I’m competing with Vin Diesel,” he teased back.

“No, you definitely are not,” she said as she picked up the glass of wine and took a drink. “Thanks for the wine.”

“You’re welcome,” he smiled at her then turned to put the disk in the DVD player. “You need anything else before we get started?” he asked.

He walked over and turned off the light Ryan had turned on earlier. It was still slightly light outside, but it would be dark soon.

“Just for you to come here and sit so I can cuddle with you while we watch,” she grinned and stretched her neck.

“Your neck and shoulders sore?”

“A little.”

“Riding can take some getting used to.”

Cody walked to the back of the couch and laid his hands on Ryan’s shoulders and started to rub. An involuntary moan escaped her lips that made him smile. His thumbs dug perfectly into her neck as he rubbed out the kinks. Ryan’s head fell forward as she relaxed into his touch.

He worked on her shoulders for about ten minutes then slipped off his boots and walked around the coffee table to the other side of the couch.

“Hmm… thank you,” Ryan said with a relaxed smile.

He took a seat, laying one arm on the back of the couch and kicking his feet up to the coffee table. Ryan scooted closer to him on the couch, her head resting against his chest and her feet tucked under her. Cody wrapped his arm around her and pressed play on the remote.

Her relaxed feeling was suddenly gone and Ryan felt like her heart was going to beat out of her chest. She had relaxed while he rubbed her shoulders, but now that she was cuddled in his arms, her nerves returned. She wiggled her body to get comfortable and enjoyed the feel of Cody’s arm wrapped around her. She closed her eyes willing her heart to slow down.

Cody hadn’t been this comfortable in a long time. He was kicked back on the couch with the girl he cared about in his arms. It didn’t get much better than this. He could tell Ryan was feeling a little nervous, but knew as they spent more time together, like they did that day, they would feel more and more comfortable with each other. He had a fleeting thought of how things would work when she had to go back to Charlotte, but he didn’t want to think about that now.

They were about a half hour into the movie when Cody asked, “So you’d really pick Vin Diesel over Paul Walker?”

Ryan turned her head to look at him.

“Why?” she looked at him for a moment then laid her head back on his chest.

“I’m just trying to figure out if I need to go hit the gym for a few thousand hours to bulk up or not.”

“It’s nice to see I’m not the only one that’s self-conscious,” she grinned.

“You,” he said and kissed the top of her head, “have nothing to be self-conscious about. You’re beautiful just as you are.”

She turned her head again to look at him. “You’re not so bad yourself, you know.” They smiled at each other and Ryan laid her head back on his chest.

A short while later, Ryan looked up to ask Cody something and completely forgot the question when she saw him already looking at her.

“Were you just checking me out?” she teased.

“Absolutely.” He answered and raised his hand to her cheek, touching her tentatively. He knew he promised her they’d take it slow, but it was going to take every fiber in his being to stop him from making love to her tonight. And after that kiss earlier today, he wasn’t so sure she hadn’t changed her mind.

He ran his fingers along her shoulder, down her side, along her hip, finally finding her hand and interlaced his fingers with hers.

Completely ignoring the movie, Ryan turned her body so her legs were laying over Cody’s lap and she was facing him. He pulled her to him, one hand resting just above her hip while the other gently turned her face to him.

Ryan loved the feel of being held in Cody’s arms. Her heart raced as she looked into his eyes. They really were the color of milk chocolate.

Cody leaned down and gently brushed his lips over hers. The kisses started to intensify and Ryan started to feel a little breathless.

Cody broke the kiss, looking at her, caressing her face.

“Are you okay?”

She replied with a smile, “I’m so much better than okay.”

“I know we said we’d take it slow, Ryan, but every part of me wants to feel you and touch you.” He ran his hand through her hair, looking into her eyes, finding the courage to ask the question he wanted to ask all day. He didn’t want to push her, but he was sensing she wanted it, too. “Would it be okay if I made love to you tonight?”

Ryan, finally getting out of her head and feeling with her heart instead, slowly nodded her head and put her hand behind his neck, pulling him into her kiss.

Cody ended the kiss and pulled back. He grabbed the remote and the room went dark as the TV and DVD player shut off.

“Slide up on my lap,” he said helping her. When Ryan did, he said, “Now wrap your arms around my neck and hold on tight.”

Ryan held on to him tightly, afraid she was going to be picked up. She was worried about hurting him with her weight.

“What are you doing?”

“Taking you to bed.”

Before she could protest, he wrapped one arm around her waist and slid the other beneath her knees. He stood with ease and Ryan felt herself being carried through the living room toward the hallway.

Once they reached the bedroom, Cody gently set Ryan down, facing the bed. With her arms still around his neck, she smiled really big and said, “No one’s ever done that before.”

“I’d be happy to do it again anytime you’d like,” he replied and kissed her. “You are my precious cargo, after all.”

He raised a hand and softly caressed her cheek as he walked behind her.

He ran his hands along her shoulders and traced the curve of her waist to her hip, finally reaching the hem of her shirt. His fingers crept under the fabric and ran along her stomach. He felt her stiffen.

“Are you okay?”

Ryan sighed quietly and answered, “I’m okay.”

Cody leaned down and kissed her neck. He whispered, “You’re beautiful.”

He continued caressing the soft skin of her stomach and felt her begin to relax. He took the bottom of her shirt in his hands.

“Lift your arms.”

Ryan did, and she felt her shirt slide up, over her head and heard it land softly on the floor.

Cody started on one side and slowly kissed his way across the bare skin of her shoulders. He could see the goose bumps form on her skin and loved that he was the one causing them. His hands found her wrists and began to slowly caress up her arms. When he reached her shoulders, he gently took her bra straps in his fingers and slid them down her arms.

Ryan’s body tingled wherever Cody touched her. She closed her eyes, enjoying the feel of him behind her. His increasing arousal was hard to miss as he pressed into her from behind.

She felt the quick pressure of her bra tighten and then loosen as the two sides fell apart. The fabric fell away from her skin and as she looked down, it fell to the floor.

The rush of cool air against her skin caused her nipples to harden. Cody’s hands glided up her stomach and cupped both breasts gently but firmly. They fit perfectly in his hands. He rubbed his thumbs over her nipples as Ryan rested her head back on his shoulder. She could feel the dampness between her legs.

As he kissed her shoulder one more time, he turned her around to face him.

Ryan’s hands reached out and felt the firmness of his chest. She traced her hands down the ripples of his abs and grabbed the bottom of his shirt. He instinctively lifted his arms as she tried to pull it over his head but she wasn’t tall enough and struggled, causing them both to laugh. Cody helped by pulling the shirt over his head and dropping it to the floor.

Ryan’s hands rested on his shoulders, and she felt the warmth of his skin as she traced down his body and wrapped her arms around him to pull him closer. Her body tingled as her nipples brushed against his chest.

Cody was completely hard now. He was trying desperately to take it slow when all he wanted to do was ravish her. He had never wanted anyone like this, but he was determined to make love to her the way she deserved.

Cody kissed down her neck, across her collarbone, and down the valley between her breasts. Taking a nipple in one hand, he rolled it between his fingers. He teasingly flicked his tongue against the other, making her quiver. He smiled at her reaction. Taking the nipple in his mouth, he ran his tongue over it, sucking lightly.

Ryan moaned softly as her hands ran through his hair.

She felt his hand leave her breast and meet the other at the button of her jeans. He unbuttoned the denim, slid the zipper down and pulled them to her feet. She stepped out of them, kicking them to the side.

He raised his arm and cupped the back of her neck, pulling her to him. He covered her mouth with his and kissed her hungrily.

His eyes met hers as his hands traveled down her body, stopping as he reached her panties. His fingers slipped beneath the waistband.

Cody slid his hand down, beneath the fabric, and searched with his fingers. Her eyes closed as he felt how wet she was. He was rewarded with a quiet moan as he found her incredibly swollen clit.

Ryan unconsciously widened her stance to give him better access.