“That couldn't be further from the truth. Why do you think I call you Sunshine? You’ve always been the brightest spot in myday.”
I twist my mouth in a sad half-smile, leaning forward and reaching behind him to trail a finger along the cool granite at his back. “Once upon a time, that might have been true, but that was a long time ago, and … I’ve shared a lot of hard moments with this rock,” I counter, snagging his gaze once more. “I’vehada lot of hard moments.”
He rubs my back in a soothing circle, then lifts his hand to catch the loose strands of hair that have once more blown into my eyes. His fingers smooth softly over my cheek before tucking the strands futilely behind my ear. “I do know that, Steph,” he says, his face sobering. “I heard a bit about it from my mom. And … around town. I know things have been hard. And I know it all started with me.” His hand lingers at my ear, his thumb caressing my jaw. “I meant what I said before, though. I’m gonna be there. I’m herenow. We’ll deal with whatever comes, together. You won’t ever have to face anything alone again.”
I blink against the fresh clutch of emotion in my chest. I so badly want to believe him.
“Promise?” I whisper, but my words are carried away on the wind. He reads my lips nonetheless, biting his own before nodding solemnly. Another shiver snakes its way up my spine, but this one … yeah, I’m not sure if this one is from the wind chill.
His pale eyes watch me intently as tension blooms between us. I squirm in his lap, causing him to let out a low groan that I feel rumble through me. My heart rate ratchets up, and slowly, eyes locked on his, I adjust myself so I’m straddling him. My knees come to rest on either side of his hips. In this position, I can easily feel the hardening length of him through his jeans. His hands move around to cup my backside, but his touch remains light, hesitant.
I’m not sure if I’m breathing.
When he licks his lips, I respond in kind. His eyes trace the movement, flaring with hunger when they again meet mine. Electricity hangs in the air between us.
And a question.
Riley’s gaze is searching when our eyes meet once more. He must find the answer he’s looking for, for in the space of a heartbeat, his mouth is on mine.
His lips are warm, and soft, andperfect. I wrap my arms around his neck, sinking my fingers into the longer strands there at his nape. I’m once again struck by how different it is kissing a man—kissingthisman—with a beard. The short, bristly hairs chafe deliciously against my skin, and I can’t get enough of the feeling. I press myself harder against his groin, and his hands tighten reflexively on my ass before pulling me impossibly closer. When his tongue slides along my bottom lip, I open for him, allowing him to deepen the kiss. My hips begin to roll, and he encourages me to move against him. He moans, continuing to lick into my mouth, and I echo him, our tongues tangling.
It feels like no time has passed.
It feels like heaven.
It feels …inevitable.
28
Riley
I’mnotsurewhenor how we made it up the sloped path, but I have my wits about me enough to confirm we’re alone in the parking lot before I shove her up against the side of my truck and claim her mouth once more.
Steph kisses me back eagerly, going up on her tiptoes and fisting the fabric of my jacket. I slide a hand into her hair, gripping her locks and tilting her head to deepen the kiss. She yields control as my tongue sweeps in, moaning into my mouth and wrapping a leg around my hips in a desperate attempt to pull me closer. I snake a hand down to grab ahold of her thigh, keepingher leg raised and allowing me the perfect angle to grind my rock-hard cock against her center. For a long moment, I’m lost in the kiss as our tongues and bodies move in tandem, reveling in the renewed connection. Eventually, my mind catches up with my body, and I force my hips to slow in an effort to dial back my desperation. I don’t know where this is going to go beyond this one perfect moment—perfect kiss—and if that’s all it is today, that’s okay.
I pull back, pressing my lips lightly to hers once, twice, three times, before skating them slowly across her jaw. She lets out a desperate little whine when I drop down to suck against her wildly thrumming pulse, causing me to smile against her skin when I move to the hollow of her throat. The wind swirls around us, lifting her hair and tickling my face. I return to her mouth, losing myself once more as time seems to stand still. Steph unzips my jacket and slides her hands under my shirt, skating them over the heated skin of my back, then around to tease at my waistband.
“Riley,” she breathes, as her hands move to palm me through my jeans. I grunt, thrusting into her touch and nipping at her lip. “Please,” she whines, giving my cock a quick squeeze through the fabric before skating her hand up to the button on my fly. I quickly move to grab her hand, stalling her progress. If that’s where she wants this to go, I’ll sure as fuck never deny her, but … not like this. I will not fuck her against the side of my truck for the first time after years apart.
Breaking the kiss, I murmur, “Hold that thought,” against her lips, brushing my nose tenderly against hers before pulling away, only for her to chase my mouth with her own. I chuckle and press her shoulders lightly against the truck. “Just a minute, Sunshine, I’m not going far.”
I move around to the rear of the truck and drop the tailgate, hopping up into the bed and unlocking the attached storage box where I keep tools, safety gear, and—conveniently—sleeping bags. Hastily, I spread one out while Steph watches me from where she’s leaning against the fender, with a dazed expression. Her face is flushed, and her short hair is in disarray. She touches a hand to her swollen lips, looking like a goddam angel.
Hopping back down, I once more close the distance between us. Her breath hitches when I grab hold of her hips and walk her backwards until I can hoist her up onto the ledge. She obligingly spreads her legs so I can step between them and claim her lips once more. Her hands come to my shoulders, and she shoves my jacket off before wrapping her arms around my neck. I take it as permission to remove her coat as well, then allow my needy hands to run all over her body, exploring …remembering.
Wanton moans send electricity skittering through my body, ramping up my need to get her beneath me.
“Do you want this?” I ask, pulling back to study her face for signs I’m moving too fast, pushing too hard, but there’s no hesitation this time and nothing left between us to be said. At her nod, I reclaim her lips, simultaneously lifting her once more tosettle her further back into the truck bed, then breaking the connection to crawl eagerly in behind her.
There’s nothing tentative about the way we come together now. I’m impatient. She is, too.
There’s only hunger.
Onlyneed.
We’ve both waited long enough. I make quick work of stripping her out of her sweatshirt and leggings, her bra and underwear disappearing equally fast, flung into the darkness beyond the truck. I lose a little of my urgency then, my heart stuttering at the sight of her naked body. Sitting back on my haunches, I take a long moment to admire her in the dying light of the approaching storm. Steph’s short hair flies around her, wild and dancing in the air currents. Her nipples, ones I know are a pretty pale pink in the light, are dark now and pebbled deliciously in the crisp air … or perhaps it’s as a result of my heated gaze. She always was so exquisitely responsive, but when a shiver wracks her body, I’m reminded that it is, in fact, damn cold out. Under her watchful gaze, I remove my clothing, remembering at the last second to grab a condom from my wallet before they, too, are discarded somewhere out beyond the intimate bubble of my truck bed.
Steph’s legs fall open in silent invitation, and I settle myself on my knees between them. She leans up and takes my cock in her delicate hand, ripping a desperate cry from me that I might be embarrassed about had anyone but Steph heard. She takes thecondom from me and rolls it on while I shudder beneath her firm grip.
