Page 43 of Assigned

Chapter Eighteen

Lucas

It’s been over a week since I eavesdropped on Riley talking to Mason’s teacher. I still can’t get over the way Riley stood up for Mason. At the last minute, our training op was canceled. I hightailed it to the school, hoping to get there in time to be at the conference. Heard Riley’s raised voice from down the hall. My first instinct had been to run in there and back her up, but then I remembered what she’d said about her parents treating her like she couldn’t take care of herself. In there with Mrs. Shapiro, Riley had sounded strong and confident and able to take on the world. Wouldn’t want to take that from her for anything.

Plus, it sounded like she knew some things about my son I wasn’t aware of myself.

So, I stepped inside the empty classroom next door and listened instead. Listened to how she’d totally told the teacher off. The part that bothers me is I’m not sure I would have done the same. Mason hadn’t shared what had been going on with me. He hadn’t trusted me with that information. Without having all the information, maybe I would’ve sided with Mrs. Shapiro.

And that breaks my heart.

I lift the glass of water in my hand and take a sip, looking out the living room window. No matter how hard I try to concentrate on something else, like the landscapers across the street, I can’t help but further analyze the situation. The more I do, the more I realize how out of touch I am with Mason. With his life. And that means second-guessing myself as a father.

If only I could be more like Riley. She doesn’t know Mason that well, but she acted more like a parent in that moment than I ever have. Glad I got to see it too.

“You okay?”

Riley’s voice pulls me from my thoughts, and I turn around to face her where she stands in the doorway. “Um, yeah.”

“You don’t look completely okay.” She studies me, concentrating on my face. “Wanna talk about it?”

I walk over and place a kiss on her forehead and wrap my arms around her, inhaling the lilac scent of her shampoo. One thing about my wife, she’s perceptive. Always has been. Maybe that’s why Mason felt comfortable telling her about what his classmates had been saying. Also, growing up together meant she knew all my expressions. Most of them, anyway. Not much I can hide from her when she catches me off guard. “Well, I, uh, heard the way you handled Mrs. Shapiro.”

Riley steps back and meets my gaze, hands against my chest. “You were there? Why didn’t you come in?” A faint pink stains her cheeks.

“Seemed like you had everything under control.” And then some.

She places her hands on her hips and I miss the contact with her instantly. “Then why didn’t you meet up with us after?”

I rub the back of my neck. Not sure what to say. There were so many reasons I’d ducked into the classroom next door. “Because you and Mason seemed to be bonding and I didn’t want to intrude.”

Riley purses her lips into a pretty pink O, gaze still locked with mine. “I guess that makes sense. Still, you could’ve told me later on that day instead of waiting a week.”

“True. But I also needed to figure out how to diffuse the situation when Lisa finds out.” I wasn’t sure Lisa was going to be as impressed and thrilled about how Riley handled the situation as Mason and I were.

“Has she said anything?” she asks.

“No.” Which means my ex-wife hadn’t spoken to the teacher yet, nor has my son mentioned what happened. There also haven’t been any more reports of Mason acting out in school. Wouldn’t be surprised if Mason senses some tension between his mother and Riley. He’s a perceptive one too. Probably doesn’t want to stir the pot.

Riley returns to me and runs a finger down my chest, and a line of heat follows her touch. “Well, thank you for giving me the opportunity to bond with your son. I’m crazy about him.”

I press my lips to her ear and give her a light kiss. “And thank you for defending him. You were a great mom in there.”

“Really?” The pink stain is back on her cheeks and her voice lilts a bit higher. The look in her eyes speaks of both joy and uncertainty. I can tell how much pride she takes in the idea of being a good mom to Mason. I can’t imagine anything that would make me love her more.

“Yes,” I say and hope she understands how much I mean it.

Riley nuzzles into me, standing up on her toes to place a kiss on my cheek, but she doesn’t stop there. Soon lips and teeth graze over my neck. I pull away the slightest bit. “Where’s this coming from?”

“Just feeling confident, and all that praise deserves a nice reward.” There’s a fire in her eyes that I recognize, and my breath quickens in response. She takes the glass from my hand and sets it down on the coffee table. I love that fire. Love the way she stands tall, like nothing could stop her.

With a palm on my chest, she backs me up to the couch, then pushes me down. Holding my gaze, she lowers herself down in front of me until she’s on her knees, fingernails scratching hard enough for me to feel it on my thighs through my jeans.

“Fuck, Riley...”

I hold her hair back from her face to get a better view of that fresh pink rosiness of her cheeks that is getting more and more intense with every passing second.

She undoes my belt and rips the leather from my belt loops. Every single fiber in my body wants to pick her up, throw her over my shoulder, then haul ass to the bedroom. My bedroom. I want to drop her onto the bed, get her under me, and growl about how beautiful she is as she comes.

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