Page 68 of Hope and Country

I had love and could conquer the world on this feeling only.

“I love you,” I whispered with a croaky voice, my vocal cords raw with all the tears I cried tonight. “I knew I loved you when you offered to wash my hair. And when you picked Hope because she and I had the best connection that day. You showed me over and over how selfless, caring, honest, good, and gentle you are. And I’ll never take any of this for granted. Because it’s truly something special. You are special, Riley Burns. You make the world around you a better place. And I’m the happiest woman on Earth that you chose to shine your light on me. That you chose me to love.” I wiped a fresh batch of hot tears. “I love you so much. You’re amazing. And I’m gonna love the shit out of ya right now. Thank you for believing in me. And caring. And coming tonight. I never wanna feel different from the way I feel right now. With you.”

Riley’s palm rested on the back of my head as he stared into my eyes. Into my heart. Into my soul.

His lips parted, but he said nothing. Instead, he dived forward and raved my mouth with his, injecting me with dozens of love promises as his tongue waltzed with mine. I lay on my back, bringing this starving man with me in my swoop.

His other hand kneaded one of my breasts, rolling my stiff nipple between his thumb and index finger. I purred against his lips, desire shooting in all directions inside me. Heat pooled in my lower belly and wetness between my legs. My toes curled. My entire body now only responded to the touch of the man it recognized as the keeper of its heart.

I tilted my head back, relishing the way Riley’s teeth nipped the skin from my chin down to my collarbone and up again.

My fingernails dug in his ass cheeks, pulling him flush to me, his erection pressing against my pubic bone.

It was as if our hands discovered each other for the very first time. As if it knew this is forever. And we needed to familiarize ourselves with every curve, every scar, every ridge.

“Fuck, Devon. You taste even better. How is it even possible?” He bowed his head lower, sucking on one nipple. And then the other. I couldn’t contain the ecstasy bursting inside me.

“Riley. I need you. Now.” He pushed a finger inside me, his eyes never leaving mine. “Oh yes. Oh… It feels so good. Don’t stop—” I sucked in a long breath, trying to stay anchored to the present. And to this earth. “I love you. I love you so much,” I moaned while his thumb busied itself circling my pulsing bundle of nerves, bringing me to heaven and back.

With an extended arm, I reached for the nightstand to grab a condom, and with hands shaking from expectation and so much lust, I suited my man’s pulsating hard-on, just in time before he slid home. Where he belonged. I shivered at the sensation of us connecting in the rawest way possible, promising each other more than any word could. I never knew love could feel this good. This freeing. This life-shattering.

Riley laid me on my back and laced his fingers through mine, bringing our joined hands on each side of my head as he glided in and out of me at an addictive pace, watching me watch him.

“I love you,” he whispered, a secret only we shared. “I love you so very much.”

I locked my ankles around his back, meeting him thrust for thrust.

Riley kissed the valley between my breasts. He kissed my jaw. My lids. My shoulder.

Basking in his love, I felt more powerful and beautiful than I ever did before.

I freed my hands from his and propped myself on one elbow, my other arm looping around his neck, craving the contact of his lips on mine.

Riley supported my back, deepening the kiss until I felt it down to my toes.

“Devon, I won’t last long. Come. Come with me, baby.”

I lay on my back while he pushed himself to his knees, his hands gripping my hipbone, my knees falling on either side. Riley pounded harder. Faster. Whimpers left my mouth. I closed my eyes, every sensation inside me magnifying, my head light, my body experiencing a nirvana it never had before.

Riley retracted himself, and bracing my legs over his shoulders, he moved down on me as his greedy tongue laved my center in keen strokes.

A shiver formed at the tip of my spine.

“I’m almost there,” I cried.

Riley moved between my legs, pushing his burning flesh inside me in one final push as we both climaxed together, swimming in bliss. Love bliss.

He emptied himself in strong jolts, a guttural growl breaking the silence surrounding us.

“Devon. I’m in love with ya. This is real. And we’re real.” After he kissed every inch of my damp skin again, he rose to his feet, bringing me with him. We let the warm water of the shower rinse us while we kissed as if it were the first time.

Exhausted, but with a hopeful heart, we buried ourselves under the covers, Riley’s heartbeat the only melody I needed for the rest of my life. The only sound able to bring me peace. A love song promising us a blissful future.

My pulse finally decreased as sleep chased me in the arms of the man who loved me with everything he was. And everything he had.

26

RILEY