Riley grabbed her tray and stacked it with his before leaving the bathroom to place both trays in the hall.
If he left, it would be better for her in the long run. But if he stayed, she’d be driven by what she could get in the here and now.
“You going to sleep in there?” He leaned a shoulder against the door.
“No.” She sighed and sat up. It was better to face things head on. She pulled the stopper from the drain and sat there, the buoyancy of the water leaving her a victim of gravity.
Erin stared at the towels on a shelf by the door along with the bathmat she hadn’t put down.
Riley followed her gaze and chuckled. He grabbed both the mat and one of the big, fluffy towels and brought them to her. He dropped the mat to the floor and shook out the towel. She was willing to bet that when his mother got sick, he was the brother who made a mess in the kitchen trying to make her soup.
She pushed to her feet, shivering as the cool air met her heated skin. She focused on the towel rather than his face. It wasn’t the first time he’d seen her. It wasn’t a big deal. He held out the towel, and she took it, wrapping herself in terrycloth and ideas better had when she was alone without the source of temptation offering her a hand.
“Thanks,” she mumbled and stepped out of the tub with his assistance. She wiped her feet on the mat and tucked the towel tighter around herself.
“Erin?” Riley’s hand tightened around hers.
She glanced up at him and froze. His gaze reflected back all the desire she was trying to smother. Her throat tightened to the point it hurt.
His eyes traced her lips, his stare so intent she felt it.
Giving in to him would be easy. It was what she wanted to do. But it wouldn’t help her.
She planted her hand against his chest and pushed. Her arm shook with the effort, but he rocked back on his heels.
“You said this wasn’t what you wanted, remember?” An apology didn’t change those words.
He covered her hand with his and leaned toward her.
“What if I was wrong? I’m a dumb guy. What do I really know?”
A lump lodged in her throat. She was fucked. She wanted Riley, and it wasn’t a good idea. It wasn’t what they’d agreed on, but she couldn’t change the way her heart led. What he was offering was for now. In the moment. It was nothing more than that.
“I was wrong.” He dipped his head, closer to her and her knees shook.
“You seemed pretty serious.”
“Seriously stupid.”
“That sounds right.”
His nose bumped hers.
She gripped the front of his shirt and closed her eyes.
It sucked being the one in love, but at least she’d have the memories after tonight.
14.
SUNDAY. HILTON GARDEN Inn, Frankfurt, Germany.
Riley wrapped his arm around Erin’s waist, holding her to him. The water clinging to her skin soaked his clothes and the smell of her girly soap clogged his nose. Her mouth slid against his, urgent, needy.
The only thing that made sense to him right now was that being with her, right now, was where he belonged. That went against everything he’d learned, but the voice saying stay was louder than the one that wanted to run.
Her arms slid around his shoulders and she leaned against him. Her tongue slid into his mouth, teasing his.
She was amazing. Plain and simple. She took the kind of stuff that would make other people fall to pieces and she built a tank out of it. He wished he had half her wisdom. Listening to her helped him understand his own shortcomings. He knew what he needed to do to fix them, but he had to focus on her first.
His hours with Erin were limited.
He didn’t know how to ask her for more, but he was getting there. And that meant he had to do whatever it took to get back in her good graces. He’d fucked up. He’d lost her trust, and it would take a miracle to get it back by the time this was over. But he’d do what he could, and maybe, just maybe, she’d throw him a bone.
Erin broke the kiss and sank back down on her feet. She leaned her cheek against his shoulder, her hands splayed against his chest. He kept a firm hold on her waist, careful of her ribs, and kissed the top of her head.
He’d never met a woman like her. One that understood him on so many levels. He wanted to keep seeing her. And that alone was a world of difference from what he normally had going.
“I know I don’t deserve it, but I want another chance,” he said.
“At what?” She lifted her head off his shoulder and stared at him.
Of course Erin would demand he say it.
Riley swallowed and gathered the words.
“Us,” he said.
“That was never a thing.” She let go of him and walked out to the room.
No, they hadn’t exactly said it in so many words, but he knew what it felt like when two people were in alignment. And they’d been there.
Riley followed her out to the room. Erin picked up a bottle from the dresser and squinted at the label.
He felt big, scary things for her. Things he couldn’t remember feeling in a long time. Maybe it was crazy to be here after only a few days, but he was less afraid of that than losing her.
“You like me, and you’re scared I’m going to break your trust again,” he said.
She paused slicking the lotion on her arms and hands.
“I don’t do relationships because I suck at them. I’m an out of sight, out of mind kind of guy usually, but I can’t get the idea of seeing you again out of my head. That has to mean something. I have
