“I have stuff inside.”
I follow him in as he unlocks the back door with his fingerprint, flicks on the lights, and switches off the alarms. His security system looks top-notch. I guess you can’t be too careful around these parts, as the boys keep implying this town is dangerous now.
His bar looks different in the light of day, less menacing. With all the lights on and sunlight filtering through the front windows, I can make out all the posters on the walls more clearly. Images are pinned into the woodwork and medals hang from hooks. Not just ones with River’s names on them, but all sorts of medals from around the world. It’s like a shrine to the surfing community. Totally gives River vibes, and I kind of love it.
One particular image catches my eye. I get stuck staring at it, sadness washing over me. It’s the same photo I had in my room, taken just a week before my life fell apart. The five of us all together and happy. The girl in the photo wouldn’t have been able to believe how much her life was about to change.
River pops his head around a corner. “You coming up?” he asks when I haven’t followed him through the bar.
He must have gone on without me when I was distracted. “Yeah, I guess.”
I follow him up some stairs and up to another locked door. When he opens it, I can’t help but smile. It’s so him. Floor-to-ceiling windows showcasing the beach. The furniture is all light timber and rattan, and the walls are pale blue. There is also a massive fish tank that runs down one of the walls with an assortment of tropical fish bobbing around. “If I were you, I would live here all the time,” I mutter mostly to myself.
“It’s pretty sweet, hey. It’s taken me a bit, but I think I have everything just how I like it now.”
His king bed is positioned with a full view over the sand and ocean. “I can imagine what it would be like waking up with the sunrise. You would almost feel like you were on the beach.”
His arm snakes around my shoulders and he looks out over the view with me. “You should test it out some time.”
I drop my shoulder so he is forced to let me out of his grip. “You wish,” I mutter. But really, I do. This place is beautiful. Yeah, it might be above his bar, but who cares when it looks like this. River’s own little oasis.
He chuckles out a laugh. “Bet you it’s not long before you’re begging me for it.”
I raise a brow. “For what, River?” I ask, knowing exactly what he’s implying.
“To stay here,” he says all innocent, when we both know his intentions are anything but. This version of River knows what he wants, and I can already tell he’s not afraid to ask for it. His hand laces into my hair, and taking a strand, he runs his fingers over it. “I’d almost put a bet on it, babe.” He grips me tighter.
I give him a serious warning look. “Be very careful, River, the last bet you lost to me saw you without a car.”
“Totally worth it.” He laughs, releasing me. “This time I don’t plan on losing.”
A stupid smile breaks out on my face. Oh my God, this man. I can’t even. “Don’t you have to get ready for work or something? Isn’t that why we’re here?” I ask to steer the topic away from what suddenly feels like dangerous territory.
He moves through to a free-standing wardrobe and pulls out a pair of natural-color slacks and a crisp white shirt. He tosses them down on the bed. Then while I’m still standing in the middle of his room, he drops his shorts.
My eyes widen. I’m not sure where to look. He has nothing on under them, his cock hard and long and oh dear God, tingles take off throughout my body. “River,” I practically squeal. Why am I still looking at him? I cover my eyes and move over to the window to stare out at the view. A much safer option than his cock.
“Don’t act shy, Dove. You know you’re impressed.” His laugh resonates through the room. He knows what he’s doing. Tempting me when I need to stay away from him.
“By what, how into yourself you are? Yeah, I guess an ego that big is impressive.”
His crisp shirt brushes over my back. His lips lower to my ear, and I inhale deeply, trying to get my racing heart under control. “Yeah, the size of my ego is impressive.” His words brush over my ear and send goosebumps down my arms.
I shouldn’t let him get so close to me. He’s too familiar, and it turns my insides to liquid. I want him. It’s a horrifying reality, but I do. My body is practically begging for him to act on impulse.
His hand trails down my arm, and I know he’s right here with me. He spins me to face him, his blue eyes locking onto mine undressing me. Not in the way I want them to, but knocking down my walls, and for the first time in so long, I want to let him in. “You might not want to be here, but I’m glad you came home.”
His words are not what I expected. When he’s being flirty or a smartass I can handle it, but honest and sweet, absolutely not. I stare up at him, unable to find a bitchy remark to snap back at him with. In this moment with his hands on me, I’m glad I did as well. My heart starts to race like crazy. I can’t do this. I have to protect myself. With shaky legs, I take a step to the side, unable to stand the heat radiating between us a second longer. He might be dressed now, but it doesn’t create enough of a barrier between our bodies. “We should get to work,” I whisper, trying to find my voice before I act on impulse and reach up and kiss his tempting lips.
“You don’t work here.” He grins all cheekily, making this moment feel way too normal.
I move back through the room and over to the fish tank, watching the little blue one as it chases after another. They are mesmerizing. “You can’t expect me to just sit around and watch you work. If I have to be here, you might as well give mesomething to do.”
He watches me through the other side of the tank. “Why don’t you take a nap. You can use my bed. Remember the doc said you need lots of rest.”
I laugh out loud. Is he kidding me? “In the bed you bring all your sluts to? I don’t think so.”
He smiles, and it’s cocky and cute and confident in a way that sends butterflies dancing through my stomach. “You’re the first girl I have brought up here. I don’t like people in my personal space.”
