Riley didn’t answer right away, but she leaned into the crook of Quinn’s arm, seeking contact. “Of course,” she finally said. “I’m curious about you. When I’m with you, my body gives off these intense signals. It excites me and frightens me.”
“Is that happening right now?” Quinn asked, leaning in to whisper in her ear. “Because the thought of fucking you is making me incredibly wet.” Her lips pulled into a smile when Riley shuddered against her. Realizing they looked like they were about to jump each other, she inched away a little and straightened herself. “Maybe we should save this conversation for another time. Would you like dessert?”
Riley stared at her, wide-eyed, and shook her head. “No,” she whispered back. “I want to go home. With you,” she added, meeting Quinn’s gaze. “Doyouwant dessert?”
Quinn chuckled. “Only if you’ll let me lick it off your body, but I don’t think they’ll appreciate that kind of behavior here.”
“I’m sorry to interrupt.” A waiter appeared at their table. “There will be a storm tonight, so I just need to warn you in case you’re heading to the other side of the river. It may be tricky to cross the bridge later if the winds are too strong. The weather warning has just turned to amber.”
“Of course, the storm…” Quinn had seen it on the news, but storms were rarely as serious as predicted, so she hadn’t even given it a second thought. “Amber?” she frowned. “Okay, I guess it’s best if we go, then.”
“Very well, I’ll get you the check.”
Riley looked puzzled as she glanced out of the window. “It looks so calm outside.”
“Yeah. It still is, but he’s right. If there’s an amber warning, we should probably get going. It can get pretty rough along the river.”
39
RILEY
“Ihad fun,” Riley said as Quinn stopped the car outside Aster House. “In fact, it was by far the best date I’ve ever had.”
“Really? I’ll take that.” Quinn turned and draped her arm over the passenger’s seat in a manner that bordered on cocky. Riley liked that Quinn was assertive; after years of being in charge herself, it was nice to let someone else take over. “I had fun too. The wind hasn’t picked up yet, so I can get home safely.”
Riley nodded as she focused on Quinn’s mouth. The mouth that had been on hers and had caused fantasies to run through her mind all week. The mouth that had kissed her like she was all that mattered. Quinn licked her lips, and it made them shimmer in the moonlight. It was so quiet that Riley felt like she had to keep her voice down.The silence before the storm.“Are you coming in for a nightcap?” she asked.
Quinn chuckled and smiled. She was so attractive when she smiled; she radiated confidence and her dark eyes sparkled. “You’re not making this easy for me.” She paused, lingering close. “Maybe next time? I got a little carried away with my flirtations at the restaurant, but I think we should take our time. I want to do this the right way.”
Riley leaned in and rested her forehead against Quinn’s. Her body was on fire, and she needed Quinn now. “Everything about this feels right, though,” she whispered, closing her eyes and cherishing Quinn’s nearness. “You can’t just turn me on by talking to me the way you have all night and then leave. It’s not fair.”
“Hmm…” Quinn didn’t back away, and their combined breath quickened.In. Out. In. Out.It was the sound of pure desire.In. Out. In. Out.
Riley’s lips parted and a moan escaped her. She was burning just being physically close to Quinn. “I want you.” She swallowed hard and moved away to look at her. “I need you.” Tilting her chin toward her, she met Quinn’s lips, and Quinn crumpled, claiming her mouth. And then Quinn’s hands were all over her again, tenderly combing through her hair and snaking around her neck.
Riley trailed her fingers over Quinn’s shoulders, her arms, her back. She longed to feel that warm skin again. “Please come in,” she murmured. “You know we can’t stop this. Not now.”
* * *
Riley’s bedroom didn’t feel daunting tonight. She wouldn’t lie awake for hours, tensing at every noise and regretting her poor life decisions. She left the lights off as she closed the door behind her, shutting out the world. Tonight, this room was a safe space, and the house seemed friendlier, romantic even. Lighting the two candles on her bedside table, her heart pounded hard as shadows flickered over the ceiling, leaving a restless, golden glow in the darkness. She wasn’t afraid, not in the literal sense, but she was aware her life was about to change. That everything was about to change.
She turned to face Quinn and took her in. Her gorgeous face, kissed by the candlelight, her thick hair that fell over one side of her forehead, her body that Riley craved with every fiber of her being, wrapped up like a present in tight jeans and a white shirt that showed a teasing hint of cleavage. She could hardly wait to unwrap that present because Quinn was everything she never knew she wanted, a gift from the universe that came into her life at the right time, when she was ready to feel and accept things that previously seemed unthinkable.
Quinn closed the distance between them and brushed a hand over Riley’s cheek while she regarded her with an intense gaze like she wanted to swallow her whole. “You’re so beautiful, Riley.” Cupping her chin, she tilted it to kiss her, biting softly on Riley’s bottom lip and tugging at it while she wrapped her arms around Riley and moved them down to her behind.
Riley held her breath as Quinn squeezed her and pulled her against her. The hold she had over her, the reaction she evoked, was otherworldly. It was another level of intimacy that Riley was yet to learn about, a sensation that brought her home to a place unknown.
“Take me,” she murmured, clinging to Quinn’s shirt. She wanted it to come off. She wanted to feel Quinn’s heated skin against hers and melt together.
At that, Quinn pushed Riley back toward the bed and cupped her neck as she lowered her onto the mattress. She was a lot stronger than she looked and had no problem easing Riley down gently. “Are you sure about this?” Her expression changed as she steadied herself over Riley; she was in charge, all right, and it was sexy as hell. “Because we can wait.”
“Yes. I’m sure.” Riley inched back so she was lying in the middle of the bed, her pulse racing and her heart thumping.
“What do you like?” Quinn asked, trailing a finger from Riley’s neck down to the dip of her cleavage. “Do you like soft?” Running it along the edge of Riley’s bra, she looked down at her as she wedged her finger inside and teased Riley’s nipple before pinching it firmly. “Or do you like hard?”
Riley’s chest shot up at the delicious pain, and she shook her head. “Fuck! Anything… I don’t know.” With Quinn’s hand on her breast, everything went blank apart from the way she felt.
“You don’t know?” Quinn squeezed her breast, and Riley gasped in delight. “I guess I’ll just have to find out, but something tells me you like a bit of pressure.” She hiked up Riley’s dress, wedged her thigh in between her legs, and when she pushed into her, Riley almost lost it. Yes, she loved pressure; she’d just come to realize that. She especially liked how assertive Quinn was, and in that moment, she’d take anything Quinn was willing to give her.
