River hated that all their happy moments carried a black cloud. Delton needed to go away. “Of course.”
Jo was white-knuckling the steering wheel, her head turning left several times to look at MacGregor. Finally, she said, “I apologize for insisting on only one guard, Mr. MacGregor. I... should have realized it would cause you extra work.”
He only stared at Jo’s profile, jaw clenched. No response.
And just that quick, tense silence filled the trip back to the hotel. Sighing, River texted Patrick.I miss you. Thursday can’t get here soon enough (MacGregor and Jo are... having... a moment... not a good one). I love you. Call me tonight.
Those two, I swear. Text me when you’re in bed. I think we should video call...
I am NOT having phone sex with you, Patrick O’Faolain! Jo’s room is next to mine!
Bet you will. Love you, Riv.
* * *
Patrick won the bet,damn him or her, as she was admittedly weak where that man was concerned. It was almost midnight when the video ended. River’s body was warm and languid, flushed and sensitive. Even though they’d just signed off, she couldn’t help reliving the experience— every second.
River texted Patrick that she was in bed, unwilling to initiate a video chat, half hoping he’d been joking. Half hoping he wasn’t. Her embarrassment wasn’t because she was a prude but because she was, even now, inexperienced. Her inhibitions were falling away, but exhibitionism was outside her comfort zone, even between them. Seeing herself on video was way different than being with Patrick in person.
She’d set her laptop up at the foot of her bed, put on a white t-shirt of Patrick’s, and turned off all the lights except for the connecting bathroom. Soft glow. Check. Wi-Fi. Check. Tousled hair. Check. Clean face with only lip gloss. Check. Nerves and sweating armpits. Double check.
The video app’s old-fashioned ringtone filled her room with bells. Once River accepted the call, Patrick was there, leaning against their headboard— shirtless. His body made her mouth dry and other parts of her body... not so dry.
River pulled her knees to her chest, the oversized t-shirt wrapping her legs to her ankles. “Hey, baby,” Patrick’s voice rumbled over the computer speakers.
“Patrick,” River answered, placing her chin atop her raised knees. Her eyes were probably saucers.
“It’s late, love, and you have another long day tomorrow.” Patrick’s eyes were steady and intense. He was tracking her every breath. “Take off your shirt, baby, and get comfortable.” Patrick’s gaze never left the camera, but his hands pulled the sheet aside that had been covering his lower body.
River’s breath hitched at the sight of his erection. She was mesmerized when he took himself in hand, slowly stroking. Her legs started to scissor in an attempt to provide relief but only managed to ignite her core further.
Pat didn’t ask again for her to remove her shirt again. He just patiently watched her, continuing the mesmerizing stroke of his flesh. His stomach was tight and rippling with need. Never taking her eyes from the screen, River pinched the bottom of the tee and slowly, perhaps showboating for a moment, revealed her body to her fiancé one inch at a time.
Her face wasn’t free of the cotton when she heard Patrick’s breathing change. Harsher. Faster. Free of the cloth, she could see Patrick stroking himself faster than before.
“Let your knees fall open, baby. Let me see how wet you are for me.” She did what he asked, the thrumming between her legs a living, breathing dragon. “Wet. God, so wet. Listen to me, River. Run your hands up your body... yes, just like that. Take both your tits and squeeze them.” River followed his every direction. “Pinch your nipples, baby. Pretend it’s my mouth... my teeth.”
River opened her eyes to see Patrick, his glazed eyes and panting breath similar to hers. Without him asking, River left off her breasts to run her hands down her body, skating over the planes of her stomach until she reached the apex between her thighs. Widening her legs further, she made one exploratory swipe through the middle of her heat, her ring and middle finger swirling the sensitive nub at the top.
Patrick’s pumping trebled, his hips lifting, mimicking thrusting into her body. “How many fingers can you fill yourself with, River?” Without hesitation, she showed him. She pumped first two and then three fingers in and out of herself, pressing her palm against the surrounding heat. Pat left his reclined position and was on his knees, pumping his body faster and faster.
“Going to come, baby. Come for me. Let me watch you come apart.” One last press of her palm and River exploded, causing Patrick to paint his screen with ribbons of white. It was one of the most erotic things River had ever witnessed.
They both lay there looking at each other on their computer screens— Pat’s was blurry because... well... opaque body fluids. They were still touching their bodies and breathing heavily. “My laptop buttons may never be the same,” he smirked.
I pulled my fingers out— slowly, just to mess with him— and said, “My fingers may never be the same.” His eyes tracked... Every. Single. Move.
“Come home, River.”
* * *
The weavers might not have producedthe level of shenanigans of Dougal Donaldson, but they reaped a heady amount of satisfaction all the same. River and Jo enjoyed learning about the weaving process, and the owner sent a thick binder of fabric swatches with River. Triskelion’s clients were going to flip over the choices.
She and Jo spent the rest of the day scouring through several antique and thrift stores. Hidden treasures could beanywhere. She wished Ravan and Rowan were here. Antiquing was their favorite thing to do together. Their mother had gotten them addicted to the hunt, taking them as children to markets and fairs to discover ‘treasures.’
River considered both days in Scotland to be a massive success. She was excited to meet a local artist tomorrow whose work was gaining quite a following on social media. He lived in Grantown-on-Spey, less than an hour from Inverness.
Jo appeared to enjoy the day, but the tension was still there between her and Thomas, and she went out of her way not to be left alone with him. River gave a mental sigh, wishing for the hundredth time that Patrick was there.
