“Oh, I always want you, too.”
So, that’s what we did. We spent time together in bed, catching up as he described the set in Ireland and how his life had been without me. He also softly reprimanded me that I hadn’t been to see Mattie since I had left. River saw her as a mother figure, too. But unlike me, he had been attentive to her needs. He had told her to shut down the fostering after she suffered a mild stroke. He paid off her house, gave her monthly stipends, and hired a round the clock caregiver to make sure she was well and cared for.
Time passed and before we realized it, it was time to get ready to leave for the airport. River brought one of the bags he came in with earlier, packed with clothes that were somewhat my size. There was a selection to choose from, but I settled on simple cutout jeans and a sleeveless crop top before putting my hair in a loose chignon. My face was makeup free, but thanks to the wild sex, my rosy cheeks made up for it. Leaving my wet clothes behind, I slipped into my nude Loubies before seeking out River, who was busy tapping on his phone.
“Everything okay?” I asked timidly before kissing his cheek. I could get used to this close intimacy with him.
Dropping his phone on the bed, he gave me his undivided attention through a mind-mending kiss. “Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For making me happy.”
Squashing the tremors of doubts that sprouted out of nowhere, a deep ache settled within my heart. Peering through my lashes, I envied the love that shone freely in his eyes. “I didn’t do anything, River.” Last night happened because I succumbed to him on a primal level. Hopefully he wouldn’t see it any other way.
“You did, my little petal, more than you’d understand.”
I understood more than I was letting on, but since my actions had more than baffled me, for the time being, I was willing to let bygones be bygones. We had great, mind-blowing sex. That was all.
The ride to the private airstrip was seemingly pleasant. River was busy with emails and making short calls to the production team in Ireland, which left me in a sweet, thoughtless reverie.
He turned to me when the car halted at our destination. The jet was waiting for him on the tarmac. “Please promise me that you’ll take care of yourself?”
“I will.”
“I have to go.” He softly sighed before giving me another toe-curling kiss. “I love you, Cara Quinn.”
Damn. “River …” I began but he immediately shushed me.
“You better get used to me telling and showing you just how much. I know you’re never going to give me a chance, but oblige me for a little bit longer.”
His statement made me clutch my chest before I nodded.
He then lightly tapped the side of the driver’s headrest. “Drive safely, will you, Joe? Take her home safe for me. Thanks, man.”
Joe dipped his head in response. “Roger that, boss.”
River let out a chuckle before thanking Joe once again then reverting his attention to me. Cradling my cheeks between his palms, he lightly pecked my forehead. “Bye, beautiful.”
My heart fluttered for the last time today before kissing him with everything I had. “Bye, beautiful,” I murmured the same sentiment.
He made a thunderous laugh before winking at me.
Solemn in my lonesome, I watched him stride toward the jet then climb the steps two at a time before finally disappearing from view.
I had a few weeks to figure out what to do next without him clouding my thoughts with bombastic sex and earth-shattering kisses. But I must say, I had never felt more alive in my life. River touched something deep within. He had awoken the fire that been buried in the scarred depths of my soul. For that, I was grateful.