A now familiar heat builds—similar, but different from before. It feels wilder, far-reaching and uncontrollable. Moans and screams flow freely from me now. I can’t stop them—can’t do much of anything—as Rí drives me straight over the edge.
My whole body shakes, and it doesn’t stop, the cascading waves of pleasure crashing through me until my eyes roll back in my head.
“Fuck,” I hear Rí say, and there’s one last thrust before he pushes deep, releasing my hair and falling down over me, both arms on either side of my head. I can feel his dick twitch inside of me as he comes, holding himself deep until it’s over.
He pulls out, and I collapse down fully onto the mattress. Rí drops next to me on his back, reaching down to drag me further up, until my head is on his chest and I’m listening to the sound of his heart.
We’re both quiet, and he runs his fingers lazily through my hair. I exhale. I have no idea what time it is, but his slow, gentle strokes are lulling me to sleep.
There’s one thing I need to know first.
“Rí?”
“Mmm?” The sound of his voice is soft, like he might be falling asleep, too.
“One question?”
He hums his agreement, moving down from my hair to trace light circles across the bare skin of my back.
“Back at the tattoo shop, Jace called you Rí… and then, the doorman downstairs… is that—is that your real name?” I’m dancing into dangerous territory here.
“No, it’s a nickname,” he confesses.
“What does it mean?” I ask, curiosity getting the better of me, even as my eyelids grow heavy and fall… sleep beckons.
“It’s Gaelic,” he says, his voice low, “forKing.”
40
BUT I BROUGHT DONUTS…
BRIAR
Now
Koen keeps to his word and my apartment is quiet for the night. Not that I’m able to sleep… After a never-ending night of restless tossing and turning, I finally throw in the towel and shuffle into the kitchen around seven a.m.
First thing I did after Koen left last night was purge the apartment of photos of Remi.
Her toys and books are all safely locked away in her room. The photos, in a box tucked deep into her closet.
I spent the night in her room last night, missing her and Lily. Fighting the urge to escape down the fire escape and hitchhike out to Lake Placid just so I could hold her.
Before I have a chance to fill up the coffee pot with water, there’s a knock at my door.
I steal a panicked glance at my own reflection in the microwave; no makeup, though my hair isn’t terrible—the curls from last night falling into loose, but tangled, waves. And I’m still in shorts, wearing a t-shirt that’s three times too big for me with no bra.
Finger combing the tangles from my hair, I lift onto the tips of my toes to check the peephole… finding Koen on the other end.
I take a deep breath and brace myself as best I can for whatever’s about to come.
I abandon my hair, letting it stay wild. He wanted me… he’s got me, tangles and all.
Pulling the door open, I lean casually against the frame while crossing my arms, blocking the way in.
“Well, well, well, would you look at that? Hedoesknow how to use a door.”
Koen’s eyes narrow and he lets out a grunt of acknowledgement, his gaze falling to my bare legs before finding my face again. “Good morning to you, too.”
