by Kennedy Fox
The booze from the past several hours continues to rush in my veins as Riley leads me into his hotel room. We don’t even bother with small talk. The moment the door slams shut, Riley pushes me against it and claims my mouth.
“Fuck, Zoey. I’ve wanted to do this all goddamn night long,” Riley hisses against my ear as his hands make their way down my body and cup my ass. He grinds himself into me, and I feel how hard he is when he pulls me up. My legs wrap around his waist as he carries me to the bed.
“Tell me all the things you’ve wanted to do to me…” I prompt as he towers over me.
He growls. Fucking growls against my neck. I love the way his beard scratches my chin, and I wonder how it’d feel against my thighs.
“I want to taste every inch of you.” His mouth moves down my throat. “Feel you tighten around my cock.” His palm finds my breast, and he squeezes. “Hear you scream my name.” His other hand slides up my leg. “Fuck you so hard you’ll be feeling me all the way back to Phoenix.”
“Yes. God yes. I want all of that.” My head falls back.
“You realize you married me tonight?” He shakes his head with a sly grin. “You’re officially Zoey Bishop.”
“That has a nice ring to it,” I say. “I quite like it.”
“Good.” He pulls off my dress. “Because I’m about to mark you as mine. My wife.”
Hearing him say it aloud sends a shiver down my body. I know I’ve drunk my weight in alcohol tonight, but I can’t find it in me to regret anything. At least not yet.
“Take off your clothes, hubby. I’m about to burst if you don’t fuck me,” I beg, pulling at his shirt because I need to see all of him.
Riley undoes a few buttons and then reaches behind his neck and swiftly removes it. My eyes widen at the glorious sight of him. Holy mother of God.
They make them real good down in Texas. Riley has abs like the models on the covers of romance novels. He’s tan with hard chiseled muscle. He’s definitely worked hard for what he has; every inch of him is solid. I’m drooling by the time he unbuckles his belt and starts removing his jeans because the muscular V has my entire body covered in goose bumps.
In only his boxers, he leans down again with his hands on either side of my head. “You look like you’re about to eat me for dessert,” he taunts, the corner of his lips tilting up. I was gawking and won’t even deny it.
“You don’t even look real,” I tell him, pressing my palms against his chest, then sliding them down his stomach.
“I was about to say the same thing, baby. You’re fuckin’ beautiful, Zoey.” He kisses me softly, and as soon as he pulls back, I already miss the weight of him.
Standing, he retrieves a condom from his wallet, then tells me to lie in the middle of the bed naked. Removing my bra and panties, I do as he says. Riley crawls between my legs, spreading my thighs apart, and inches closer to me.
Without wasting a second, Riley slides his tongue up my slit before he sucks my clit. A million beats of pleasure shoot through me, and the perfectly calculated pressure causes me to fist the sheets. My back flies off the mattress as he continues his delicious assault. Then he slides a finger inside, and my eyes roll back as a moan escapes me.
Riley twists his wrist and inserts a second finger, thrusting in and out as he flicks my clit with his thumb. It’s the best pleasure I’ve ever experienced, and just when I’m about to beg him to let me come, it shakes through me like an earthquake. He knows exactly what to do as I ride it out, and when my legs fall to the side, all that can be heard is my panting.
“Holy shit,” I gasp. “They teach you that down in the south, too?”
Riley chuckles, opens the condom, and takes off his boxers. My gaze slowly strolls down his body to the very thick and hard cock he’s stroking. I watch as he slides it over his length, then climbs on the bed, hovering above me. Our eyes stay locked as he grips my hips and pulls me closer. Swallowing hard, I bite down on my lip as he gently enters. My back arches at the fullness, and I swear the room grows ten degrees hotter when he sinks deeper. Wrapping his hand around to grab my ass, he slowly slides out. When I hike my leg up his waist, he pumps in long and hard.
“Christ, Zoey,” he mutters with uneven breaths. “You feel better than I imagined you would. Fuck.”
I lift my hips to meet his thrusts, and it’s not long until we’re both begging for relief. Riley cups my breast, then pinches my nipple, and I’m halfway to heaven when he moves his hand down and rubs my clit. “You like that, sweetheart? Because I’m only getting started with you.”
“Yes…” I hum. “Oh God.” My eyes flutter closed, and I’m moaning out his name as my body tightens. He leans over to capture my mouth with his, then slams into me over and over until I’m falling over the ledge once again.
Before I can catch my breath, he’s losing himself too.
It’s not long after we’re sweating and panting that he flips me over and fucks me from behind, giving me the best sex of my life. Hell, the best night of my life.
I wake up next to a hard body pressed against me. I inch closer, not wanting to lose the warmth. Humming to myself, I smile at how content I feel. “Good morning,” I say, nuzzling my face against skin.
“Uh, mornin’.”
My eyes pop open at the deep and low voice as my smile falls.
There’s a man in my bed! I glance around and realize I’m not in my room and then look at the person next to me. “Oh my God.” Then I notice we’re both naked. “Oh shit.”
After I apologize for my reaction, he chuckles. I immediately pull away, grabbing the sheet with me. My mind is fuzzy as hell, and all I want to do is get out of here with the sliver of dignity I have left.
“Uh, Zoey…” I hear him as I sit on the edge of the bed, feeling like a hot ass mess. I probably look like one too.
The moment he mentions a ring, I hold out my left hand and gasp at the gold band on my left finger. “Oh God, I remember now.”
The night comes back to me in flashes, and heat rushes through my body.
“Was it really legal?” he asks.
“We signed a marriage license and said vows, so yeah, I’m pretty sure we’re legally married now,” I respond, chewing on my lip. My parents are going to kill me. This is not good.
Riley’s friend—aka the dare master—barges through the door, telling Riley they have to leave. My mind races a million miles an hour at the thought of having to figure this out because he lives in Texas. Somehow, we’re going to have to fix this.
But then I remember the way it felt when he touched me. Kissed me. Held me and cherished me.
We only had one night, but I’d take that over a hundred crappy dates. Riley made me feel things I’d never felt before. Maybe it was the alcohol and the excitement of being in Vegas, but what if it wasn’t? What if there could actually be something real between us?
Hell, now we’ll never know.
After I get dressed in the bathroom and come back into the room, Riley’s in front of me apologizing because his flight leaves in an hour and they’re expected at work tomorrow. My sister is probably wondering where the hell I am too, though I know she wouldn’t get on that plane to Phoenix without me. As much as I want us to have more time, I know it’s not possible.
When he tells me to come to Texas with him and I explain why I can’t, the thought saddens me. Part of me wishes I could while the other wonders how crazy we must be to even consider it after only twenty-four hours together.
Diesel is on Riley’s ass, rushing him out the door. We have a few seconds to talk before he texts me his address and kisses my cheek.
“For what it’s worth, I had a really fun night, wife.”
The way he says wife sends a hot shiver down my spine.
“Safe flight, hubby,” I retort.
Diesel has the door open and shouts for him again, irritation written all over his face.
“Goodbye,” I say as he walks away.
He gives me one final look
before he’s gone for good, and I’m not sure I truly understand the mild heartache that rushes over me.
Chapter Seven
Riley
FOUR WEEKS LATER
Texas in the middle of June is hot as fuck. I rip off my shirt and chug half my water before putting my gloves back on and stacking more hay on the trailer. The main barn needs to be restocked, and that bitch work was assigned to Diesel and me today.
“Cheer up, buttercup! I know what’ll make ya smile.” He holds up a finger, and I roll my eyes.
Ignoring him, I keep working and tossing bales. Then his phone starts playing music.
“Meghan Trainor always makes me happy.” Diesel flashes a shit-eating grin as “All About That Bass” blasts from his iPhone.
“Jesus Christ,” I mutter and grunt, shaking my head at him when he starts moving his ass to that ancient song. Ever since I was served annulment papers two weeks ago, he’s been more obnoxious than usual, which is saying a lot.
“Oh, come on,” he huffs. “Not even a little grin?” Diesel pops a brow, and I shrug.
“Can you get back to work now? I’m not getting paid to do your half.” I throw a bale with more force than necessary.
I haven’t been able to get Zoey out of my head since we left Vegas, and it’s been no secret. I fucking hated that I left in a rush but was hopeful I’d hear from her after Summer’s wedding. I knew she’d be busy with all the festivities, but then I received the surprise of a lifetime when the sheriff showed up at my house. With a frown on his face, it was obvious he knew what he was delivering. I had to beg him not to tell my mama because news travels fast in this small town. I could’ve messaged Zoey—hell, I was tempted after drinking too much that night—but I didn’t. She made her decision, and I couldn’t blame her. We barely knew each other, lived two completely different lives, and there was no reason to delay the inevitable.
I signed the papers and sent them back the next day.
“I have a whole playlist for you.” Diesel keeps talking. “Fifth Harmony is next. Damn, those ladies can shake it.”
“Am I supposed to know who any of these people are?”
Diesel gasps. Literally gasps.
Now that causes me to smile. Such a damn drama queen.
“You’ve been hanging around my little cousins too much. Or my sister.” I turn and glare at him. His eyes widen as if he’s just been caught. “Which one is it?” I pop a brow.
“Uh, which one gets me in less trouble?”
“Asshole,” I mutter before turning back to the hay.
When we’re done for the afternoon, we take the side-by-side to the B&B for a break. As we walk up the porch, I’m ready to punch Diesel because he never stops talking. I know he thinks it’ll distract me, but it only pisses me off more. I shove him before walking through the front door. While my uncle John is probably at the family bar in town, there’s usually a Bishop in here somewhere, so I try to be on my best behavior once inside.
Diesel groans when we spot Fisher in the kitchen. “’Sup?” he asks, making himself a plate of muffins and cookies. “Hay all done?”
“Would we be in here if it wasn’t?” Diesel says before I can respond. “Maybe you should’ve helped us for once, or are you too afraid of getting your city boy clothes dirty?”
“Actually, I’ve been on the phone all morning calling in orders and making sure the ranch has everything it needs for the rest of the summer, but if you think you’re more qualified to take care of finances and inventory, be my guest,” Fisher answers smoothly. “I’m sure I could handle moving around some hay. I’d even do it without whining too.”
“Motherfucker,” Diesel growls between clenched teeth. He’s one step away from knocking Fisher out, so I grab his arm and pull him back.
“As entertaining as it’d be to watch you two punch each other’s teeth out, there are guests in the living room who probably don’t want blood splattered on them.” I walk Diesel out of the kitchen. Before I can scold him, my mom walks in with my cousins Mackenzie and Elizabeth.
“Oh, there you boys are,” Mama says, greeting me with a kiss on the cheek. “Diesel,” she says firmly, giving him a light smack on the cheek. “Kenzie and El need some help hauling dirt to the gardens.”
“Why can’t Aunt Mila do it?” I ask since she’s the one who tends to them usually.
“She’s at the school today. A teacher called in sick,” she explains. After Mila moved here to be with Uncle John, she opened a daycare center, but once their kids got older, she hired a manager so she could be home more.
“Sure, that’s fine. Diesel would love to help. He needs some fresh air anyway.” I smack him on the back and squeeze his shoulder, daring him to argue.
He shoots me daggers for putting him under the bus, but that’s what he gets for not being able to keep his mouth shut around Fisher. My cousin means well, but nothing will mend their friendship at this point, so I don’t even bother trying.
Diesel plasters on the fakest smile, then tells my mom he’d be more than happy to help. He’s a suck-up, considering I already know he has a thing for my little sister, and if either of my parents found out, they’d never let her near him again.
“Such a gentleman,” my mother praises. “The girls are ready when you are. I’ve gotta get back to the house to start dinner for your father,” she tells me. “You boys are always welcome to come.”
Before I can respond, I notice Diesel looking up the staircase as his eyes widen. “Hooooooly. Shit.”
“Language!” my mom scolds in a hushed whisper, but when I follow where he’s looking, I have the same reaction.
What the fuck?
Everyone stares up at Zoey, who’s walking toward me, looking more gorgeous than ever. Her hair is a tad blonder, and she’s a bit tanner, but otherwise, she looks just like she did the minute I left.
“What are you doing here?” I ask when she’s in front of me, using a rougher tone than I intended. “I mailed the papers back two weeks ago,” I tell her, taking off my baseball cap to brush a hand through my hair before replacing it. It’s one of my nervous tells, though she wouldn’t know that.
“Oh, I know. My lawyer told me,” she explains softly as she folds her hands in front of her. She looks anxious as hell.
“Papers? Lawyer? What is she talkin’ about, Riley?” my mother demands. Fisher is now standing next to Diesel, witnessing this shitshow.
I swallow hard, not wanting to lie to my mom. Regardless, now that Zoey’s here, everyone is going to find out anyway. Might as well be the one to tell her and introduce them.
“Zoey, this is my mom, River. Mama, this is Zoey. My wife.”
“What?” she asks in shock.
Fisher is doubled over, laughing his ass off. Kenzie and El are standing wide-eyed, and Diesel is grinning like a fool while my mother looks at me in horror.
“Well, not for long. She asked for an annulment,” I explain.
“When? How?”
“Vegas,” Diesel answers for me, and I glare at him.
With narrowed eyes, she slowly shakes her head. “You’re just like your father. I don’t even know if I can be mad at you or not.”
“Ma, please. Give us a moment, okay?” I beg.
I take Zoey’s hand and lead her out of the B&B, making sure no one follows us as I walk her around to the side of the building.
“Sorry about that. My family is…well, they’re all fucking crazy. As you can tell.” I’m nervous about her being here and rambling, but I can’t take my eyes off her. Fuck, she’s so beautiful when she looks at me and smiles.
“No, it’s okay. I didn’t know what to expect, honestly. I spent over twelve hours driving here and rehearsed what would happen when I saw you for the first time, and it wasn’t supposed to happen like that.” She chews on her bottom lip. In Vegas, I learned it was one of her nervous habits.
“You drove here? Over twelve hours alone?” I ask, surprised.
Zoey nods. “I wanted t
o clear my head.”
“Okay, so…what are you doing here then?”
She inhales a deep breath, then looks at me. “I didn’t sign the papers.”
My brows raise in shock. “I’m going to need more explanation here…” I pinch the back of my neck, reminding myself to breathe. “You sent me the papers and then didn’t sign them?”
Zoey fidgets with her shirt, but all I can think about is how I want to kiss those soft lips again.
“I-I thought an annulment was the only option since we don’t even live in the same state, but then I started wondering…what if there really was a connection between us? What if we actually gave this a chance instead of calling it quits right away? I couldn’t sign those papers without knowing for certain, so I figured I’d come here and stay for a couple of weeks to see if there was something more between us than just one drunken night in Vegas. If so, I’d have to go back home to tell my parents everything first and pack my things, but then after that, I could live here with you. That is, if you wanted to. I mean, you could’ve met someone since then, so—”
Closing the gap between us, I cup her face, interrupting her words by pressing my mouth to hers. Considering she hasn’t signed those papers and wants to see if there’s something between us confirms she felt something too. I slide my tongue between her lips, and when she relaxes against me, I deepen the kiss.
Eventually, I pull away, and as we catch our breaths, I rest my forehead against hers. “Sorry, I shouldn’t have mauled you like that.”
She chuckles and bites down on her lip again. “It’s a much better reaction than I was anticipating, so I’m not mad about it.”
That makes me smile. “Please tell me I’m not crazy for feeling this way after only spending twenty-four hours with you.”
Zoey swallows, then looks up at me. “If you are, then I am too.”
“You have no idea how happy I am that you’re here.” My hand slides around her back, holding her closer.
“I was scared you’d tell me to go the fuck away and push me out on my ass,” she admits. “Which I would’ve deserved.”