Page 126 of Tides That Bind

“Inch.”

This time when he thrusts up I mewl.

When he opens the door, I grab his face and pull his lips back to mine, my tongue swooping into his mouth and linking with his. We’re pulled apart only when Riley lowers me onto the bed and I pout at the loss of him even though he’s an arm’s reach away.

He swings the door shut and hits a switch that turns on the light in the corner of the room.

Even though I’m still clothed, there’s something vulnerable about my position on Riley’s bed while he stands looking down at me. Maybe I should feel shy. But it’s whatIsee that makes me feel none of that—Riley, and how he’s looking at me, how his tongue sweeps across his parted lips. I decide there’s no room for bashfulness when the room is clouded with so much desire.

Riley grabs my ankle, slipping off my shoe and drops it to the floor before doing the same with the other, but this time presses a kiss to the top of my foot before lowering it back down. I rub my thighs together, and the need brewing inside me shifting into an ache when he stretches an arm behind his head, grabbing the back of his t-shirt to lift it off.

“I want you to see me,” Riley says.

My fingers flex when Riley undoes his jeans and lets them fall to the ground, leaving him in a pair of boxer briefs that pulls tightly to a point in the middle.

I writhe on the bed, needing to combat the throbbing. “Come here,” I whine.

Relief feels near when Riley crawls onto the bed. But, ever theasshole, he hovers with a grin before he sits back and gently tugs me up so I’m sitting.

“I’m going to take off your clothes first.”

It’s not quite a question, but what Riley does do is wait until I manage a nod.

My eyes flutter shut under Riley’s scent while he removes his hoodie and tugs it from my body before going for my shirt. I whimper when his lips press to my bare shoulder as he reaches around, unclasping my bra.

“So damn beautiful.” Riley trails his mouth from my shoulder and up my neck, his words leaving little kisses along my skin. “Lean back.”

He must underestimate what strength I have back. I don’t lean, I topple back onto the pillows, gnawing on my bottom lip while Riley removes my jeans and underwear.

“Fuck.”

I bring my legs together again because the sight and sound of him sends heat flooding. But Riley pries them open.

“I saideveryinch.”

Shutting my eyes, I tremble when he runs a finger up my leg, lightly along my slit and over my stomach, up to my breasts, circling a nipple. When my eyes fly open, his warm tongue teases the hard, tight bud before he pulls it into his mouth and begins to suck.

A whimper of his name flees my lips and a groan replaces it when he stops. I swear, I’ll die right here and now if second thoughts have become contagious and he caught the bug I’ve had for the last few days.

I lift my head, and even though he’s let go of my nipple, he hasn’t backed away from my breast.

“Say it again,” he orders.

I’m panting so hard that the rise of my chest rubs my nipple against the stubble of his chin and I’m so desperate even that feels like a reward. “What?”

“My name,” Riley growls. “Saymyname again.”

My head returns to the pillow as I sigh it out and he returns his mouth to my breast.

Riley.

Riley.

Riley.

I try to continue saying his name because it draws a more enthusiastic roll of his tongue, a deep groan against my nipple. But when Riley’s hand dances down my stomach, I could care less about what’s coming out of my mouth.

I only care that Riley likes it. A lot.

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