He runs his hand over my braid and pulls it over my shoulder.When can we get our own place?
I laugh and then realize he’s serious. I grimace.I can’t. Freshman, remember?I run my hand over the back of his neck.But next year...
I’ll start looking for a place for us.
“Okay, well, I can see I’m forgotten,” Quint says dryly. “It was good to see you, Quint. We missed you, Quint. How many touchdowns did you score, Quint?” he continues on without a word from either of us.
“Get lost, Quint,” Reid murmurs against my lips.
“Yep, on it.” I laugh against Reid’s lips, but he silences my laughter when he kisses me again.
I hear Quint close the front door; he must have decided to leave. I relax fully against Reid.I can’t believe we’re bonded now.I send him as we continue to kiss.
You have no idea how long I’ve waited for all of this with—
“No. No, no, no. Get up, Riley.”
Zane’s voice shocks me, and I pull away from Reid, who growls low in his chest. My head whips around. “Zane, what are you doing here?”
He stands behind us with his arms over his chest. Evie stands next to him with an apologetic look on her face. Zane doesn’t answer my question; he just continues glaring at Reid. Reid pulls me closer and kisses me again, delighting me.Are you worried about my brother?
What brother?He kisses me slower this time, definitely making it obvious that he could care less that my brother is a few feet away.He'd better get used to this,he says, running a hand down my spine.You may be his little sister, but you’re my mate. One day, you’ll be my wife and the mother of my babies. He’s going to just have to learn to deal.
Chapter39
Riley
Reid’s words do something to me. I lean back and stare at him.What?He asks.
I want all that with you.
His eyes soften, and he reaches up to push a hair behind my ear.Good because I’m not giving you up.
In the back of my mind, I hear the front door open again and figure Quint’s coming back. Then I realize it’snotQuint because I feel my dad before I see him. I push off Reid, and he places his hands on my hips, lifting me effortlessly to my feet. I make a mental note to ponder how good that felt later. Reid stands tall behind me, dropping a hand to my hip. My dad looks between the two of us. “Congratulations, both of you.”
Zane frowns. “For what?” He sniffs and says flatly, “You bonded.”
I ignore him and face my dad. “Thank you.”
His eyes are intense as they look over me. “Are you okay?”
The game suddenly comes back to me. “Oh, yeah. I’m fine now.” I give him a sheepish smile. “Apparently, you were right.”
He crosses his arms over his chest. “Occasionally, I can be.”
I smile at that. “It was the bond making me weak, but we’re good now.”
Reid tightens his grip on my waist and steps closer to me. I lean against his strong body and try to focus on my dad. My father looks over my shoulder. “I’m glad you’re bonded; that’s good for both of you.” He walks over and pulls me into a hug. “I’m glad you’re okay; don’t ever scare me like that again.” I stepout of his embrace and move to the side. Reid puts his hand out, but my dad pulls him in for a hug. “Congratulations, Son. I couldn’t have chosen a better mate for my daughter.”
I glance up at Reid with a smile and see he’s uncharacteristically quiet. “Thank you, Sir,” he says quietly. I reach over and squeeze his hand. He doesn’t let go, and that makes me smile.
“You both need to rest. We’ll leave you so you—” The front door to the house flies open, crashing into the wall.
“Riley Alyssa Blackwood!”
“Oh boy,” my brother says in a low voice.
My father steps out of the way as my mother blows in. “Hey, Mom, I—” I don’t get out another word before I’m swallowed up in a hug so tight I can’t breathe. “Mom, I can’t breathe,” I manage to say. She loosens her hold on me marginally. Then she pulls back and meets my eyes.
