Page 31 of Midnight Whispers
When Cass stopped pretending to go slow, Riley found himself pressed against the epic fantasy genre. The heavy books and the shelf they sat on pressed into his back, but not for long. Cass ran his hand up Riley’s back and moved them without ending thekiss. Riley found himself on his back, on the couch, with Cass lying over him. Their bodies pressed together.
That was when Cass stopped the assault on Riley’s mouth. He trailed kisses along his jaw to his neck. In between the kisses were little licks that set Riley on fire, especially when Cass got to Riley’s neck.
“Mmm. You smell so good.” Teeth grazed his neck. Cass didn’t bite him, but there was a promise of it. Maybe wolves got all bitey during sex.
Riley had an urge to press his palm against Cass’s skin. His hand itched with the need for it.
Cass seemed to know because he grabbed Riley’s wrist and stared at his palm. “You want to mark me as yours.”
Instead of answering, Riley tried to lift Cass’s shirt away with his free hand, but Cass stopped with a shake of his head. “No bonding. Not yet. We need to talk before we make it permanent.”
Riley couldn’t help but feel a little deflated. “Permanent?”
“If you put your mark on me and I put mine on you…” Cass ran a finger along Riley’s neck in a gentle caress. “We’ll have a permanent bond. Lifelong. Only death can break it.”
“Oh.” Riley wrapped his arms around Cass’s shoulders and held on. He didn’t want to stop kissing, but he felt like maybe they would.
Cass returned the hug, kissing Riley’s temple and into his hair. “Shh, I’m not saying no, baby.”
Riley didn’t realize he’d whimpered until Cass had spoken. He forced himself to stop. Showing weakness wasn’t an option, especially to a guy who wasn’t ready to make a commitment.
Not that Riley was ready, either. They barely knew each other. Or that was what he told himself.
But he wanted to leave a mark on Cass. Was that possessive? It felt a little like it was, and that made no sense, considering Cass was a person, not something that belonged to Riley.
If he stripped away the weird possessive feeling, what did Riley’s reaction really mean? It meant he wanted a commitment. He was ready for one, but only with Cass. And knowing that made his stomach twist into knots.
Cass’s reaction felt more like a rejection upon Riley examining his own feelings. While Riley knew Cass hadn’t meant it that way, the illogical part of Riley that always waited for the next big disaster twisted Cass’s meaning until it fit that mold.
Riley let go of Cass. “Can I get up, please?”
Cass moved off him.
Riley stood so fast he probably appeared as if he thought his ass was on fire.
He headed for the door.
It took him a second to put on his shoes and, in that time, Cass had closed the distance. “Riley.”
Riley shook his head. “It’s okay.”
“What’s okay, baby? What’s going through that pretty head of yours?”
“Nothing. I just need to get home.”
“I can drive you.”
Riley shook his head. “No thanks. Griffin’s still at the inn. I’ll catch a ride from him.”
That was a lie. Griffin had left Riley at the inn, stipulating that he would get a ride from Zinnie or Cass. Riley didn’t intend to do either. He needed fresh air and to clear his head. Or, more precisely, he needed to get rid of the voice that told him he wasn’t good enough for someone like Cass.
As soon as Riley had his shoes on, he was out the door.
“Riley. Please.”
Riley just raised his hand in a goodbye gesture. “Catch ya later, Cass.”
God, Riley was failing at starting over. Who failed at that? But Riley seemed to be the master. At least where romance was concerned.
