Page 51 of After Tonight

But as Derek stared down at Riley, he realized that he was so fucked when it came to her if he didn’t want to be involved and wrapped up. She was already a part of his life. They had a history. They knew each other’s families. He wanted to encourage her in the job with Scott. He wanted her to tell him that his pizza business was a fantastic idea.

And he wanted to fuck her over and over and over again in every position and room in his house.

And he would kind of love it if Riley was the least bit clingy.

And he had no fucking clue how he was going to be able to date Lucy now.

“Yeah, okay, I guess you have a point,” he conceded.

She put a hand on his face, and he had to actually hold himself back from saying to hell with it and throwing her over his shoulder anyway. “Yeah, I have a point,” she said softly.

He wondered briefly if she was reading some of his thoughts and emotions on his face. He turned his head and kissed her palm. Then he smacked her on the ass and said, “If you don’t want to end up bent over on my kitchen table, you better get out of here.”

She gave him a smile. “Well, I do want that. But I’d still better go.”

She bent to retrieve her clothes, and he watched her pull them on. “But you have to say it before you leave, you know,” he told her.

Riley pulled her shirt over her head and then lifted her hair out of the back of it. “Say what?”

“You know.”

She frowned slightly, but the next moment it was clear she caught on. She smiled and shook her head. “I’m not saying it.”

“You have to.”

“No way.”

“I mean, it’s very easy to tell that you think so, but I really think it’s only fair you say it.”

“I am not saying it.” But she was grinning.

He moved in close, palmed her ass once more and kissed her. Because he wanted to prove his point.

And because he couldn’t help it.

When he lifted his head, she sighed. “Fine. You really are a Sex God.”

He chuckled at her tone. “Damn right.” Then he pinched her and let her go.

“I’ll see you later,” she told him, blatantly taking another long look at his naked form.

And said form started stirring to life again just from her look.

“See ya.” He stood, waiting for her to actually leave.

It was the right thing. She should leave. They couldn’t have sex all afternoon. But he certainly wasn’t pushing her out the door.

Which should have been the biggest red flag of all.

She sighed and shook her head. “Just wow.” Then her eyes finally made it back to his. “See ya ’round.”

He laughed. “Yep.” No matter if it was complicated or not, there was no avoiding that.

Finally, she turned and headed for his door.

And for the first time in his life, watching that door shut behind a woman made him feel anything but relieved.

* * *

---