Chapter 19 #2
Kat leans forward so I can hear her better over the music. “It does hit different. Good tequila doesn’t make you sick.”
I look at the shot glass. I’ll take two more then.
Rio’s arm tightens slightly around me as the bus takes a turn, his body shifting with mine, instinctively keeping me steady. He’s held a woman like this a thousand times, I’m sure.
I glance around again, taking it all in. Gabriel murmurs something into Lara’s ear, his hand sliding absently over her leg with the comfort of a years-long relationship, even though Luis told me they didn’t get together too long ago.
Luis is playing thumb wars with the two younger boys, and they can’t stop giggling. Anton asks if he can get in on it next, and they glance at the six-five giant with wide eyes, shaking their heads. Freya laughs and pats Anton’s thigh.
There’s no tension here. The laughter comes easily. The touches come easier.
And for a second, I don’t know where to put myself in it.
I’m so painfully aware that I don’t belong. I don’t know how to relax like they do.
Rio’s thumb shifts slightly against my arm, a small movement, barely there, but it pulls my attention back to him instantly.
“You okay?” he murmurs, low enough so that no one else hears.
I turn my head just enough to meet his eyes.
“I’m fine,” I say, smoothing hair behind my ear.
His gaze lingers a fraction longer, as if he might say more, but he doesn’t. He simply… smiles. Like a warm, real, genuine smile. As if having his arm around me is no big deal, as if he’s totally at ease when I’m incinerating over here.
Just then, Theo appears in front of us. “Uncle Rio, I have a question. When we were at the stables—”
“Sit down first,” Rio says.
“I’m fine,” Theo shoots back, but he bounces and nearly falls when the bus shifts.
Rio raises an eyebrow. “You won’t be fine when you hit the floor.”
And the next thing I know, Rio’s strong hands are wrapped around my waist, firm pressure lifts me off the banquette… and onto his lap.
Rio tilts his head toward the now empty spot I once occupied. “Sit.”
It happens so fast, I’m almost in a daze. One minute I’m obsessing over his thigh on mine, and now we’re closer than ever. His breath tumbles over my bare back. His length presses against my ass.
His arm stays locked around my waist, and his hand drapes easily over my thigh, casually keeping the fabric of my dress from riding up my legs any further. It’s meant to be polite but his fingers are so close to the apex between my thighs. Heat rushes between my legs and my core grows heavy.
Theo asks Rio something, but it all fades under the rush of blood in my ears.
He didn’t have to do this. He could have told Theo to sit back down where he was and shouted over his dad.
Instead, he put me here. On his lap.
My fingers curl around his hard biceps, hanging on when the bus turns off the highway and damn, his arm is tight. His lap is comfortable and warm, his arm around me an anchor…
What the hell is going on here?
We should have laid down more rules. My body can’t take this proximity.
And the interaction Rio has with Theo is playing games with my heart, too.
Theo keeps talking about different kinds of bits for the horse he likes to ride. I’m sure Theo could ask his cowboy dad, but the way he gazes up at Rio with innocent, adoring blue eyes tells me he’s coming up with reasons to connect with a man he admires.
Rio answers him easily, his voice calm and kind. It’s not at all the grumpy uncle character I imagined he’d be.
His hand shifts on the fabric of my dress, only a little, but enough for the skin of my inner thighs to spark at the thought of it sliding up higher.
I should move. That would be the logical thing. Create space. Reinforce the boundary before it disappears completely.
But I don’t.
Then, it hits me. Is he testing my resolve and my ability to do what needs to be done to get us both over the line? Is he trying to intimidate me?
If he thinks he can control this, he’s wrong.
I glance sideways at him. He’s still talking shop with his nephew, and I decide, two can play this game. I plant my foot on the floor of the bus for purchase and press my ass deeper onto his lap, imperceptibly. Then I pretend to get more comfortable and grind myself against him.
Rio’s words don’t falter, but his hand tightens on my waist, fingers pressing into my skin, not enough to hurt but enough to send a message.
Stop.
I still under his grip. Theo keeps talking, oblivious. Rio speaks easily, like I didn’t just answer his move with one of my own.
I let him have it—for now.
There’s a kid right in front of us, so I’m not about to make a scene or be inappropriate just to prove a point, even though I want to make sure he knows he doesn’t run this show.
But the second I stop— I feel it.
I might’ve gone still, but his body doesn’t.
He hardens under me. His cock presses into me. Clearly, he forgot to tell his dick this is all pretend.
But being smug lasts for about a second before the feeling of his length on me has heat flooding my core.
He wanted to show me I’m not in control here. It might be true.
But neither is he.