Page 23 of Steal Me (Rebel Hearts Heists 1)
River was frustratingly the perfect freakin’ gentleman and despite kissing the shit out of me, he insisted on curling up to watch a movie while he tried to contact the others. Clearly, it worked and he succeeded. My lips are still a bit tingly and bruised from where he bit down, nipping at my bottom lip and causing a shiver to roll its way through me. I can practically feel his fingers on my skin. Maybe being friends … actually, I have no idea what to call this. Maybe being ‘friends’ with River is a bad idea, because I’m almost toxically attracted to him when he isn’t acting like a crazy ass. Alright, a bit when he’s acting like a crazy ass too.
The attraction is extreme with all of them though. Maybe, I’m sick. Like maybe I've been so isolated and away from human affection that the first attention I’ve gotten has ensnared me. I have to admit that I’m starting to understand what Stockholm Syndrome means. I mean hell. I keep forgetting how exactly I’ve gotten into this damn mess.
“Royce?” I ask quietly as his jaw clenches at the sound of my voice. I’m not positive what his mood is so I feel a bit cautious. Is he mad that we had to run? Mad that I’m in bed with River? Honestly, panic is seeping into my chest worrying that he is, in fact, mad. Pierce has a crazy temper and I have no idea if Royce is the same. I don’t think he is but …
I can’t help but think that Royce is much larger than Pierce. If my ex was able to inflict damage, I can’t even imagine what Royce could do. This is the type of man that devastates women and without any effort with his huge, athletic body, those striking green eyes and that deep, almost hypnotic voice.
“Come here, princess,” he whispers, his voice turning soft and but still sounding tired. Princess? Well, if you insist.
Slipping off the bed, I eye him cautiously and his emerald gaze softens, reaching out a hand that I grasp hesitantly. He speaks in a hushed tone, pulling me towards him. “Don’t look at me like that.”
“Like what?” I whisper as my hands, without my permission of course, find their way into his hair. He seems to shiver slightly and I pull them back, his eyes tracking the movement.
“Like you’re scared of me,” he murmurs, his gaze probing deep into my soul. “Like you’re worried I’m going to be mad at you. Or yell at you, or worse.”
I swallow and speak honestly. “How would you feel in my situation? I don’t know any of you, Royce … I don’t know what’s happening here, but it's a bit difficult to feel comfortable when I’m being held captive but treated like I’m not. It’s confusing as hell.”
His head drops as he nods and I let out a small sound as he wraps his arms around my waist, how long has he been awake? Is it weird to be so worried about his sleep habits? Probably. “The cops caught up to you two?”
“Yeah,” I whisper. “River realized that it was my watch that they had been tracking me by and destroyed it, he shot the back off and then stomped on it.”
“He what?” Royce grasps my wrist searching it for bullet wounds, no doubt, and I smile a bit. I’m also thankful that he isn’t looking into how the FBI was able to put a tracker on me in the first place. It’s only a matter of time before he realizes my connection to Pierce. It’s making me feel vulnerable as hell that River knows, but to have the other three find out as well? I’m not positive I can handle that. At least River didn’t treat me like a victim. And I know how fucking crazy it is that out of all of them, River’s the one who’s keeping my secret and that he didn’t take matters into his own hands and shootmerather than the watch.
I block out the images of River’s hands on me, of his kisses, of how much I wanted him. And since everyone thinks that River’s the crazy one, what does it say about me that I feel this raw attraction toward him and that I trust him beyond any reason? Something changed between us in those woods but right now there’s no time to analyze the situation because Royce is still looking at me, waiting for an answer.
“It wasn’t on my wrist at the time,” I murmur as he exhales looking tense as hell.
“None of this should have happened,” he grunts shaking his head. “River should have—”
“River did exactly what he needed to do.” I voice in the insane bastard’s defense, making Royce’s eyes widen slightly. “He kept us safe when that agent tried to attack us, and got us out of harm's way.” At least, I hope Royce will consider River’s actions the ‘right thing’ to do.
The massive man in front of me searches my gaze before flicking his eyes over to the bed. “What the hell happened while I was gone?” I don’t see judgement in his gaze or anger, just confusion and frustration. I don’t think Royce is the type that feels comfortable with being left out of knowing shit.
“Nothing.” I offer trying to backtrack. I fail because he tugs me forward again.
“Don’t move away from me,” he mutters looking frustrated and standing up fully so that I’m in his shadow. “Do you know how fucking upsetting it was to drive up to our hotel with police covering the surrounding area and to find our room empty?”
I inhale sharply at the heated tone he used and speak, “Royce, we didn’t exactly have any other option.”
I gasp in surprise and shiver as Royce’s lips dip down to mine in a searing kiss, his large fingers find their way into my hair. It’s a hot kiss but he handles me almost cautiously, as if he is worried that I’m going to pull away. Like that would ever happen. I rise onto the tips of my toes so my fingers can wrap around his neck, shit this man is massive. I whimper into the kiss as he deepens it letting out a low growl against my mouth. My entire body lights up as if electricity were running up and down my spine, as he pulls back sharply, his eyes darken into almost black. Well, shit.
“I’m really confused here, Royce.” I admit, my pulse rapidly beating under my skin causing me to shake slightly.
He curses, kisses my forehead so impossibly softly, and walks toward the suite door. I stand there shocked as he takes a few steps outside and my shoulders lower as I deflate, tension leaving my body as quickly as it had invaded it. What the actual fuck? Have I done something wrong? I mean, he kissed me, right?
Maybe I shouldn’t have admitted to being confused. I nearly growl under my breath. This is why I fucking hate Pierce. Before him? I never questioned what I did or how people reacted to me. I trusted my instincts. Now though? Well now I clearly can’t even trust myself if I stuck with that abusive jerk for so long.
Suddenly, heat encases me, drawing me from my thoughts as River’s now very familiar citrus scent surrounds me. I tilt my chin up and watch as heat and possessiveness filter into his gaze, his large rough hand cupping my jaw gently. I relax back against him as I continue to look at him. I should feel weird about this, right? I just kissed Royce and now I’m being held by River … yet it feels perfect. More than perfect.
Yep. I’m a sick puppy. This is super fucked up.
“You stood up for me, kitten,” he murmurs, his brow dipping in confusion.
“I told the truth.” I state softly. River inhales, shaking his head and pressing an almost upside down kiss to my lips before walking to the bathroom and shutting the door. I slump against the wall with a rough exhale as my head spins from the whiplash I’m on the receiving end of. I have no idea if I’ll end up pissing people off or if I’m doing the ‘right thing’ by being honest.
All of this is confusing.
I look around the room and hearing the shower turn on, I decide that now is as good a time as any to get ready. I peek at Kaden and Blaine, but they’re both still passed out. Opening the bag that Blaine brought back from LA, I pull out a pair of jeans and shimmy into them, realizing that I am still in dire need of shopping for some clothes soon. I stay barefoot but tug on an oversized vintage Nirvana shirt, tying it at the hip, after brushing my hair out from its braid. Luckily, I can brush my teeth in the small sink outside the shower and toilet section of the bathroom.
