Chapter 12 #2
“It’s pretty sweet, hey. It’s taken me a bit, but I think I have everything just how I like it now.”
His king bed is positioned with a full view over the sand and ocean. “I can imagine what it would be like waking up with the sunrise. You would almost feel like you were on the beach.”
His arm snakes around my shoulders and he looks out over the view with me. “You should test it out some time.”
I drop my shoulder so he is forced to let me out of his grip. “You wish,” I mutter. But really, I do. This place is beautiful. Yeah, it might be above his bar, but who cares when it looks like this. River’s own little oasis.
He chuckles out a laugh. “Bet you it’s not long before you’re begging me for it.”
I raise a brow. “For what, River?” I ask, knowing exactly what he’s implying.
“To stay here,” he says all innocent, when we both know his intentions are anything but.
This version of River knows what he wants, and I can already tell he’s not afraid to ask for it.
His hand laces into my hair, and taking a strand, he runs his fingers over it.
“I’d almost put a bet on it, babe.” He grips me tighter.
I give him a serious warning look. “Be very careful, River, the last bet you lost to me saw you without a car.”
“Totally worth it.” He laughs, releasing me. “This time I don’t plan on losing.”
A stupid smile breaks out on my face. Oh my God, this man. I can’t even. “Don’t you have to get ready for work or something? Isn’t that why we’re here?” I ask to steer the topic away from what suddenly feels like dangerous territory.
He moves through to a free-standing wardrobe and pulls out a pair of natural-color slacks and a crisp white shirt. He tosses them down on the bed. Then while I’m still standing in the middle of his room, he drops his shorts.
My eyes widen. I’m not sure where to look.
He has nothing on under them, his cock hard and long and oh dear God, tingles take off throughout my body.
“River,” I practically squeal. Why am I still looking at him?
I cover my eyes and move over to the window to stare out at the view. A much safer option than his cock.
“Don’t act shy, Dove. You know you’re impressed.” His laugh resonates through the room. He knows what he’s doing. Tempting me when I need to stay away from him.
“By what, how into yourself you are? Yeah, I guess an ego that big is impressive.”
His crisp shirt brushes over my back. His lips lower to my ear, and I inhale deeply, trying to get my racing heart under control. “Yeah, the size of my ego is impressive.” His words brush over my ear and send goosebumps down my arms.
I shouldn’t let him get so close to me. He’s too familiar, and it turns my insides to liquid. I want him. It’s a horrifying reality, but I do. My body is practically begging for him to act on impulse.
His hand trails down my arm, and I know he’s right here with me.
He spins me to face him, his blue eyes locking onto mine undressing me.
Not in the way I want them to, but knocking down my walls, and for the first time in so long, I want to let him in.
“You might not want to be here, but I’m glad you came home. ”
His words are not what I expected. When he’s being flirty or a smartass I can handle it, but honest and sweet, absolutely not.
I stare up at him, unable to find a bitchy remark to snap back at him with.
In this moment with his hands on me, I’m glad I did as well.
My heart starts to race like crazy. I can’t do this.
I have to protect myself. With shaky legs, I take a step to the side, unable to stand the heat radiating between us a second longer.
He might be dressed now, but it doesn’t create enough of a barrier between our bodies.
“We should get to work,” I whisper, trying to find my voice before I act on impulse and reach up and kiss his tempting lips.
“You don’t work here.” He grins all cheekily, making this moment feel way too normal.
I move back through the room and over to the fish tank, watching the little blue one as it chases after another. They are mesmerizing. “You can’t expect me to just sit around and watch you work. If I have to be here, you might as well give me something to do.”
He watches me through the other side of the tank. “Why don’t you take a nap. You can use my bed. Remember the doc said you need lots of rest.”
I laugh out loud. Is he kidding me? “In the bed you bring all your sluts to? I don’t think so.”
He smiles, and it’s cocky and cute and confident in a way that sends butterflies dancing through my stomach. “You’re the first girl I have brought up here. I don’t like people in my personal space.”
I stare at him for a beat, not quite sure what to make of that. “What… Why bring me here then?”
He shrugs all casual, even though I know this is a big deal. “Dove, you’re not just some girl. You know that, right?” His hand slides into mine. It’s a small gesture, but it means everything, and those damn butterflies start dancing through me again.
My heart flutters. I’m not sure what this is, but even my body knows the chemistry swirling between us is dangerous. “Until a couple of nights ago, you hadn’t seen me for years,” I whisper, trying with everything I have to understand him.
“That’s how I know.” His words send a shiver over my skin because I feel it too.
It’s like picking up where we left off, even though it shouldn’t be.
He was one of the ones who sold me out, I’m sure of it.
They chose the Deadwater Crew and their loyalty to Throne over me, chose money and power and all the things the Thrones stood for over our friendship. Over my life.
For a split second I imagine what life with River Easton could be like.
Sun, surf, and fun times. All too good to be true.
I drop his hand as if he’s just burnt me.
“Come on, we have work to do,” I snip, my walls shooting back up.
It’s safer not to get close to him. Keep him at arm’s length.
Nothing good can come from giving in to desire.
That’s all this is. I’m horny. River looks appetizing, but he’s deadly.
“Playing hard to get, okay, but I can promise you, you’re not going to be able to resist me much longer.” He chuckles lightheartedly, heading out the front of his apartment.
I follow him back out of his place and start down the stairs, hating the emptiness consuming me. It’s like a virus that starts at my feet and eats its way all the way to my head, blackening out everything in sight.