CHAPTER SIX
RILEY SUCKED IN a deep breath, afraid to move, afraid if he blinked he’d discover he was dreaming. Because Sophie had touched her lips to his, giving him a green light.
Did she know how much he needed her? The desire between them was obvious. Mutual. The need was something else. She’d become an anchor in his suddenly turbulent life and, at the moment, he didn’t know where he’d be without her.
He clenched his hand into a fist at his side and held his emotions in check. Testing what she was offering, he parted his lips.
Sophie responded, tasting slowly at first, grazing his lower lip before finally touching her tongue to his. She tasted minty yet sweet, and felt soft yet hot, all at the same time. His dreams held nothing on the reality of kissing this woman. A woman who loved to be in control of everyone and everything in her life, yet whose body shook with tremors that told him she was barely hanging on to that control now.
Riley felt the same way. His body shook with desire, and with the difficulty of holding back, but he respected how difficult this overture must be for her and didn’t want to drive her away. Yet in its simplicity, this was both the most innocent and yet the hottest kiss he’d ever had, bringing everything to life inside him, including things he’d never felt before. Heaven help him when he thrust inside her body for the first time.
A warm, humid breeze blew around them and he couldn’t resist uncurling his fist and burying his hand in the soft curls of her hair. The weather teased her normally controlled hair much the way he teased her, he thought, unable to control a laugh.
“Something funny?” She stepped back, looking completely ruffled and thoroughly kissed.
“Just that I finally broke through your composure and I enjoyed it even more than I thought I would.” He paused to study her. “And so did you.”
“Cocky man.”
He shrugged. “Arrogant, too. Now let’s blow this joint.” In case his meaning wasn’t clear, he held out his hand.
She slipped her fingers inside his and they started for the exit. He wove his way through the partially naked older people at the party, doing his best not to gawk. They reached the gate just as they heard a shriek followed by a loud splash.
Riley turned toward the pool.
A bald man waved from the deep end. “Come join me, Darla!” His toupee floated beside him like a dead rat. His Speedo rose to the top next.
Sophie burst out laughing. “I wish I had my camera. Nobody would believe this.”
“If my stepfather was here he’d disown me for sure,” Riley muttered.
Sophie raised an eyebrow, curiosity written all over her intelligent face.
“Ever hear of Senator Harlan Nash?” he asked her. It was a rhetorical question, really. The man had made a name for himself with his right-wing conservative views and his close friendship with the current Republican president.
“No wonder you don’t want Spencer to acknowledge you now,” she murmured. “Let’s get out of here,” she said, sympathy on her face. But the twinkle in her blue eyes told him sympathy was the last thing he’d be receiving from her when
BACK AT THE HOUSE, Sophie trembled with desire. She’d been with other men but never one with the ability to reach past her walls. Never one who’d come to mean something to her so quickly. One day of watching him grapple with his family issues, and she wanted to help him figure things out. Of course focusing on Riley meant she didn’t have to deal with her own life: phone messages from the chaos at The Hot Zone and Athletes Only, calls from reporters asking for Spencer, and their Heisman-winning client-to-be still hanging by a thread.
But it was Riley she wanted to focus on now. She’d thrown all caution aside and she intended to enjoy it. Living for the moment wasn’t Sophie’s M.O., but with Riley it felt so right.
He dimmed the lights in the bedroom, casting a sexy, muted glow, then strode toward her. Wearing nothing but bathing trunks, he presented a powerful presence, all tanned muscle and gorgeous male.
He cornered her by the bed, sexual heat emanating from him in waves. Sophie’s legs shook and she lowered herself to the edge of the mattress.
“You’re beautiful,” he said, the sound of his voice taking her off guard.
She glanced up. “I don’t need a come-on line. I’m already here,” she said wryly.
“It’s not a line, Sophie. You’re beautiful. You must hear that all the time.”
“Actually Annabelle’s the beautiful one, Micki’s the athletic one and I’m the smart one.” She laughed self- consciously, but the labels had been given-nobody really knew by whom-and they’d stuck.
As a result, Sophie always relied on her intellect, even with men.
Riley stroked her cheek with his hand. “Whoever said that didn’t know you very well.”
A lump rose to her throat. “It’s pretty obvious which sister is an analytical pain in the butt,” she said, forcing out a laugh.
“It’s also pretty damn obvious which sister is beautiful inside and out. You care about people, even arrogant SOBs like me.” A sexy smile curved his mouth.
“Who said I care?”
Without warning, he bent his head and captured her lips in a hot, searing kiss. With no preliminaries, he thrust his tongue deep into her mouth. A tingling sensation took hold of her body and she leaned her head back, giving him complete access to whatever he wanted. His silken tongue swept inside, learning every part of her and then started over again.
She curled her hands around the comforter and held on. His mouth worked magic, arousing her in every way. Her breasts grew hot and heavy, and her nipples hardened into tight aching peaks. Dampness gathered between her thighs, leaving her a trembling mess by the time he was through.
“You did,” Riley said when he finally lifted his head.
“I did what?” She couldn’t think over the loud beating of her heart.
“That kiss just said you cared.”
Sophie laughed, but she knew just how to wipe that smug look off his face. “I didn’t know you needed a woman to care in order to have sex.”
“With most women I don’t.”
Good thing she was sitting or she’d have passed out. “Just how many women have there been?” She closed her eyes, mortified that she’d even asked.
He chuckled low and deep. “Enough, but not as many as you obviously think.” His tone grew serious.
Oddly, she believed him and she was glad. She was so far gone, so enthralled with this man, she didn’t want to think about other women. And she definitely didn’t want to talk anymore.
Neither did he. He stepped forward and nudged her legs apart until he’d moved between her thighs. He knelt down, then ran his fingers over her calves.
“Soft yet muscular,” he said.
“That’s because I shave and I run.”
He chuckled, then trailed a moist path with his tongue, from her knee up the inside of her thigh. Her flesh tingled and she was sure her skin quivered at the intimate touch.
He reached her bathing-suit bottom and paused. “I wonder…with all that control of yours, have you ever really let a man
She swallowed hard. “Probably as well as you’ve let any woman know you.”
Riley had heard plenty from her uncle about her legendary need to control. He’d seen it on the plane. Viewed the depth to which she needed comfort, routine and the expected. And he doubted she let any man have the upper hand.
He tipped his head back and laughed. That’s what he enjoyed about Sophie. She gave as good as she got. “Touche.”
“I’m so glad-”
