“River––”
Like waves against a rocky cliff, my orgasm crashes into me. And he lets me ride out the moment as if he has all the time in the world. Licking. Biting. Sucking. Pumping his fingers in and out of me until I can’t take it anymore. I push him away and let my legs open limply. I’m too sensitive. Too drained. Yet on cloud freaking nine and desperate for more.
It’s just one night.
Without a word, he climbs on top of me, pushes his boxers off, and lines himself up with my entrance.
“You ready?” he murmurs against my heated skin.
A dry laugh escapes me. “Stick a fork in me, Riv. I’m done.”
“I’d rather stick a cock in you if you don’t mind,” he jokes, rubbing the head of his erection along my damp slit. All the blood in my body rushes low, prepping me for round two in record time. And despite my over-sensitized flesh, I’m so ready for round two.
“I mean, if you insist,” I tease.
“I’m clean. Are you on the pill?”
“Yes,” I whisper.
His smile is tight before he pushes into me in one long thrust.
Shiiiit.
Jaw slack, I dig my fingers into his back and attempt to catch my breath.
The guy isn’t small, and my muscles tense at the foreign intrusion because, let’s be real, Ian doesn’t compare to the man inside of me.
“Wait,” I whimper, blowing out the oxygen from my lungs.
“Sh…” He kisses my forehead softly before placing another one against my lips. And in this moment, I feel cherished. Seen. And like I’m more than a one-night stand.
But maybe that’s why he’s so good at them. He makes all of his floozies feel special. Important. Like more than just an easy lay. And if that’s the case, then we should hand this guy an Academy Award. Because that’s exactly what he’s doing to me.
It’s just one night, I remind myself for what feels like the thousandth time. I should enjoy it instead of comparing myself to his previous conquests. Right now, he’s with me. He chose me. And I’m going to soak up every second of it.
After a moment, I relax and give him a nod.
“You okay?” His gaze is filled with an intensity that I can’t quite put my finger on as it bounces around my face to assess my sincerity.
Again, I nod as an amused smile takes over my expression. “Yeah. You’re kinda cute when you’re concerned, though.”
“Is that right?”
“Mm-hmm,” I hum before wrapping my arms around his neck and pulling him closer. This. This closeness. This longing finally being placated. It’s exactly what I never knew I needed.
With another soft kiss against him, I add, “Seriously. I’m good. You can uh…move now.”
“You sure?”
“Duh.”
Hooking my legs around his hips, I swivel mine in hopes of encouraging him to get to work. It seems to do the trick. His back muscles ripple beneath my fingertips as he thrusts into me slowly at first before picking up speed when I don’t protest.
It doesn’t take long for that sweet ache to build inside of me again as I match River’s rhythm and scrape my nails along his bare back.
Yes. Yes. Yes.
His skin is slick with sweat, and I sneak a taste of the salty moisture along his neck before biting down roughly.
It’s never been like this before.
Ever.
And I had no idea what I was missing out on until now.
Good job, Riv. You’ve officially ruined me.
With a low, guttural groan, he picks up his pace and pushes me over the edge a second time. Then he tumbles right after me. Chest heaving, I try to catch my breath as he collapses on top of me and attempts to do the same. His massive frame isn’t suffocating, though. It’s…comforting somehow. And I’d give anything to do this again. And again.
But we can’t.
It would kill my brother. And after everything he’s done for me, I could never betray him like that.
But I can pretend. Even if it’s just for one night.
A few seconds later, River rolls onto his side then pulls me against him. I tuck myself into his chest and listen as his galloping heart slowly steadies into a slow, content rhythm that seems to match my own.
The silence surrounding us is comfortable. Peaceful, maybe. And I soak it up as he drags his fingers through my messy hair, sending tingles dancing along my scalp.
I grin against his chest and savor the feeling, wishing I could bottle it up and save it for a rainy day.
He laughs. “Didn’t know you were a cat.”
“Huh?”
“You’re practically purring.”
“Well, I’m feeling pretty good right about now,” I admit with a sheepish grin. But I don’t dare to look up at him. If I do, he might see how happy I am now that my walls are down. How happy he makes me. And that’s dangerous. It makes me feel vulnerable. And if I’ve learned anything from my past, it’s that vulnerability isn’t exactly a strength.
“What are you thinking about?” he asks.
“Just that…”––I swirl my finger around his tight little man nipple––“I guess I can see what all the fuss is about.”
His chest rumbles with amusement. “Glad I can be of service, Floozy.”
That same sheepish grin nearly splits my face in two as I work up the nerve to rest my chin against him so that we’re eye to eye. “Is that all I am to you? Your floozy?”
Gaze softening, he brushes a few strands of hair off my forehead then runs his thumb along my flushed cheeks. “Would it freak you out if I said yes and claimed you for myself?”
My chest tightens. “Would you want to?”
A ghost of a smile flashes across his face before disappearing just as quickly. “Ladies first. Didn’t I already prove that once tonight?”
I laugh. “Always the gentleman.”
“You know me.”
My amusement fades slightly as I consider his question. “We can’t.”
“Why not?”
“You don’t do relationships, remember?”
“I’ve never done them in the past,” he clarifies. “That doesn’t mean I don’t want to try it with you. You’re more than a casual lay, Reese. If you weren’t, I wouldn’t have jeopardized my friendship with your brother.”
My brother.
How can two simple words be so sobering?
“Riv…I don’t want you to jeopardize your friendship with Milo.”
“I won’t.”
“You don’t know that,” I argue, chewing on my thumbnail. “Milo is…”
“Overprotective. I get it.”
“You don’t, though. We’ve always only had each other. Hell, you didn’t even know I was a girl when I first showed up. That’s how overprotective he is. He was the only one who cared about me growing up, you know? And the last time I ignored his advice, I ended up in a really bad relationship––”
“And you think a relationship with me would be bad too?” he challenges.
“No. That’s not what I meant. I just…”
“Just what, Reese?”
“Look, can we just…stop talking for tonight? And enjoy this moment? Because I was feeling pretty good two seconds ago, and I’d like to keep it going for a little longer before reality catches up to us. I like you, okay? And I don’t usually do one-night stands. If I did, I would’ve picked up a random guy at a bar instead of my roommate. But I didn’t do that, obviously, because I’m not that kind of girl. I’ve only ever been with one other person, River. Sex is…it’s an emotional thing for me, okay? I don’t do it just to get off. I can take care of that on my own.”