Rei’s Point of View
The gentle breeze rustled my sundress while I stood by his motorcycle. The sun's warmth caressed my skin, and I found solace in his company. His face was hidden behind the helmet he never seemed to remove, yet he lifted the visor to reveal his sparkling, captivating hazel eyes. I returned the gesture with a sweet smile, my blue eyes reflecting my happiness with him. Amid my chaotic life, X brought a sense of tranquility and serenity that I couldn't find elsewhere.
We stood together, silently watching the sunrise, our hands intertwined. I yearned to hear his deep, resonant voice, which always touched my soul. But in this dream, he was silent, not saying a word. X had a gift for making me smile and sharing improbable stories that held me captive. He believed I needed more laughter to rid my soul of sadness and affirm my inner and outer beauty. In my dreams, X always made me laugh and feel like the most beautiful woman in the world. I wished with all of my heart he would say something, it would give me a tiny piece of comfort to hold onto when I woke up.
I used to dread sleeping until Grace came back into my life. My dreams were nightmares, replaying how stupid and naive I was for not realizing what my life was truly like. I never felt valued or loved by Greg. I felt disposable, easily replaced and forgotten, and my children were treated the same.
But the night after Grace reappeared suddenly when I needed her the most, I started to dream about X, a mysterious biker whose face I never saw but who somehow made me feel safe and precious. My children never appeared in my dreams; it was always just X and me. My favorite dreams were the ones where I held on tightly to him as he rode through our small town so fast that it felt like we were flying, and nothing else mattered. I knew he wasn't real, just an image my mind had created based on the romance novels I read. Someone like him couldn't exist in our small town. Our paths would have crossed at one point if he did.
A banging on the door jarred me from my sleep, and I groaned, pulling the pillow over my head. When did my eldest get so responsible?
“Five more minutes, Shiloh! You don’t have to be there for another hour!” I groaned, hoping she would just be a kid and return to bed.
“Mom, I have a test today and want to be there early to review my notes with my friends. I’ve already woken up Onyx and Salem,” my loving, irritatingly responsible daughter said on the other side of the bedroom door.
That was enough to get me up and rushing downstairs. Leaving Onyx and Salem unattended in the kitchen was a disaster waiting to happen. While I cherished my sleep and the man who filled my dreams, at that moment, the thought of avoiding a day spent deep cleaning the kitchen was more pressing.
I hastily tied my long hair in a messy bun, arranged bowls and spoons on the kitchen table, and placed the cereal boxes there. When I checked the milk to see if it was still cold, I wondered if Shiloh had taken it out to be helpful or if one of my mischievous kids had left it out overnight. Thankfully, the milk was still cold when I touched it, and I felt relieved. With groceries being costly, we couldn't afford to waste anything.
I sighed as I started the coffee, watching the dark roast drip into the pot while I reflected on how blessed I was. Being a single mom to three kids wasn't easy, but they were good kids, and we made it work. Just the thought of his name made me cringe. Although Greg gave me three beautiful children, the memories with him were filled with regret.
I only understood the situation's depth when it was too late. The names I selected for my kids may have hinted at my inner turmoil and the superficial nature of my marriage. Shiloh, Onyx, Salem. Each child was born a year apart. SOS. Fuck my life back then, it was hell, and I didn’t even know it.
Surprisingly, none of my friends or family attended the wedding, leading me to believe it was my fault for years. It wasn't until after our divorce that I discovered Greg had sent messages to all of them from my phone, falsely claiming that I wanted to sever ties with them and start anew with him. He had erased the messages from my sent folder, leaving me unaware of his deceit. It was only when I unexpectedly met Grace again, at a coffee shop with my three young children, a broken-down car, and a shattered life, that I learned the truth.
Grace roared with laughter when I introduced my children to her, and I looked at my old friend in shock. Why would she laugh at little kids? But then she pointed out what the first letter of their names stood for, and I wished there was something stronger in my double-double dark roast from Tim’s. Grace kissed my head and hugged me tightly, saying she had missed me, and we’d get through this together.
I poured my morning coffee into a cup and smiled wistfully at the memory as chaos unfolded around me. With Grace's help, I was able to rebuild my life and start anew. I returned to school part-time, completed my nursing degree, and found a job at the local hospital. Although the hours were not ideal, the pay was good, and the benefits made up for working odd hours. My life revolved around my job, my kids, and trying to find time to see my friends. I didn't date, but I found solace in the company of book characters.
At 35, did I imagine my life looking like this? Three kids, divorced, and working part-time as a nurse at a hospital? To be honest, I'm not sure. I went through the motions for so long that I didn't know any other way. Grace tried to set me up on dates, but I always found an excuse not to go. Sometimes, I received compliments and unsolicited attention, but I always smiled and ran away as fast as possible. Sometimes literally, depending on the situation. I didn't want a relationship; I didn't see the point. It always ended in heartbreak anyway. Besides, I had waited for the "one," look how that turned out.
I herded my crew into the car and dropped each one off at school. I was working the evening shift, and Shiloh had promised to watch her brothers for me. I was lucky my daughter was a responsible and trustworthy kid, even if she woke me up before I was ready to say goodbye to X in my dreams. Sadly, the only man who has ever made me feel loved and wanted is just a product of my imagination.
Rei’s Point of View“Grace, I’ve got to go. The house won’t clean itself and there are no children here right now to completely undo everything I’ve done. If I'm fortunate, I might have a few minutes to savor the tranquility and cleanliness before heading to work," I chuckled wryly.“A home with children isn’t supposed to be spotless. Tidy? Yes. But spotless, absolutely not,” Grace groaned.No wonder she was the cool aunt; I knew she was right, but it was still nice to have a clean home. Sigh.“Rei, you promised us we could celebrate your birthday. Your birthday was a month ago,” Grace reminded me.“I’ve been busy,” I muttered.Truthfully, I didn't want to go out. I had been to the club with Grace before, and it was enjoyable, but she was always trying to set me up with someone.“I won’t try to set you up with anyone this time if you go,” Grace pleaded."Shiloh said she would babysit too if I paid her," Grace added hopefully. "You could crash at my place, like old times. Please? It'll
Xavier’s Point of ViewIt was funny until it wasn’t. But OMG, it was hilarious at the time! The nurse at the desk, a gorgeous woman in her 40s, struggled to keep a straight face as Matt explained what we were doing and how our friend ended up here. Thankfully, we hadn't taken our bikes today, and I could drive the four of us to the hospital.“Just to be clear, the three of you decided to wear garbage bags, soap yourselves up, run, and slide down a grassy hill while your friend filmed this because ….” the hot nurse’s voice trailed off.“It was free, fun, and at the time didn’t think anyone would get hurt,” Lillianna responded in a bored tone.“I’m going to get coffee for us. I think it will be a long night,” my best friend sighed.“Oh, and I like the black dress,” Lillianna grinned, pointing at the nurse’s open laptop beside her.“I know, right? It’s perfect for my friend. I’m helping her pick out an outfit to celebrate her birthday. Okay, handsome, we’ve got the beautiful lady’s opini
Grace’s Point of View"They filmed that!" I chuckled with my friend as we recalled the events leading to her visit to the hospital where Rei was on duty that night."Rei still looks stunning despite everything she's been through. I had high hopes that Greg would give her the world, not bring it crashing down," Lillianna lamented."He was a good-looking man with potential. They created three awesome kids, even with the unique names Rei chose," I nodded in agreement."How did she never catch on?" Lillianna burst into laughter, joining me in amusement."Rei was deeply in love, or what she believed was love. I wonder if she'll ever allow herself to fall again," I whispered.I took on a job to befriend Rei. She needed new friends because her old ones were moving away for university. I saw this as an opportunity to take classes at a post-secondary institution and make some money in the process. If I could become Rei's friend and help her make new connections, I would fulfill the purpose of
I texted Mary once I got home, having locked the door and turned off the light Shiloh had left on for me. Working with a wonderful coworker like Mary, even though she liked to tease me, was a stroke of luck. It meant a lot that she cared enough to check if I got home safely every time we worked an evening shift together.I never did drink the iced coffee the attractive man had kindly purchased. Although his gesture was thoughtful, I was hesitant since I didn't know him. On the other hand, Mary had no problem enjoying the mini donuts he had bought for us during the rest of our shift. After I politely declined, she even took the remaining ones home to share with her husband. I had packed a sandwich, an apple, and a water bottle for my break, which suited me just fine. Looking back, it was good that the coffee spilled; otherwise, I might have stayed up late reading when I got home.I replayed the unexpected compliment and felt myself blushing just thinking about it. While it wasn't the f
Rei’s Point of ViewI smoothed out my long blonde hair and finished applying my makeup. I liked to keep it natural and simple, and tonight was no exception. Following Grace’s advice, I took a thorough shower and shaved everywhere. I put on a black lace thong and matching bra, then slipped into sheer thigh-highs and my new black dress. Just as I finished getting ready, there was a knock on the door. I quickly glanced around the room to ensure everything was tidy and opened the door.“Mom, you look pretty,” Shiloh smiled at me.“Are you nervous?” she asked shyly.I nodded. My sweet, perceptive daughter knew me well. There was no point hiding that I was.“Just be yourself. It’s been so long since you’ve gone out with your friends, and I know that Auntie Grace will keep you safe and make sure you have fun,” Shiloh reassured me.“Isn’t this a conversation I should have with you?” I chuckled.“Probably, but I’m happy to read and hang out with my friends here, Mom. I’m not into parties, you
Xavier’s Point of ViewRei looked even hotter in that dress than I had imagined she would. It hugged her curves in all the right places, and with her long blonde hair down like that, all I could think about was how it would feel to have my hands in it as she had her mouth on me.“Hey, isn’t that the hot nurse?” Matt whispered as his eyes widened.“Wow, she’s gorgeous,” Tom added, enjoying the view. Fucker.“Are we playing pool, or what?” Lillianna groaned, annoyed at being ignored.I looked at my best friend and sighed. Yeah, she was jealous. I nodded and lined up my cue, taking my shot and pocketing three striped balls.“Awesome shot! I didn’t think you’d be able to sink those,” Lillianna praised me. She was genuinely impressed, and I smiled. It was a tricky shot, so I did appreciate her noting that.I was lining up for my next shot when I looked up and saw Rei standing with a woman who seemed to know Lillianna right across the pool table from me. I ended up scratching, not hitting a
Rei’s Point of View“That’s the mysterious man from the hospital, right?” Grace grinned.I nodded. He was even more handsome than I remembered, and when his eyes met mine, I didn't bolt like I usually would have. I wanted to talk to him if only I could remember how to speak.“Rei? Do you want to talk to him?” Grace asked, looking at me carefully, all teasing from her face gone.I nodded again. I still couldn’t talk. How would this work if I couldn’t articulate a single word to my best friend right now?“Well, I can assure you that what Mary said is true. Lillianna is with him; if that girl was with him last night, she is his best friend. Lillianna is also one of my oldest and dearest friends,” Grace grinned.Lillianna was one of Grace’s friends. Why was she never mentioned before?“They run in different circles. They are all very, very single,” Grace explained knowingly.Oh, that explained it. I could entertain learning how to flirt and enjoying a man’s company with this handsome man.
Xavier’s Point of ViewI thought I had Rei Draven figured out. When our paths first crossed, I was fascinated with her name. It was beautiful, mysterious, and something I wanted to know about… much like her. The name Rei meant "beautiful" or "graceful." I'll never forget considering how perfectly it suited her.I understand and accept that people possess diverse dimensions of their personalities. As we grow and develop, we reveal various sides of ourselves. I’m not the young, awkward kid I was in high school. Going to the gym, cycling, and forming relationships with Matt, Tom, and Lillianna have greatly influenced the individual I am today.Watching Rei take my cock in her pretty mouth and slide her tongue up and down my shaft and then swirl the head with just the tip was something I had only fantasized about. The images of Rei asking me to take control and getting off on it will forever be seared into my mind. She swallowed every last drop I gave her, licking her lips as she took it