Page 6 of Riot

Why does he have to be such a slut?

“Hilarious.” He points the spatula at me as the frying pan spits oil. “Shit.” Grabbing the dial, he turns down the heat and steps back out of the danger zone, but the top of the stove is covered in grease. “Despite what the gossips say—and by gossips, I mean my brother and your sister—I don’t have a harem or a string of women at my beck and call.”

Now I know he’s full of shit, but I let it slide. What does it matter if he’s fucking the entire female population of the city? He’s never going to fuck me.

My cheeks heat at the thought of him lying with me, his arms wrapped around my body, just holding me.

Safe and happy.

Loved.

All things I’ll never be.

I never believed I’d feel anything for a man after what Link did to me, but Riot awoke something I thought I’d buried.

Hope.

Desire.

A need for more than just surviving.

“Did you just come here to eat?” My voice is thin, low, and wobbly.

Don’t let him see behind the mask.

I rebuild my walls brick by brick until I feel strong enough to look at him.

“No.” He sounds wounded. “I wanted to see my girls.”

My stomach sinks. Every time I steel my heart, he lands another blow. He doesn’t mean it the way I want him to. He’s just being his usual charming self, and that’s worse.

“Liar,” I murmur, ignoring the pain blooming beneath my ribs.

He lifts his gaze, pinning me with his boyish charm, and I swear my heart stops.

“I’m not lyin’. I wanted to see you and Seren.” Hope ignites in my chest. Me and Seren.His girls.“And since there was no food in the clubhouse, I figured I could see you both and eat. Multitasking at its finest. I’m streamlining my day, Vee.”

Vee.

He’s never called me that before. Was it a slip of the tongue? A mistake? And why do I like it?

“You should just move in.” I throw it out casually then panic.Shit. Why did I say that?Just invite him to share your room, why don’t you?“What I mean is, you’re here all the time anyway,” I backpedal, heat creeping up my neck, “and you’re clearly not taking care of yourself at the clubhouse. You can’t survive on no food.”

Stop talking, Ivy.

“And leave Casa del Clubhouse?” He scoffs.

He’s been staying there for the past two months, but I don’t know why. He could easily afford his own apartment.

“You can’t enjoy living there, Riot.”

I wish he would move in. I love our evenings curled up on the sofa, watching movies while Seren sleeps. I love him being here when I wake up. I love his infectious laughter and his goofiness too.

I love that I don’t feel scared when he’s here.

“Ain’t all bad. It’s not far to stumble to bed after a skinful, and it’s free.”

I bark a laugh, settling into the normality of the conversation. “You think Mace would ask you for rent money?”

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