I plop down beside him and bite into the slice. His eyes move to my mouth as he eats his pizza.
“I need a drink.”
And some space.
I set my plate on the table, about to get up, when he grabs my arm.
“What do you want? I’ll get it for you.”
“No, that’s okay. It’s not your job.”
He holds my wrist tighter. “I want to, Em. It’s okay to let someone help you.”
I blow out a deep breath. “Okay, thanks. Grab me a beer.”
River has a game in two days. Like my brother, he doesn’t drink during the season, not unless it’s a special occasion and they have a few days off to recuperate.
As he gets up from the couch, I tuck my legs under my butt and eat my pizza. I’m done with the first of two slices before he returns with a bottle of craft beer. Not my favorite, but it will do.
I take a swig and curl up against the cushion, eating like an animal who hasn’t had a meal in weeks. River just stares at me, studying me with his usual fascination.
He loves to watch me.
It’s weird but also kind of sweet.
River drives me so crazy that I act without thinking about my next move. I finish my pizza and lean over to drop my plate on the table. His hand comes to my waist, his fingers digging into my skin. Our eyes meet for split second.
He must notice my desire, though there’s also a lot of hesitation on my part. His plate lands on the couch cushion beside him, and then he’s moving on top of me, caging my back against the leather. He spreads my thighs apart with his leg and leans forward, clutching my chin, forcing me to look up at him.
My chest rises and falls with each breath. His eyes lower to take in my cleavage that pops out from the tight top. I drag my teeth along my lip, peeking up at him to communicate what I want.
That I want him.
I don’t stop him when he pins me down and spreads my legs wider. He wants this as much as I do.
But what am I doing?
Slipping his fingers through my hair, he crushes my lips with a kiss that drains the air from my lungs. It’s all consuming, intoxicating. I hook my legs around his back, squeezing him with my thighs like I’m afraid to let him go. Because being this close to River, sharing this part of myself, only makes me want to keep him.
I hear a loud noise out in the hallway, what sounds like men yelling. River peels his lips from mine and slides off me, running his thumb across his bottom lip that’s wet with my saliva.
“What are they doing home?” I say under my breath, still trying to regain my bearings.
“Who knows?” River says right as the front door swings open.
Ollie said he would be out all night. So when the front door flies open, I’m surprised. Several pretty women accompany my brother and Brady.
“We’re having a party,” Ollie announces with his arm wrapped around a pretty brunette wearing a really short skirt. “Don’t mind us, Em.”
I shake my head, annoyed with my brother’s manwhore ways. Between Ollie and Brady, they have three girls each. I try not to think too long and hard about what’s about to go down in this house. If I wasn’t here, River probably would’ve joined them. But I guess that would break his no women in his bed rules.
I get up from the couch. “I’m going to take a shower. Don’t make too much of a mess, okay?”
Ollie bobs his head. “You got it, sis.”
I walk out of the living room, giving none of them another thought. My brother could have caught me kissing River.
That was too close for comfort.
After I take a much-needed shower, I find a handwritten note on my bed.
Meet me on the roof in one hour.
Even though I don’t know his handwriting, I know it’s from River. Echoes of moans and screams fill the house. Hanging out with River is the perfect escape from this den of iniquity.
After a few minutes of debating, I take one last look at the slip of paper and get dressed. This is probably the biggest mistake I will ever make, but I’m going for it.
My brother is on the couch with two of the girls when I step into the living room. They take turns kissing him, then each other. I try not to gag, holding my hand up to cover the side of my face. He’s always been like this, definitely not the type to settle down.
He doesn’t even notice me when I leave the apartment. I wonder if River is already on the roof, but I honestly don’t care. I need to get out of this fucking apartment. The elevator doesn’t reach the roof, so I take the stairs until I reach the top.