Page 28 of Riot

“The other reason is because I want what you and Caleb have.I want that.”His gaze shifted away, his features hard.I thought I saw what he wanted to hide.That fear of rejection.Longing for something you wanted with every breath in your body, afraid it was right in front of you only to have someone snatch it away.“I want… a family.And I want that family to be you and Caleb.”

“Quinn,” I whispered, testing his real name on my tongue.His eyes darkened at the sound, and I felt a thrill run through me at the power of that simple intimacy.“I want that too.I want to have something real.Not the facade I’ve lived for the last thirteen years.”

His arms tightened around me, and I could feel the tremor that ran through his powerful body.“Good.Then it’s settled.I’m claiming you and Caleb.You’ll be under my protection, and by extension the club’s.Once we get your divorce fixed or whatever, we’ll make it official.”

I waited for the panic to hit me.Waited for the doubt and fear of putting Caleb into a worse situation than we were already in.There was none.I took a long breath, staring into his face.Then I exhaled.When I did, a smile tugged at my lips, and I found I wanted to laugh.Was that relief I felt?

I nodded.“Yeah.I think we will.”

The smile on this man’s face… There was that same look of relief on his face that I was sure had been on mine moments before.And he was so freaking gorgeous when he smiled!

Once again, I leaned up and brushed my lips over his.Riot didn’t need further encouragement.He gripped the back of my neck and held me steady as he licked the seam of my lips, daring me to open to him.I did, surrendering to him with a grateful sigh.

His tongue swept into my mouth, hot and demanding yet gentle.A rush of heat blew through me and I gasped.Moaning softly against his mouth, I welcomed the thrust of his tongue.I curled my fingers in the fabric of his shirt as I clung to him.His scent, a heady mix of gasoline and beebalms, soothed me like nothing ever had.

This kiss was nothing like the first one.Riot’s kiss was possessive, a claiming.A physical manifestation of the promises we’d just made to each other.His hand at my neck kept me anchored to him while his other arm tightened around my waist, pulling my form firmly against him.

I’d never been kissed like this before, like I was precious and desired.Doug might have wanted to fuck me, but he’d neverwantedme.Not in any meaningful way.Riot kissed me like a man with something to prove.

When he finally pulled back, we were both breathing hard.His gray eyes reminded me of storm clouds, intense, dangerous, but paralyzingly lovely.I had no hope of breaking his stare, no hope of resisting him.And I wasn’t broken up about it.

“Christ, Violet,” he murmured, his voice a rough rasp that sent shivers down my spine.“You’re gonna be the death of me.”

I couldn’t help the small laugh that escaped me.“That would be counterproductive to your promise to protect me and Caleb.”

His answering smile was slow and devastatingly sexy.“True enough.”He brushed a strand of hair from my face, his touch feather-light.“You should get some sleep.Tomorrow’s gonna be a long day.”

“Have you talked to Lana?”

“I have but only briefly.I gave her what she knew was the bare minimum of information.”He shrugged.“At the end of the day, Lana Thompson is still an honorable officer of the court.Unlike some of her colleagues, she does her best to work for justice and still adhere to the law.”

He helped me to stand, then followed, leading me to the bed and urging me into it.When I’d crawled between the sheets, he pulled the covers over me and sat on the edge.With gentle fingers, he brushed my hair off my forehead and out of my eyes.

“You’re beautiful, Violet.The most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.I understand why Harrington would want to keep you, but he can’t have you.Not anymore.”

“I don’t want to go back to him.Not ever.”

“You won’t.”He kissed me once more, this time lingering only a moment with a soft kiss.“You good by yourself, or do you want me to stay?”He waved at the couch.“It’s pretty comfortable.I can get a pillow and a blanket.”

I took a deep breath and smiled.“Why not sleep next to me?Get a quilt and sleep on top of the covers.”

The wonder on Riot’s face was heartbreaking.“You’d let me sleep with you?”Sweet God, this man was breaking my heart!

“Yes.I think I’d like that.If I have a nightmare, you can wake me before I disturb Caleb.”Then I felt the familiar burn of tears behind my eyes, and I gave Riot a watery smile.“Maybe, with you next to me, protecting me, I won’t have any nightmares.”

Riot swallowed, nodding several times.I smiled and scooted over in the bed.He snagged a blanket from the back of the couch and lay on top of the covers next to me.The blanket covered him from the waist down.He was dressed in gym shorts and a T-shirt because he’d been asleep before he’d come to rescue me from my nightmare.That curiously comforting scent of gasoline and beebalms surrounded me.

I had time to register how warm Riot was at my back.Then his arm dropped over my waist.Somehow, his other arm ended up under my head, pillowing my head.

I sighed…

And surrendered to sleep.

Chapter Eleven

Riot

Someone was in the room.I knew it the second I woke, even with my eyes closed.It took me a moment to remember where I was.Then Violet curled sweetly against me, and I remembered I wasn’t in prison.I was in the Kiss of Death compound with my brothers, so whoever was in the room with me and Violet right now wasn’t a threat.I breathed a small sigh of relief before opening my eyes.

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