Page 49 of A Deceitful Pact

“Then how about the night after?” I come straight back at her, and she looks up at the barn ceiling like she’s debating it.

“Still busy.” She knocks me back, only this time she does it with a smile that tells me she’s enjoying making me suffer.

“I’m not gonna give up,” I tell her, resting my forearm against the wall above her head and not caring who sees me lean in real close. “You're mine, Riley Hale. I even put a baby in your pretty, little tummy to prove it.” I can tell by the wild eyes she looks up at me with that she wants to slap me. I also know that she’s suffering a little herself. She wants to give in, she wants to let herself be owned by me because she loves how it feels.

“Careful, you're gonna have the whole town talking,” she warns me, trying so hard to keep up her defenses.

“Let ‘em talk. They’re gonna know soon enough, anyway. Your tits have already started to give you away.” I look down and admire how swollen they look. “It’s only a matter of time before this belly does too.” Just thinking about it has my cock pressing stiff against her waist. “Tell me you ain’t thought about that kiss in my truck, Riley.” My low, deep voice speaks in her ear, and she shakes her head because she knows her words will fail her.

“You're such a liar. I’ll bet you wanna reach up on those tippy toes, turn your head, and steal another from me. You’re so fuckin’ close, it would be easy. But you're just too proud.” I tease her by trailing the tip of my nose along her cheek, and despite being surrounded by people, she doesn’t do a single thing to stop me. “I’ll bet you wish that my hand was between your legs, right now, giving your pussy all my attention.” I slide my finger over the cheekbone on the opposite side of her face, and she closes her eyes like she’s imagining it. “My words gettin’ you all wet, Sheriff Hale? Hell, I reckon I could have you coming right here, in front of all these people.” I press my hand against her stomach, and she gasps. “That’s right, pretty girl, you know where these hands belong.”

“Sawyer.” Her lips tremble as she speaks my name, and I lower my mouth to her neck because I know kissing her there makes her weak.

“Yes, darlin’?” I speak against her skin, waiting for her to demand I take her somewhere more private and give her everything she’s been denying herself.

“Take your fucking hands off me before I arrest you for assault.” She pushes both her hands hard into my chest and starts marching toward the huge barn door.

“Wait.” I chase after her, getting a strange look from Lincoln and Miles as I pass them. Once outside, I catch up to her, grab her wrist, and drag her behind the barn so we don’t have to worry about who sees us. I don’t give her any chance to yell at me, I force my lips onto hers and kiss her until she runs out of oxygen. She waits for me to pull away before slapping me hard across the face, then shocks the hell outta me when she pulls on the tie I’m wearing to drag me back to her lips.

“Why do you keep doing this to us?” she asks, catching her breath between kisses, and knowing that she’s gonna hate what I tell her next, I take her face in both my hands and hold it firm so she can’t run away from me.

“Because I’m in love with you.” My words come out aggressive and all wrong. I’m angry at myself for loving her. I’m angry at her for trying to make it so hard. How can she askmethat question?I’mnot the one blowing hot and cold.I’mnot running away from what this is.

“Sawyer.” She pushes me back, looking like she’s gonna cry. “You can’t love me.”

“Too late,” I laugh, pressing my forehead into hers and stroking her swollen bottom lip with my thumb. “I love you, Riley Hale, and you can knock me back as many times as you want, but I’ll keep coming back. Ya know why?”

She shakes her head and looks up at me through her lashes.

“Because I know that there’s a little piece of your heart that loves me too, you're just scared to let it.”

Her eyes soften, and when I take her lips again, I’m much gentler with ‘em. They start to taste salty from the tears that are spilling onto them, and when her hands slide up and cross behind my head, I feel her start to open herself back up to me. I pull back so I can suggest we make our excuses and get out of here, but she speaks before I get the chance.

“You should get back to your friend, you're his best man.” She pushes me back further to give herself some space.

“Jace’ll understand,” I assure her, gripping the back of her neck as I move in to kiss her again.

“No, Sawyer.” Her palm presses against my chest and when she starts walking her ass back toward the party, I stand and watch in confusion.

“Riley?” I don’t care that we’re back in public view as I chase her back inside. “Riley, we’re not doing this anymore. I’m sick of playing games,” I whisper from behind her, spinning her around and earning myself a curious look from Maddison’s bridesmaid.

“What do I need to say to make you understand?” Riley whisper-yells at me as her eyes dart around the room. “I don’t want your love, Sawyer. I don’t want any of this. You should be with someone who will appreciate you. Someone like Beth Del–”

“Don’t you fuckin’dare!” I cut her off, holding my finger up between us. “What the hell is wrong with you, Riley? Do you spend all your free time thinkin’ up ways to fuckin’ hurt me?” I look her over, trying to understand what goes on in this woman’s head. “I don’t want Beth Delaney. I don't want any other woman. Iwantyou.”

“Well, you can’t have me, and the sooner you accept that, the easier things will be for everyone.” I stare at her, wondering how she manages to strike me every fuckin’ time. I should know by now that all her advances end up with rejection.

“If you mean what you say and you really do love me, be a man of your word. Forget any ideas you have about you and me. Forget that this baby I’m having is yours, and move on, Sawyer.” I feel tears stinging my eyes when I realize how serious she is.

“You're my baby’sdonor,not its father. We agreed to that,” she whispers coldly, and it’s the final blow. How the fuck did I become so weak? I ain’t the kinda man who lets a woman rip out his heart and stomp it into the ground.

I guess that’s the price you pay for deception.

Her words hurt harder as they sink deeper, and when looking at her becomes too hard, I shake my head and storm out the barn, getting as far away from her as I can get.

CHAPTER26

RILEY

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