Page 29 of The Royal Flame
“How are we even supposed to do that, though?” Lily wonders. “When the police can’t even find any clues as to where she could be.”
River trades a subtle glance with me the looks back at her. “Maddy and I are working on a few leads. But it may take a while.”
She eyes us dubiously. “You two have secrets.”
She’s right. We haven’t told anyone about The Royal Flame society, and we have no plans do so. Knowing about it seems dangerous so River and I made the decision together to keep tight lipped about what we found.
“Fine, keep your secrets for now,” she tells us through a yawn. “I’m going back to bed. Have fun making out.” She waves from over her shoulder as she wanders back to her room.
“She’s a pain in the ass,” River mutters the moment her bedroom door shuts. “But she does make a valid point. My father can’t cut them off entirely. Although, he’ll probably try.”
“You don’t have to break off the arranged marriage.” I move back from his arms and sink down onto my bed. “I’ve always known what this was,” I gesture between the two of us, “It was always meant to be a fake relationship, and you don’t need to throw your entire life, and Finn and Lily’s lives, just because I caught feelings.”
His stormy eyes bore into me. “You caught feelings?”
Shit. I didn’t mean to say that aloud, but whatever.
“I think you know I did.” I tug at the hem of my shirt. “I’ve told you enough about my feelings for that to be pretty obvious. But I don’t want you to factor that into your decision.”
He reduces the space between us by taking a few steps, not stopping until he’s towering over me. If this had been any other guy, I’d probably panic. But I’ve always felt safe with River.
“You know I feel the say way,” he confesses, leaning in and placing his hands on the sides of me so I’m trapped between his arms. “And I’m going to factor that in. In fact, I already have. I don’t want to marry Isla and I won’t. I’m getting out of this. And I want you… I want you so badly.” He kisses me than, his lips searing hot.
I kiss him back, gripping the bottom of his shirt, pulling him closer as he angles me back onto the bed.
This wasn’t what I had planned. I was supposed to be giving myself some space. But I can’t seem to stop myself from wanting to be with him. The need consumes me every time we’re close. I can usually stop it, though, eventually. But this time I feel like I’ve dove into water and never want to come up for air.
I lie back down on the bed, and he climbs over me, never breaking the kiss. His solid chest collides with mine as he breathes raggedly between kisses. He props an arm beside my head while his other hand finds my waist. He grips tightly as he presses against me, his body flush with mine.
The kiss goes on and on and on.
It’s beautifully endless.
For the moment anyway.
My hand travels along his back and the shudder that ripples through his body sends a burst of warmth through mine. I latch my leg around his waist, nearly forgetting that I’m not wearing anything underneath the shirt I have on. The movement causes the hem of his shirt to slip up and we end up skin to skin.
He groans, muttering incoherently before pushing back. “Are you still okay with this?” His palm is on my upper thigh, searing hot against my skin.
My worries attempt to push through the lustful haze fogging up my brain, but it’s too thick end up nodding and drawing him back to my lips. As our mouths collide, his hand travels around to my ass. He releases a throaty groan and kisses me more fiercely, our tongues tangling my heart an erratic mess of want inside my chest. I roll my hips against his, eliciting a moan from his lips. I do the movement again, wanting more in ways my mind can barely comprehend.
“What do you want?” River whispers against my lips, his voice pleading to give me the answer to that.
I hesitate, unsure how to respond. This is the farthest I’ve ever gone with a guy and River kissed one girl before me. We’re both extremely inexperienced, but that doesn’t mean I want things to always remain that way.
Am I terrified? Yes.
Am I worried this will lead to heartache? Absolutely.
But I’ve never felt this way before and that means something. Good, even if it’s brief, can still be wonderful.
“Touch me,” I whisper, removing my hand from his back.
Then I place my hand on top of his and guide it where my body craves it to be.
“Jesus,” he breathes out, his stormy eyes intensely watching me.
It feels so breathlessly amazing. Another gasp from me then I push up to kiss him, needing as much of him as possible to touch me. We frantically kiss. A handful of breathes later, feel of his lips, the tangle of his tongue, the brush of his fingers, send me over the edge,
