Page 34 of Dangerous Love

“That’s right. So…” I twirled a finger in the air. “…as I was saying, I’ll be an easy girlfriend—”Oh god. What are you saying?I froze, my throat desert-dry. Colour drained from my face as I studied his reaction at the wordgirlfriend. Riley hadn’t wanted me before, and here I was, already chaining him up to an emotional cage. I took a breath. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it like that.”

Riley’s eyes smiled, the brown in his irises lightening as he laced his fingers with mine. He kissed me on the cheek. “What would my girlfriend like? Minus the mushrooms, of course.”

Warmth filled me. It travelled from my toes to the tip of my skull and sucked all the fear, angst, and emotions I’d bottled up for the last few years and hurled them out the window until there was nothing left but peace and adoration for the man in front of me. I tucked myself in his arms. He squeezed me tight before he moved the phone between us. “I’m having barbecue meatlovers. What do you fancy, baby girl?”

My fingers swiped the display until I made my decision. “Can I have half pepperoni and half supreme, on a thin base, not too crusty, no Italian sausage and definitely no mushrooms, please?”

He rolled his eyes, a laugh swirling in his belly as he entered my order and pressed send. “If that’s not complicated…”

“Shut up.” I chuckled before I dug my fingers through his ribs.

A desperate chortle left him as he pinned my hands away from him. “No way. No tickling. You know my weak spots.”

My fingers trailed towards the spots in question, and he jerked with each jab. “Looks like that’s not the only thing that hasn’t changed in the last few years,” I teased.

He flung me backwards on the bed until my body was flat under him. “How am I ever gonna get bored with you?”

“You’re not supposed to.”

His grip loosened and he kissed me before he fell to his side, his head resting on his elbow. “We’ve got twenty minutes before our pizzas arrive. Wanna talk about anything?”

My smile faltered as our eyes met. “It’s you who may need to talk, Riley. Everyone’s worried about you.”

He sighed, his hand raking through his hair. “I just needed time. I know it’s not Jarryd’s or anyone’s fault. I know that,” he said, his tone shaky. “But I feel so much anger, Si. It’s unbearable.”

I stroked his cheek. “I know.”

“Having you here makes it hurt less.”

A small smile lifted the corners of my lips. “I love you. I know I can’t make it go away for you. I would if I could, but I’m here for you.”

“Thank you.”

“Don’t worry. Karma’s coming for him.”

A confidence burned in his eyes, and a Riley I’d never seen before replaced the warm and fuzzy guy I knew. “Oh, you have no idea. He’ll pay.”

Ice cooled my blood as his words travelled through me.

He’ll pay.That wasn’t just anger speaking. This was something else. It was as sharp as the promise of a man with nothing to lose. My throat tightened, my heart rate skyrocketing in my chest. “Riley, what have you done?”

“Nothing Trey and I can’t handle.”

“I’m sorry, but I’m gonna need more than that.” I straightened in the bed. “After everything we’ve all been through, you and Avery, Jarryd…” I sighed. “Me? You can’t just throw it all away.”

His jaw tensed. “I’m aware.”

“He’s the worst of his kind. You don’t have to do much and he’ll be on your tail, on everyone’s tail, just because you’ve injured his ego. You have to think, Riley. Don’t let your grief destroy the life you’ve created for yourself.”

Shoulders squared, he got up, shuffled into his track pants, and pulled a shirt over his head. “I don’t want to talk about it, Sienna. That’s why I’m here. So I don’t have to talk about it with anyone.”

Mirroring his actions, I leaned down until I reached my clothes. Eyes locked with his, I got dressed and followed him as he paced in the apartment. “Riley, I’m sorry. Stop.”

His feet paused mid-stride, and he waited as I moved against his chest. “It’s okay to lean into comfort. I’m sorry. Just let me hold you through it.”

Without a word, his arms reached around my waist, and he cuddled me. My hands rubbed his back up and down as he took a couple of deep breaths. Then, he exhaled, the angst in his gaze hiding behind the darkened pupils. “I’ll get through it.”

Right as I was about to answer, the doorbell chimed, and Riley dashed to the front. He handed the delivery guy a fifty and swapped it for two large pizzas. He carried the boxes to the table and opened the lids for us both as he fell back on one of the chairs.

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