The Beauty of Us (Fusion #4)

Also, Trevor and I have started taking the steps to move our friendship to the next level. I am so excited! I really think he needs someone like me in his life to help him figure some things out. So I’d appreciate it if you’d kindly step aside, and let this happen for us as it’s supposed to.

I’m really looking out for all parties involved.

Angie





She calmly sets the phone down, and I’m completely struck dumb.

“Well?” she asks.

“I’m so fucking shocked and angry right now,” I begin, and grip on to the steering wheel like it’s Angie’s neck. “I need to gather my thoughts.”

“Oh, good,” she replies with a nod. “Well, while you’re gathering your thoughts, let me tell you some of mine. Why would you pursue something with me if you’ve already got something going on with her?”

“I don’t,” I reply, and swallow hard, then turn in the seat so I can look her in the eye. “I’ve known Angie for about fifteen years. She’s a gamer. I’ve met her exactly once in person. I don’t game alone with her, ever. She’s part of the group.”

Riley’s lips are still puckered, but she’s listening, so I keep talking.

“She lives in Des Moines or Dallas or Duluth. Some D city.” I wave that off. “Anyway, all I know is what she’s told us, and who knows how much of that is true?”

“She clearly has a thing for you,” Riley says, and sighs. “And frankly, I’m too old to deal with this kind of juvenile bullshit.”

“If she has a thing for me, I had no clue about it, and that’s the truth.” I hold my hands up in surrender. “I am not lying about this. I’ll talk to Angie and set her straight.”

“Set her straight on which part exactly?” Riley is good and pissed now. “I mean, did you hear that? She doesn’t make any fucking sense! Are you dangerous, or are you in love with her? Because she basically just said both.”

“She’s a fruitcake,” I mutter.

“What did she say to you?” Riley asks, and I bring the message up on my phone and hand it to her. “It’s so nice of her to offer to be there when I break your heart and she can pick up the pieces.” She passes the phone back to me and laughs humorlessly.

“None of this was initiated by me.”

“I just—” She looks out of the passenger-side window and bites her lip for a moment. “I’m so sick of men and their drama. I knew there’d be another shoe to drop.”

“What does that mean?”

“Just take me home,” she says, resignation in her voice. “I think I just want to be alone today.”

“You know, it’s ironic that this is the drama.” I pull back onto the freeway, rage roaring through my bloodstream. I want to punch someone. I want to scream. “Even my ex-wife wouldn’t stoop to this. So it’s not my ex, it’s not one of my sisters, it’s motherfucking Angie.”

I shake my head and drive, frustration taking over the anger now. At Angie, me, and Riley, because obviously she still doesn’t trust that she’s the only one I’m interested in.

So I’m going to convince her.

Rather than drive her home, I take us to the apartment. Riley is staring at me as I pull into my parking space.

“Did you not hear me when I said I want to go home?”

“I heard you,” I reply, turn off the car, and get out, walking over to open her door for her. “Come on.”

“I’m done with you today,” she says stubbornly.

“Well, I’m not done with you.” I take her hand and guide her out of the car, into the building, and up to my place.

“Don’t look now, but your caveman side just kicked in,” she mutters.

“So be it.”

I unlock the door and lead her inside, and when the door is shut, I press her up against it and cage her in.

“You’re going to hear me out.”

She licks her lips and watches my eyes, and I know I finally have her full attention.

“I don’t give two fucks about Angie. She’s not even a blip on my radar. It’s you, Riley. You’re the one I want. Jesus, I don’t even see anyone else.”

She frowns. “What do you mean?”

I drag my fingertips down her cheek. “You still don’t get it, do you? I’m so crazy about you I can’t see straight. When you’re with me, no one else exists.”

I brush my lips over hers and feel her soften against me. My hand slips under her shirt and up her smooth side to cup her breast.

“Every inch of you is perfect for me.” I drag my nose along her jawline to her ear. “I love the way you respond to me. Look at those goose bumps on your neck.”

“I can’t see my neck,” she says, making me smile.

“My mistake.” I pull away and lead her to the bedroom, where a full-length mirror hangs behind the door. I place her in front of it, and I come up behind and watch my hands roam over her body, still over her clothes.

Her cheeks are flushed again, but instead of anger, it’s from pure lust.

“You have nothing to be jealous of,” I whisper in her ear, and watch her bite her lower lip as I let my thumb press on her nipple over her bra. My cock is nestled nicely against her ass, and it’s all I can do not to strip us both bare and fuck her against the mirror.

We’ll get there, but not yet.

She lets her head fall back onto my shoulder.

“No, baby, I need you to watch this.” She returns her gaze to mine in the mirror. Her eyelids are heavy. Her nipples are puckered.

She’s fucking gorgeous.

I tug her shirt over her head and let it fall to the floor, and then unhook the front of her bra and watch as it falls open, revealing her breasts.

“You think these are too small?” I ask, my voice thick. She nods once, her eyes glued to mine. My fingers brush the tight little nipples, and then I let them rest in my hands, enjoying the light weight of them. “They’re a handful for me, Riley, and I don’t have small hands.”

A small smile tugs at the corners of her mouth.

“Not to mention I fucking love this little freckle on the left one.”

“The left one is bigger too,” she whispers.

“I admit, I haven’t seen every breast in the world, but I’ve been told that’s pretty normal.”

The smile spreads farther across her face, and it almost brings me to my knees.

“When you smile at me, it’s like a light has been turned on in a dark room.” I kiss her earlobe and continue to fondle her breasts. “I’d do anything for that smile.”

“And your curves.” My hands drift down to her jeans, unfasten them, and slowly lower them down her sexy legs. “I love every curve on your body.”

My hands drift down her calves, to her feet and back up again.

“Your inner thighs are so fucking soft, Ri.” I place wet kisses on her thighs and feel her knees shake. “You’re not going to fall, are you?”

“Oh, I’m falling,” she whispers, and takes a deep breath. “This is the best torture ever.”

“It’s not torture at all,” I reply, and kiss my way over her round ass and up her spine. “I’m just telling you how amazing I think you are. Hasn’t anyone ever done that before?”

She shakes her head no.

I can’t stand it anymore. I scoop her up in my arms and take her to the bed, pull her panties off her, and take her in.