Page 108 of Riordan's Revenge

But until then, I was desperate to enjoy the romantic evening he’d designed.

“Put down the food,” I ordered.

Two lines appeared on his forehead, but he set down the carton he’d started to open and faced me. I tossed the blanket then leapt at him, banding my arms and legs around him and holding him tight. My pulse raced.

“This is the sweetest thing anyone’s ever done for me.”

He chuffed and stroked my back. “It’s nothing.”

“It’s everything. I love this. I love ye.”

Emotion flared in his eyes. “Say that again.”

“I love ye so much it hurts.”

His smile broke my heart. Riordan needed my words like he needed air. Like I needed him.

I kissed him again. “I just need you to know what this means to me. I love the warehouse, but you’ve just made it into a home.”

Him. Not the objects he’d bought with his hard-earned money. His presence. His biker boots beside the door. His clothes on the floor by the bed.

Riordan smiled into the kiss then carried me to the sofa. Then he put me down, dislodging my wandering hands. “Romance first, devouring later.”

“But…”

“I want us to exist side by side for one evening without the entirety of it being spent fucking.”

“I really like the fucking.”

“I do, too.”

“You’re going to make me wait for it?”

“At least until after we’ve eaten.”

He shrugged then went to fetch the food, unaware of exactly what he was doing to my heart.

Handing me a bowl of steaming pasta, Riordan indicated to my laptop. “We continuing with your telenovela? I’ve been wondering what Alexia’s husband is up to.”

Slowly, I nodded, and he set it up, cuddling up alongside me as he wolfed down the food.

It was hard to pull my attention off him in order to eat.

Riordan shovelled in big forkfuls like he’d been starved. “We’ve just discovered that Alexia’s husband is her lover’s dad, right? Eduardo had the picture on his wall which was her clue.”

The next episode started with the heroine outside an office building, clipping briskly along in her sky-high heels and her fingers shaking as she approached the revolving door.

“Alexia,” a shout chased her.

She twisted around.

Eduardo pursued her from his sports car. “Why did you run from me?”

“You shouldn’t have followed me. I need to find out the truth.”

She burst into tears, and Eduardo scooped her up into his arms. She beat him with her hands.

“Put me down. No one can see us like this.”

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