chapter 29
RILEY
“I THINK I’M IN LOVE” by Kat Dahlia fills the pub, and I sing along to it, feeling happier than I’ve felt in the longest of times. It’s been two weeks since I was granted my divorce, and what a fortnight it’s been. Having Bear to go home to has brightened my life, and things with Hunter couldn’t be any better. My business is starting to thrive, more people coming in every day, and profits rising. For once, everything seems to be going my way. Like the world has given up working against me. How long does this luck usually last? Maybe I should just enjoy it while I can.
“This song is on your playlist?” Callie snickers, coming to stand next to me.
“So what if it is?” I playfully huff. “It’s a good song.”
“You in love, Riley?” she pushes, doing a little happy dance. “Is this the moment where I get to say, ‘I told you so?’ Because I really love those moments.”
I bet she does.
“Just because the lyrics say something doesn’t mean that’s how I’m feeling right now,” I say, flashing her a look that dares her to challenge me. “And yes, you told me to take a chance, and I did. And yes, you were right. I’m happy, Callie. It’s kind of a foreign feeling.”
One I’m never going to take for granted.
Preston comes to stand on the other side of me. “What are we talking about?”
“This song,” Callie says, looking straight ahead.
“You mean how Riley’s playlist went from men-hating songs to lovey-dovey ones?” he asks, chuckling. “Oh, Riley, how the mighty have fallen.”
“What man-hating songs have I ever played?” I ask him, scowling. “Go on, name one.”
“You played ‘Come First’ by Terror Jr. on repeat,” he says in a dry tone. “Not man-hating exactly . . . more ‘I don’t need a man’ songs.”
“Another great song,” I say in a haughty voice. “What’s wrong with it? It’s about an independent woman.”
Preston and Callie share a look, then both start laughing. “Riley is in love.”
“Don’t both of you have work to do?” I ask them. “You’re both the backbone of this place, remember?”
Izaac walks in, dressed in worn jeans and a black T-shirt. “Sorry I’m late.”
I glance at the clock. He’s ten minutes late. “No worries, Izaac.”
The dinner rush hasn’t hit yet, so the place isn’t busy for the time being; we just need to prepare for when it hits. I send Hunter a message, telling him I’ll come to his place straight after work. I know he doesn’t like it when I work late, but he bites his tongue because I’m not going to change my schedule because he thinks it’s unsafe. It’s my job as the owner to make sure everyone gets home safely. Like a captain on a ship, I have to make sure all my staff members are okay.
Drive safely, babe.
The night goes quickly, and by the time I make it to his house it’s 10:30 p.m. He leaves his door unlocked for me, even though he knows I hate it when he does. It’s a safe area, but that doesn’t mean someone won’t try to break in. I open the door and lock it behind me, walking straight to his bedroom. The room is empty, but I hear the shower on, so I place my bag down and decide to strip down and join him. As I step into the bathroom, I see him resting his hand against the tiles, water dripping down his body, head down. He turns when he hears me, smiling and opening the door.
“Well, there’s a welcome sight.”
I step into the shower, his hands finding my body the second I’m within reach. He pushes me back against the cool tiles, lips slamming down on mine, a hello I’ll never tire of. He starts to kiss my ear, down my neck, while his fingers drift down the side of my body from my breast to my hip.
“Did you eat?” he asks, bringing me back to reality.
I nod.
“Good,” he murmurs. He always makes sure I’ve eaten, that I’m taking care of myself. “Now it’s my turn to eat.”
He lowers himself onto his knees, lifting my right leg up and over his shoulder.
“Fuck,” I whisper, closing my eyes as he starts to lick, tease, and suck me. My fingers thread through his thick, dark hair, tugging a little. “Hunter,” I beg. I don’t even know what I’m pleading for. I want more; I want to touch him; I want my hands on him, too.
He stops to look up at me, eyes half-mast. “What do you want, babe?”
“I want to touch you,” I tell him, licking my lips.
“You can wait your turn,” he replies, lowering his face back to my pussy. He only stops when he’s made me come, my thighs trembling so much I feel like I’m going to fall to the floor. Hunter holds me up, pressing me back against the tiles, keeping me in place. After every wave of pleasure has passed, he lowers my leg, stands up and washes my body, paying attention to my breasts, getting them all soapy, playing with my nipples and driving me crazy. He turns the shower off and dries me off, then himself, before leading me to his bedroom. I sit down in the middle of his huge bed, reaching out to touch his cock as he comes closer.
“How was work?” he asks, glancing over my face and body.
“Do you really want to talk about this right now?” I ask, stroking him from bottom to tip.
His lip twitches before his face transforms into a mask of pleasure as I take him into my mouth, running my tongue along his shaft. He lets me play for a little, then takes control, kissing me deeply. He kisses my breasts, up my neck, and my lips again, his fingers finding my heat, playing with my clit, then rolling me over onto my stomach. I lift my hips up, arching my back as he slides inside of me. He thrusts in and out of me, hand moving to hold on to my nape, squeezing just the right amount. I push back against his cock, moaning, biting down on the pillow in front of me.
“You feel so good,” he grits out. “I love watching myself sliding in and out of your little pussy, Riley. It’s so fucking hot, I wish you could see it.”
The way he’s describing it, I wish I could too.
He reaches between us to play with my clit, the slow circles making me so wet I can feel the dampness down my inner thighs. My second orgasm hits me out of nowhere, the tremors taking over my entire body. Fingers digging into the mattress, I hold on for dear life as the pleasure takes over my entire being. Nothing has felt so good. Hunter comes a few strokes later, gripping onto my neck and whispering my name. He kisses down my spine when he’s finished, then pulls out and lies next to me, the only sound in the room our breathing.
“Work was good,” I say, replying to the question he asked before. “Not as good as now though.”
His deep chuckle fills me with warmth. “Good. Now come here and let me cuddle you.”
“You didn’t tell me how your day was,” I point out.
“It was okay. Definitely not as good as now. I’ve been looking forward to seeing you all day,” he tells me, fingers gently playing with my hair.
I can feel his eyes on the side of my face. “How long are you going to stare at me for?”
I hear the smile in his voice when he replies with “At least the next few years.”
My lip twitches as I roll over and look him in the eye. “Guess I better get used to it then, huh?”
He nods and kisses my forehead. “You definitely should.”
“Hunter?”
“Yeah, babe?” he asks, nuzzling my cheek.
“You better not have left any marks on my neck.”
His chuckle leaves me feeling a little skeptical.