Page 81 of Hating On Riot

“Um, I did something.”

“Oh, shit, do I need to push some dude’s face to the back of his skull?”

“Merrick wouldn’t appreciate it.”

“I will, if he hurt you.”

“Please don’t hurt him with what I tell you.”

“As long as you keep opening up to me, Arie. I want to be a part of your world, baby. The good, the bad, and the ugly. You get me?”

“I do.” The two words send a shiver through me. A tremor runs through Riot. He tangles his fingers in my hair. I lift my face to his. His mouth captures mine in a slow, tender kiss that turns hungry and deep in two seconds flat.

We break off the kiss before we’re past the point of no return. We have more to talk about. I clear my throat. “Um, Merrick left the note for me. He said Estelle was already gone and thanked me for giving her a proper burial.”

“He threatened you? He tailed you?” He starts pushing me off him. “I’m going to kill that brother of mine.”

I press my mouth to his and murmur, “Kiss me, Riot.”

My requests have the effect I want. His temper cools. Riot kisses me. Thick fingers weave through my hair. His large palm leaves my lower back and cups my ass cheeks, squeezing them. Moaning, I grind my hips against his. He groans and smacks my ass. I yelp.

“What else did my meddling brother do?”

“Well,” I bite my bottom lip. “I asked his permission to date you, and he said yes.”

Riot’s eyes widen in surprise, then he laughs, a big belly laugh that shakes my body. “You didn’t?”

“I did. I also asked Tony,” he has the biggest say, “and he gave me permission to date you too.”

“When did this all go down?” He searches my face. I cross my eyes. He laughs. I smile. I love when he laughs.

“Earlier today. I drove to Alexandria and asked Merrick, then I drove back here and asked Tony. I went to the rugby house to tell you, but she was there, and you know the rest.”

He stares at the ceiling. “That’s why you weren’t home when I went to ask Tony for his permission to date you.”

Everything falls into place. I drop a kiss on his Cupid’s bow. “No wonder they left you alone and gave us the house for the next two days.” My cheeks heat at the implications. “They’ll know we’ll be making love.”

“Until the cows come home,” he says with a sly grin that does something to my heart and my insides. My heart pitter-patters. My insides clench with longing.

“Do you want to undress yourself?” He looks me up and down. I’m wearing skimpy sleep shorts and a thin tank top. “Or have me do it?”

33

Riot

I’m all about being fair and wanting what my girl wants, so we chucked our clothes at the same time.

She’s on the bed, naked. I take my time, taking her in from her luscious, long black hair covering the pillows and cascading along her sides, to the elegant column of her neck, the swells of her perfect breasts, her cute belly button, and her smooth mound.

She crooks a finger. “Come here.” She sweeps her gaze from my head to the head of my cock before returning to my face. I smirk.

I understand her impatience, but I want to take my time making love to Arie. I’ve pictured this very moment in my head. Have woken up to wet dreams of her doing bad things to my body, and me repaying her in kind, giving her orgasm after orgasm until she’s too worn out and asks me to stop.

I get on the bed, keeping my weight off her with my arms alongside her head. She’s so small. My beautiful angel. My ballerina. It was always her dream to run off with a dance company. Then Laney died, and Arie chased after their dream of being the first in their family to graduate from college.

My baby girl’s dream is almost coming true. I am so proud of her. Of how she’s living life again.

I drop kisses on her forehead. On her eyelids when she closes her eyes. Long lashes fan over smooth, flawless skin.