I cry out into the silent room.
‘So fucking sexy,’ River groans into my neck as I move over him.
Oh my goodness.
It takes me a whole two minutes to catch my breath, River’s fingers lightly circling over my back as I do. When I finally pull away to look at him, his eyes are shining with what appears to be disbelief.
‘Gosh,’ I say.
He nods. ‘Andthatis what being kissed like that would entail, Gertie,’ he says with a wicked grin.
I swallow, holding on to his brawny arms for balance and also enjoyment. It doesn’t escape my notice that he is still ashard as a rock beneath me, struggling to be contained by his jeans. I reach my hand down towards him, but before I can touch him, he grabs my wrist.
‘Just one kiss,’ he reminds me. ‘Right?’
‘Oh. Yes. Of course, sorry. I just thought …’
He gently lifts me off him and stands up from the bed. ‘I’m good,’ he says lightly. ‘That was …’
I nod. ‘Terrible idea, but fun.’
‘Fun. Yeah.’ He nods five times, which seems like three times too many. Shit. Is he immediately regretting it? Did he kiss me because he felt sorry for me and now it’s all weird?
I fiddle with the corner of the duvet. ‘Was … that a mistake? Like, in your opinion?’ The mere notion that River is in any way embarrassed or regretful about what just happened seeds into my brain, making my face hot with shame. ‘Eek. Will things be bit awkward between us now, do you think? I hope not—’
‘They don’t have to be,’ River cuts in. ‘Gertie, I—’
‘We were surprisingly good at faking not faking it, weren’t we?’ I carry on blabbing. ‘All that, you know,tension. I suppose that’s just science though.’
River tilts his head. ‘Science.’
‘Yeah. Two people who have spent the last few days sparring, faking chemistry and then staying in the same bedroom? Of course that’s going to create some sort ofenergy. Any romance writer would know that. Then again, I bet you have that energy with everyone.’ I gesture at him. ‘I mean, why wouldn’t you? Look at you! Ha!’
River stares at me for a moment, an inscrutableexpression on his flushed face. Is he waiting for me to say something else? His jaw flexes slightly.
‘Curiosity sated then?’ he asks, voice now flat so it doesn’t sound so much like a question.
He seems annoyed. Did I say something wrong? Oh shit, does he think I used him? God, was that a pity kiss? And I took it too far?
‘Haha, yes. But we can forget about it now! I don’t mind! Let’s never speak of it again. It was just a little break from reality! In fact, I’ve already repressed it!’ I pretend to zap my own brain. ‘All gone! Back to being sensible.’
In response River thumbs towards the bathroom. ‘Repressed it? Sensible. Right. So yeah … I’m gonna take a shower.’
‘Great! Sounds great! Enjoy!’
Why am I suddenly a walking exclamation mark.
River nods. ‘I will, uh, yeah, the water I will enjoy.’
What? He is making even less sense than me.
Turning crimson red, something I would never have believed he was capable of, River backs quickly into the bathroom, closing the door behind him. I think I hear him swear from the other side of the door.
Yep.
I’ve definitely made things awkward.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
