Wreck Me: An Older Man, Younger Woman Standalone Romance Read online

  This morning, after we went to the hotel so I could check out, and pay the fee for being late to leave because we slept in, I followed Brody back to the house. Once here, he insisted that I unpack my clothes and essentials up in his bedroom. The rest of my belongings will be stored in the guest room. At least, for now.

  “Um, I think I have the portfolio I did for my final last semester somewhere around here,” I answer Brody’s question after I set down the box in my arms on the floor. Pulling off the lid, I thumb through my old class notes and textbooks until I find it.

  “Now, don’t laugh,” I warn him, holding the black binder to my chest protectively. “My professor was this huge perv and I may have failed to turn in a few other assignments during the semester. I needed to ace the final project, so I went with a theme I knew he would thoroughly enjoy.” I hand the book to Brody, nervous about his reaction to my amateur work. He sits down on the foot of the bed and opens up the binder.

  “Wow,” he mutters at the first page. “Boudoir photos, huh?” He looks up with a sexy grin.

  “A few friends volunteered, mostly because they wanted to do something hot for their boyfriends without having to worry that nudes of them would end up out on the internet,” I explain. “They all brought their own outfits and heels. I borrowed a few sets of fake pearls and flowers from the drama department. Then, I flirted with the manager of a swanky hotel back in town to convince him to let me use one of his suites for the shoot.”

  “These are really good, Riley,” Brody says as he flips the pages. “The black and white make the women look flawless, and the touches of red color you added back onto their outfits, lips, and heels is sexy. These in front of the window with the backdrop of the city are really nice. The city out of focus pulls your eye to the woman but makes a nice scene.”

  “Thanks,” I tell him, proud as a peacock that he found something nice to say, rather than tell me I’m awful. “Are you sure you’re not just distracted by the half-naked women, though?” I tease.

  “The women are young and pretty,” he replies, making me scoff. “But they’re not even half as beautiful as you,” he adds, shutting the book and placing it on the bed beside him to reach for my hand. I let him pull me into the V of his spread thighs, and Brody’s palms go to the backs of my legs, working their way up to the shredded hem of my very short jean shorts.

  “I want to do a boudoir shoot of you.” He looks up at me. “I’d take pictures of you in all sorts of sexy positions until I couldn’t take anymore and had to have you.”

  “That sounds fun,” I agree, spearing my fingers in the sides of Brody’s hair before I lean down to kiss his lips. Anxious to get started, I ask, “What do we have planned for the rest of today?”

  “A wedding, unfortunately,” he answers. “But then tomorrow, we have the whole day to ourselves. Boudoir shoot then?”

  “Can’t wait,” I tell him with a smile since I have a few outfits in mind. “So, what should I wear tonight?”

  “Well, since you’re gonna be running around for about five hours with a camera in your hand, I would say dress cool. Like, maybe one of those long dresses, so that when you kneel or bend over, you don’t flash anyone my ass,” Brody says, cupping my ass cheeks that are hanging out the back of my shorts, while I try to catch up with his words.

  “What do you mean, I’ll be running around with a camera? I’m just your assistant.”

  “Yes, and I want you to assist me by being the second photographer tonight,” he says with a grin.

  “Really?” I ask and he nods. “But my camera isn’t that great…”

  “I have plenty of cameras. A few months ago, I upgraded, so you can have my old one.”

  “Okay, but all my photos may suck,” I warn him.

  “Just stay in the background and try to get some candid shots. As long as I don’t photobomb you, they’ll be great.”

  “Easy for you to say,” I reply. “Will you give me some pointers as we go?”

  “Of course. And I think I’m ready to make a point right now,” he says, so cheesy that I laugh, as his hands slide around to the front of my shorts to pop the button and lower the zipper.

  …

  Brody

  I’m incredibly happy Riley is here with me tonight, shooting this wedding, but I had no idea how distracting her presence would be. Instead of focusing on the bride and groom, my eyes keep straying every few minutes, hunting for my dark beauty in the reception hall full of wedding guests.

  Finally, I spot her across the dance floor, taking a picture of the flower girl dancing with a man in a dark suit, maybe even her father. After the flash goes off, Riley holds the camera down to look at the image she just captured. The smile on her face makes her even more gorgeous than usual. She’s really enjoying herself.

  I quickly put my own camera up to my eye and zoom in to snap a shot of her because I’ve never seen her so happy.

  Last night was fucking amazing, and today has been wonderful too. I know it’s just the beginning, but I can already tell that Riley and I together is going to be something incredible. Having her around again brightens my world in a way I’ve never experienced before. She may be twenty years younger than me, but I’m starting to think she could be my soulmate, the missing piece of me that I’ve been searching for my whole life.

  And for the first time since Holly left me and took our daughter with her, I actually get it. This feeling, this passion I have for Riley was missing in our marriage. Holly and I were best friends, we loved each other, but in the end, it just wasn’t enough, for either of us. This bone-deep connection between Riley and me is what Holly left me to try and find. I didn’t understand what she was missing, and for all these years, I’ve blamed myself for not being able to give Holly what she needed to convince her to stay with Sara.

  Now I know she wasn’t just looking for a friend or a lover. She wanted…more. She wanted someone to fill the emptiness within her, and that just wasn’t possible for me to do. We tried to find a fit but our two puzzle pieces couldn’t be forced together, no matter how many ways we turned them, or how hard we jammed them together.

  Riley holds the piece of me I didn’t know I was missing. I’m acutely aware of it now, so much so that if I lose her again, I’ll be left with a gaping hole inside of me.

  It may not be easy, but somehow, someway, I’ll have to make Sara understand how important Riley is to me. Letting her go again is just not an option.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Riley

  Monday morning, Brody and I get up bright and early, feeling refreshed and relaxed from our lazy Sunday we spent in bed and lounging on the beach. He did end up snapping about two boudoir photos of me before he attacked me, ripping off his white dress shirt I was wearing, with nothing underneath but a black thong.

  Everything between us feels so perfect and easy. Even sharing my simple, boring morning routine with Brody is nice. I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of having him around.

  Back in the studio, I spend most of the day using my laptop I brought with me to edit the pictures I took from the wedding, until the afternoon, when Miss Universe comes in to go over her proofs with Brody.

  He told me more about Maryanne yesterday. They only dated for a few weeks, nothing serious, and a kiss on the cheek was the most action they had together.

  Thank fuck.

  I still don’t like her, especially around Brody. That’s why I’m in his office, dusting, when she comes in Monday afternoon. The framed photo on his desk is me, and there’s also one of Sara and his ex-wife he’s been talking to me about.

  This time it was Brody’s turn to turn red in the face with embarrassment when I asked him about the photo. He was so smug when he mentioned he knew I had his photo as my screensaver, that I had to tease him a little. The fact is, I’m floored that he even thought about me after I went home that week. Not only did he think of me, he looked at me, pretty much every day for weeks. And while I take decent photos most of the ti
me, none of my selfies or pics with friends are even half as stunning as the one Brody took. He turned me into one of his prized subjects and that makes me ridiculously happy.

  “I have you all set up for a booth at the fundraiser on the twenty-seventh,” the beauty queen tells Brody, after she takes an hour to narrow down which of her perfect images she wants to use for fall advertising.

  “Great,” Brody replies. “And we can start setting up at eight that morning?”

  “That’s right. Is your giveaway for the raffle still a family photo shoot?”

  “Yeah, if you think that’s enough?” he asks her.

  “You already have your sexy photo up for auction on the website, and we have the eight by tens to sell. I think you’ve done plenty, darling,” she gushes, reaching up to rub his shoulder and give it a firm squeeze.

  “Oh! I have an idea,” Brody says suddenly, stepping back out of the queen’s reach to turn to me, causing her greedy hand to fall away from him. “Riley, why don’t you offer a boudoir shoot?” he asks me with a smile.

  “I’m not that good,” I tell him.

  “Yes, you are. Maryanne, sign up Riley Yates for a private boudoir shoot here in the studio.”

  “Are you sure?” she asks, the look on her face appearing less than impressed with his enthusiasm directed toward me. In that case, sign me up!

  “Yeah, let’s do it,” I agree.

  “Riley will be at my table helping out,” Brody tells the woman. “Oh, and I guess I should go ahead and make it public that she’s also my girlfriend.”

  The real estate beauty’s jaw falls open, almost comically, and I have to bite back my grin. Finally recovering, she eyes me quickly and then glances back at Brody. “I had no idea you were serious with anyone. I wish you would have just told me so at dinner Wednesday night.”

  Oh, you little bitch. She just had to throw that out there to make me jealous. Well, little does she know, we weren’t even together last week, and Brody has already told me the extent of their relationship. It took all of two sentences.

  “We just…reunited this weekend after a few weeks apart,” Brody replies coolly, coming over to wrap his arm around my shoulders. “And she’s the reason I wasn’t able to move on with anyone else.”

  Pulling her expression back to a smiley, happy one, Maryanne says, “Well, good for you. I never would have guessed you two were an item based on the obvious age difference.”

  Her words may be somewhat nice but they’re laced with venom. I smile at her, conveying my own message. Sorry, blondie but he’s taken. Now keep your hands off my man unless you want me to break them.

  “I need to get going, but thanks again for your help, Brody. See you both in a few weeks.”

  “See you then,” Brody replies. “I’ll bring your printed photos and disc with me.”

  “Great!” she calls out as she disappears down the hall, and then the jingle notifies us of her departure.

  Thank God.

  “She took that well,” I mutter.

  “I like telling people you’re my girlfriend,” Brody says with a grin.

  “You just enjoy shocking them,” I tease.

  “That too,” he agrees, leaning down to kiss my lips. “You about ready to head home?”

  “Definitely,” I tell him, since no place has ever felt more like home than being with Brody.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Brody

  The Saturday morning of the fundraiser, Riley and I are up early, grabbing a quick breakfast before we head out. It’s crazy how she’s only been here for a few weeks and it already feels like longer because we’re so comfortable together, even with the routine things like getting ready in the mornings, fixing meals, and simply spending downtime together. I love having Riley with me, just a glance or touch away every day and night. Over the years, living and working alone, I hadn’t realized just how much I missed someone else’s company.

  And then at night, the sex is just as passionate as it was the very first night, when being with Riley was so new, forbidden, and exciting. I’m certain that I’ll never get enough of her, no matter how many times I have her. While we’re at the fundraiser today, I know I’ll be counting down the hours until I can bring her back to bed.

  We pull up at the park right at eight a.m. to start setting up our booth with brochures and photo magnets of the ocean, all with my logo and phone number, to hand out. Maryanne is in charge of selling my stack of half-naked photos and she comes over to our tent right away with wrapped boxes under each of her arms. She’s on the ‘Save our Shores’ committee and the head of this particular fundraiser.

  “Good morning. I have your raffle boxes,” she says with a broad smile, setting the boxes down on the table, each labeled on the front with our particular giveaways. “Participants can buy as many raffle tickets as they want, then they fill them out with their name and contact information. As they walk around to each of the tables, they’ll put their tickets in the containers for any prizes they want to try and win.” Reaching in her pants pocket, she pulls out a roll of tickets. “Here are a few extras if someone runs out and needs to buy more from you. They’re a dollar a piece.”

  “Great, thanks, Maryanne,” I tell her as I take the offered tickets. “The weather looks perfect today so hopefully we’ll have a big turnout.”

  “I hope so,” she agrees as she starts to walk away. “Oh, and I wanted to let you know that the bidding for your canvases close tonight. We’re up to around a thousand each.”

  “Wow,” I mutter as my eyebrows raise in surprise. “That’s…great.”

  Once she’s out of sight, Riley, who was staying busy arranging brochures, says, “I bet she bought one. She’s looks pretty damn desperate to see you mostly naked.”

  “You’re not jealous, are you?” I tease, going behind her to wrap my arms around her waist and kiss her bare shoulder revealed by her simple, blue spaghetti strap dress.

  “What? Jealous of her? God, no. She’s hideously ugly and ancient,” Riley jokes before she turns around to face me. “Seriously, though, I can’t believe you didn’t hit that. You have incredible restraint, which must have been quite a blow to her ego.”

  “I think she’ll get over it,” I tell her with a quick kiss before I reach down to slap her ass. “Now get back to work before you make me break my restraint right here in the middle of the park.”

  “Yes, sir,” she replies, flashing me a grin before she kisses me and turns back around to arrange the table.

  …

  Five hours later, and Riley and I are hot, tired, and ready to leave. The fundraiser was a great success and both of us had lots of interest in our two giveaways. Maybe hers more than mine.

  “You know,” I start. “I think you got more entries than me.”

  “No way,” she replies with a smile as she piles up the brochures. “And the only reason I had so many was because it’s not every day you find someone to take pictures of you in your panties.”

  “I would let you take pictures of me in my panties,” I joke. “But really” – my tone turns serious – “I think boudoir could be a big draw. How would you feel about offering them regularly?”

  “You just want to see women walking around your studio in lingerie,” she accuses through narrowed blue eyes.

  “I’m serious, and if you want, you could schedule the shoots after hours, when I’m not even there.”

  “I guess I could do it for free, to get some experience,” she says with a shrug of her shoulders.

  “No, you can charge for your services, Riley. It doesn’t have to be my rates, but you’re talented, and you should get paid for it.”

  “Maybe,” she replies with a smile.

  “While you’re packing up, I’ll take the boxes and the cash from the raffle tickets over to Maryanne, so we can leave.”

  “Sure,” Riley agrees. “Just make sure she keeps her claws out of you.”

  “Will do,” I reply with a chuckle before I head to Maryanne
’s table, in the main tent near the park’s entrance. She’ll take care of drawing a winner and then notifying everyone of the prizes in the next few days.

  “We’re heading out,” I tell her as I set the boxes down in the line with the rest being turned in. “It was a great event.”

  “Yeah, it was,” she agrees, as she comes around from behind her table to stand in front of me. “Thanks again for your help, and hopefully you’ll get a few customers too.”

  “Hopefully,” I agree.

  “So, you’re really serious about this girl?” she asks, nodding over to my table that’s off in the distance.

  “Ah, yeah, I am,” I answer honestly. “We’re living together so it doesn’t get much more serious than that.”

  “Only if there’s a wedding and babies,” Maryanne replies. “I guess that’s why I still can’t get over my shock that you’re dating someone so much younger.”

  My shoulders tense defensively at her comment.

  “Why not?” I ask, even though I’m certain she’s just jealous that things didn’t work out between us. “Riley’s beautiful and sweet. We have a lot in common.”

  “Right, but I thought you were adamant about not wanting any more kids.”

  “Oh,” I mutter, glancing over to the table where Riley is cleaning up. While I’m watching her, she glances up and smiles, her blue eyes going right to where I’m standing, like she knew I was watching her.

  Does she want kids? We haven’t even talked about that yet, but we should have. I was so concerned about the issue of Sara finding out about us that I didn’t stop to think about what a future with Riley would actually be like.

  “Surely a girl as young as her will want them. I mean, maybe not when she’s this young, but when she’s in her early thirties. By then, you’ll be…” Maryanne trails off.