“I love you too,” she eventually whispered against my neck, her voice trembling. “I didn’t want to tell you because I was so afraid you wouldn’t believe me, that you’d look at me differently if you knew the truth. I’m so tired, Ryot. Of running. Hiding. Tired of trying to handle everything alone.”
I pressed my mouth against her hair, breathing her in as relief and protectiveness rushed through me.
“Good.” I tightened my grip around her slender frame. “That means you’re finally going to tell me everything. We’ll deal with this together.”
Riley drew back slowly, wiping tears from her cheeks and taking a deep breath, visibly trying to steady herself as determination settled into her expression. She looked at me almost cautiously and tilted her head. “Wait—what exactly did you mean earlier about me not needing to steal because of how talented I am?”
I chuckled, brushing another tear gently from her cheek with the pad of my thumb. “Garage you were working at obviously didn’t want you to know just how valuable your skill set really is. You have no idea how far your career can go once the big players start noticing you. And trust me, baby, they already have.” I let her see how completely serious I was. “Mechanics with your ability, instincts, and your specialty in racing aren’t easy to find. Kane’s already been after me to get you locked down under a long-term contract with Redline Holdings, and he’s willing to pay an obscene amount of money to keep you working on our machines instead of the ones competing against us.”
She blinked, clearly shocked by my revelation, her lips parting as she processed the information. Her brows knitted together in confusion, as if she couldn’t quite believe what I’d just said. “Why the heck didn’t you tell me this before now?”
I shrugged, my mouth curving slightly at her reaction. “Didn’t want you staying here just for the money Kane’s willingto throw at you. Wanted you to stay with me because it’s what you want.”
Her eyes narrowed briefly, obviously annoyed that I would assume she’d let money influence her decision.
“I wouldn’t—” she broke off, her expression turning calculating. But amusement sparkled beneath it. She was clearly fighting a cheeky smile. “How much money, exactly?”
I narrowed my eyes, leaning closer so our mouths were just inches apart. “You’d rather have a fat paycheck than my mouth between your thighs, making you scream, or my cock buried so deep inside you that you can’t even form words?”
Riley pretended to think it over for a second but lost the battle to hide the smile that tugged at the corners of her mouth. “Hmm, maybe I need you to remind me exactly how good those things are before I make up my mind.”
Heat surged through my veins, my cock already painfully hard as my mouth brushed hers in a hungry, possessive kiss. “Trust me, baby. I’m more than happy to remind you.”
13
GAUGE
Itook Riley’s mouth with a hunger that was from deep in my soul, my lips devouring hers like she was everything I’d ever craved in my entire damn life. She matched every stroke of my tongue. Her body melted into mine, surrendering beneath my hands, her fingers clutching desperately at my shoulders as though she couldn’t get close enough to satisfy her own need. My hands gripped her hips, pulling her tighter against my chest, feeling every soft curve molded to me until the only thing separating us was clothing that wouldn’t be there much longer.
I broke the kiss just enough to trace a scorching path down her jaw, my lips brushing lightly over her neck before stopping at the delicate hollow of her collarbone. My tongue traced a teasing circle there, tasting the rapid beat of her pulse beneath silky skin. A shiver ran through her body, her breath hitching audibly in her throat as I swiftly yanked her tank top off and tossed it aside, baring her body to my hungry gaze.
My eyes drank in the sight of her lush curves wrapped in a black satin bra, my cock painfully hard as anticipation clawed through me. “Fuck, Riley.”
I licked my lips as I hooked my fingers beneath the smooth fabric and tugged the cups down roughly, exposing her perfectly rounded tits to my greedy eyes. My mouth closed over one taut peak, sucking hard and swirling my tongue until she cried out, her back arching beneath me. One hand molded and cupped her other globe, my thumb and forefinger twisting and plucking mercilessly at her nipple, making her gasp and writhe under my touch.
Her soft moans, helpless whimpers, and ragged gasps of my name only fed the scorching need that was burning inside me.
Riley’s fingers tangled in my hair, holding me exactly where she needed me, her nails lightly scratching my scalp in a way that made me groan against her flushed skin. I switched sides, treating her other nipple to the same relentless attention with my mouth and fingers, drawing cries of pleasure from her lips.
By the time I finally surged back up to capture her mouth again, Riley’s body shook beneath mine, her thighs gripping tightly around my hips as she silently begged me for more.
Her mouth parted eagerly beneath mine, our tongues tangling in a desperate, demanding kiss as I popped the button on her jeans and lowered the zipper impatiently. My hand slid slowly into the heat between her thighs, and a groan tore from my throat as my fingers found her slick and soaked with desire for me. She was every bit as needy as I was, and I couldn’t wait another second to give her exactly what we both wanted.
I reluctantly broke the kiss, my breathing ragged as I pulled back just enough to see her clearly. Her lips were swollen and parted from the intensity of our kiss, and her cheeks were flushed a deep pink.
Kneeling in front of her, I wasted no time working her jeans down her hips, along with the delicate scrap of lace beneath, baring her to my hungry gaze. Riley lifted herself slightly, helping me get the clothing free, her thighs tremblinglightly with anticipation as I pushed them wide. The sight of her glistening folds nearly broke my last thread of restraint, a fierce possessiveness tightening every muscle as I licked my lips, taking in the beauty of her spread out just for me.
I dipped a finger between her folds and dragged it up, coating my digit in her juices. “Fuck, baby. You’re dripping all over my hand. Tell me how bad you want my mouth on you.”
“Please, Ryot,” she gasped.
I sucked my finger clean and grunted with satisfaction. “You’re the sweetest thing I've ever tasted, baby. I'm going to stay down here and lick this pussy until you’re begging me to stop.”
Riley moaned, and her body shuddered. “Oh, yes. Please!”
“I think it’s time I remind you exactly why you’ll choose my mouth over any amount of money every damn time.”
Riley whimpered my name softly, her hips shifting restlessly beneath my hands. I placed teasing kisses slowly up each of her trembling thighs, my mouth tracing a scorching path toward her swollen center. She gasped, her back arching as I gently blew a stream of warm air over her sensitive flesh. My cock pulsed with a relentless ache as I watched her, every shudder and soft cry feeding the hunger that consumed me.
