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Riley bumps me with her shoulder and mutters, “Dork.”
I take it as a win, a solid tally mark for me in the funny column.
“We should talk about what we want to say,” Riley says. “This is about both of us.”
She goes quiet, letting me speak first.
This is hard for me. I’ve gotten better at being open with Riley, better at sharing my emotions. Hell, better at being aware that I even have emotions. But this is important, something that needs to be perfect because it’s her brand, her business, her life. Letting me into it, to be a public piece of it . . . while a big deal for me, it’s an even bigger deal for Riley.
“I’m not sure on the exact words. I just want everyone to know that you’ve brought so much to my life. I didn’t know I was living in the dark until I felt your sunshine. You make me happier than I ever dreamed and have shown me the possibilities and opportunities of the world are endless if you open your heart to them. You’re beautiful on the outside of course, but on the inside too, where it really matters, and you share that beauty with everyone you meet—authentically, generously, and without judgment. I know that because that’s what you shared with me. And now I feel . . . the warmth of hope . . . the warmth of you.”
Riley stares at me for a long time, not saying anything. My cheeks heat, embarrassed at how much I just exposed. I want to chase the words, swallow them back down, and hide the vulnerability.
Finally, Riley clears her throat. “I love you too.”
I look up to see Riley with tears in her eyes, tears of happiness. I recognize them this time and don’t panic.
But the words feel alien in my ears. I’ve only ever heard it from the women in my family. It’s hard to say back, not because I don’t feel it, I realize, but because I never knew what this feeling was. But it’s apparent in everything I just said, boldly obvious. “I love you,” I whisper, my voice cracking. “Riley Watson . . . I love you.”
Riley smiles, and we lean in, kissing tenderly. I pull back just enough to laugh quietly, tapping her phone. “Now post this,” I urge her. “Tell the world I love you and you love me, because I want to take you home and make love with you so much that I can barely wait. And I’m not fucking you in the park, no matter how much you beg.”
Riley’s eyes flare at the jump from sweet and lovely to sexy and dirty, but she clicks around on her phone quickly. “Done.”
“Not even close, Sunshine,” I tell her, standing up and pulling her up with me. I grab her duffel bag, half expecting her to be checking the response to the post when I turn around, but her eyes are on me.
Going public is a big deal for Riley Sunshine and Moonlight Mark, but for us . . . we just want to go home. Now.
* * *
I hate that we have to take our separate cars to my place, but we get there at the same time, and I waste zero time pushing Riley through the door. “I got champagne to celebrate. Want it now or later?” The question is punctuated with kisses along her jaw and down her neck.
Riley’s smile is pure seduction. “Now.”
“Are we still talking about the champagne?” I murmur against her skin.
She giggles, pushing at me gently. I growl at the idea of stopping but leave her to grab the bottle from the fridge.
“Just bring the bottle,” she says from behind me. “We don’t need glasses.”
Fuck, yes. I want to see Riley with her lips wrapped around the green bottle, chugging champagne like a wild woman. Something about her being so unrestrained is sexy as hell.
I set the champagne on the counter and pop the top. I lift the bottle and toast her. “To Riley Watson, my sunshine.”
I take a drink of the champagne and pull her close, kissing her deeply and letting the bubbly alcohol flow into her mouth. Riley startles at first, and some escapes to dribble down our chins, but then she moans and her tongue tangles with mine as we share the drink back and forth, swallowing when we pull back.
“Is that how you plan on drinking the whole bottle?” Riley’s grinning, swiping at her mouth.
I shake my head, catching her hand in mind to suck the sweet drink from her fingertips. “Nope . . . I plan on licking at least a third of this off your body. I wonder if the bubbles will tickle?”
“One way to find out,” Riley answers, taking me by the hand and leading me into the living room.
