by Raven Scott
He looks so good. Reece’s stubble was starting to get noticeably long. He couldn’t power a beard in two days or less, but it’d obviously been a week or so since he shaved. His dark eyes danced with merriment, a slight smile playing on his lips as he preened, fully aware I was checking him out. His fingertips touched the back of my hand, and I blinked hard before he spoke up.
“I’ve been having this craving, but I’m not sure for what. Everything just seems unappealing. It’s been going on for days, now.” My brows rose as I nodded in understanding, and Reece tangled his fingers in mine to shoot me a sexy, suggestive look. “I got a projector at my place, if you wanted to have a movie night?”
“I would’ve worn my sexy panties. I’d love to come over.” Slithering my arm around his back, I smiled wide when his eyes narrowed slightly. “So, how was your meeting?”
“It was bullshit. Vanessa sent my ass all the way upstate so I could get plopped in the middle of a conversation about proper use of company property— and, you know, don’t do stupid shit like watch porn at work or take out equipment and lose it. She’s in the middle of this internal investigation, so she can’t leave, but. . . speaking of Vanessa, I asked her about any positions available, and she said to send in your resume.”
“Really? Thank you! I have a thumb drive in my car.” My smile widened until my cheeks ached and flamed, and my heart thundered as excitement raced through my veins. Squeezing his hand, I rested my head on his shoulder as Reece smirked against my crown. “Thank you, Reece. I appreciate it.”
“You still have to interview, of course. There’s no point in upselling you to Vanessa. She’s a cunt to work under, and I’m just contracted in. Even only reporting to her is more than enough for me. So, what about you, Riley? You texted me at the conference that you had really did go to a spa with your neighbor. How’d that go?” Humming softly, my smile softened at the memories; Hannah and I hadn’t been friends, but she was as close as I had. We’d gotten pedicures and face masks, nothing too outrageous, but it’d be a lot of fun.
“It was really nice. Turns out we have a lot in common, actually. Plus, it was nice to relax. I really needed it. I never realized how much more tense I’ve been since. . .” Trailing off as we started down the meat section, I inhaled deeply through my nose and lifted my head. “I’m doing okay, though. I haven’t seen Brandon, and I blocked my mom on everything I could think of, so she’s not harassing me anymore. So. . . yeah. I’m okay.”
“Good. I’m proud of you, Riley. What about dinner, now? I’ve been thinking. . . a roast.” Flames licked up my neck when Reece ducked to whisper in my ear, and he groaned softly. “If things went my way at Black Cat, maybe, I could’ve already tasted it.”
“I do owe you one.” His hand untangled from mine at my admission, and I gasped when Reece grabbed my ass and squeezed. Everything around me disappeared when I glanced up, his eyes capturing mine to steel. “I don’t know if we can get a room on such short notice, though.”
“We’re past Black Cat, aren’t we, baby? I have a lot of fun stuff at my place. If you want to get frisky, I got options.” My brows twitched in interest, and Reece smirked broadly as he held my waist. “I’m sure you’ll like it a lot more than you may think.”
“Riley!” The sharp call made me jump, and I whipped around to find Brandon, in the flesh, and mad. His strong face pinched, his stride aggressive and the vein in his forehead bulging. Against my side, Reece tensed, and the air knocked from my lungs as too many thoughts whizzed around behind my wide eyes.
“You must be Brandon.” Stepping in front of me, Reece spoke calmly, but the muscles in his back played noticeably even through his jacket. Brandon had an inch or two on Reece, was broader and obviously angrier, and I held my breath as my heart lodged in my throat. “I’ve been meaning to ask you some questions.”
“You know she’s a cheating, manipulative bitch—”
“Yeah, yeah. She called the cops on you, blah— blah— I don’t care about what you have to say about that. Who cares? You wouldn’t happen to have $10grand I can borrow, would you?” The question made Brandon pause mid-step, and my gaze ping-ponged between him and Reece. Instantly, Brandon went on the confused defensive, his lip curling in a snarl when Reece glanced back at me through narrowed eyes. “I guess I shouldn’t be surprised this guy’s bad with money. He probably paid a lot of penalties for breaking the rules at Black Cat and had to ask friends— if he has any that would bother.”
But Reece didn’t seem at all happy about his own declaration. Actually, he seems kinda upset and confused. I didn’t know what to say even as my mouth opened.
“Come on, Riley. What do you think about chicken?” Spitting venomously, Reece turned his eyes back to Brandon to scuff in disgust. “I don’t like pig.”
“You’re a fucking homewrecker bitch, shacking up with someone else’s girlfriend. I hope you like psycho—” Reece moved so fast, and I dropped my basket with a horrid clatter. In a flash, faster than I could blink, he was standing over Brandon, somehow having gotten him on his back. The buzzing of the meat refrigerators was all I heard before Reece reached under his jacket to pull out a gun. My heart threatened to burst through my chest, and goosebumps blanketed my body under my layers.
Sitting on Brandon’s chest, holding his arms down with powerful thighs, Reece expertly handled the gun— it practically floated through the air. Sprawled at just the right angle, I watched Reece stick the gun muzzle under Brandon’s chin as he went pale and very still.
“New York City is a conceal-carry zone, and you’ve already beat Riley once. The police may not care, and you may think you’ve gotten away with it, but let me make one thing clear, here.” Crouching down, Reece cocked the gun back with a damning click, and my gut knotted tightly. “Riley was never your girlfriend. Homewreckers are a myth. And. . . if I ever see you again, anywhere, I’ll do to you what you tried to do to her. It’s much more dangerous to get fucked up the ass with a broom handle— internal damage, you know? If it splinters, your shit will spill out of your intestines, and you’ll be septic before you even realize you need to go to the hospital. . . not that you’ll have the option. Or, you could choke on a horse cock— and not the silicon kind. After all, there’s plenty of real horses in New York State, and I happen to know a guy that’s into that shit.”
Brandon opened his mouth, but nothing came out, and Reece dragged his piece up to tap his cheek ever so gently. The grocery store was so dead not even the ants were around to witness it, and I clenched and released my hands by my sides. My lungs screamed for air, but it all became a drone in the background of my mind when Reece spoke up again.
“If you did anything that might come back to haunt you, I’d suggest calling it off and running far, far away. . .” Reece’s threat sent shivers strafing down my spine, and my eyes widened when Brandon whimpered like a whipped dog. Not that beating puppies is okay, of course. “Got me, bro?”
“G-got it. . .” For a long, tense moment, Reece stared, crouched like a tiger ready to maul his prey, and blood drummed in my ears. Brandon nodded insistently, his face pale and pasty, before he was let go. He scrambled to his feet, and I clamped my stiff hands over my nose and mouth as the unmistakable stench of shit blossomed in the cold air.
Brandon held his ass, but even his larger hands couldn’t hide the huge, brown stain seeping through his jeans. His awkward, rushing waddle was so at odds with his big, broad body, and I closed my eyes to whip around and take a huge, gulping breath.
“So, as I was saying. . .” The scrape of plastic against linoleum hurt my ears, and Reece pressed his palm against my lower back to guide me down towards the chicken. “Chicken?”
“That’s disgusting.” I didn’t have a lot of experience with guns— I’d never touched one, but my dad had one in the house growing up. Scrunching up my nose, I shook my head shortly as we walked away.
“Usually, it takes more to make them shit themselves.” Cracking my eyes open, I glanced up
as Reece’s face twisted in thought. “It’s disturbing, though. I don’t know whether or not he was following you, but that guy’s way more dick than dude. You heard him call me a homewrecker, right? I wasn’t imagining that?”
“I heard it. Why do you think they’re a myth?” The smell died down by the time we reached the whole chickens, and I glanced back as some poor kid stood, miserable, where we’d just been. Clearly, someone had seen Brandon waddling out, holding his ass cheeks together, and a little, malicious giggle tickled my chest.
“Homewreckers imply the side piece has sole responsibility for ruining a relationship. If you’re looking for someone to fuck outside your marriage or whatever, it wouldn’t be the other person’s fault. I’m sure there’s actual people out there that destroy relationships for fun, but fucking someone else’s girlfriend means she was she was actively looking to step out. That’s not someone worth getting angry about, if you ask me.” He waved his hand in dismissal, and I rolled my lips between my teeth as Reece held up my basket for me. “You aren’t anyone’s girlfriend, and he’s delusional thinking rushing face first into a brick wall was a good idea.”
My mouth dried at that, and I took my basket while Reece browsed the chicken drumsticks. What am I if not your girlfriend, then? But the question stuck in my tightening throat while I flexed my fingers around the basket’s handles.
14
Riley
“Here it is. Not very exciting, but I don’t have to pay for it, so. . .” Glancing around Reece’s flat, I hummed softly in acknowledgment. His place was basically an efficiency with stairs leading up to a loft bedroom. Setting the bags on the kitchen table, the open plan separated only by the flooring, I let my eyes wander. Carpet for the living room, tile in the kitchen, and large windows and a small balcony to tie it all together.
All in all, Reece’s was a typical upscale New York flat, which wasn’t that surprising at all.
“If you want, Riley— I’m not working the rest of the week, so if you wanted to stay over, I can bring you to give Vanessa your resume sometime. Probably not tomorrow, though. The day after nights like this one are killer.” I didn’t know when I went out tonight that Reece lived so close to me; just five or six blocks separated us. Turning my gaze to him as he started putting groceries away, I pursed my lips thinly as a faint anxiety curdled my blood.
“Do you not want to date me or something?” Reece paused with a box of pasta halfway into a cabinet, and I frowned as I leaned against the back of the sofa. “You said I wasn’t your girlfriend— what are we doing?”
“Uh— I thought it’d be more important to know more about you than just the two facts that you’re great in bed and have terrible parents before I asked you to hurl yourself into a serious relationship, honestly.” Deadpanned, Reece put the Angelhair pasta away to cross his arms over his chest and lean against the white marble counter. “Unless you wanted to do that, waste six months or so, and eventually get bitter if we find out we’re not really compatible outside the bedroom? Enjoying fucking you shouldn’t be confused with wanting to date you, Riley.”
“So, you don’t want to date me.” I couldn’t help but be a tiny bit upset when Reece shrugged a little, and I pulled a face somewhere between irritation and relief. As glad as I was that he wasn’t pulling his punches, I still felt like all this time had been misleading. And not even because of him, but because I fucked up, called him all those weeks ago, and got it in my head that because he was nice, he was interested.
Man.
“That’s kinda the whole point of this. I enjoyed fucking you those few times before you went under contract, but that’s it. That’s all it was supposed to be. Obviously, things are different now. I don’t think spending a few weeks getting to know you before I ask you out necessarily means I don’t want to date you. I just want to be sure that it’s gonna be worth my time.” Reece was coldly practical, and my mouth dried as he sauntered over to me. Questions beat against the backs of me eyes even as he cupped my chin so I couldn’t look away. His expression drenched in graveness that tightened my chest, ramping up my heart rate as expectation gripped me in a vice. “I think one fool making assumptions is enough, don’t you, Riley?”
“You made a guy shit himself in front of me, but then went around and said I wasn’t your girlfriend. That’s some real mixed signals, okay?” A shiver of disgust at the memory that clung to my nostrils lodged between my shoulder blades. Reece caressed my chin with his thumb, and I shook my head and sniffed a shallow breath. “Maybe, I got ahead of myself, but. . . it’s not like I don’t have a reason. You said it yourself— you treat me different because you want me to like you.”
“I’m glad it’s working. The last woman I brought home ended up being a monumental waste of time and energy, not even worth the gas to pick her up. She had the full intention from the beginning of being a fucking bitch about it. So— yeah. I treat you how you deserve, Riley. Whether that’s construed as ‘different’ or ‘better’ is up to you. No one treats two people exactly the same. I wouldn’t grumble under my breath calling you a slave driving bitch of a boss, right?” Stretching his fingers to cup my cheek, Reece didn’t smirk at his question, and I gulped harshly. His eyes narrowed to fine points on me, his palm dry and warm as he brushed my cheek bone tenderly. “Do you think you deserve less, Riley? Because that’s what jumping into relationships is— it’s less.”
“I. . . I would like to stay. . . if that’s okay with you.” An affectionate smile stretched his lips, finally cracking the seriousness of his demeanor. Sucking on my bottom lip, flames licked up my neck as Reece drew close. My heart fluttered against my ribs, and goosebumps washed down my arms and across my chest.
“I wouldn’t have offered if I didn’t want you to say ‘yes’.” His lips brushed mine, and I gasped as shocks skittered along my cheeks. We’d never kissed on the lips— it seemed like such a silly thing, considering we’d had sex, but I couldn’t think on it when he breathed his sultry request. “Stay, Riley.”
There was so much promise on that whisper, and Reece snuck his free arm around my waist. Every part of him was so close but still not quite close enough. His face distorted from the inch or less between us, but the desire blossoming in his eyes was crystal clear. The short bristles of his five o’clock shadow tickled my chin as his palm flexed against my cheek.
“Yes. . .” I gasped as Reece tightened his arm around my waist, his mouth capturing mine in a firm, deep kiss that made my brain spin behind my eyes. My heart thundered furiously as my knees tightened against his hips, and his powerful body rippled under my roaming palms. Why do I feel like I just sold my soul to the devil?
But I just didn’t care. I didn’t care that Reece effortlessly pulled a gun on someone, like he’d done it many, many times before. I didn’t care that he seemed to get real sketchy about his job whenever I asked. I didn’t care that he would disappear for a day or two, turn his phone off, and then come up with a half-lie that felt awkward coming from him.
Reece was a devil, and even if I didn’t know specifics. . . I had no doubt they’d eventually come to light.
Caressing his lean muscles as I unbuttoned his shirt, I moaned eagerly when Reece held the back of my head. His tongue snuck between my teeth, the taste of him coating my tongue and the roof of my mouth. Heat coiled in my abdomen as I reached the fastening of his jeans, and I fumbled a little in my haste. My thighs quivered when he hoisted them around his waist to lift me off the edge of the sofa, and his tongue danced sensually with mine as I flung my arms over her shoulders.
“Riley—” Grunting lowly, Reece pulled back to duck into my neck, and I relished his lips and tongue along my skin. Rolling my hips against his, the hot friction of his gait seeped through my jeans before he pushed open a door. A shiver jerked my shoulders when he pinned me to a wall, grabbing my wrists to hold them on either side of my head.
“Oh, God. . .” Tugging my shirt up, Reece groaned gutturally before shoving his face between my bre
asts, and I arched into his greedy mouth. He released my other hand to work the front clasp of my bra, but as soon as it and my shirt were gone, he grabbed my hands again. Sucking my nipple into his mouth, a shiver raced down my sternum, and I gasped when soft leather wrapped around my wrists.
Kissing a hot, thick trail of saliva to my other breast, Reece glanced up to catch my eye as he tugged the buckle tight. With an ease of practice, he bound my right arm by my head, and I groaned in protest when he pulled back. Flames licked up my abdomen and down my thighs, my goosebumps intensifying when he worked my jeans. I kicked off my shoes, excitement boiling my blood, and I moaned when he captured my lips yet again.
Yanking down my pants and underwear, his reverent gasp rang in my ears, and Reece briefly left my lips to pull my clothes all the way off. Searing palms dragged down my sides, one gripping my leg as the other slipped between us. Moaning into his mouth when he touched me, I clenched my hands into loose fists as he spread my folds to circle my clit.
“Did you know. . .” Panting furiously, Reece yanked his head back to stare heatedly at me from under hooded lids. His fingers slipped along my pussy to send shocks down my legs, and I sputtered a gasp before he grumbled hoarsely. “How I tie you up dictates what you feel. Did you know that, baby?”
“No, but—” Clenching as Reece teased my entrance and thumbed my clit, I whimpered pathetically. “Please. . .”
“Did I say you could beg me?” My pupils blew when his hand left me, and I trembled as he brought them to his lips to suck animatedly. “Surely, you’re not that desperate, Riley?”
“I am— I am.” I’m done caring. This is what I want. This is what makes me feel good. No one else or their shitty opinions matter. Genuine surprise rose Reece’s brows, his shadowed jaw rippling as he clenched his teeth. Expectation made me dizzy, and I nodded encouragingly before he lowered my leg to step back.