Page 6 of Reclaiming Kendall

"It's completely ridiculous," I tell her. "Old stupid superstitions."

"Stupid or not," she replies, turning her nose up to the air, "It's still said to be bad luck for the husband to see the wife before the ceremony on the wedding day, and you've got four, not one, chances of bad luck. Do you really want to start out your marriage tempting fate that way?"

I laugh, almost spewing water all over the table in the process and it makes her giggle. I've long since learned that it's best to pick battles with Ry, because nine times out of ten, you'll lose them, anyway, if it's something she hardcore believes in.

"Guess that means you'll have to get all your nookie tonight," she says with a quick wiggle of her eyebrows.

I stopped being embarrassed with her a long time ago. We actually started making it a challenge to see who could embarrass who first, which is why I return, "Four men, Ry. I get my nookie every night. I wouldn't be surprised if they show up at some point tomorrow night."

She giggles, but has no shame for our conversation, "I wouldn't take a bet on that to save my life."

We turn our chat back towards the wedding since Ry is, obviously, not going to tell me what's going on with her and Logan. I don't want to pry, especially when it's something that's important enough for both of them to be upset. Looks like I won't be getting answers at least until after the wedding, anyway.

Later, as the five of us sit downstairs after dinner, I remind the guys about what Ryleigh said at lunch.

"Man," Teagan complains, "I didn't think she was serious about that."

Mav's glasses have been pushed to the top of his head as he looks over to where I sit between Teagan and Goose on the couch, "Is this something that you want to do?"

I shrug, "It's not important, no. But I don't want bad luck, either." Lucas opens his mouth to reply, but I beat him to it, "Yes, I know it's all just old superstitions, but it's better safe than sorry, right? Besides, it's not like I'm going to be that far away."

"Does that mean we can sneak in your window in the middle of the night?" Teagan asks playfully.

Trying to act nonchalant, I shrug again, "If you think you can manage, then I'm not going to complain, because technically, you'll be sneaking into your room. Since that's where I'll be sleeping."

The last time I slept in there was during college, and the guys had, had a game on the other coast. Ry and I had a sleepover, but I stayed in Teagan's room. When he called to tell me goodnight, we ended up having some of the best phone sex ever. I would wonder if that's where his thoughts have taken him as well, but there's no doubt when his expression changes.

He jumps up off the couch, "I guess if we aren't going to have you tomorrow, then we need to get enough loving in tonight for both nights." Long blond hair tickles my face as he leans down to pick me up and throw me over his shoulder, fireman style. A short squeak leaves me, but out of surprise, not fear. I know he won't drop me. Wrapping my arms around him from the back, I feel the hard planes of his side and ab muscles flex beneath my arms and fingers. It makes me want to replace them with my tongue.

"I'm going to need you to hurry up and get us upstairs," I smile against his back.

He chuckles and takes the steps two at a time. Close to size with Goose, it's nothing for his long legs, even with my added weight. It helps that he stays in really good shape. It's easier for him than it is any of them since he took a job at their old prep school as the head football coach and does all of the drills with the kids he coaches. That’s also a reason our wedding had to be planned for June. We had to do it before or after the season. I wasn't going to make him choose one way or the other. Not after he turned down going pro for us. Yes, it landed him an even bigger dream of a job, he says. None of us wanted the life that any of them going pro would've brought, not even him. Too much publicity and spotlight.

Getting lost in my thoughts, has me not realizing we're in his and Goose's room until we're standing at his bed. He flips me over his shoulder to lay me down in front of him. I want to ask why he brought me in here instead of going to my room, but I don't. I raise up on my elbows to watch him dig through their walk-in closet until he finally shouts in triumph. When he walks back out, I toss my head back with a laugh. Though, it's short-lived since he takes my hand to yank me back up and out the door.

We're in my room in a couple of quick steps, and as he turns to face me, I jump into his waiting arms. My lips close over his as I thread my fingers through his hair. He went through a phase last year where he almost shaved his head. Thankfully, I talked him out of it, and he was grateful for it later, even if some of the kids on his team have taken to calling him Sunshine. Much to Goose’s amusement, of course.

He walks us across the room until my ass finds the top of my dresser. I tear my shirt off and toss it on the floor, anticipating what he's wanting. With one last kiss, he slips his old high school jersey over my head before stepping back to admire it.

"It's been awhile, huh?" I ask him.

His lips turn up into his playful smile, "It sure has, but not a single thing has changed. You're still just as sexy in it now as you were then. You know I was just goofing yesterday with Mav, right?" he asks, coming to stand back between my knees.

"I love you so much, my sexy lady."

"I know you were," I tell him, throwing my arms back around his shoulders and wrapping my legs around his waist. "Even if your balls get old and saggy, I'll still love them and you."

He barks out a laugh before claiming my lips with a smile still on his. When he pulls away with the grin still plastered on his face, his eyes go soft losing their playfulness, "You know, what feels like forever ago in that restaurant, if someone would've told me that we'd be standing here as a result, I'd have told them that they're fucking nuts."

"Would you go back and change anything if you could?" I ask him, arms wrapped around his shoulders.

He leans down until our foreheads are pressed together as he softly growls, "Not a goddamn thing."

I'm more than okay with that answer. Locking my fingers behind his neck, I pull his lips back to mine and arch my body into him. He takes control of the kiss, angling my head back. His tongue glides over the top of my mouth making me shiver. As if that is the cue he's waiting on, Teagan pulls me off the dresser and turns us to start backing me up towards the bed. My calves brush against it, but he doesn't let me fall.

Dropping to his knees, his hands skim up the sides of my legs as he buries his face into the material of the jersey at my stomach. The rough feel of his hands against my skin has me clutching at his shoulders as my head falls back. This must be the reason why cats purr, because I swear to God that's what I feel like doing.

My head snaps back up when I feel his fingers slip into the lace at my hips. He waits until our eyes are locked before replacing one side with his teeth. Then without looking away, he drags the lace down my legs making sure to keep his lips a hair’s breadth away from touching. It's just enough to leave me with chill bumps across my body.

---