Total pages in book: 63
Estimated words: 57341 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 287(@200wpm)___ 229(@250wpm)___ 191(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 57341 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 287(@200wpm)___ 229(@250wpm)___ 191(@300wpm)
He had allowed Joey to come to visit me, all while knowing my history with him, and instead of being all territorial and possessive like Tristan had always been, River invited him here to see me, and he just trusted solely in the fact that I wouldn’t fuck around on him.
He’d let Joey and I have our moment together, and there had been nothing but understanding in his eyes when I’d finally come back to him. He really did understand that I would never be able to let Joey go, and he was okay with that.
And Joey… fuck. He had changed so much—changed for me. He wanted to be better for me, and I loved him so much for that. We may not be together, but he was trying his damnest to prove to me that he was worthy of remaining a part of my life.
It was why he always reminded me to keep him with me.
“What’s got you smiling like that?” River quietly asked as he stepped into our room, softly shutting the door behind him.
I turned to look at him. “You,” I honestly answered as he strode toward me.
He quirked an eyebrow at me. God, he was so perfect. How was it possible that a man so rugged could still be so fucking gorgeous? “Me?” he asked as he drew me into his muscular arms.
I wrapped my arms around his neck. “You,” I repeated, nodding my head as I smiled up at him. The corners of his lips twitched with a smile of his own. “You’re incredibly good to me, River,” I told him honestly. “I don’t deserve you, not after all of the shit that I’ve done in my life.” I brushed my fingers over the stubble on his jaw, letting it tickle my fingertips. “Thank you for staying with me.”
Reaching up, he gently cupped my jaw. “Always had a soft spot for you, darlin’,” he huskily confessed. “You stole the breath from my lungs the moment you aimed those beautiful, brown eyes at me.” I swallowed thickly. “I had a soft spot for you, even when Tristan dragged you to the clubhouse from Joey’s. You were so fucking angry at the world, yet I thought you were the most breathtaking fighter I’d ever laid my eyes on. You didn’t give up. Didn’t give in to him.”
“How come you never made a move before?” I asked him, honestly curious. If he had, it might have saved me so much heartache. I might have been able to save Tristan from hurting so much, too.
“I had to wait for the right time, darlin’. I needed you to come to me first.” I frowned. He leaned down and lightly brushed his lips over mine. “I knew the moment you came to me first, Tristan would be the least of your concerns. Joey would be, too. Because I knew when I got a taste of you, it wasn’t going to be enough. I was going to want you a hell of a lot more afterward. I was going to want you to be mine in every way possible.”
My heart warmed at his words. “I wish I had made the decision a hell of a lot sooner,” I whispered. We’d lost so much time because of me.
River’s lips tipped up at the corners the slightest bit. I bit my lip at the sight of his beautiful smile lighting up his features. “Everything happens on its own time, and I knew that as long as I stayed patient and waited for you, I would have you here with me where you’ve always belonged.”
Then, River claimed my lips in a soft, slow kiss. A quiet moan crawled up my throat as I pressed myself harder against him, allowing him to drag me over to the bed. He quickly yanked my shirt over my head, and he placed hot, open-mouthed kisses all over my skin until he reached the edge of my black bra. With skillful fingers, he undid the clasp and tossed it somewhere across the room.
I gasped softly, digging my fingers into his hair as he let his lips meet mine again as he eased my body back on the bed, his strong, muscular body coming down with me.
I groaned in protest when Axel’s crying reached my ears, dragging me from my peaceful sleep. I blinked at the alarm clock beside me, only to see that it was just 3:02 in the morning. “I’ve got him,” River whispered before he leaned over to press a kiss to my forehead. He slid out of bed and yanked on a pair of sweats.
I watched him through sleepy eyes as he strode over to the crib and picked Axel up, cradling him in his arms as he strode out of our room.
If he was like this with his nephew, my heart was going to melt at my feet to see him with his very own kid. I knew River was going to shoot Red down that day, and I was so glad that I stepped in. I knew River would never deny me something that big.