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“True,” I quip, “but I also made it clear I’m not backing down. Not for him. Not for anyone. Ever.”
“Yeah,” she exhales sharply. “You’ve made that abundantly clear.”
My eyes widen at her biting words. “Do you want me to back down?”
Have I ever mentioned how much I hate silence after asking a question? Fucking hate it. Silence tells me the person is conflicted. And by no means should Riley be conflicted with that question.
“Well,” I press. “Do you? It’s a simple fucking question, Riley.”
In a torrent of anger, I grab the blanket she’s lazily hanging onto and I rip it off.
“What the hell!” She bends over to try and grab it, ready to hide herself from me again, but I kick it behind us.
“You don’t need that. Do you understand me? You don’t need to hide from me!”
“Ridge,” she says cautiously, “you’re acting crazy again.”
“Because you fucking make me crazy,” I shout, fisting the sides of my head. “Now answer the goddamn question. Do you want me to back down?”
“No!” she shouts back. “I don’t want you to back down, or give up, or walk away.” Her voice drops to a near whisper and her eyes soften. “I’d miss you too much.” She stops trying to shield herself from me and steps forward. “You may be a thorn in my side, Ridge Foster, but you’re a thorn that’s growing on me.”
Trying to wrap my head around the emotions I’m feeling right now is impossible. Pretty sure my heart has just doubled in size. When I first laid eyes on Riley, she became my conquest. I knew one day she’d be mine, and I was willing to do everything in my power to get her. And the moment those words finally leave her mouth, it makes everything feel more than worth it.
I pull her close, enveloping her warm skin in my arms. Her tits press against my chest and I peer down at her. “You have no idea how much I needed to hear that.” I kiss her forehead softly, utterly consumed by this girl.
Her arms wrap around my head and she locks her fingers at the back of my neck. “I don’t know what tomorrow brings, and I have no idea what I plan to do, so one day at a time is all I can offer any of you.”
“One day at a time is good enough for me. As long as you’re still there tomorrow.”
I know Maddox is still in the picture, as is Lev, but I draw the line there. Anyone else who tries to get with her is fucking dead.
The door comes back open, and Maddox steps inside, closing it behind him. Riley springs forward and grabs the blanket, covering herself again. Ironic how that works.
“Everything cool in here?” Maddox asks as his eyes dance between me and Riley.
“Yeah,” Riley tells him before returning her attention to me. “Listen, I know things are good between us now, but Maddox and I were sort of in the middle of something…”
“Say no more,” I tell her. “I’ll go. But I’ll be back.” I kiss her cheek and walk away, patting Maddox on the back on my way out.
CHAPTER15
MADDOX
“Chips, please.”Riley holds out her hand, and I pass her the bag while she exchanges me for the cheese curls.
Chuckling, I swipe my thumb across her chin, wiping up the cheese powder. “You’re a messy eater.”
“Can’t help it.” She smacks her lips. “They’re so good. I haven’t eaten all day.”
“Guess snacks in bed wasn’t such a bad idea, after all.”
Her lips press to my salty ones. “Not even a little bit.” She retreats and stuffs her hand in the bag of chips. “Only thing that would make this better is a movie.”
“Ah, let me guess. Chick flick?”
“Well, duh.”
“And which one would you pick?”
