What I Need

“Jesus, man,” Luke chuckles, throwing his arm over Tessa’s shoulders and looking back at me. “You in a rush to see Reed get married or somethin'?”

“Of course. Why wouldn’t I be?” I lie, looking from Reed to Riley, then back to Reed when I feel his eyes still on me, eyes that are now looking suspicious until Beth grabs his chin and forces him to look down at her.

Whatever. This shit show has been going on long enough.

I stay behind Riley during the walk back to the villas, but only because she’s walking beside Beth. Reed is holding tight to his girl while joining in on their conversation, so no way can I step up now and not have it seem motivated.

After Beth directs all the girls to meet in her villa and all the guys to meet in Ben’s, the group splits up. When Reed steps away and I don’t see anyone paying me any attention, I follow Riley, getting to her door a few seconds after she closes it.

I knock, and the minute it cracks open I’m pushing my way inside.

“Whoa, hey,” Riley exclaims before I step out from behind the door and she sees it’s me. “Oh, hi, uh . . . did anyone see you?” she asks in a quiet voice, glancing around me and then looking back into my face.

I shut the door and cross my arms over my chest. “Babe, what the fuck?” I ask, skipping over her question because I got a better one. “Why’d you leave last night?”

She blinks up at me.

“And what the hell was that shit at breakfast?”

“What do you mean?” she questions.

“What do I mean?” I echo back, a little firmer. “Ordering off the sex menu and putting on a show that made my balls ache. Thanks for that.”

Those stormy blues go round.

“Then ignoring my ass like I’m not sitting there trying to get some answers out of you.”

“But I didn’t want to get caught,” she argues. “And you were staring at me. If I would’ve stared back like I wanted to, someone would’ve seen us.”

My brows lift when I probe, “You wanted to stare at me?”

She nods.

Nice. That feels good.

“And I wanted to explain why I left,” she continues. “I didn’t want you thinking it was because I didn’t want to be there.” Her hand comes up, crosses her body and grips her elbow. “I did. I wanted to be there.”

“So, why’d you leave? `Cause I sure as fuck remember expressing wanting you in my bed, darlin’. We weren’t done.”

Riley lowers her eyes to my chest.

“You could’ve told me last night you were looking to bolt,” I add, drawing her attention up again.

And I would’ve convinced her that plan was shit and mine was better.

“I could’ve,” she begins. “But you were sleeping and I didn’t decide on bolting until after you fell asleep. That was when I realized how it would look if someone came knocking on your door and I was in your room . . . without my clothes on.” She swallows. “It would’ve been obvious you had taken part in removing my clothes.”

“And?”

“And.” She drags in a breath, then releases it tensely. “I just didn’t think Reed finding out that way was in my best interest. Or yours. So I bolted and slept in my bathtub.”

My brow pulls tight. “Say what?”

“My neck is a little stiff, actually.” She rolls her head from shoulder to shoulder, wincing through her stretch.

“You slept in your bathtub?” I ask.

“Yes.”

“You got a reason for doing that?”

“Mia saw me leaving your room and I was worried she’d tell Reed and he’d come looking for me.”

I stare at her, trying to figure that one out and coming up short.

I focus on what I can understand.

“All right. So Mia knows,” I offer, watching Riley nod her head. “And you took off `cause you don’t want your brother knowing about us. That right?”

She does that wide-eyed blink again, not speaking.

“Babe,” I prompt.

“There’s an us?” she asks, leaning closer and looking shocked. “I . . . I wasn’t, I mean, I just,” she stammers, takes a deep breath, huffs it out, then attempts this again. “I had no idea you wanted to be an anything.”

“You forgetting what all I said last night about not being done with you?”

“I wasn’t expecting it,” she answers quickly.

“You weren’t expecting what, Riley?”

“You.”

My brows reach my hairline. Something heavy presses on my chest.

Riley slides her hand down her arm and twists her fingers nervously together, looks away as if collecting her thoughts, does that, then meets my gaze again.

“I just got out of a really long relationship. Like, just got out of it. And I came here not thinking something like this would happen. I didn’t think it would ever happen. Not with you. Then it did and you said you weren’t done with me yet and I—”

“That’s not what I said,” I interrupt.

Riley tilts her head, asking, “Huh?”

I feel my mouth twitch.

Fuck, she’s damn cute right now. I’d rather just kiss her than explain but I want her knowing this and I don’t want there being any confusion about it.

Ever.

I step closer, keeping my arms tight across my chest. “I never said yet, darlin’,” I begin, watching her lips part. “I said I wasn’t done with you and that I wasn’t anywhere near being done with you, but hear me, Riley, I never said yet. Fucked up thing to say and I wouldn’t say it, especially not to a sweet girl like you. If some asshole gives you a deadline to make you aware shit’ll be wrapping up for the two of you and he already knows it, drop him. No man deserves you if he’s already thinking of an out. Do you understand?”