Chapter Eleven

Tears were pouring down Sunday’s face as River spoke, his voice a monotone. “It went on for a couple of years, until I could escape to college. But the damage had been done. I fucked my way through college, treating women like trash. I suppose it was my way of revenge. I wouldn’t let anyone close. Luke, Carmen, they stuck around long after I told them to go to hell.”

He rubbed his hands through his hair. “My dad … he never knew. I hope he never knew. I just … I wish I had asked him why. Why he married her, of all people. He must have known she was a …” He broke off and laughed without humor. “I don’t even know a word strong enough for what she is.”

“That evil fucking piece of bottom-feeding scum,” Sunday growled, incensed. She got up and paced around her flat. “That fucking bitch!” She screamed that last and River gave her a half-smile.

“Yeah, that’ll do.”

“I could kill her. I will fucking kill her …” Sunday felt the same white-hot heat of the rage she had felt when Cory died coursing through her veins. “These people … God. What gives them the right?”

“Nothing and no one. But they still do it.”

Sunday sat down next to him and took his face in her hands. “She won’t get away with this. I swear to you, right here, right now, River Giotto. She won’t even get to be in the same room as you or Berry, I’ll make sure of that.”

River held her tightly. “I love your fire.”

“No … no, it’s more than that.” Sunday took a breath in. “River … I know her. Or rather, I knew her.”

River’s smile faded. “What?”

Sunday sighed. “My name isn’t Sunday Kemp. Well, at least, it didn’t used to be. My name was Marley Locke, I was an investigative reporter, and then an anchor in New York. The part I told you about my stalker is true, and so the FBI gave me a new identity after he tried to kill me. But before that, a few years ago, I crossed swords with Angelina. She’s a con artist and scammer of the highest order … I embarrassed her in the press, but she still came back swinging.”

Sunday sighed, waiting for River to get angry. He touched her face. “You had to leave everything behind.”

She nodded. “Everything.” She chuckled. “And the moment I met you, I didn’t regret a thing. I’m more me here, with you, and Berry and Carmen, than I ever was in New York.”

“Marley.” He was looking at her as if he was trying to make the name fit. She kissed him softly.

“Sunday. Your Sunday. Always.”

He leaned his forehead against hers. “I have trust issues, I always have. But with you …”

“I’ll never betray you, ever,” she whispered and with a groan he crushed his lips against hers.

“Let’s forget everything about for tonight, everything except you and me …” He slid his hands under her T-shirt and with one swift move, pulled it over her head. He pulled down the lacy cup of her bra and took her nipple into his mouth. Sunday sighed with pleasure, dropping her lips to the top of his head.

River moved her to the floor and pushed her jeans down as his lips trailed down her belly. As his tongue found her clit, Sunday shivered, tangling her fingers in his dark curls. “Oh, River … River …”

“I’m going to fuck you all night long, pretty girl.”

His tongue flicked and teased her until she was moaning for him to be inside her and, grinning, he launched his cock deep into her, pinning her hands above her head.

“You’re so tight, Sunday, so much like velvet.”

Sunday smiled up at him. “Only for you, baby.”

River kissed her, his tender embrace contrasting to the pummeling his cock was giving her cunt. “You know I’m falling hard for you, right?”

“Ditto,” she chuckled, then gasped as he quickened his pace, slamming his hips against hers. He made her come twice before whispering to her that she should roll onto her stomach.

“Yes?”

She nodded, then moaned as he eased into her ass. Anal was something she’d never done before, even with Cory, and she was astonished to find she loved it with River. He was gentle and caring and the strange new sensations shooting through her body made her scream his name.

They showered together, fucking against the cool tile, then tumbling, laughing, to the bathroom’s cold, tiled floor.

It was almost dawn before they broke apart, panting for air, exhausted and sated. “As much as I want you,” Sunday laughed, breathless, “I don’t think my vagina can take anymore tonight.”

“This morning,” he corrected, snickering. “And I’m ashamed to say you’ve exhausted this old man.”

“You are not old,” she said, stroking his face. “You are the most devastatingly beautiful man I’ve ever met, inside and out. Yes, you have demons, but God, I’m crazy about you, River Giotto, and I swear. We are going to get our happy ever after.”

River took her hand and kissed her fingers. “Was there a life before you?”

“I used to think there was. Now all I care about is us, our little family. Not that I’m presuming anything.”

“Presume away. We are a family.” River stroked his finger down her cheek. “I’m going to tell Berry about us. She knows we like each other—hell, anyone could guess that—and it wasn’t as if Lindsay and I were sleeping together when we were traveling.”

Sunday was surprised. “You weren’t?”

River smiled. “No. I had already fallen for someone.”

Sunday flushed with pleasure as he kissed her. Oh, how I love you … But she didn’t say it aloud. They had come great strides tonight, in trusting each other, in deciding their future.

For now, she only had one thing on her mind.

Stop Angelina Marshall.