I fell against him, leaning my forehead into his chest. “I want this too.” I took in a deep breath then exhaled, looking up at him. “I want us. I want you. But…” I felt my bottom lip become trapped between my teeth. “I don’t think I can handle losing you again.”
“Hey,” he said, his hands coming to frame my face. “You never lost me. I know I disappeared, but you didn’t lose me. You understand that, right? I would never abandon you. Not ever. I did what I thought was best for you, but I didn’t want to leave you, Kalli. Not then, not now. Never.”
“I know,” I whispered, wrapping my arms around his neck, letting him hold me. A part of me died to hear the desperation in his voice, the sadness in his words. I’d done that to him. I’d been the one to make him leave, and even though it hurt him, he did it. For me. He was so good. “I just need you to be patient with me.”
“There’s no rush here. I promise. Even though I basically just pushed you up against your car and felt you up, I promise it won’t happen again.” He stepped back, making me want to pull him to me again, but I let him go, watching as he ran the back of his hand over the stubble at his jaw.
Damn.
“Then,” I said with a smile, nearly drunk on happiness, “I’m all yours.”
His sexy smile spread quickly over his face, his dark eyes sparkling in the overhead lights of the parking lot, and in just one second I was back in his arms. He picked me up and spun me around playfully, my laugh ringing out. I sounded happy. I was happy. It was some sort of miracle.
When he finally placed me back on the ground, he kissed me again, but this time it was sweet and innocent. Just happy lips pressed against happy lips. He was still smiling when he pulled away.
“I knew you’d come back to me.”
I kept looking in his eyes as he tucked a lock of wayward hair behind my ear, marveling at how wonderful a man he was.
“I think I knew I’d come back to you too. It’s always been you, Riot.”
Chapter Nine
Give Her The World
Riot
Memories flooded my mind while I leaned up against Kalli’s Range Rover, which was parked in the same spot it had been two nights ago when I had her body pressed against it. When I’d been able to feel her under my hands, kiss her, and her body had been pushed up against mine. I’d always had a hard time controlling myself when it came to Kalli. And now, well, I was taking her to my hometown for the weekend. We’d be surrounded by my mom, dad, and sister for some of the time, and I’d spend the rest of the time trying not to rid her of all her clothes and let my body sink into hers.
Perhaps this was a bad idea.
Months.
Months I’d gone with just the memories of what it felt like to be with her, to have her body wrapped around mine, or to feel her pulse beneath my hand as I kissed her. Then, last night, we both let down our guards for just a little while, and I was reminded of how perfectly her body was made for mine. Not that I’d forgotten.
This was what I imagined someone felt like when stranded on a deserted island, dreaming about all the food they wished they had. I’d been trapped on my own personal island of hell, wishing she were next to me so many nights, and now that she was within my grasp, and letting me touch her, it was going to take all my self-control to not lay her out on any available flat surface.
I heard the unmistakable sounds of footfalls and turned to see Kalli walking toward me, smiling brightly. I hadn’t seen her since Wednesday, but we’d been texting nonstop. I knew if I went to her my self-control would be tested, and I didn’t want to put either of us in that situation. I wanted the exact moment I was having then: Kalli, without worry lines marring her beautiful face, walking toward me looking happy, radiant, and sexy as fucking hell.
Her blonde hair cascaded over her shoulder in a thick, loose, crazy braid. She wore a long sweater that looked to be a dress, as it came down to the middle of her thighs. It was a deep maroon color and was slouching off one of her shoulders, giving me a peek at her collarbone. She wore black leggings that disappeared into the black boots, which were currently making the clacking noises.
She looked incredible. She looked like she was ready to curl up on a couch and read a book, or curl into my side and watch a movie. Perhaps she’d purposefully made herself look soft and comfortable. Either way, it worked. I wanted to feel the sweater under my hands, and I needed to feel it bunching as I slid it up her torso and pulled it over her head.
“Hey,” I said through the smile that wouldn’t leave my face. She continued toward me, but didn’t respond. She did, however, walk confidently to me, not stopping until her hand was at my cheek and her lips were pressed against mine. I was surprised by her approach, but only let a second pass before I engaged in the kiss. My hand found the back of her neck, loving the feel of her silky hair wound between my fingers, and I gave her a firm squeeze there.