Page 2 of Make Your Play

We’ve been doing this stupid fucking dance around each other for too long. There’s always been a magnetic pull between us, and I’ve tried to ignore it. I’ve tried to fight it and I’m tired of denying myself.

Riley rolls her lips between her teeth, biting down as hues of pink dance across her cheekbones. My gaze is drawn to her mouth, watching as she releases her lips with the softest pop. As my eyes travel back to hers, there’s an instant ignition of fire in my veins when I see the way she’s looking at me.

Lust, want, need.

“I need some fresh air,” she tells me, her voice the softest melody against my eardrums. She lifts up onto her toes, her chest brushing against mine as she brings her mouth to my ear. “If you decide to follow me, I won’t be upset about it.” She pauses, her teeth nipping at my lobe. “Don’t let anyone see you.”

She drops back down onto her bare feet, her arms abandoning my neck as she takes a step away and spins on her heel. Her dark hair shifts around her shoulders, falling in soft curls down to the center of her back as she leaves me in the middle of the dance floor by myself. I watch her, my gaze following her as she grabs a flute of champagne from one of the server’s trays and she ducks out through the back door that leads to the patio.

Pushing past the people around me, I break through the crowd, stopping just on the edge of the dance floor as I see the door shutting behind her. My eyes survey the room, making a mental note of my sister and Lincoln. I almost kissed Riley in front of everyone and didn’t think about Nova or Lincoln seeing us. I can’t say for certain, but I doubt my sister would appreciate me making a move like that on her best friend.

So, the last thing I need is for either of them to see me following Riley outside.

Caleb and Carson notice me as I walk past the bar and they both hold their glasses up. I grab a drink from a server, making the same motion before draining the liquid in one swift gulp. After setting it down, I disappear through a group of people, slipping out into the cool air of the night.

The patio is lined with lights hanging along the perimeter of the surface. There are two guys standing over to the side smoking a cigar and I duck into the darkness, stepping along the side of the building. Riley’s standing along the wall, her head tipped down as she twirls a ring on her middle finger. She doesn’t notice me at first and I allow myself the opportunity to absorb the sight of her.

God, she’s breathtaking.

Riley’s head abruptly lifts, whipping to the side as she sees me. At first, she looks surprised, her eyes wide and lips parted.Her face relaxes, her eyes softening as a smile drifts across her mouth. “Hi.”

“Hey,” I reply, my voice hoarse and thick with need as I close the distance between us. I don’t stop until my feet reach hers and I’m invading her space. There’s no hesitation as I plant my hands on either side of her head on the brick wall, effectively caging her in. “You’re going to get cold out here without a coat.”

She tilts her head to the side, mischief dancing in her eyes. “I have a better idea,” she murmurs as she lifts her hands to grab the lapels of my suit jacket. “What if you keep me warm instead?”

There’s no hesitation as my mouth drops down to hers in an instant, claiming her lips with my own. Riley’s grip tightens on my jacket as one of my hands falls down to her waist. Pressing my body against hers, I pin her to the wall and my other hand slides along the back of her neck. She tastes like champagne—like the stars.

She kisses me back with a burning intensity, with a need that rocks me to my core. My cock is already hard, straining against the zipper of my dress pants. The silk material of her dress is thin beneath my palm and I feel the warmth of her body warming my fingers. I resist the urge to tear the dress apart.

Riley slides her tongue along the seam of my lips, desperate for more. Instinctively, my lips part, granting her access as our tongues dance together. She’s a whirlwind and I’m swept away in her, tasting, touching, teasing. Just on the other side of the wall is a building filled with unsuspecting people.

The scent of her perfume invades my nostrils and I inhale deeply, savoring every piece of this moment with her. Riley’s hands abandon my jacket and she pushes her hands through my hair, gripping the locks as she holds on to me, our mouths melting together. A soft moan escapes her as I reach for thestraps of her dress and begin to slide them down over her shoulders.

We’re both breathless as I break away from her, my lips trailing down the side of her neck and across her collarbones.

“This is a terrible fucking idea,” Riley breathes, her hands slipping out of my hair before they begin to make their way down my torso.

I lift my head, my lips parting slightly as I stare at her. There isn’t a single hint of regret in her expression. “Do you want me to stop?”

Riley trails her hands along the waistband of my pants, slowly inching closer to my belt. “No,” she murmurs as she undoes my belt, letting it fall open before sliding the button of my pants through the hole. “I’d prefer if you don’t.”

My mouth finds hers in an instant and a groan escapes me, rumbling in my chest as she slides her hand beneath the waistband of my boxer briefs. The tips of her fingers brush against my cock.

“Nash, are you out here?”

My heart stops in my chest and Riley momentarily freezes. She quickly pulls her hand from my pants and I take a step away from her as she moves away from the wall. Her lips are swollen, her hair disheveled, and her dress is hanging from her shoulders.

I move quickly to fix my pants and shove my dress shirt back inside my waistband just as Carson walks around the corner of the building. He stops when he sees the two of us, his eyebrows lowering as his eyes adjust to the darkness and he realizes what he’s seeing.

“Oh, shit.”

Fuck.

“Hey, Fordy,” I say, the words catching in my throat as I offer him a smile. “What are you doing out here?”

“I came out here looking for you…” His voice trails off as he looks to Riley, who’s fixing her dress, and then looks back at me. “I can see I’m interrupting something.”

“No. Nope, you weren’t interrupting anything,” Riley tells him, letting out a soft, nervous laugh. “There’s nothing to see here.” She looks at me, her expression unreadable, and nods. “Enjoy the rest of your night, Nash.”

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