Page 95 of Vicious Desire (Fallen Royals 4)

Maybe he’ll be gone in the morning.

“Goodnight,” he whispers.

23

Eli

I wake up to an elbow in my face.

Eyes still closed, I twist out from under the arm and sling my own across her body, burying my face in Riley’s neck.

Wait.

Neck?

I pause, because I definitely didn’t start here. I started on the chair, resigned to a night of hard surfaces and sore muscles. It was worth it. I’d be able to react faster if someone wanted to hurt Riley while she slept.

Ever so carefully, I crack my eyes open and raise myself. Yep, I’m in Riley’s bed. Under the damn covers, too.

Our legs are tangled, and she’s curled into me.

Heat floods through me.

This is familiar, but it strikes an ache in my chest. I didn’t think we’d do this again.

Ever.

“Eli,” she whispers.

I didn’t realize she was awake, but it makes sense—her body is too still, her breathing shallow.

“What are you doing?”

“I don’t know.”

She rolls into me, under me, and I will myself to think about literally anything else. Like my grandma, or roadkill, or…

Her hand winds around my neck, pulling me down to her. I can’t believe this is real, but I go with it. Our lips touch, sending chills skittering down my spine. The knot in my chest loosens.

I press into her, and she wraps her legs around my hips. Her tongue sweeps along the seam of my mouth.

Fuck.

I’m hard in an instant.

Our lips part, and I ease my tongue into her mouth. What once was a war between our mouths is now something fragile.

Who knew we could be delicate with each other?

Her teeth graze my lip, and I groan. I rotate my hips against her, eliciting a whimper from deep in her throat. It’s the best sound.

And then she freezes.

“You’re really here,” she says against my mouth.

I open my eyes and find her already watching me. She traces my jaw, frowning.

The moment ends with a crash.

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