Paradise Bound (bxb)

Chapter 14

The following weeks were chaotic between studying for finals, working, going home for Amber's appointment and trying to spend time with Ryder. Most of our time together was spent studying, which isn't all that exciting.

We haven't spent any quality time together until now, on our drive home for Thanksgiving. I'm currently driving while our interlaved hands rested on the center console.

"Have you guys thought of names?" He asked.

"Actually, yes we have" I replied. We found out genders at this last appointment. A boy and a girl. We get the best of both worlds. "Declan and Audrey" I said with a smile.

"Those are nice names" He smiled back while his thumb brushed over mine. "So how does Thanksgiving work with you?"

"Well my family and I have ours the day of and then we take our leftovers to Jace's and put them together with their leftovers and have Thanksgiving there as well" I explained "Though, Jace had informed me we will be going to your house this year. Something about more room for everyone" I shrugged.

"Yeah, that's what he told me as well" he replied.

"Where are we staying?" I asked him as we got closer to our home city.

"Oh, we're staying together?" He asked and I glanced over to see a teasing grin on his face and my cheeks reddened.

"I mean...why wouldn't we?" I asked

"I'm just teasing Matthew, we practically live together in New York"he commented. And it was true, either we stayed in my dorm, which wasn't very often since I have a small bed or we would be at his apartment. "But, I was thinking tonight we will stay at our own houses for our families Thanksgiving's tomorrow. Then you could come stay at my place, then your place the next night?"

"Sounds like a plan to me, I'll just drop you off at your house after dinner then" I gave him a grin and squeezed his hand softly as I pulled into my driveway.

After parking, I got out quickly to open his door. He shuffled out and pecked my lips before we traveled up the front steps.

"Ma, I'm home!" I yelled out as I opened the door.

"Matty!" She squealed and I heard her heels against the kitchen floor. She must've just got home from work.

Her arms enveloped me in a bone crushing hug and she did her signature move of giving me a lipstick kiss on the cheek.

"And Ryder, what a surprise!" She said and moved on to give him a gentle hug. I grumbled and wiped at my cheek furiously. Ry chuckled and I gave him a glare.

"I do it 'cause I know he hates it" I heard her whisper with a giggle into his ear. I rolled my eyes as dad came into view. He was in sweatpants and a long sleeve shirt, telling me he had off today.

"Hey big man" he said and gave me a hug.

"Hey dad, this is Ryder. My boyfriend" I gestured toward Ry as we parted from our hug. Ry beamed at me before he held out his hand to my dad for a formal handshake. Dad took it firmly.

"Ah, yes, we've met but as his friend. Now, don't you break my boy's heart or I'll break you" he said sternly.

"Would never dream of it, sir" Ry sincerely replied.

"Oh pish posh with the sir stuff. Call me Tom" he gave a smile that crinkled his eyes as he tugged Ry into a hug. Ryder's eyes widened in surprise and patted his back gently. "My son is a pretty good judge of character" he put his hand to his mouth to 'whisper' "besides the girl before Amber, whew she was a doozy" he said with his eyes wide, shaking his head.

"Dad!" I groaned

"Anyway, you're already alright in my book" he said as he clapped Ryder on the back.

"Dinner will be done in an hour so you guys can go watch TV with your dad or something. I'm going to go shower" mom said as she ruffled my hair and made her way upstairs.

"Do you watch sports, Ryder?" Dad asked as he sat down in the big brown loveseat he and mom shared. Ry and I took a seat on the matching plush couch. I folded my legs to the side of me while I leaned against Ryder's side.

"Not much sir but when I do, it's hockey" Ryder answered.

"Wonderful! I was about to watch the Penguins" Dad said as he clicked the TV on and went to the Penguins game. We watched it until mom came in, wearing sweats and her brunette hair damp, holding a book of some sorts.

"I've brought the picture book" she had a small smile as she wiggled the photo album in her hands.

"Maaaaa" I groaned and she pinched my cheeks.

"What sweetheart? We've got to weed 'em out before it gets too deep" she said and sat on the other side of Ryder.

"What do you mean?" I asked with an eyebrow raised.

"Back when I met your father in high school, he asked me out on a date and I didnt dress to impress. I had a theory, if I wore simple attire with no makeup and he didn't accept it then bye bye. If he truly wanted to be with me then it wouldn't matter what I looked like, embarassing or not" she shrugged and then looked at dad with so much affection "He was proud to have me on his arm, telling me I was the most beautiful person he's ever met. Now look at where we are" she smiled, turning back to face Ry and me "And it's also my job as a parent to embarrass my young" she said assertively, which caused Ryder to chuckle.

She opened the photo album and the first picture was of, I think 3 year old me, butt naked in the tub. The next was of Jace and I as babies, playing in a puddle of mud making mud pies.

"That's Jace" I mentioned pointing to baby Jace.

"Oh yeah, I forgot he said you guys have been friends since diapers" he laughed as he admired the photo. The next few were of Jace and the brothers at a birthday party of mine. It looked to have been my 5th birthday.

The oven beeped and mom quickly got up to check on dinner. She announced it was done and we went into the dining room and sat down to eat. During dinner Ryder and my parents laughed, joked and chit chatted about anything and everything. It made me so happy they got along perfectly.

After dinner, mom insisted Ryder finish looking through the photo album. So he got to see a big peek into my life from my first tooth to losing my first tooth, chicken pox, road trips, etc.

"We will see you the day after tomorrow Ryder" mom said as she kissed his cheek. Lucky ass didn't get the lipstick torture.

"I'm excited for everyone to get together for the holiday" Ryder smiled a reply and then dad gave him a hug before we exited the house so I could bring him home.

Before getting to the car, he pulled on my hand to stop me and I looked at him curiously.

"I had a good time with your parents now as your boyfriend" he gave a bright smile "They were great last time too but this time was different, of course"

"Yeah, I'm sure you enjoyed looking at my naked tush" I rolled my eyes and he laughed, snaking his arms around my waist.

"Not going to lie, it was pretty adorable" he admitted and I scrunched my face, which made him laugh even more. "Don't worry, it's sexy ass now" he winked, while his hands traveled behind me to squeeze my ass.

"I'm sure it is" I snorted.

"Well I love it, that's all that matters" he murmured, nuzzling his face into my neck. I wrapped my arms around him and we stood in the embrace for a little while before I pulled back.

"I should probably get you home, busy days ahead" I said as I looked him in the eyes.

"Yeah" he said softly "And the faster we get tomorrow done with, the faster I see you again"

"Very true" I leaned closer, rubbing the tip of my nose gently against his. He mimicked my actions then we met in the middle, our lips pressing softly against one another and moving together in a gentle motion. The kiss made me feel like my body was engulfed with a warm fuzzy feeling. I couldn't get enough of it. I pulled him closer for a second before pulling away.

"Your chariot awaits" I said as I opened the passenger door.

"Why thank you mon amour" he bowed his head with a chuckle before dipping into the seat. I smiled giddily as I made my way to the driver's side.

With a kiss goodnight, I dropped him off at his house before returning to mine. I can definitely say it was different to fall asleep without cuddling or being cuddled.

The next day went by slowly. Dad put on the Thanksgiving football game while mom and I cooked an insane amount of food before her sister and my cousins came over. My grandparents on my mom's side had sadly passed away a few years ago. So my aunt and cousins were the only relatives that lived near us. My uncle on my dad's side lived back in Germany along with my grandparents.

By the end of the day, before going to Ryder's, mom had told me to bring some of the food we were bringing for dinner get together tomorrow. Which turned out to be everything so she and dad could have some alone time and for her to get ready for tomorrow.

I arrived with bags of food containers that Ryder gladly helped with putting them away in the fridge before we went up to his room, playing video games until we fell asleep.

The next morning we were awakened with Jace catapulting on to our sleeping forms.

"Ow!" I exclaimed and shoved him off. A thud sounded as his body hit the floor.

"I'm pretty sure the floor hurt more than me jumping on you" he groaned, rubbing his arm as he stood. "Anyway, time to get up and move lovebirds, your parents will be here in an hour" he informed before running out of the room.

I looked at the clock that read 11:00am. Wow, I didn't realize we slept in that late. Granted, we did stay up late playing video games.

Reluctantly, we heaved our bodies out of the warm comfort of his bed to get dressed.

After we dressed, I stepped up behind him in his bathroom as he fixed his hair in the mirror. I wrapped my arms around his waist and rested my chin on his shoulder.

"Do we have to go down?" I whined lowly, turning my head to lay it on him.

"Yes" he chuckled, turning and wrapping his arms around my neck. "Trust me, I'd rather stay in bed all day cuddled up with my handsome boyfriend" he smiled as he played with the hair on the nape of my neck. I shivered as it tickled my skin.

"Fiiiiine" I dragged out "Tonight we are sleeping at mine, right?"

"You are correct mon amour" he said chipperly, leaning up to press a quick kiss to my lips. "Let's go" he gave a light smack to my butt, making me yelp.

We exited his room and made our way down the stairs as Chandra opened the door to let my parents in.

"Chandra, darling, gorgeous as always! My, you look like you're ready to pop any minute now" my mom squealed, giving Jace's mom a gentle hug.

"Three weeks" Chandra sighed with a smile, patting her swollen stomach.

My dad came in and said hello then directed himself to Victor's man cave. My mom then caught sight of Ryder and I.

"Did you hear that our boys are together?!" She asked happily.

"Jace and Matt?" Chandra asked.

"Ew!" Jace and I said at the same time then looked at each other and said "No offense"

"What? It wouldn't have been too outrageous to find out if you two were dating. You guys cuddle and sleep together all the time" mom retorted.

"No, we haven't done that in forever" I said, both Jace and my cheeks glowing red.

"You did just right before college" mom retorted in a matter of fact tone, getting out her phone and showing us a picture of Jace and I cuddling while we slept. Ryder and the twins seemed slightly amused by the situation and Dakota was glowering at me.

I cleared my throat "Well considering I'm dating Ryder now, I don't think that would happen any longer" I mentioned.

"Didn't stop you while you were dating Amber" mom whispered

"Ma!" I groaned

"Alright, alright. I'm done embarrassing you" she laughed and gave a big kiss on my cheek. Chandra and her walked into the living room to sit before the food was done reheating by the staff. It amazes me that Ryder has staff working here. There are only three people but still.

"Should I be jealous?" Ryder asked with his eyebrows raised.

"No" I exaggeratedly rolled my eyes toward Dakota who was still glaring at me. "You have no right to be pissy mister, you groped me to make him jealous" I whisper yelled while pointing at Jace, who scooted toward Damon. Damon wrapped his arms around Jace for a quick embrace.

"Okay, Okay" Sebastian laughed "I'm 1000% positive the cuddling is meaningless, you two are just close"

"Thank you" I made a hand gesture to Sebastian.

"Anyway, I'm going to scout out the grub" I informed and headed toward the kitchen. All of the reheating of the food made a divine aroma in the air. I hummed while opening the fridge.

I caught sight of Chandra's cherry cheesecake and my mouth watered.

"I wish you looked at me like you look at that cherry cheesecake" Ry teased while poking my side.

"I wish you'd ride me like you do your motorcycle" I retorted mindlessly, blushing when I realized what I had blurted out. Ryder stepped up to me.

"That can be arranged" he said in a sultry tone, gently catching my bottom lip with his teeth.

"Not in my kitchen" Jackie, the chef, said as she put her fists on her hips.

"Awww Jackie, party pooper" Ryder easily replied.

"You have a room for a reason" she said with a smile while flicking her wrist in a 'shoo' motion. Ryder snickered, threw a wink at her and took my hand in his and pulled us out of the kitchen. He led us back to the brothers who were in the game room playing air hockey.

"She's going to think we are banging before food" I commented

"Eh, she's cool" he said with a shrug."She was the main person who took care of me, besides the multiple nannies dad hired. I was always drawn to watch her cook" he finished.

"So you'll watch me learn how to cook or are you going to show me how it's done?" I teased.

"We can learn together" he gave me a hip bump.

"Winner goes against me" Sebastian called out as Dakota and Jace fought, hitting the small disc back and forth on the table.

Jace surprisingly won, but lost to Sebastian so I went against Sebastian. However, I lost so it was up to Ryder to beat his winning streak. Luckily, he did so it was between him and Damon now.

"Food's done!" Chandra's voice rang through the house.

"We continue after food" Ryder finger gunned at Damon, making him laugh.

"You're on" Damon replied before we all gathered in the big dining room for a friend's and family Thanksgiving. Although, I'd have to say we are all family here. It'd make it official if Ryder and I were to get married one day.

But it's too early to think about a future marriage, right?