ChapterEight
Something more
The fire crackled and popped, and she felt the cushion beside her dip as Riley sat next to her.Shoulder to shoulder, they watched the flames silently.
“It makes me immensely pleased that you’re deciding to stay in Burkett.”
She drew her gaze away from the flames and looked over at Riley. “I like staying here and being with you guys.”
They sat for several moments in silence before he spoke again.
“I don’t want to lie to you. It was hell while you were away. I hated it.”
“I was only a phone call and drive away.”
He was shaking his head before she even finished. “No, you know it isn’t the same. I missed giving you hugs, having lunch with you. Just being with you.”
Tears started to well in her eyes as he spoke such soft and loving words. She reached her hand out and cupped his cheek. He leaned into her embrace, his eyes closing momentarily before opening again as he looked down at her.
She let her hand fall, swallowing as their gazes continued to stay locked. He lifted his hand and trailed his finger along her jaw.
This isn’t right. Stop thinking about Riley like that. He’s your best friend.
“Do you know how much I care about you, Lilly?”
She nodded. “I love you, too.”
“No.” He stopped speaking for a second and just looked into her eyes. “Do you really know how much I love you?”
She swallowed from the intensity of his voice. “I love you, too, Riley,” she said again. He gave a humorless laugh and shook his head, running his hand over his hair. The short strands stuck up haphazardly, but it looked good on him.
“It’s hard, Lilly.”
Her brows knitted as she stared his profile. “What’s hard?” She had a feeling he wasn’t talking about Christian’s death.
He glanced at her again with an emotion she couldn’t quite place. “Loving you—wanting you when I know I can’t have you.”
Her mouth opened slightly at his admission because she knew the love he was talking about had nothing to do with the love two friends shared. “What?”
Oh, she had heard him, but her mind was reeling with what he had just revealed. She blinked a few times as both of them stared at each other. Her heart started to pound frantically when he slowly moved forward.
Oh God, he’s going to kiss me.
“Stop me, Lilly. If you truly don’t feel the same way, then stop me.”
He sounded strangled, haggard. His mouth was an inch away from hers, his sweet breath brushing along her lips in a sensuous way. Even though she knew she shouldn’t do it because they were friends, lifelong ones at that, she couldn’t help the rush of emotions that filled her by Riley’s admission.
She did love him, was so in love with him that her heart hurt with the pent-up emotions. Even though what they were about to do may not be right, she was helpless to stop it.
He gently cupped her cheek as he tilted his head and pressed his mouth against hers. The kiss was soft and tentative, his lips so smooth and warm that they instantly had her body lighting up.
He started to move his lips along hers, his tongue tentatively stroking along the seam of her mouth until she opened and let him inside. He tasted like syrup, sweet and addictive and making her erogenous zones tingle with awareness.
She brought her hands up and gripped his biceps, the muscles beneath her fingers flexing as he moved closer to her. His other hand cupped her waist, his mouth still working slowly against hers.
Soon that soft and tentative kiss became more heated, more demanding. His tongue stroked along hers. His hand clenched and unclenched on her hip.
She opened her mouth wider, softly moaning as she forgot about everything except the feel of his mouth on hers. Her pussy became wet, her clit swelled, and her nipples beaded. He suddenly broke the kiss, pulling her so close that one of her legs draped across his thigh.