Page 28 of Fall to Me
Liquor always allows for a loose tongue, but I don’t want her truths this way. She lays her head on my chest and wraps her arms around my waist as we sway back and forth; the music changing to something slower.
“Mmm, I love this song. It’s so sweet,” she says. “I can't even imagine someone loving me that much.”
“Hmm.”
I squeeze her a little tighter as Bruno Mars and Lady Gaga’s duet plays in the background. I know it’s time to call it a night, but I want to hold her a little bit longer.
I run my fingers through her silky waves. “Time to go to bed, baby. It’s getting late, and we have a flight to catch tomorrow.”
“Is that code for something else?” She peers up at me and winks.
Fuck me. Tonight is going to be a long night.
“No, we’re just sleeping.”
She groans, pressing her forehead into my chest and shaking her head back and forth.
I lean down, speaking low into her ear. “River, when, not if—because I know it will happen eventually—but when you admit that you’re mine, I’ll gladly fuck you, but not a moment before.”
Her pink tongue darts out to lick those sexy ass red lips. “Okay, I’m yours.”
My eyes shut tight, and I blow out a breath. “And when you haven’t been drinking.”
“Boring.”
“Thats my hard limit.” I shrug one shoulder.
“Oooh, we’re talking about limits. This is quite serious. Wanna know mine? Need a safe word?” She giggles again.
Jesus, help me. I’m gonna have to take a long ass cold shower tonight. This is not the River I know. The River I know is not forward. She’s a runner.
I take her hand in mine, leading her off the dance floor. “Let’s go. Time to sleep off the alcohol.”
“I think we should talk this out.”
“Yeah, well . . . maybe we’ll talk about it tomorrow when you don’t have more alcohol than blood coursing through your veins.”
Cal and Aspen are chatting with the parents as we approach. I hold my hand out to shake Cal’s and ask, “You guys need anything before we head out?”
“No. We’re about to head out too,” he says as he pulls me into a hug.
River and Aspen laugh together about something I’m not in on as I turn to Rhett. This time, when I offer my hand, he shakes it.
“Remember what I said, son.” He pats me on the back; a little nicer this time.
I give a curt nod in his direction. “You’ll never have to worry, sir.”
Even if this shit goes sideways, I vow to myself to always have her back.
I drop our suitcases inside my penthouse, letting them hit the marble floor with a loud thud that echoes throughout the foyer. The kitchen light over the stove is on, casting a soft glow over half of the living room. I turn back to grab the last bag and notice River hasn’t moved; she’s still standing out in the hallway, nibbling her bottom lip.
I drop the last bag inside and turn around. “River?”
“Huh?” she asks, eyes wide and expression panicked.
I nod toward the living room. “You gonna come inside?”
She glances past me but doesn’t budge as her line of sight quickly drops back to the threshold. Fuck, I would give anything to take her fear away. Until we can sit down and talk, the only thing I can do is distract her from the thoughts spiraling in her mind.
