A North Carolina Autumn - Chapter 52: Chapter 52

"I got something." Rylie says as she breaks away, and I pout. "I'll kiss you again in a minute." She laughs, reaching for the bag she'd set aside.
"Thank you." I giggle as she opens a small box. "You had every right to be upset with me for hiding this from you, and yet, you've been understanding and loving."
"I'll never be anything but loving and understanding with you, Aspen. I would never be upset, especially not with something like this. I am sorry though, for how I was yesterday. I was hurt and closed myself off instead of communicating with you. I shouldn't have been like that."
"Hey," I place my hand on hers. "You had every right to be. Although, I will admit, I was worried about you last night. And this morning when you were gone." I give her a small smile.
"Yeah, I was stupid for that. And it was cold as hell, but I deserved that." She giggles. "But this morning, I went to the store." I glance down as Rylie opens the lid of a small tube. "I know it's been several days, but I still wanted to help you take care of them." She leans down, softly kissing each cut before showing me what she got. "I was lost, I didn't know what to do or how to help you. So I went to the store and got a few things to help with the cuts. I also got your favorite ice cream, candy, and a big soft blanket so that we can cuddle while watching your favorite movie."
"Divergent?" I ask softly, stunned by Rylie's thoughtfulness.
"Divergent." She responds with a grin.
"You didn't have to do all of that, Ry."
"I know, but I kinda did have to. Well, I wanted to." She corrects herself with a smile. "When I married you, I promised to love you and help you through anything and everything. I want to help you through everything, Aspen. It's an added bonus that most of your favorite things are my favorite things." She giggles. "Another favorite thing of mine is taking care of you."
Rylie pours a small dot of Neosporin onto her index finger before smoothing it carefully over my wrist. Next, she opens a gauze pad and sets it gently over the cuts before finishing with a gauze wrap to hold everything in place. "There." She smiles softly, studying her work.
"Thank you, Rylie." I whisper, trying to blink the tears from my eyes. No one has ever loved or treated me like this, and here Rylie was, doing it all so easily.
"I want to take care of you, Aspen. Always. I need you to know that I'll never be disappointed about anything like this. Granted, it hurts my heart to think of you hurting yourself, but I also know that relapses are part of the healing process. I want to do anything I can to help you keep from relapsing again, but I'll also be here to take care of you if there's ever another moment where it's too much to handle." Tears form in Rylie's eyes and I drop my gaze.
"I don't want to relapse again, Ry." I whisper.
"I know, baby." She whispers, lifting my chin. "Be kind and patient with yourself. And forgiving, because I know that even though you're extremely kind, patient and forgiving with everyone else in your life, it's sometimes hard for you to be that way with yourself." Rylie gives me a sad smile as she lightly brushes a tear from my cheek.
"No one has ever been able to help me see the good things in myself the way you have, Ry." I say quietly, absentmindedly rubbing the new bandage.
"There's only good to see." She says simply before kissing my forehead.
"I love you, Rylie. I love your patience and understanding, too."
"You make it really easy." Rylie smiles.
"Can we..." I pause and reach for the pile of letters. "Can we do something about these? I don't want to have access to them since I apparently can't trust myself." I laugh.
"Ah! I'm glad you brought that up!" Rylie grins as she pulls something from her pocket. "I grabbed this while I was in the kitchen. I may have been seeing red after reading those letters..." She explains, showing me the lighter in her palm.
"You have the best ideas when you're seeing red." I grin, understanding instantly.
"So you're in?" Rylie questions.
"In on burning the letters I wrote to Gabe that I should've thrown away a long time ago?"
"Mmhm." Rylie giggles.
"There's nothing I want to do more." I smile as I hand Rylie the pile of letters. "And I'd love for you to do the honors."
It's hard for me not to feel some emotion as I stare at the pile of ash once the letters are burned. The letters had contained my words and feelings, things I had been feeling and thinking while I was with Gabe. Even though they had been things from the past, it was still hard to let them go.
"It feels like my past is out to get me." I say softly to Ry.
"I think it's just jealous of the life you've created for yourself. Maybe it doesn't like the promise of how amazing and beautiful your future is going to be."
I turn to Rylie, slightly surprised. "Some of the things you say belong in a book. But it has right to be jealous. I mean, look at my wife." I say, my eyes slowly traveling over Rylie.
"Don't look at me like that..." Rylie swallows hard.
"Like what?" I tilt my head, feigning innocence.
"Like that. Like you know things."
"I do know things. For example, I know what you're feeling." I say as I pull her to the couch.
"Oh yeah?" Rylie challenges. "What's that?"
"Desire. That's what I can see in your eyes. I see hunger in the way you're gently biting your lip, waiting for mine to make contact. I know what you're craving based on the way you're shifting. You're shifting because of the growing feeling between your legs. And, if I'm not wrong, the growing wetness between your legs. Am I wrong?" I purr, bringing my lips to Rylie's neck.
"N-no..." She gasps, dropping her head back as I kiss her.
"Good." I push her down onto the couch and slip my body between her legs, pressing my thigh against the spot she wanted it most.
"Fuck, Aspen..." She moans, moving her hips against my thigh. "I'm supposed to be spoiling you."
"You can," I grin. "Later."
Rylie laughs, but that quickly changes to a moan when I replace my thigh with my hand. A pleased smirk slips onto my face as my fingers make contact with her wet center, and satisfaction flows through me as Rylie continues to moan in response to my touch.
"I need to feel all of you." She begs, her wide eyes filled with a look that only turns me on more. We quickly help each other with removing our clothes, not stopping until there's nothing left and we're skin to skin. My favorite feeling.
I stop for a moment, wanting to memorize Rylie as she lays beneath me, her perfect skin like heaven against mine. "You are beautiful." I say, softly brushing a lock of hair behind her ear. "Beautiful in every single way."
Rylie responds by pulling me down, pressing her lips firmly to mine. I nearly melt as she kisses me, still unsure of how she manages to make me feel so much simply with her lips. "Touch me." She gasps, and I waste no time in giving her what she wants.
Rylie arches her back as I slip two fingers inside of her, and I begin pumping slowly. I use my palm as additional stimulation, enjoying the moans Rylie rewards me with.
"I love your noises." I whisper into her ear before pressing my lips back to her neck, not worrying about the mark it'll leave. Rylie's moans assure me that she doesn't mind if there's a mark, either.
"You earn every single noise with the way you make me feel. Rylie responds breathlessly.
"Yeah?" I pause to look at her. "How do I make you feel?"
"Like my body is your favorite thing. You make me feel so good."
"You are my favorite thing." I reply with a soft smile. "All of you, not just your body."
Rylie's blushes, her cheeks reddening. "How do you go from turning me on to making me feel emotional with your sweet words?" She questions, cupping my cheek.
"It's a talent." I reply with a grin before lowering my mouth to hers, continuing my hand movements.
My lips move to Rylie's neck and she sighs into my ear as her back arches. "And there you go again, bringing everything back to the throbbing between my legs."
"Don't worry, I'm planning on taking care of that."
"Please." Rylie begs, and I don't wait any longer. I begin moving my fingers faster, enjoying the way Rylie's nails dig into my back.
"I'm close, Aspen." She gasps after several moments. "But I want to come with you." She doesn't give me a chance to respond before flipping me over, taking her turn on top. It's my turn to moan as her fingers slip between my legs, moving against my swollen nerves that had been craving her touch.
"Does that feel good, baby?" Rylie asks, her eyes hungry as she watches me.
"Yes," I gasp, struggling to keep my body in control. I kiss Rylie hard as the pressure builds in my stomach, bringing me closer to the edge. I start moving my fingers against her again, knowing it won't take long for either of us at this rate.
"Come with me, baby." I whisper as my legs tighten around Rylie.
"Fuck," Rylie moans as pleasure courses through her. She kisses me as we climax together, and the feel of her lips on mine only intensifies my own pleasure.
As we finish, Rylie holds me in her arms, lightly tracing my tiny tattoo with her finger.
"Have I ever mentioned how much I love cuddling afterwards?" I say softly, watching Rylie.
"Hmm... I think so, but please go on." Rylie grins.
"I mean, I obviously love the sex."
"I would be worried if you didn't." Rylie cuts in, and I giggle.
"You are really good at what you do." I assure her. "But I also really love the innocence of just being able to hold you, skin to skin. Being able to be with you in this way after the..." I pause, trying to figure out the best wording. "Intense feelings of pleasure, almost lengthens how long I feel everything. I don't know how to explain it." I finish with a giggle.
"No, I get it." Rylie smiles. "I think sometimes, people view sex as a thing to do before moving with their day. It's almost pointless to them, just a quick way to get that release before getting on with more important things to them." She pauses as she brushes my hair behind my ear. "I'm really glad it's not like that with us. Anything physical with you is so important to me, especially the innocent after sex cuddling." She grins.
"You always word things better than me." I laugh. "But you said it perfectly. I could lay like this with you for as long as you'd let me."
"Good thing we have nothing else to do today but spoil you!" Rylie says excitedly as she reaches for the remote and the new blanket. She pulls it over us before snuggling close to me again. "Ooh, we should be naked under soft blankets more often!" She sighs, and I laugh.
"How about all the time?" I agree, lifting the blanket to peek beneath. "Because I really don't mind seeing this all day every day."
"Hey!" Rylie giggles as she tries to pull the blanket back down.
"Fine," I smirk, shrugging. "I guess I'll just have to let my hands do the seeing."
Rylie laughs as I cup her breasts, trying to keep her focus on turning on Divergent. "Only if I can do the same."
"Please." I grin. "After everything you've done for me today, you can do anything you want."
Rylie smiles, her gaze softening. "I just want to love you." She presses her lips to mine as the movie starts, and I realize once again how lucky I am to be hers.