* * *
“I know what I’d ask for,” Riley couldn’t help saying.
There was wariness in her eyes. Surely she wasn’t going to shoot him down after asking the question?
“And what would that be?” A hint of a smile touched the corners of her mouth. Hope flared in his chest like a beacon of light.
“Another night in bed with you.” He watched her cheeks turn rosy. Well, hot damn. After not contacting her all week, there had been the possibility that…well, maybe she didn’t want him as much as he wanted her.
“Here I was thinking you were too busy for me.”
He stood and reached for her hand, leaving the papers on the table between them. “Never, Sassie. I just had a lot to deal with.”
“Well now, that does make me feel better then.” She took his hand and stood, leaning into his chest. “But I’m thinking, why we have to wait until nighttime? I want you in my bed right now.” She laughed and pulled him back into the house, pushing the door shut behind them. His breath caught as she dragged him toward her bedroom, blood ringing in his ears.
Her bedroom was softer now than the last time he had been in it. Pillows stacked up by the headboard gave it an old world look, which fit the style of the bed perfectly. A pair of Tiffany lamps sat on the flanking bedside tables, the sunlight shooting shafts of colored light across the walls and ceiling as it struck the side of one lampshade.
Through the door into the small bathroom, he could see the new towel rail on the wall and the matching fluffy white towels hanging there. She’d been busy while he was ignoring her; most women would sulk if ignored, but not his Sassie. Here was a woman not to be trifled with, a woman who knew what she wanted and wasn’t scared to go for it, even if it meant doing it alone. It was up to him to change her mind, and that would start right here, right now.
Riley turned her into his arms and held her close. With his gaze on her striking gray eyes, he took her bottom lip between his teeth, biting down softly, watching the way her irises darkened. Her breath sucked in and her pupils contracted to pinpoints. He held the back of her head, fingers in her wild hair. With an urgency that scared him, he took her mouth in a kiss so passionate it left them both gasping for air.
“Wow.” She blinked, clinging to his shoulders.
Riley raised an eyebrow and smiled down at her. “Wow is right.” He gripped the edge of her T-shirt and pulled it up over her head.
Sassie looked at him, a twinkle in her eyes. She grabbed the front of his shirt, but before she could rip it open, he stayed her hands and undid the buttons himself. Then he let her push it from his shoulders, down his arms, and drop it to the floor.
They reached for each other’s pants at the same time. Giggling, they battled for supremacy, but Sassie won out and popped the button on his jeans before sliding down the zipper. She hooked her fingers in the belt loops and pulled down his jeans.
His cock sprang free, hard and ready for her. He gasped as she slid her hand around the base and squeezed. The groan escaped his mouth before he could stop it. Wrestling with her shorts, he managed to get them down before they fell on the bed, tangled in each other’s arms.
“You still have too many clothes on.” He nudged her bra up, freeing her breasts. Dipping his head, he captured a nipple in his mouth and sucked it into his mouth.
“Fecking hell, that feels amazing.” Sassie squirmed under him, and her bra went flying to the floor. “That is so much better. Please don’t stop, R.P. I’ve missed this.”
Riley pushed his knee between her knees, pushing her legs apart. He settled between her thighs and gave his attention to her milky white breasts, suckling on one while he toyed with the other, squeezing her nipple between his fingers. The heady smell of her skin and shampoo assaulted his senses. He kicked himself for losing seven days while he tried to make her miss him. He was the one who had suffered most. Not having her delicious body next to his was something he would never be able to catch up on.
Sassie held his head in her hands, moaning as he worked on her nipple. He pulled it tight with his lips then let go, making a small popping sound. Away from the heat of his mouth, it puckered into a hard nub, and he blew on it, making her writhe in pleasure.
“I can’t take too much more. Can we please just get on with it?” She watched him from under hooded lashes, her cheeks flushed and her breath short.
Riley grinned and reached down to push her panties down her thighs. She lifted her butt and helped him, kicking them free with her foot. He pulled her to the edge of the bed and, with his feet planted firmly on the floor, placed the head of his cock at her opening.
“Now! Stop teasing me.”
He laughed and buried himself in her heat with one slow thrust.
Chapter 16
“Sassie, this is Alice. Alice, Sassie, the new girl in town.”
Alice squealed and wrapped her arms around Sassie’s shoulders, hugging her tight, the glass of wine on the bar Sassie had reached for now ignored as the newcomer yelled loudly enough to hurt Sassie’s ears, “It is so good to meet you, finally.” Alice released her and stepped back. “My, my, my. No wonder
