Page 187 of Wicked Minds
Climbing back on top of him, I hover over him and reach between my legs to line him up with my entrance before slowly lowering myself onto his hard length.
He hisses while I groan, my eyes rolling back in my head at the intrusion. The way his piercing scrapes along my walls. It’s like nothing I’ve felt before and I can’t get enough of it.
We’re chest to chest, both of us heaving as he sinks deep inside me. Sliding one hand to the back of my head, he restshis forehead against mine as we both bask in this moment. “I’m yours, Riley. You own every piece of my black soul. Don’t ever doubt that.”
His piercing eyes burn with such passion that there’s no disputing the sincerity of his words, and with a hand on my hip, he lifts me before slamming up into me, and I gasp before groaning. Falling forward, I kiss him with everything I have as our bodies meld into one. And when we come together, it’s like our souls unite and fortify in a way that can never be untangled.
Before he leaves that night, he steals a too-quick kiss from my lips, but by the time I can draw back, he grasps my chin, holding me in place as his eyes scour my face. “I’m with you,” he reiterates. “I’m always with you. Be careful tonight. Stay near Grayson and try not to kill one another. I love you.”
He says those three words with such casualness that by the time they register, he’s already gone, leaving me gaping at the door as my heart jumps out of my chest and melts into a puddle on my kitchen floor.
Oh my god, Royce King just told me he loves me!
“You can do this,” I tell myself as I stand outside Lux, staring up at the pink neon sign. “He’s not here. No one is going to hurt you.”
Grayson growls from beside me, ruining the wholepretending he’s herething I had going. “Not unless they have a death wish. I still don’t understand why you’re doing this.”
“You don’t need to understand,” I drawl, not looking at him. “In fact, you don’t even need to be here. Feel free to leave.”
He scoffs. “Yeah, that’s not happening, Tempest.”
Okay, now I do spin around to glare at him. “You can also stop calling me that.”
His smirk is filled with haughty arrogance that is somehow both enticing and infuriating.God, I hate him.
I go back to ignoring him as I wipe my sweaty palms on my jeans, the erratic beating of my heart and the knot in my stomach making me feel physically sick. Then, I take one final, bolstering breath before stepping toward the door.
Saliva coats my mouth as I step inside, glancing around the darkened club. It’s already bustling with customers, a performance underway, and bartenders mixing drinks behind the bar.
“Riley,” Tara calls when she sees me. It’s weird to see her dressed as management instead of as a dancer, but she has managed to find the line between professional yet sexy with the skirt and top she’s wearing tonight. “It’s good to see you.” She hugs me, and it chases away some of the demons at my heels. “Are you sure you’re up for this?”
I nod, refusing to back down. She searches my face, yet must see my determination as she doesn’t try to talk me out of it. “Okay, well, get ready. If it’s too much at any point or you feel you’re done for the night, just say.”
“Thanks, Tara. You’re a good boss.”
“Oh my god, don’t call me that. That sounds weird.” She bursts out laughing before shifting her attention to Grayson. “I’m guessing you’re the babysitter tonight. Well, you can sit your grumpy ass right over there”—she points to Royce’s usual table—“and no interfering or starting anything with my customers.”
Grayson merely grunts something that doesn’t entirely sound like an agreement, before someone calls Tara’s name and she excuses herself.
Casting a glance at Grayson over my shoulder, I head toward the dressing rooms, but when I enter the back hallway, I realize Grayson is still following me.
“What are you doing?” I ask, frowning at him.
He scoffs. “If you think I’m letting you out of my sight, you’re sorely mistaken.”
“You can’t come into theladiesdressing rooms.”
“No, but I can wait outside.”
I blink at him before deciding the argument isn’t worth the oxygen. Instead, I turn my back on him and storm down the hallway. It’s only when I close in on the office that my steps falter, and memories of Ben’s acrid breath on my skin, his fingers digging into my cheeks, rush to the forefront of my mind.
A tidal wave of fear threatens to engulf me as my breaths come in shallow pants.
Only a large, warm, familiar palm on my back breaks through the memories, shattering them one by one as Grayson steps up behind me. He turns me so he’s holding my head to his chest, my ear over his heart as I use it to steady me while he whispers words I can’t make out.
Even after I’ve calmed down, he doesn’t immediately let me go. Running his hand over my hair, he promises, “Nothing will happen,” with a certainty and vehemence that I know not to doubt. “You’ve got this,” he murmurs. “Hold your head high and go out there and prove to yourself that that worthless piece of shit doesn’t define you. That he holds zero fucking power over you. That Riley James is un-fucking-shakeable.”
Perhaps it’s the fact that Grayson Van Doren is providing me with the strength and courage I’m sorely lacking, or the fact that he believes I’m unshakeable. Hell, it could just be that he didn’t throw me over his shoulder and carry me out of here. Whatever the reason, I find comfort in his words, and there’s a protectiveshield wrapped around me as I push my shoulders back and lift my head to meet his steely gaze.
