Shallow River

by H. D. Carlton

  I nod my head once, slowly extract myself from his hand and lead the way. It feels like the devil is nipping at my heels. The type of devil you should stay away from but only want to get closer to. Willpower and force are the only two things keeping me from running to the room. From discovering exactly what Mako plans on doing once we get there. I’m terrified to find out, but I’m nearly shaking with the need to know.

  I lift the secret shelf, and the room is presented to me. My home away from hell. Where I spent the majority of time away from Shallow Hill. I walk into the room, my eyes finding every detail of this room except the one I should be looking at.

  Mako’s demanding presence is right behind me, and when the door shuts, it feels like my fate has been sealed. I don’t know what it is yet, but I think I’m going to like it.

  I’m nervous. I’m not sure if I’ve ever felt this type of anxiousness before. This isn’t the type of feeling I got when Billy came around. Or when a man would sneak into my room at night. Or even when I would make Ryan angry.

  This is the jittery nervous you get when you’re in a room alone with your crush. My confidence was something I always held onto tightly. It was my armor and it prevented me from feeling anything but sure of myself when in the same room with a man I wanted.

  That confidence is lingering right outside my reach. Still there, but impossible to grasp onto right now.

  “Do you remember when we first met?” Mako asks, breaking the silence.

  “Of course. When I met your parents,” I answer, my voice deceptively smooth.

  Mako slowly shakes his head. “That’s not the first time we’ve met, River.”

  His words silence the nerves. My brow creases with confusion as I try to recall meeting Mako before that.

  “I… I don’t remember,” I say. An almost despondent smile slides on his face. How could we have met before Ryan? How could I not remember him? Mako has a face you don’t forget.

  “You were drinking, so I can’t say I’m surprised.” Weariness replaces the confusion. I drank a lot my freshman and sophomore year of college. It was only after Ryan and I started getting serious that I stopped. He said it made him look bad having a sloppy girlfriend.

  “What’d I do?” I ask hesitantly. He chuckles.

  “You changed my life, is what you did.” The V between my brow deepens as I frown. I don’t know what he could possibly mean by that.

  “You punched a man in the nose for touching you in a way you didn’t like. He was getting ready to hit you, and I intervened.”

  My eyes widen as the memory comes rushing back, slamming through my brain like a tidal wave. That was Mako. The man who stopped the drunk asshole for bitch slapping me after I broke his nose. I walked away from him without saying thank you, even though I was tempted to show my thanks in more nefarious ways.

  “Holy shit,” I gasp. “I do remember that. I hadn’t… I don’t know why I didn’t realize that was you.”

  He shrugs a shoulder, taking a step towards me. The anticipation from earlier starts to creep back in as the temperature in the room begins to rise.

  “You also didn’t realize it was me that danced with you later that night,” he says—calmly—as if he didn’t just unload a huge fucking bomb on me.

  “That was you?” I ask incredulously, my body rearing back in shock. Mako has been my mystery man this entire time? The man that would haunt the back corner of my brain, only to be let out in rare, weak moments.

  A satisfied smirk crooks the corner of his lips.

  “That was me,” he confirms. He’s staring at me now as if he’s finally caught me. It’s sexy as hell, and my body responds in kind. My pussy grows wet, beginning to pulsate as I inhale the sinful look Mako is giving me now.

  As I take in the fact that Mako is who I should’ve been with all along. The fact that I was so close to having him is almost devastating. What would’ve happened if I had just turned around? If I had discovered the man making me feel things no man has ever made me feel. What would’ve happened if Amelia didn’t get sick that night, pulling me away from Mako’s arms? I would’ve let him take me home that night. I would’ve let him ravage my body and soul until the sun peaked through the morning clouds. And I would’ve given him my number and asked for seconds. Thirds, fourths, fifths and so on until I had him forever.

  “Why didn’t you tell me sooner?” I ask with bewilderment.

  “Because you were firmly under my brother’s spell. Telling you that wouldn’t have changed anything. And to be honest, I didn’t want that memory tainted. You hated me up until recently. If I had told you then, you would’ve spit it back in my face. I don’t think I could’ve handled that.”

  Shame has me dropping my eyes to my feet. He’s right. And I hate that he is.

  “I’m sorry,” I say. I release a harsh breath. “I’m sorry for the way I treated you, Mako. You were incredibly kind to me, and I threw everything back in your face. I treated you horribly, fuck, I even slapped you. And I’m sorry it took me so long to say it. I’m just… sorry.”

  “Don’t be,” he says, taking another step towards me. I eye the distance, greedily wanting it to be completely erased. “That was what made me fall in love with you, River.”

  Time stills. His words don’t register right away. My mouth falls open and my eyes snap to his. He forges on before I can even stutter out a response.

  “I don’t want you to say it back. But it’s the truth. You’re so strong, River. You’re fierce and independent. And despite that fact that someone was actively kicking you down, you kept getting back up on your feet. I admired you for that. It pissed me off too, sure. But fuck, did it make me fall in love with you.”

  Hot tears burn my eyes, lining the bottom of my lids. Waves of emotion storm through me, so many I don’t even know how to pick apart what I’m feeling. Shock, absolutely. But anything else I can’t decide. Am I happy? Excited? Sad? I don’t know.

  What I do know is that everything I felt before Mako was a lie. Falling in love with Mako feels like stepping into a fire with his hand clasped firmly in mine. It burns, but I’m not alone.

  “Come here, Mako.”

  Twenty Two

  Mako

  I DIDN’T PLAN ON THIS moment happening, at least not now of all fucking times. Admitting to River that I’m in love with her just came out. But it’s really fucking hard to regret it when she’s staring at me like she’s getting ready to eat me alive. The heady demand slipping from her lips has me instantly reacting, listening to her command like a trained K-9.

  I reach her in two big steps, or maybe it’s one and she took the other step. My hand is sliding into her soft curls and her even softer mouth is crushing into mine in one swoop. River McAllister’s lips on mine feels like fucking heaven on earth.

  A shaky exhale escapes her mouth, swirling into mine as our mouths open and our tongues meet. Fuck, she tastes sweeter than I imagined. Countless nights, I fantasized about those lips on mine. On my body, and especially on my cock as I got myself off to thoughts of her. Too many nights doing the same thing, from the moment I laid eyes on River knocking the daylights out of the handsy asshole at the club. The moment her gold eyes landed on me, she trapped me in and made me hers. I didn’t know it at the time, but she never let me go.

  A soft moan vibrates through my mouth as my tongue spears into her. I can’t get enough of her. I can’t stop tasting her. Her mouth is soft and pliable, letting me take the lead for a few moments before snatching the control away and commanding the kiss. Back and forth, we push and pull for dominance, never letting the other have it for too long.

  River’s nails claw at my chest, drawing a growl from my chest that makes me sound like a hungry bear. The sound only spurs her on, her movements becoming desperate and needy. I snatch her wrists and pull them tightly behind her back, just like I do when I arrest a criminal.

  Kissing this woman is criminal.

  So many things I could do to her. I could handcuff her now,
letting her endure the sweet torture of what my tongue could do to her body and not be able to stop me. She wouldn’t want to, but she’d try when the pleasure becomes too much for her to handle.

  “Mako.” The soft plea is murmured against my tongue, alighting an inferno deep inside of me. I snap. Or maybe I’m just answering her plea.

  I pause, my hands grasping either side of her face, and I gently pull her away.

  “Is there any place I shouldn’t touch? Or anything you don’t want me to do? I can be gentle, I can be whatever you need.” By the time I’m done, I’m positive I sound like a desperate fuck.

  Her golden eyes glitter, and a small smile pulls at her bruised-kissed lips.

  “I’m… not ready for anal play, yet,” she says gently. The why on why she’s not ready threatens to boil my blood. River had already admitted aloud what Ryan did to her. I close my eyes, coercing my dangerously rising temperature to drop back down before I boil over. Now is not the time to lose my shit.

  “Okay,” I breathe, opening my eyes again. “Anything else?”

  She gives one shake of her head. “The only thing I ask is that you don’t treat me like I’m glass. I’m not weak. I’ll never be weak. I just want you to be you.”

  Now that I can do.

  Before I press my lips against hers once more, I whisper, “Not for one second have I ever thought you were weak.”

  Her clothes are stripped off her body in a matter of seconds. Claws and hands attack my clothes as she rips the fabric from my body with just as much earnest. Our mouths only part long enough to get the clothes off before gluing back to each other once more.

  This room is dusty and dirty, not an ideal place to have sex. But I’d sell my soul to the devil if it meant I never had to stop.

  I pick her up, her long smooth legs wrapping around my waist. My knees nearly collapse when I feel her wet heat settle against my cock. A groan follows when her hips roll once, twice— “River,” I grit out. “You’re killing me.”

  She grins against my mouth and rolls her hips again, my eyes copying the motion of her hips. Before I embarrass myself and either fall and drop her, or come right here and now, I storm over to the bench we sat on just months ago. The same bench she relayed her life story to me while I stewed in fury, wanting to kill every bastard that laid hands on her. Graphic images filled my head of all the things I could do to them—fantasies that still simmer every time I’m reminded of the abuse River has endured in her life.

  I spin and ease down onto the bench, more than wary of the protesting wood the last time we were here. Just like clockwork, the bench groans beneath my weight, but holds true for now.

  My hand slides up the back of River’s head, plunging in her soft curls. Just as she dips her sweet little tongue in my mouth again, I curl my hand and firmly wrench her head back until her mouth is suspended a few inches away from mine. She mewls at the loss of my mouth, and I can’t help but smirk at the sound. I love how much she needs me.

  “Mako,” she groans, her voice breathy and desperate. I take the time to slowly pursue her body. Fuck, bad idea. I’m too on edge and she’s too fucking perfect. Beautiful breasts, the perfect size for my hands, with little rose-pink nipples budded and waiting for my mouth. Deep curves with a flat stomach. A brow raises when I catch sight of the simple jewel plunged through her belly button. Something I’ll have to explore later.

  “You’re so fucking perfect,” I breathe, my eyes landing on her pussy spread across my cock. I have to squeeze my eyes shut to keep myself from shooting my load prematurely, my hand tightening in her hair involuntarily. She moans from the prick of pain, only making my willpower slip further away. Seeing her connected to me is incredibly erotic and something I intend to see every goddamn day for the rest of my life.

  “Mako, please,” she begs.

  Fuck, fuck, fuck! This woman will be the death of me.

  “What do you need from me?” I choke out, wrenching my eyes back to her molten goldens orbs. They’re on fire, liquid gold simmering over a fire raging only for me. Her hands splay across my chest for a moment before dragging down slowly. Right before they reach my cock, I snap her wrists up and away.

  Soon, I’ll let her do whatever she pleases to my body. But not tonight.

  “Mako!” she protests, attempting to wrench her arms away.

  “Tell me what you want with words, River,” I grit out.

  “I… I need you.”

  A firm shake of my head. “Not good enough, baby girl. What do you want me to do to you?” I ask as I transfer both wrists to one hand and use my other to lightly brush across her clit. Her eyes nearly roll and I’ve decided it’s my life’s mission to see that sight any chance I can get.

  When she just breathes out a moan, I lean forward and trail my tongue across her pert nipple. Her back arches, her body begging for more. I evade her wishes, determined to hear what she wants.

  Has she ever been asked? Has no one ever given her the option to choose? Of course not. Those assholes have only just taken from her, disregarding her wants and desires. Disregarding her secret fantasies. I want to see every one of them come to life. With just a simple demand from her lips, I’ll be a slave to every one of her desires.

  “River,” I prompt, when she begins to grow impatient, going as far as leaning her body into mine in attempt to get me to suck on her nipple. “Use your words.”

  She groans with frustration. “Suck me,” she says, almost shyly. Never in my life would I think River would ever be shy, but fuck if it doesn’t do something to me. Heeding her demand, my lips close around the bud, sucking sharply as I rove my tongue all over her sensitive nipple.

  The loud moan that escapes her mouth sounds like sweet relief. I switch to the other breast, never one to neglect both.

  “What else?” I murmur, peeking up at her. Her mouth is open in a perfect O, and a deep line crinkles between her brow as she stares down at me. I quirk a brow, waiting for her response.

  “T-touch my clit. Rub it,” she says, her voice only a tad more confident than before. My thumb brush across her the little bud, engorged with desire. More moans follow suit, and the louder they grow, the firmer I press. I don’t stop either ministrations—my tongue against her nipple and my thumb on her clit—determined to bring her to orgasm this way if that’s how she wants it.

  “More!” she demands.

  “More what?”

  “Fuck me with your fingers,” she growls, all shyness absent from her sharp demand.

  There’s my girl.

  She lifts up just enough for my hand to slide across her slit and find her opening. I groan with her with when I insert a finger into her tight center. She’s too goddamn perfect. Another finger joins the first, curving into a come hither motion. My thumb finds her clit again just as my finger locate the little spot inside her that instantly makes her legs quiver.

  “Mako!” she gasps, her hips circling against my hand. Her orgasm rips through her entire body, suspending it completely still for a brief moment before she completely loses control. Her hips grind against my hand with fervor and both of her hands rip through my hair and tighten into a death grip, my mouth firmly attached to her breast. I don’t stop working her, and she doesn’t stop screaming.

  She comes completely undone against me and it’s the sweetest sight I ever did see.

  Finally, when she falls limp is when I take back control. I’m seconds away from losing control myself, so it takes everything in me to keep it together when I grab her hips, lift her body up and then impale her directly onto my cock.

  Fuuuuuuck.

  Her half-lidded eyes widen into discs and a garbled scream shoots from her throat. Neither of us move. I allow her to adjust to my size while I try not to come. Her tight, wet heat completely envelops me, squeezing the life out of me.

  My head clashes with the cement wall behind me, my teeth gritted until I’m nearly grinding them to dust.

  “Are you okay?” I ask hoarsely, not proud
of the way my voice trembles.

  “I… Is it normal to have a fucking horse dick?” she finally gasps, her round eyes travelling to where we’re connected. She’s seen my dick before, how big it was, but I imagine feeling it inside of her is a whole new prospect.

  I can’t fucking help it. A huge satisfied grin stretches across my face, earning me a little eye roll when she spots it. I know I’m bigger than most, far bigger than most. But I don’t care what anyone says, no man can deny the ultimate satisfaction when a girl fawns over it. Especially the girl you’re madly fucking in love with.

  “Did I hurt you?” I ask, lifting my hips just slightly. Her mouth parts and her eyes fall back to their half-lidded state.

  “I like the way you hurt me,” she whispers. Something primal erupts inside my chest. It’s a living, breathing beast that River has just awoken from its slumber. My hands tighten on her hips until I’m sure she’ll sport bruises of my handprints for a day or two. She leans forward and brushes her plump lips across mine.

  My discarded jeans are next to the bench. With practiced ease, I slip out my handcuffs and have them slapped around her wrists, pinning them behind her back within seconds. She stills, my actions catching up to her as she realizes what I did.

  “Am I your prisoner?” she asks seductively.

  I bite my lip, quite liking the way her chest pops out and her body curves to accommodate the cuffs.

  “For as long as you’re willing to be,” I murmur.

  “You’ll let me out the second I tell you to,” she tells me, her voice soft but stern. I meet her gaze, making sure she can see the truth to my words.

  “They’ll be gone before you can finish the sentence,” I promise. She nods her head once, rotating her wrists gently, testing out the cuffs. I kept them fairly loose so they don’t rub her delicate skin raw.

  When I see her acceptance, I don’t give her the chance to make any more demands. I spread my thighs further, slide my hands down below her ass cheeks, brace her against my body and fuck the absolute shit out of her. For the second time, River’s eyes widen into round discs.