Page 141 of Heartless Stepbrother
Riley didn’t react at first.
He letmeinitiate it.
Letmedecide the angle, the pressure, the moment.
And somehow, that made it ten times worse.
Because kissing Riley felt like stepping directly into a storm.
His lips were warm, too warm, and when he finally kissed me back, it wasn’t gentle. It wasn’t hesitant. It wasn’t anything like the kiss he’d given that other girl.
It wascontrolled.
Purposeful.
A slow, devastating claiming that sent heat rushing through my veins and made my knees nearly give out.
I told myself I’d keep it quick.
A single brush.
A simple dare.
Nothing more.
But his hand lifted, fingers brushing the side of my thigh, ghosting upward, not quite touching my hip, and I froze.
Not because I was afraid.
But because my body reacted before my brain could stop it, leaning into him with the smallest, traitorous shift.
His mouth deepened against mine instantly, like he’d been waiting for that cue. Like he’d known exactly how long to wait before stealing the air from my lungs.
The crowd whooped, screamed, cheered.
But all of it blurred.
All I could feel was him.
The warmth of his breath.
The heat of his skin.
The sharp, dangerous thrill of knowing Riley Maddox was kissing me back like he wanted to pin me to the sand and ruin me for anyone else who ever tried.
And I…
I kissed him back.
Hand braced on his shoulder, steadying myself as everything tilted. The fire crackled beside us, lighting the edges of him in gold.
For a terrifying, dizzying heartbeat, I forgot why I needed to stay strong. Why he was dangerous. Why I should hate this.
I forgoteverything.
Until he pulled back first.
Only an inch.
