Page 32 of Savage Truth

He chuckled at my gasp.Like hell we will. Some dark part of me, though, wondered what it would be like if he went in the back door. He breathed harder, and I glanced up. Holy hell—he’d positioned us so he could watch us in the mirror over my dresser. It was erotic. Sexy. And I was shocked by how much I liked it.

He released me for a brief moment, rolled a condom on, then eased me back against him. My body protested, not wanting to give him entry. Soft kisses trailed along my spine, and his hands caressed my breasts until I relaxed. He held still when he was fully seated in me, giving me time to adjust.

One hand slid around to my stomach to dip between my legs. The pads of his fingers spread me wide then teased around where he was inside me, coating my clit with slickness. I could feel myself plump beneath his touch. The more he touched me, the wetter I got. As he increased the friction, I clenched around him. I pushed back, desperate for more, but his hand held me in place.

He was so large everywhere, corded muscles straining against tight skin. His size made me feel small and delicate.

I arched my back and pressed my shoulders against his chest as he wrapped my long hair around his fist and held me tight.

Then he moved my hips, slowly at first then faster. I felt him everywhere. Jolts of desire shot through my body, and I panted. He made a noise that was half groan and half growl behind me then released my hair and pulled me off him. I was flat on my back, and he rose over me. My body quivered with need as he lined up then thrust deeply.

A moan ripped through my body at the burst of sensations. He increased the pace, and my nails dug into his shoulders, my legs wrapping around him as I matched his rhythm.

I writhed beneath him as he hit that magical spot. My body reacted. His mouth descended on mine just as explosions rocked my body and I went over the edge. Stars burst behind my eyelids, and he swallowed my scream. Two thrusts, and he followed me with his own orgasm.

His weight settled over me, and I welcomed it, running my fingertips up and down his back as we caught our breath. My body was so relaxed that it felt boneless—I didn’t want to move. Cole shifted then pulled out, and I instantly felt the loss. When he got up, goose bumps raced over my skin. He took care of the condom then returned to bed and gathered me in his arms.

Exhausted, I rested my head on his chest, content and safe. I was on the cusp of sleep, but I couldn’t help but think of how he made me want things I couldn’t have.

How the hell will I let him go?

CHAPTER NINETEEN

COLE

Each time with Riley is better than the last.

I didn’t mean to have sex with her again. Okay, I did. But I didn’t mean to fall asleep in her room. And I must have slept for a few hours because it was pitch-black outside when I awoke.

I lay in her bed, enjoying the feeling of her pressed against me. There was no way I was going back to mine.

Rain pounded like angry little fists against the windowpanes. Lightning strobed through her room, and thunder boomed so loudly that I swore the picture on her dresser rattled. It caught my eye, and I eased from beneath the covers. Careful not to make a sound, I lifted the picture and studied the image of Riley and Raelyn at a beach. Curious, I opened the frame to see if any others were behind it. Instead of encountering the smooth back of a print, there was a piece of folded paper.Interesting.

I put the frame back together, set it down, then shoved the note into my pants on the ground before returning to bed. More pressing things were at hand—specifically being in bed with Riley.

The air felt electric. I glanced at the clock, but the glowing numbers were dark. The power must have gone out, no surprise given the storm directly overhead and how close the crack of thunder had followed the strobing lightning.

As the lightning shot silvery beams across the bed, I visually traced what she looked like asleep. Soft and sexy, her lashes fanned across high cheekbones. Full lips parted slightly. She breathed deeply. Beneath her eyelids, her eyes moved rapidly. A deafening crack of thunder caused her body to jerk, and she flinched, burrowing closer to me.

Her breathing quickened, and I ran my hand up and down her back, trying to calm her. It didn’t help. At the next clap of thunder, her eyes popped open wide with panic.

“It’s okay, Riles. Just a storm.” I recognized the level of panic from the time she woke with a nightmare and wanted me to stay with her. “Want to talk about it?”

She shook her head.

I pushed because I was concerned. “We called a truce, remember? I promise not to use what you tell me against you.” I meant it. There was something very wrong, and I didn’t want to mess with her anymore.

I didn’t push. I just waited. The darkness helped. I felt myself wanting to share too. And I would, but only after she did. I felt like I was bouncing from one extreme to the other—how I felt about her, all the mess surrounding Mom’s death… Underneath all of that, what mattered wasRileyand how much I liked her for the strong and very talented person she was. She was a survivor, and I respected the hell out of her for it.

“A storm like this one came through one night long ago. I swear it was an omen. I felt the warning but didn’t say anything to Mom. My silence almost came at the price of her life.”

My arms tightened around her as I sensed her slipping into the memory. I knew all about those and didn’t want her to go alone. But I kept silent, wanting her to confide in me so I could share the burden.

“It was the night before he found us. Mom’s ex. My father.” She pushed out a humorless laugh. “If he can be called that. He’s not a good guy.” Dark emotion filled her words, raising the hairs on the back of my neck and making me pay close attention to what she said and what she didn’t. “Following the night of the storm, he found Mom. Beat her and knocked her out cold. When she didn’t come home when she said she would, I went after her. It was a miracle he hadn’t taken her phone. I found her… with help. We got her out of there and went on the run again. Like always. We’re always running.”

I didn’t think it was a mistake that her father had left Raelyn’s phone on her. Nor did I believe Riley thought so, either. It was a way for Riley to track her mom and for her dad to lure her to him.

“Why did he beat her up?” I couldn’t help but wonder if she’d cheated on him, and I barely stopped myself from saying it. But we were in a truce, and I was committed to not being an asshole for the next few days. Lightning flashed, and I caught her glare.

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