“Sure, or I took the only one left because you decided to sit next to my best friend,” she retorts, pushing her food away, too irritated to eat.
“Mikey would have moved for you, but you still sat with me. Does this mean you are finally going to let me take you to dinner?” he teases.
“Something on your mind?” Riley barks, watching the way Matt is speaking to Liz with a scary intensity.
“No, sir, just a private moment,” he mumbles, unable to look him in the eyes.
“This is a tactical meeting, not a date. You do not get private moments. What is so important you need to whisper in her ear instead of focusing on mission planning that you insisted on being present for?” Riley challenges, sitting forward to place his crossed arms on the table.
Matt’s eyes snap to Liz. She can see the fear in them, but says nothing, simply shrugs ever so slightly, just enough that he knows he fucked up and needs to repeat what was said.
“Just friendly banter, sir,” he says. Every set of eyes at the table is now glued to him, watching to see if he will do what he was told or try to play it off. Sensing they expect more he adds, “I was asking Liz if she was finally going to allow me to take her out to dinner, since she keeps turning me down because of your relationship.”
“Our relationship?” Riley questions, watching Liz with hungry eyes. “I thought we talked about this, soldier, clearly you need another reminder,” he shouts, causing half the men seated at the table to jump. His booming voice may scare them, but it only fuels the arousal that has been building since she stepped into the room. He shoves his chair out, storming to the door.
“Thanks,” she mutters to Matt as she stands and strides out, Riley only a step behind her, slamming the door loudly behind him.
A hard mask and soft lips crash into her as Riley pulls her through the door and into their room, kicking it closed so his hands can grip her waist without having to let go. Liz grabs at his mask, pushing it up just enough to kiss him fully, opening her mouth to allow his tongue to sweep in. She reaches down, stroking him through his pants. He spins her to face the couch, ripping her leggings down in one smooth movement.
“Bend over,” he growls in her ear. She steps on her pants, freeing them from her legs and does as he orders. A strong hand grips her leg, lifting it to rest on the arm of the sofa, exposing her to him. “God, you’re so fucking wet,” he moans before, slamming into her.
She cries out, pushing back against him. One hand grips her hip, his fingers digging into her soft skin hard enough to leave marks, while the other finds its way to her throat, squeezing just enough to restrict her airflow without causing damage. He drives into her with a relentless force. Every thrust sets her nerves ablaze, feeling too much and not enough at the same time.
“Come for me baby,” he orders, feeling every muscle slowly clench around him.
Her vision goes fuzzy, tears welling in her eyes at the immense pleasure that builds. It’s too much. The position, the orders, thedeath grip on her throat all mixed with his perfect, rhythmic thrusting sends her crashing over the edge.
Her screams are muffled by the hand clamped over her mouth as tears stream down her face. Her legs shake, threatening to give out while he keeps fucking her, harder and faster until he is moaning into her with his own release.
Riley eases out of her, dropping his hands. Liz sinks to the floor, unable to hold herself up on unsteady legs, trying to regulate her breathing. He extends a hand, helping her back up, waiting until she is steady on her feet to pick her pants up and give them back.
“Don’t get mad, but they may know what we did if you go back looking like that,” he says, trying to hide his chuckle as he watches Liz struggle to get her pants back on. “Your makeup is running down your face.”
“I’ll go wash it off as soon as I can walk again” she says, starting for the bathroom when a hand grabs her arm.
“Leave it, he will either think you were crying, or he will know that you belong to me, either one is a win in my book.” He pulls her close. “Unless the guys seeing you like this, knowing why we came in here, makes you uncomfortable.”
“I’m fine with it,” she says.
Riley gives her a quick kiss before storming out the door, slamming it behind him to keep the story going. Liz gives it a minute before she follows, knowing it will look like she needs a moment to compose herself after her boss berated her instead of what really happened.
When she walks back into the room across the hall, Riley is already in his seat, hunched over the table, and going over the map with Alex and Tyler. Mikey and Matt are the only ones who look up, each with wildly differentreactions.
Mikey stifles a laugh, lips pressed tightly shut to stop from smiling. He picks up her hand and gives it a gentle squeeze as she walks back to her chair. Matt looks at her with wide, terrified eyes. He scans over every inch of her body, from her puffy red eyes and the makeup forming black lines down her cheeks, to the red marks forming around her neck.
“What the fuck did you do to her?” he yells. The three of them don’t look up from their work.
“My job. I made sure she remembers who is in charge and what happens when you step out of line, although I feel like she is still going to need another refresher,” he says calmly, or as calm as he can when someone is brave enough to raise his voice at him.
“You all just let him treat her like this? What the fuck is wrong with you?”
“I suggest you sit down and keep your thoughts to yourself, kid,” Riley says in the icy tone Liz has come to learn means violence is coming.
“How can I? You’re doing well enough to beat a woman under your protection before bringing her back crying, to be humiliated by your buddies, but not well enough to brief your boss and actually do your job?” he shouts, pushing his chair out and standing.
Liz opens her mouth to defend Riley, even if it ruins everything. She will not let someone accuse him of being a monster when he has the kindest heart of anyone she has ever known, but Tyler is faster.
“What he does is none of your concern. That man has been running this team for years. Scott will get his notes when Riley is ready for him to have them and not a minute sooner. You need to learn your place.”
