24. Nicolette #2
“Recordedwhat?”heasked. Iblew a breath out on a smile. Anotherbrimmingquietfellbefore helookeddown at his feet, his voice lower and softer.“Really though… You don’thaveto explain or justify anything.” He hesitated. “ButI’llalways listen if you want to talk about it.”
Always, he’d said. Almost like I wasn’t so temporary after all.
Hetwistedhis head to offer me a soft expression.
Did I want to talk about it? Not really.
I neverfeltcompelledto justify it and even though the little glow of jealousy IthoughtIspiedin Riot’s eyesamusedme, I didn’t want to bring that ugliness into this space.
Iwashaving too much of a good time with him here, so Istayedquiet.
But Iofferedhim an appreciative smile,lettingmy knees fall toward him gratefully.
“Can I ask one thing?”His voicewaslow, almost shy.
Inodded, my chesttighteningwith anticipation. That stern,locked-jaw expressionwasback. He looked as if he could light a fire with only his eyes.
“What happened to the guy? Did he at least get what he deserved for taping you?” I almost laughed. It was an interesting question to choose.
I tilted my head back and forth. “Yes and no. The investigation is ongoing, but he’s in a coma last I heard.”
Riotraisedhis eyebrows, amusementcrossedhis face.“So… really no point indrainingthe oil from his car.”Hesquintedone eye at me with a charming smirk. Maybe he really could start a fire with only his eyes because my insideswere, sure as hell,melting.
“No, he’s very much handcuffed to a hospital bed as a murder investigation swirls around him.” I bit my bottom lip, trying to contain the warmth Riot’s defensiveness over me inspired.
He barked out a chuckle, shaking his head. “Where the heck did you come from, Nicolette Parker?”
“I live a complicated life,” I teased, pressing my shoulder more firmly into his. I inhaled the extra sweetness the whiskey brought to his rustic scent.
His blue eyes pinned me, suddenly a deeper shade of longing. “Yeah…” he whispered. “I’m getting that.”
We were impossibly close and his eyes dipped to my mouth. My heart raced. I parted my lips, inviting him to kiss me. I shivered with anticipation. He suddenly blinked and leaned back. My shoulders slumped.
“Are you cold?” His eyes ran down my body, making the shiver worse. Before I had the chance to answer, he leapt to his feet. “Come with me.”
He pulled me up. He led me deeper into the woods. The moon was almost full and the stars were bright, guiding us through the darkness. A little house came into view .
“Thisisa warming hut the snowmobilers use in the winter. It usually stays open…”Hedriftedoff,pullingthe door open with a creak. Heletout a victorious hiss. Helittwo of the gas lanterns in the corner and itwasjust enough to see the small room.
It was about ten by ten and had one window that overlooked the valley side of the forest. “It’s got a solar-powered heater but they disconnect it in the summer.
” I stood in the middle of the room and wrapped his shirt tighter around my body.
He took a step closer and put his hands on my shoulders, rubbing my upper arms. “Sorry, it’s still a little cool. ”
I wasn’t cold. The whiskey and desire ran hot throughout my body, but I wasn’t going to tell him that. I was thoroughly enjoying the feel of his hands on me.
“We can head back if you want—”
“No,” I cut him off. “I don’t want to go back yet, Riot.”
My voice came out huskier, more pleading, than I expected.
I took a step closer to him, letting the tips of my beaded nipples graze his chest. He sucked in a quiet breath and for a moment he was frozen in a look of consideration.
His tongue darted out before he pulled his bottom lip in between his teeth.
Before I could blink, his mouthwason me. His lips parted mine, kissingme with uncontrollable force. His fingersslidup my neck beforecradlingthe back of my head, fisting his hand through my hair.
Where our first kisshadbeenheated, angry, passion-fueled, and hungry, this one, while just as desperate,helda tenderness that the other onehadn’t.
Before, wehadbeentryingto prove something,tryingto take whatever we could get from the other person.
Now itwasabout giving. Surrendering everything.
Ipushedmy hips into his,fusing our bodies. Ifelthim harden between us. A low hissescapedhis lips when I pressed more firmly. Hewalkedus backward until my backmetthe wooden wall of the hut. Every inch of my skinrelaxedat the security of beingpinnedbetween his body and the wall.
Our kissdeepenedwhen Iinvitedhis tongue into my mouth,lettingmy own sweep his bottom lip.
A low groanrattledin his chest and Iseparatedmy feet a little wider,pushingmy core into him, desperate for any kind of release in the pressure building between my thighs.
Hemetme with the response Iwantedas his hipspressedinto me, his erection exactly where Ineededit.
Isuckedin an audible gasp, my headtippingback.
Riottrailedhis lips down my chin and my bodyshudderedwhen hefounda spot on my neck thatsentshockwaves through my skin.
My hands explored his chest beneath the white cotton.
His erectiontwitchedagainst my core. Every muscle in our bodies strung tight.
Hetrailedhis warm mouth across my collarbone, and Ireveledin the humid way his breathlingeredon my skin.
Every dip and curve of his body was firm and warm and somehow soft under my fingertips. I explored every inch of him, heated with the excitement of touching the body I’d spent so many days admiring.
His lips snaked down the center of my chest and my back arched into him.
He sank to his knees in front of me. I ran my hands through his thick, dark hair and a sigh escaped his lips.
He paused, leaning his head into my fingers, raking through his scalp.
His lips parted, head tilted backward. All at once, I recognized the boy I had gone to high school with, vulnerability painting his perfect features.
I wanted to shield him, protect that vulnerability, and keep it for myself. Reclaiming his mouth, I ignored the tug at the back of my brain that told me I was being selfish. The logical part of me was nagging, but I ignored her because he tasted too right to be responsible.
His droopy eyesopened,drunkon the feel of my fingersdrawingcircles in his hair. Ipulledback, running my palms down the side of his face and over the glorious stubble thatcoveredthe bottom half of his face.
“I really like this,” I found myself whispering aloud.
His eyes lit up, and he regarded me for a beat before wrapping his arms around the tops of my thighs and spinning me toward the ground. His hand caught the back of my head before I hit the floor and he lowered me beneath him.
“I was hoping you would,” he said and my heart soared .
Riot’s mouth hungrily covered mine again. One hand trailed down my stomach and began to unbutton my jeans.
“Tell me to stop, Nicolette,”hewhisperedand I couldn’t shake my head more furiously.
“I don’t want you to stop, Riot,” I replied breathlessly, lifting my hips in response,urginghim closer. His palmabsorbedthe heat at the center of my body.
His fingerseparatedme and my need for himovertookall my senses.
Cautious desiresurgedthrough me. Ipulledhim tighter between my knees.
Heworkedme from the inside out, his thumbdrawingsmall circles around the little bundle of nerves.
Ifeltmy body stretch around his dexterous fingers. My limbsbeganto shake.
Herearedback slightly to watch me, his eyesfixedto my face and I could tell hewantedto watch me fall apart.
The look of pure adoration and appreciationtiedour eyes together with intimacy so fierce ittookmy breath away.
A reverent smiledancedacross Riot’s lips as his eyessweptover mycoiledbody.
His satisfactionplungedme over the edge.
My bodytightenedandconvulsedaround his fingers, gratification stillcoursingthrough me when his headdippeddown to inhale my moan of release.
It shouldhavebeen enough to satiate me. But itonly mademe want more. Itmademe want to mount him and watch him come apart beneath me.
I hissed through my teeth, bringing my hands to the swollen erection that threatened to burst through the zipper of his jeans. I ran a firm hand down him. The arm that held his weight began to shake. I eagerly moved my fingers to the clasp on his jeans.
He pulled away and sat back on his heels. It was like he took my breath with him. I propped myself up on my elbows, gazing at him in protest.
“I’m not going to have sex with you, Nicolette.”
My chestlurchedand my faceburned, my insecurities racing through my brain. He didn’t want me. Not anymore.
Not after seeing that horrendous video .
He was just here to be nice. To make me feel better. I looked away, a pang of humiliation coursing through me. My hand searched for the shirt he’d given me. I blinked away the sting of rejection, but he put a rough hand on my stomach to still me.
“At least not here. Not right now.”
My body inflated slightly. “Why not?” I asked, and I hated the pathetic, neediness in my voice.
A small smile touched his lips. “Because…” He hovered his body over me, his hands on either side of my head, caging me in.
He leaned his face inches from mine, hesitating before brushing his lips down my chin, finding that spot on my neck that made me close my eyes again.
“You’ve been through a lot today.” My ears perked up, and I didn’t understand what that had to do with it.
But my thoughts shut the hell up again when his lips wrapped around a nipple, his tongue setting a punishing rhythm as it worked over the sensitive tip.
I let out an audible sigh, enjoying the weight of him above me.
He moved to my other side and my back arched of its own accord.
Hepulledback andlookedme in the eye, our noses barely an inch from each other. His handroamedover the center of my stomach.“And it’s all still on your mind.”
Ihadto work to thread his words back together to follow his train ofthought.
I’mnotgoingtohavesex with you. At least not here.
Not now.You’vebeen through a lot today.
And it’s all still on your mind. Itriedto concentrate on his words but Iwasnumb to everything except where his skinpressedagainst mine.
Riot stilled his roaming hands and brought his attention back to my eyes. He whispered the rest of his thought, “And when I get to feel what it’s like to be inside you... I want to be the only thing you’re thinking about.”
My stomachlurchedwith heat and I would do whatever he fuckingwantedme to.