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He looks in the rearview mirror and says, “I’m sorry I never told you.”
I can see the guilt shining in his eyes.
“I’m not mad at you Mike, or at mom, for that matter. I understand, and yes, you were just a kid yourself. This is going to take some time for me to process. It explains why we never went into the haunted house when I was a kid and why you were such a bodyguard, following me around,” she says with a chuckle.
Mike pulls up in front of Noah’s apartment and looks back at her. “I’m sorry, sis, I only wanted you to be safe, and I still do,” he says looking pointedly at Noah.
Leia touches his arm, and says, “I am safe, and I love you for caring so much.”
He nods and says, “I love you too, sis.”
Noah and Leia get out of the car, and we watch them walk into Noah’s apartment building before he puts the car in drive and pulls away, presumably to take me home next.
Ten minutes later. “What?” he snarks out.
“I didn’t say anything,” I respond nonchalantly, still looking out the window at the dark night.
“Oh, your mouth may not be speaking, but you are definitely saying something,” he says as he pulls into my driveway.
“Fine, how could you never tell Leia that she may be in danger and that’s why you were following her, or should I say us, since we were always together? Did you really think Leia should never know?”
“It wasn’t my choice. I only did what my mother told me to do,” he says.
“What if your father is still alive and chooses to come back now? You can’t protect her from your father and Josh. You are unknowingly putting her and Noah in danger.”
He snaps his head my way. “First off, I don’t believe my father is alive, but if he is, he won’t risk coming after Leia now. Second, I told you not to worry about Josh anymore, or ever.”
“Did you kill him?” I ask.
Mike’s hand reaches out to me so fast, grabbing me by the back of my neck, I don’t have time to react, and before I can voice my displeasure, he slams his lips onto mine, slipping his tongue into my mouth and kissing me deep and rough.
His fingers grab my hair at the nape of my neck, and he pulls me back, kissing down my neck, causing my skin to form goosebumps on the outside, while heating up on the inside until his lips are at my ear, then he whispers, “I will always protect what is mine. Now go in the house, Riley and get some sleep.”
He kisses my neck once more, and releases my hair, before leaning over my stunned and overheated body to open the car door, then he unbuckles my seatbelt. I quickly get out, wondering what the hell happened and how am I supposed to forget the hottest kiss I ever had and the man who gave it to me, my best friend’s brother.
“Fuck,” I whisper as I get in my house and lock the door. I lean against it, waiting to hear Mike’s car pull away. Once he does, I make my way to the shower, knowing I need to cool off my body and find a way to forget what just happened.
ChapterTwo
RILEY
A year later
The last year has been a whirlwind of information and events, from finding out Leia and Krista are half-sisters, thanks to their respective parents one-night stand, to Krista and Will Anderson getting married over the summer before he went back to the NFL after recovering from his injury.
Now, Leia and Noah are planning their Christmas wedding. Leia has asked me to be her maid-of-honor, and I couldn't be happier for her.
Mike went back overseas shortly after the truth about Leia came out, but that has not stopped him from starring in my dreams nightly. I can still feel his breath on my skin and his lips as they kissed mine. He wasn’t soft about it, and I know a night with that man will not be sweet, but rough and passionate.
I shake my head, to rid my thoughts of Mike. He is forbidden, and I need to remember that.
"What about this one?" Leia asks.
Today, we are shopping for bridesmaid dresses, and Leia is currently holding up a peach dress.
"No, definitely not. I conceded to the pink at Krista's wedding, but I will fight you on this," I tell her as my face scrunches up in disgust.
She laughs. "I wouldn't do that to you."
