She lifts her head but keeps her arms wrapped around me. Her fingers grip the back of my shirt.
“What is it?”
“August, I—” Her lashes flutter, and she looks away.
I pinch her chin between my fingers and lift her gaze back at me. “Tell me.”
She scans my face with red-tinged eyes. Her gaze dropsto my mouth, and she bites her lip. Her grip tightens in my shirt, her arms pushing me into her as much as our bodies will allow.
The tips of our noses brush, and I grip her hips. I wouldn’t be surprised if she could feel my heart pounding through my chest. We embrace each other.
Right now, it’s justus.No one knows where we are or what we’re doing. This can be our little secret. I just need a taste of her, and this isn’t enough.
Her eyelids become heavy, flickering closed. This is it. No more wondering what her lips feel like on mine. I can have her. I can?—
Ding!
Her eyes open and she looks at me. I don’t move when the elevator doors open. She doesn’t let go of my shirt. A second later, someone comes from around the corner.
A man and a woman step toward the elevator, and when they come into view, Riley lets me go. I lock her hand in mine, and we walk down the hallway toward our rooms.
Riley’s back in motion, aware of what’s happening and paying attention. She lifts her small purse and pulls out her hotel key card before we stop in front of our doors. Neither of us moves or opens our doors. We don’t say goodbye. We say nothing.
“How are you feeling?” I ask.
“Sticky.”
We let out a small laugh, but her laugh turns into a sigh, and she stares at the dark gray carpet beneath our feet.
“Thank you for helping me tonight.” She touches my arm, dragging her hand down from my bicep and to my forearm, still holding on.
“You think I wouldn’t?”
Her thumb strokes my skin. “Didn’t know if you were enjoying your conversation with your new friend.”
I chance it and slide my hand into hers, locking our fingers together. Her wide eyes trail down to our hands, and a soft gasp passes through her lips.
“You’ll always come first.” I lean down, my lips hovering above her ear. “Sleep tight, Ry.” I kiss her softly on her cheek but don’t move, taking in the sweet vanilla scent that coats her skin.
“August,” her soft, velvet voice brushes my ear.
“Yeah?”
She bites down on her lip as she looks at my own. Maybe I need to step in before something else pulls us apart again. Do I wait for her to give me a signal? Do I chance it and fuck it up again like I did twelve years ago?
“Riley, if you’re gonna—” Before I can continue, her lips press against mine, and I’m taken aback.
Never did I think she would give in to her desires and needs. I thought I’d have to wait a million years for this.
I let her take charge, give her what she wants, while I soak in her warm, tender lips that don’t stop kissing me. Her fingers dive into my hair, and I get a taste of her tongue, swiping my lips, asking me to let her in.
Our tongues collide and tangle together, soft and sensual, desperate and needy. She pulls me in harder, our breathing heavy, and I’m giving her everything I have in me. Everything that I’ve kept inside me for years.
Deeper and deeper, we fall into our kiss while her hands roam my body. My head is light as I drink her in like she’s my favorite liquor.
She pulls back, her lips red and puffy. Her chest rises and falls as she catches her breath. The look in her eyes is wild and hungry.
“I need to go to bed,” she blurts out, turning on her heels and slapping her card on the key lock. The green light flickers, and the sound of the lock tells her she can open the door. “Night, August.” She doesn’t look at me when she pushes it open, runs inside, and closes it.
