Page 64 of Until the Last Star Fades

“Can’t you say you’re sick or something? Babe, I’m only here for two nights.” Josh hooked the garment bag on the back of her door and yanked his t-shirt over his head, lobbing it past his duffle, a pool of black settling on the fluffy rug. “Jesus, this shitbox is even smaller than I remember—hotter, too.” Storming past Riley, the floor squeaked under his pounding size twelve Nikes. He swatted the curtain away and gripped the bottom of the window, his naked back muscles flexing impressively as the weighty wood and glass stuttered upward. No grunts or heavy exhales escaped through his lips. Typical Josh. Impatient, overtly physical, dominant—all words that could also describe him between the sheets. “This weekend will be one of the last we spend in this sauna. Good riddance…although it does have one advantage.” He scratched his patchy facial hair.

Exasperated, Riley set down the flowers and tugged the V-neck of her dress. “What’s that?” She took her phone from her pocket and texted Casey.

Josh here. Don’t hate me—can’t make it.

“You’re always half-naked.” He turned around, his heated gaze sliding down Riley’s body. “Take it off, babe. Let me see you.” His hand skimmed over the bulge already pressing through his khakis, triggering a sharp inhale.

Riley pressed her lips together. I’ve missed being held, touched, but…will it be different this time? What if it’s not? There was only one way to find out. She slipped her phone in a pocket. “Let me see you.”

His hurried hands flipped open his belt as he moved closer, enraptured by his fiancée, hands aloft, untying her hair. She scooped up handfuls of it, teasing and coaxing. Come closer, closer…

Josh kicked off his khakis, his flimsy boxers giving Riley an eyeful of how eager he was.

She held up her hand. “Wait.” For once, he obeyed.

An ache throbbed in her chest. Show me, Josh. Show me I’m right, saying yes. Show me you’ll always be here for me—that you can be tender. Her fingers skated down her dress, meeting the swell of her breasts and the line of buttons trailing down toward the skirt. One by one, she set them free, letting the soft cotton fall away, opening herself up. His stare grew heavy and wanting like he couldn’t wait to slide his hands beneath her bra, hungry to caress the silky skin of her breasts and feel her stiffen under his touch. You want to lose yourself in me, don’t you, Josh? She skimmed her fingers over her black satin bra, feeling her nipples respond. Would Josh take his time, be attentive like he used to be?

An appreciative grin grew across his cheeks as she lifted the hem of her dress…

BUZZ!

The raised pocket twitched against her bra. Shoot! Phone. “Oh! I need to check…”

Josh’s smile collapsed.

She dropped the material and fished out her phone, the screen lit with a text from Piper.

You HATE roses! Three years and he still doesn’t GET you!

The words kicked her under the ribs. Riley smiled tightly and cleared her throat, turning off the phone and tossing it onto the counter.

“Who was it?”

“Wrong number.” She lifted her dress and tugged it over her head.

As it fell to the floor, Josh claimed Riley’s shoulders, pressing her against the ladder leading to the bed. Her fingers trailed down his six-pack, sparking memories of unhurried trysts early in their relationship. She smiled. “This reminds me of—” But the words barely left her lips. Josh’s mouth sucked her neck as his hands yanked down her panties. She gasped and let them fall, her hands pulling at his underwear and taking control of his arousal, sprung free from his boxers. She wrapped her hand around him, tightening her grip. “Josh, slow down…” His lips leapt to hers and Riley rocked into him while he tore at her bra, fighting with the clasp until it gave way and the straps fell down her arms. Letting him go, Riley dropped her bra to the floor.

“Baby…” He panted. “Take me in your mouth.”

She shook her head. “No, let’s—”

“I’ll get a condom.” Josh kneeled down, rifling through her toiletries box, tossing soap and makeup aside until he spotted a square wrapper.

Riley’s chest rose and fell, her hands curling around the ladder behind her back as he put on the condom. Prove it to me, Josh. Prove I’m doing the right thing. Prove we can get back to old Josh, old Riley, like it used to be…when I loved you…

Josh stood up, taking Riley’s face in his hands. “I want you so bad.”

She let go of the ladder, tugging him closer, her hands reuniting with the curves of his hard triceps. “I want to kiss for a bit…we’ve got all night.”

He pressed tiny kisses down her forehead and nose, slowly, lovingly, reaching her lips, which were parted in anticipation. Staring into her eyes, his hands swept down her neck to her breasts, his breath quickening the farther they traveled.

This is more like it. Riley leaned into him, wrapping her leg around his hip.

“I love you, Rye.” His left hand took a detour, curling around her ass as he pushed inside her, hard.

Riley cried out and clutched his back, riding each deep thrust and roll of his hips. She was determined to make their physical passion for each other mean something more, but would her heart listen?

• • •