Page 73 of Hope and Country

“It’s okay. She’s the only family I have left.”

“Invite her over. If she’s important to you, she’s important to me too. And you have a family, Devon. Me. Hope. My parents. Soon my friends. You’ll never be alone again. We’re really a tight-knit circle, you’ll see.”

Riley’s fingers unzipped my dress, and he peeled it to my waist, his lips closing on my nipple after he pushed my bra cups down.

“Now let’s get you inside because the night isn’t over yet, and I want to show you how much I love you.”

I laughed, grinding my hips against his, relishing the way my body caught fire when he looked at me with sparkling dark eyes.

Hope woke up in the back and jumped between our connected bodies.

I kissed her furry head, tugging her to my heart.

“I think someone is jealous,” I said, laughing.

“Let’s go on a short walk with her because I don’t plan on sharing you tonight.”

Riley zipped my dress back up, and we exited his car. He flushed and I aroused. Or perhaps the other way around.

His teeth nipped my neck, and I dissolved right on the garage floor.

“Riley,” I moaned. My body ignited at all the right places. “Let’s get this walk over with because I crave you. Like right about now.”

He led the way after leashing our puppy, his hand strangling mine, the same desire taking over my body, mirrored in his irises.

28

RILEY

Wrapped in each other’s arms, I combed Devon’s curls with my fingers. My mouth found hers in the dark, and we lost ourselves in one of our the-world-around-us-stops-existing kisses. The ones I’d never get enough of.

“I love you,” I murmured against her mouth, settling her against my heart, so she’d feel how much every particle in me loved her too. She sank into my embrace and kissed my jaw.

“I love you so much.” Those three words reverberated through me and sent bolts of electricity straight through my heart. “Do you remember when you boosted that girl’s self-confidence last year? The server? The one who dropped the wine all over you. Ohmygod, that was epic.” Devon smiled at the memory, and it healed everything in me. “I was wrong when I said I fell in love with you when you washed my hair that night. It was when you gave that girl the pep talk.”

“I wanted to go back home to change so bad that night. But I didn’t want to be away from you. I would’ve spent the rest of the night in only my boxer briefs if it meant you would’ve been standing by my side. You made that much of an impression on me.” I nuzzled the side of her face, my teeth nibbling her earlobe.

“When Robbie showed up, I thought I’d never see you again. I believed you’d think I was an escort or something.”

My lips traveled down her throat. My hands massaged her breasts. Devon moaned in my ear.

“Question. How did you get into the party? You never told me. The security was thorough.” My hand curled around her head, and I massaged her neck. Devon rubbed herself against me, turning me into a puddle between her arms.

“My friend was seeing one of the waiters. He got us invites using fake names.”

“For real?”

“My friend thought I deserved some harmless fun. I’d never done that before. It was the first time. I just wanted to be someone else for a few hours.”

My fingers lowered between her thighs, rubbing her clit over the lace of her panties.

Devon’s breathing quickened. And so did mine.

“I looked for you all night after you were gone. I even went through the guest list and surveillance videos.”

She leaned back. “You did?”

“Yeah. I would’ve done just about anything for you back then.”