Chapter 14
Chapter
Fourteen
Rowdy
“Rowdy, what did you do?”
These are the words that greet me as I’m let out of overnight lockup at the town’s meager detention center, essentially a metal shed out back of the police station.
Even though she’s calling me on the carpet for my misdeeds, the sound of Riley’s voice is a balm to my soul.
She’s calling out to me and running across the parking lot, while I’m carrying all my valuable belongings in a plastic bag—my phone, my watch, my brand new cufflinks.
I’m going commando in my brand new suit because Hodges said my underwear “must have gotten lost in the shuffle” while I was wearing the orange jumpsuit overnight. Asshole.
But none of that matters anymore because Riley is the first person to come see me after I’m released.
“It’s not that bad,” I say. “I had about ten years’ worth of parking tickets, and they suspended my license a while back.
Usually, Hodges just serves me papers at my house.
I pay the fine, don’t drive my car for a while, and then the cycle begins again.
I know it’s stupid, but I get bored, and I just like fucking with him. I didn’t think he would show up and…”
“Shut up,” she says, running up to me and jumping into my arms. She wraps her legs around my middle, and though it’s a cold January morning in the parking lot of the Songbird Ridge police station, I am warm. I am home. I am kissing my girl.
I pull back to look into those midnight blue eyes for a second, to make sure she’s not drunk or high or hasn’t hit her head and is having some kind of psychotic break. “I ruined your night, remember that?”
“You did,” she laughs.
“And I also failed at being a good fake date.”
“You were perfect. But we did fail at fake dating. Because I love you, Rowdy.”
“I love you too, baby girl.”
As I watch her undress, my fist rubs up the underside of my cock.
I have to clench my jaw to hold my shit together until Riley’s ready for me.
This time, in her bed.
“Let me,” she says, pulling me onto the bed with her, taking me into her hands.
I paint kisses across her chest as she works me over.
Being with her before was exciting. Thrilling. Satisfying.
Right now, being with Riley, letting her know she’s mine and I’m all hers, it’s pure joy.
Everything has fallen into place.
After Pete told me they had one last table to fill at the gala, Evergreen Tools bought it. The executives who run my company came out from Lexington to bid on items. I wanted to keep my involvement anonymous, but I guess I didn’t cover my tracks as perfectly as I’d thought.
I didn’t want Riley thinking I was doing her any favors.
But it’s all out in the open now, and she’s not even upset about it.
“Thank you, Rowdy.”
I’m gasping for breath at her touch. “I didn’t do it for gratitude. I did it because I believe in what this town stands for. I did it because I want to see you soar.”
Her pretty brow knits together as her eyes shine. She cups my face and kisses me.
And then, I find my home between her thighs.
Riley’s hands caress my ass as I push inside her, face to face this time.
She is perfection.
Our eyes are locked together as we find our rhythm.
“I’m yours, Riley.”
She gasps as I thrust in, and her legs lock behind my lower back.
“Mine,” she says.
She’s so tight and perfect for me. But more than that, she’s my mate. She’s going to be my wife someday.
Riley demands that I go harder, and as I do, I reach between us and stroke her tight clit.
“I knew I needed you in my life, but I didn’t expect this.”
“I don’t need anyone else, Rowdy. I want to date you forever.”
I bury my face in Riley’s collarbone as I growl out my release.
She grips me so hard I might pass out.
At the same time, she shatters in a pulsing orgasm, sweetly pulling me in deeper.
Afterward, we sit together with her paints in the studio, naked and free.
She lovingly paints little birds all over my chest as we laugh about it.
“I can’t believe I’ve been upgraded to the bedroom, all because I told my district manager to sponsor a table and make high bids at the auction.”
“You’re a sneaky one, Rowdy. I’m going to have to watch out for you,” she says. “But really, I should’ve trusted you.”
“To be fair, I’m kind of a handful,” I say.
She laughs. “We’ll have to make sure you steer clear of the Wilson Rogers of the world.”
“Easy,” I say. I’ll stick to the people who like me, right here in Songbird Ridge.”
She lightly brushes black caps onto a little chickadee and smiles. “You don’t even have to leave the studio if you don’t want to. Because I’ll always be here, and I’ll always like you.”
I lean for a kiss. That sounds like the perfect plan.