Chapter Sixteen
KIERAN
It will takea lot more than a cold shower for my body to calm down. It’s not out of the norm for me to wake up hard as a fucking rock, but ever since Riley Walsh entered my life, my usual methods barely scratch the itch, and the one person my body is craving more than anything is strictly off limits.
I have no idea how Riley ended up in my arms last night, but when I woke up and found her curled up against me, it felt like she belonged there.
It felt too good to breathe in the smell of her shampoo and hear the soft sounds of her breathing as she slept.
I’ve spent most of the day pretending I didn’t enjoy it, and I have a feeling Riley is doing the same.
After getting in a few hours of studying after breakfast, I managed to persuade Riley to head back out on the Strip to explore some of the sights.
We stop by the Bellagio fountains, the casino at the Venetian, where Riley quickly loses the best part of a thousand bucks at the blackjack table.
“Remind me never to give you access to my credit card.” I lead her back outside before she can bankrupt the entire Sullivan empire in one afternoon.
“Don’t act like you can’t afford it.” Her green eyes dance with mischief.
It’s good to see her spirits have lifted after last night.
Riley might think I don’t pay her much attention, but I could tell the second we got back to the hotel last night that she started overthinking everything. It was written all over her face. Hence a day of sightseeing to keep her mind off of things.
After making a quick stop for iced coffee and overpriced souvenirs for her friend Lucy, we continue on down the Strip.
Riley is full of commentary and questions and an occasional smart-ass remark that gets under my skin in a way I both love and hate.
It’s disarming, the way she makes me laugh. Even more disarming is the way her hand brushes mine sometimes when we’re walking, how our shoulders bump just enough to remind me she’s close.
Every touch, no matter how casual, sends heat right through me, but no matter how badly I want to slip my fingers through hers, I hold back.
She pulled away after the first kiss. But then after the one we shared at the altar last night, from the dazed look on her face, it felt like she forgot her own name.
It was incredible, and I wanted nothing more than to take it further, but I don’t want to push her. It’s clear she’s in her head about a lot of things, and so, I’ll keep the boundary in place for as long as she wants to.
But when she’s ready to cross that line, I’ll be right here, waiting for her.
As we head back toward the hotel, I catch a glimpse of her profile in the reflection of a shop window. With her auburn hair in a messy bun, sunglasses perched on her head, and a slight flush to her cheeks from walking in the Vegas heat, the thought hits me like a punch to the gut.
This fake marriage is starting to feel a lot less fake.
The thought should scare the shit out of me. Instead, it just makes me want to reach for her hand again.
Riley gets in a few hours of studying before dinner, and I take the opportunity to catch up on some work.
I brought my laptop with me, so I set myself up in the living area of the suite to keep out of Riley’s way. As much fun as I had studying with her the other night, she does need to focus, and so do I.
By the time eight o’clock rolls around, we head out to a trendy little French bistro. It’s quieter than the Italian place we went to last night and a hell of a lot more intimate.
It’s dimly lit by a single candle on each table, and there’s a small jazz trio playing in the far corner.
Riley looks divine tonight, with her hair down and her lips painted a bright red that are just begging for my attention. She’s wearing a silky little dress that slides off one shoulder every time she shifts, and I can’t stop staring at the flash of skin.
She catches me looking more than once and grins like she knows exactly what she’s doing.
Of course, she does.
We order duck confit and steak frites, but I barely taste it. All I can think about is how small the table is and how every time I shift my legs, my knees brush up against hers, sending a jolt of desire down my spine straight to my cock.
