Chapter 12
CHAPTER TWELVE
NATE
The elevator doors slide open with a soft chime, revealing the interior of my penthouse. I guide Riley inside, my hand at the small of her back, hyper-aware of her warmth through the thin fabric of her shirt. My pulse hammers in my ears, every nerve ending on high alert.
Floor-to-ceiling windows offer a panoramic view of the city, a sea of twinkling lights against the velvet darkness. But instead of the usual sense of pride and accomplishment I feel when I look out over my domain, all I can see are potential threats lurking in the shadows.
I pull her close, enveloping her in my arms. The scent of her shampoo fills my nostrils. Her heartbeat, strong and steady against my chest, becomes my anchor in the storm of emotions threatening to overwhelm me.
"I've got you, babe," I whisper into her hair, my voice rough with emotion. "I won't let anything happen to you. I promise." The words feel inadequate, but I pour every ounce of conviction I have into them.
She looks up at me, her lips quirking into a small smile that doesn't quite reach her eyes. "I know, Nate. I trust you. But what are we going to do?”
I take a deep breath. "We're going to keep going. Once we have an airtight case, we can pull the plug on the entire operation. Caleb’s security systems are top-notch, and we've got each other. That's all we need."
As I speak, I guide her further into the penthouse. The space around us is all modern lines and muted colors, a stark contrast to the warmth of her presence. My hand never leaves her back, unwilling to break contact even for a moment.
"Make yourself at home," I say, gesturing around us. "What's mine is yours, Riley. Always."
She turns to face me, her eyes shining with an emotion I can't quite name. "Home is wherever you are, Nate."
The air between us suddenly feels heated. I'm acutely aware of every point where our bodies touch, of the slight parting of her lips, of the quickening of her breath. Without conscious thought, I lean down, capturing her lips in a desperate, searing kiss.
The taste of her floods my senses. Her hands come up to tangle in my hair, nails scraping lightly against my scalp in a way that gives me goosebumps. I pull her closer, eliminating any space between us, pouring every ounce of my love, my fear, my desperate need for her into this kiss.
When we finally break apart, both of us breathless and trembling, I rest my forehead against hers. My eyes are closed as I try to memorize every detail of this moment—the softness of her skin, the warmth of her breath fanning across my face, the way her body fits perfectly against mine.
"I love you, Riley Davis," I murmur, my voice barely above a whisper. "More than anything in this fucked up world. And I swear to God, I'll do whatever it takes to keep you safe."
She pulls back slightly, her hands coming up to cup my face. Her touch is gentle, grounding, and I lean into it like a man starved for affection. "I love you too, Nate."
I nod, not trusting my voice. The emotions swirling inside me are too big, too raw to put into words. Instead, I take her hand and lead her to the bedroom.
As we cross the threshold, the air around us seems to shift. The urgency of before gives way to something slower, more deliberate. I turn to face Riley, drinking in the sight of her. In the soft light filtering through the windows, she looks almost ethereal, her skin glowing, her eyes bright with love and desire.
I reach out, my fingers tracing the delicate line of her jaw. She leans into my touch, her eyes fluttering closed. Slowly, reverently, I begin to undress her, savoring each new expanse of skin revealed. With each piece of clothing that falls away, I press soft kisses to her skin—her shoulder, the curve of her neck, the hollow of her throat.
Riley's hands aren't idle. They roam over my chest, my arms, my back, leaving trails of fire in their wake. When she tugs at the hem of my shirt, I oblige, lifting my arms so she can pull it off.
We come together again, skin to skin, and the sensation is almost overwhelming. Her body is soft and warm against mine, fitting perfectly as if we were two pieces of the same puzzle. I walk her backwards towards the bed, never breaking contact.
As we reach the edge of the mattress, I lower her down gently. She looks up at me, her hair fanning out across the pillow, her eyes dark with desire. The sight steals my breath away.
"You're beautiful," I murmur, my voice thick with emotion. "So goddamn beautiful, Riley."
A blush spreads across her cheeks, down her neck, disappearing beneath the swell of her breasts. I follow its path with my eyes, then with my hands, marveling at the softness of her skin.
"Nate," she breathes, her voice a plea and a promise all at once.
I cover her body with mine, capturing her lips in a deep, passionate kiss. As we come together, it's with an intensity that threatens to consume us both. Every touch, every caress feels electric. Riley's body responds to mine like we were made for each other, her gasps and moans driving me wild.
When we finally join, it's like coming home. The feeling of being inside her, of our bodies moving together in perfect sync, is overwhelming. I lose myself in the rhythm, in the heat, in the love that binds us together.
As we reach our peak together, crying out each other's names, I'm struck by the sheer beauty of the moment. The way Riley's skin glows in the moonlight, the fire in her eyes as she looks at me with a love that steals my breath, the strength and grace of her body as it moves against mine.
In the aftermath, we lie tangled together, our bodies slick with sweat and our hearts racing. I pull Riley close, pressing a kiss to her forehead.
"I meant what I said," I murmur. "I love you, Riley. And I'll do whatever it takes to keep you safe."
She looks up at me, her eyes shining with love and determination. "We'll keep each other safe."
In that moment, I know with a certainty that defies logic that she is my everything, the missing piece of my soul that I never knew I needed until she crashed into my life and changed it forever. And I'll be damned if I let anyone or anything take her away from me.
As the first light of dawn begins to paint the sky, I find myself wide awake, watching Riley sleep. Her face is peaceful, free from the worry lines that have become all too familiar lately. I trace the curve of her cheek with my fingertip, marveling at how someone so strong can also look so vulnerable.
I carefully extract myself from the bed, pressing a soft kiss to Riley's forehead before I make my way to the living room. The city is just starting to wake up, the streets below beginning to fill with early morning traffic.
I pull out my phone, dialing a number I haven't used in years. It's time to call in some favors, to use every resource at my disposal to keep Riley safe and bring down the people who threaten everything we hold dear.
As the phone rings, I steel myself for what's to come. The call connects, and I take a deep breath. "It's Nate Russo. We need to talk."
A gruff voice answers on the other end. "Russo? It's been a while. What kind of trouble are you in now?"
I can't help but chuckle, despite the gravity of the situation. "The worst kind, old friend. I need your help."
As I explain the situation to my old contact, I hear movement from the bedroom. I turn to see Riley padding softly towards me, wrapped in one of my shirts that's far too big for her. The sight of her in my clothes does something to my insides, a mix of possessiveness and tenderness that threatens to overwhelm me.
I quickly wrap up the call, promising to send more details later. As I set the phone down, Riley reaches me, her arms wrapping around my waist from behind.
"Everything okay?" she murmurs, her voice still husky with sleep.
I turn in her embrace, pulling her close. "Yeah, just calling in some reinforcements. We're going to need all the help we can get."
She nods, her expression serious. "Nate, we need to talk about what happens next. We can't just hide out here forever, as much as I'd like to."
I sigh, running a hand through my hair. "I know, babe. But I need you to promise me something."
She looks up at me, her green eyes searching my face. "What is it?"
"Promise me you'll be careful. No unnecessary risks, no playing the hero. I couldn't bear it if something happened to you because of all this."
Riley's expression softens. She reaches up, cupping my face in her hands. "I promise, Nate. But you have to make me the same promise. I couldn't bear to lose you either."
I nod, leaning down to press a soft kiss to her lips. "I promise."
As we stand there, holding each other in the soft morning light, I'm struck by how right this feels. Despite the danger, despite the uncertainty, being here with Riley feels like the most natural thing in the world.
"So, what's the plan?" Riley asks, her voice muffled against my chest.
I take a deep breath, my mind racing with possibilities. "First, we need to gather more evidence. We need something concrete that ties Dr. Blackwell to the surrogacy scandal. Then, we take it to the authorities."
As we discuss our next moves, I can feel the adrenaline starting to pump through my veins. This is what I'm good at—strategizing, problem-solving, taking on impossible odds and coming out on top.
But there's something different this time. Something that makes the stakes higher, the risks greater. Because this time, it's not just about winning. It's about protecting the woman I love, about fighting for what's right.
As I look at Riley, her face animated as she throws out ideas, I'm struck by how much she's changed me. How she's made me want to be a better man, a man worthy of her love and trust.
"We're going to win this, Ri," I say, cutting into her brainstorming. "We're going to make sure they can never hurt anyone again."