Chapter 7
CHAPTER 7
Riley
I know I shouldn’t be holding her like this, but she smells so damn good. Like birthday cake…or maybe sugar cookies, or donuts. Whatever it is, I want to fucking devour her. While the credits roll, Devyn tilts her chin up to look at me and gives me a blinding ear-to-ear grin. I’m taken aback by how beautiful she is. I can’t remember ever seeing her smile this big. Without thinking, I lean down until my lips are brushing against hers. She gasps in surprise which gives me the perfect opportunity to slip my tongue into her mouth. She responds instantly by raking her fingers through my hair and deepening the kiss.
Devyn moans into my mouth, giving me the green light to pull her onto me so she’s now straddling my lap. She tastes so fucking sweet, I could do this all night. She wastes no time grinding her body into mine with reckless abandon. It’s like she’s starving for me as much as I am for her.
Right when my fingers brush the underside of her breast, someone whistles and yells, “Get a room!”
I clear my throat, reminded that we’re out in public. Devyn quickly scoots off my lap and starts picking up our belongings. She fumbles with the blanket, trying to fold it, but drops it three times instead. I frown when I notice she won’t make eye contact with me.
“Devyn.” She ignores me, picking up the blanket again. I grab her hands, stilling her movement. “Devyn, look at me.”
After a few seconds of looking anywhere but at me, she lifts her chin and hesitantly meets my eyes. “What is this, Riley?”
I’m confused. “What is what ?”
She throws her arms out, gesturing to our surroundings. “ This ! All of this! Happy Hour at a fancy hotel? Then following it up with one of my favorite movies while snuggling under a blanket? And the hot chocolate? You know how much I love hot chocolate on chilly nights, and you took it a step further by spiking it with the most delicious creation I’ve ever tasted! Why are you doing all of this? These are all very date-like activities. Like, best date ever activities!”
“Your point being?”
“This isn’t a date, Riley!” she shouts, garnering the attention of some bystanders.
I usher her to some rushing water nearby to drown out our conversation. “Why isn’t this a date? Especially considering the fact you want this night to end with a very good date -like activity.”
She huffs and sits down on the steps. “It can’t be a date. Dates open the door to possibilities. Possibilities you and I don’t have.”
I sit down next to her and grab her hand. “Dev, I know that. You know that. I’m just trying to give you a night you’ll remember, okay? Yeah, I had the home-court advantage when I was making plans because I know you so well.” I grin. “Like I said earlier, you should never settle. I just don’t want you to look back on this night years from now and feel like you settled. That’s all this is. I promise.”
She offers me a small smile. “Really?”
I nod my head. “Really.”
Devyn
Oh my god, I am thrown way off balance from that kiss! I got a little taste in my car earlier but this is different. That kiss was freaking volcanic! Riley offers his hand which I accept after only a brief hesitation.
As he starts leading me across the square, I ask, “What now?”
He points to a tall white building on the corner. “Look carefully up on top of that building. Do you see those people looking over the ledge?”
“Yeah. What’s up there?”
“It’s a restaurant,” he replies. “On the roof, anyway. The space in between that and the department store is a hotel. I figured we could get some dessert and maybe a nightcap before heading downstairs to our room.”
“Oh.” I stare at the imposing structure. Warmth spread through me as soon as he mentioned our hotel room. I don’t know why I’m acting this way; Riley and I have shared a bed many times over the years. But there was always the knowledge that nothing physical would ever happen back then. Now? Not so much.
He grins. “That okay?”
“What?” I clear my throat. “Um, yeah…of course it’s okay.”
He increases his stride, towing me behind. “Then let’s go.”