Page 144 of River & Rue

He takes my hand and guides me across the street and down the driveway. The closer we get to the house, the more I feel like I’m wading through a dream.

“Wilder told me it was going on the market, so I called the agent. She dropped off a key this morning.”

I nod numbly.

A winding stone pathway bordered by late-blooming flowers leads us to porch steps that creak under our feet.

River pulls a key from his pocket and opens the front door.

“Holy shit.”

He grins at me. “Glad to have you back.”

I smack his arm.

We spend the next ten minutes roaming the house and backyard. There’s an office with a spectacular view. Three bedrooms. Two and a half baths. A small guesthouse that would be a perfect art studio, a saltwater pool, and a brand-new greenhouse.

We end up in the gorgeous kitchen, where floor-to-ceiling windows showcase the glittering pool and dense tree line.

“It’s not right on the water like Wilder’s place is, but it’s pretty awesome, right? Did you see the maple trees? And the greenhouse is⁠—”

“How much is it?” I blurt. “My advance for the next series is coming next month. Can we put in an offer? Oh god, I’m shaking. Is this crazy? Wait—do you like it?”

His eyes twinkle. “I love it.”

Silver flashes through the air, and I catch the flying keys on instinct.

“What…?”

But when I look at him, I know.

“You already bought it,” I whisper.

His smile robs what’s left of my breath.

“Escrow closed last week. We can move in whenever we want.”

My chin wobbles. My knees too.

River grabs my hips and lifts me onto the kitchen island, then steps between my knees. His hands frame my face, thumbs brushing away my tears.

“Is this real? Really real?”

His eyes heat to a bright, unearthly gold. “It’s real. This is our life. Our happy never-ending.” His lips brush mine. “You know what else is real, Mrs. Ashburn?”

I lace my fingers together behind his neck, then wrap my legs around him and pull him flush against me. He makes a small sound—familiar and hungry—that sets my blood on fire.

“What else is real, Mr. Ashburn?”

His hands scoop beneath my ass, lifting me from the counter. My breath catches as he rolls me against his rapidly thickening cock.

“How beautiful you are when you’re wet.”

My body hears the words as a command, happily soaking my underwear.

But in my head, faint alarms begin ringing.

River’s lips curve, flashing fangs.