“I know what I feel when I’m with you, when you’re here, when I think of you, when I think about holding you and what I felt when I was inside you.”
Her face reddens all the way to her ears.
“If I hadn’t been an unbelievable arsehole, if I’d had you in my house, my bed, I would never have let you go. I never would have let you leave. I wouldn’t have let you feel lost and alone. I wouldn’t have given you up for any reason in the world and I don’t want to give you up now. I don’t think I’ve ever wanted anything in my life the way I want you.”
She looks at me with her mouth slightly open.
“Sorry,” I say, taking my hand back. “I shouldn’t have. I don’t want you to think I’m only saying all of this because I want to get between your legs.”
“Really? Isn’t that what’s happening here?”
“Well, clearly it is – I mean, have you seen yourself, Riley? Do you have any idea how beautiful and sexy you are? Christ, since I saw your body, since I first touched you, I can’t think about much else.”
She bites her lip nervously.
“We said we’d be honest. Well, that’s how I feel. If that scares you, I’m ready to take a step backwards, even to go away for a while if it makes you feel better, because the only thing that matters to me is that you’re okay, that you get a chance to take your life back in your hands. With or without me.”
We sit in silence for a few minutes and the only thing I can hear is my heart beat beating mercilessly.
“I like you, Ian O’Connor,” she says suddenly. “I like being with you.”
“Is that a good thing?”
“I’m not sure yet,” she replies honestly. “I’m going to need some time to figure that out, but it would be nice if you’d stick around in the meantime,” she concludes looking at me hopefully.
“I told you before, Riley, I’m not going anywhere.”
She smiles, taking her fork and pointing to the chicken on my plate. “Do you mind?”
I stop breathing.
I don’t need to breathe anymore.
I don’t think I need anything at all anymore.
“You can take anything you want.”
