Chapter 16
Chapter Sixteen
River
She’s taken my cock, my cum, my fingers. She’s taken all of me, but she won’t take my heart. She won’t accept how I really feel about her, and that this is real, we are real.
It’s Sunday afternoon and we’re, unfortunately getting ready to leave the vineyard to head back home.
I’m desperate for a few more days with her, because I’m not sure what she’s going to do when we get back.
I can’t let her pull away from me, or think this was just for a weekend, that we’re just ‘scratching an itch’, as she so romantically put it. I’m all in and I need her to know that.
I close the trunk and walk round to where she’s standing, staring up at the building that has been our home for the past two nights. I pull her back to my front and wrap my arms around her.
“We can come back whenever you want,” I whisper into her ear.
“Hmm?”
“Here. We can come back here whenever you want. I’ve got a lot of making up to do.”
“That would be nice.” Her voice is shy as she leans back into me. It’s like she doesn’t believe me.
Damn it, baby. I need you to trust that this is real.
“Shall we grab one more coffee before we go?”
“No, let’s get on the road. I’ve got some work bits I’ve still got to do when we get back.”
And that there is exactly how I know she’s shut me out, and that for her, this was a weekend only thing. Ava never, and I mean never, turns down coffee.
If she thinks she can walk away from me, then she’s about to see another side of me. She’s about to find out how ‘mine’ she really is.
“Come on, then.” I lead her to the passenger side of the car. “Let’s get going.”
Ava
We pull up outside my apartment and I place a gentle kiss on River’s cheek as I thank him for the weekend and move to exit the car.
I need to get out of here soon, before I say something stupid, before I ask him to stay.
This weekend has been amazing, and it’s made me so confused.
If it was anyone else, I’d think I’d won the prize in the guy department, but this is River.
River hates me. River hurts me. So, of course, I’m constantly waiting for the other shoe to drop.
“I don’t think so, pipsqueak. Pack a bag, you’re staying with me.”
“Excuse me?”
“You have two choices. Either I walk in there with you and we both stay at yours — which is further from both our works — or you pack a bag, get back in this car and stay with me.”
“You don’t get to boss me around and think I’m just going to do what you say.”
“Baby, I’ve held you in my arms while we’ve slept, I’ve woken up with you in my bed. If you think I’m giving that up now I’ve had it, you can think again. Now what’s it going to be?”
“Neither. We’re not a couple, River.” Is he fucking serious right now?
“You need to get it through that pretty head of yours that you’re it for me, pipsqueak. You’re my fucking soulmate.”
“I don’t think that’s something I’m ever going to be able to believe.”
“You will. I plan on making you fall in love with me. Soon.”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” I scoff. “The most we’ll ever be is fuck buddies.” The lie falls off my tongue, because I’m quite sure I’m already head over heels in love with him. But I won’t say it, not yet. I can’t. I still don’t trust him.
“Pipsqueak, fuck buddies don’t spend the weekend wrapped around each other like we just did.
They don’t dance under the moonlight, and they certainly don’t feel the things I’m feeling for you.
Now, get up there, pack a bag, and get your ass back in this car.
You’ve got five minutes before I come get you — and pipsqueak?
” His eyes narrow on me. “You don’t want me to come get you. ”
I slam the car door behind me as I make my way up the stairs to my apartment, trying to show him how pissed off with him I am. I have no idea why I’m grinning like the Cheshire cat.