Page 80 of Riot

Goddamn.

She looked so good even in joggers.

“Hey,” I said, voice low as I stepped closer.

She looked up, smiling soft. “Hey.”

I walked up behind her, leaned over her shoulder, and kissed her temple. My hand grazed her hip as I reached around her for a glass, and she didn’t move—just leaned into me like she liked the weight of me there.

“I gotta meet Abra in a bit,” I told her. “She’s helping coordinate the open house at the vineyard. We need to iron out some details.”

She turned in my arms, orange slice still between her fingers. “I’d love to see it one day”

“You will. You’ll be there for the open house,” I said.

She nodded. “You think… Boaz is gonna get out soon?”

“Yeah,” I said simply. “Definitely this week.”

The softness in her face shifted for just a second, but she caught herself. I could see the fear under her calm. She hated the idea of that man breathing the same air as her, let alone being free.

I brushed a thumb across her jaw. “You ain’t gotta worry about him. I meant what I said—I’m not lettin’ shit happen to you. Not while I’m breathing.”

She looked up at me then, slow and deep, like she was trying to memorize my face. “You always this protective of girls you just met?”

“Nope.”

Her smile widened, but her voice dropped. “Why me?”

I dipped my head, mouth hovering over hers. “Because you’re mine now.”

And then I kissed her.

Not soft.

Not careful.

I kissed her like I meant it. Like I had every right. Like I was done pretending I didn’t want her.

She gasped just a little when I pulled her closer, her hands wrapping around my neck. I felt her grip tighten in my shirt, her mouth opening beneath mine, the heat between us spiking. I slid my tongue across hers, slow and steady, deep enough to make her sigh into me.

Her body pressed against mine, soft and warm, and all I could think about was how good she felt. How right. Her fingers curled at the base of my neck, tugging just enough to make my control slip for half a second.

I pulled back, breathing hard. “Damn.”

She licked her lips, eyes hooded. “You’re the one who said we had to take it slow.”

“Yeah, well,” I smirked, “you keep kissing me like that and slow’s gonna turn into a sprint.”

She laughed. Threw her head back, light and breathless. That laugh hit me in the chest harder than her kiss had.

I leaned down and pressed one last kiss to her neck before grabbing my keys off the counter. “I’ll be back in a few hours. Try not to miss me too much.”

“No promises,” she said, biting her bottom lip.

I walked out of there smiling, heart pounding like I was eighteen again.

Yeah.

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