“Trust me, been there and done that.”
Jared glared at us both before pushing through the crowd and walking away. After that, the crowd dispersed.
“That was…” Riley said.
At the same time I said, “I’m sorry.”
“Wait, why are you sorry?” he asked. “That was so hot, I want to take you back to the RV right now and let you have your way with me.”
I chuckled, my face turning pink. That would be one way to let my aggression out.
“Well, I don’t usually get that nasty with people, but I have this desperate need to protect Athena. She was a gift from my parents, and she is my family, the only family I have left.” I swallowed back the tears that threatened to spill with that admission.
Why was I so emotional?
“Hey, don’t cry. Jared deserves every bad thing coming his way. Don’t apologize for yelling at that jerkwad. I get it about Athena. My father is all I have left, but I’m not as fond of him as you are Athena.”
I nodded my head, silently thanking him for his understanding.
It was hard to believe where we were now versus two months ago. Yet this comfort between us felt normal, making it easier to forget the nasty insults and borderline emotional abuse. That was the old Riley who lashed out in pain and misunderstanding.
He grabbed my hand and pulled me back to the RV. While I thought about the scheming that Marly and Jared had been up to, we ate a quiet dinner and drank a beer. Because I didn’t quite trust those two, I would make sure I kept a close eye on her. They were the kind of people to sabotage what they couldn’t have. My horse would not fall victim to the pissing contest I had found myself in the middle of.
We had a second beer and we toasted to his win and a damn good horse.
Seventeen
Emma
Iwas lying in bed half asleep when Riley toed the line I had drawn in the red clay dirt. He was behind me, in just his boxers. His stomach was pressed against my back, and his right arm was pressed against my stomach. His boxers didn’t do much to hide his obvious morning wood.
He moaned in his sleep, and I swallowed hard. This man was going to be my undoing.
I could feel my own body reacting to him. I squirmed as his face nuzzled into my neck. Everything got hot, and these covers felt like too much. Hell, the few items I was sleeping in felt like too much. It was all overwhelming, and I was trying to fight my body’s reaction. I knew I wasn’t ready for the next step.
I kicked the covers off and turned around to face him. His eyes slowly opened as my movements woke him up.
“Good morning,” he said, sleepily.
“Good morning…wood,” I said to tease him.
Maybe he would get embarrassed and put some between us. I could use that space to cool off. He looked confused for a moment and then smiled as he recognized what I was referring to. He looked down to confirm his body’s reaction and then looked up at me.
“I’m not sorry,” he said with a sexy smile.
He didn’t make a move to create any distance. If anything, he pulled me closer. I placed a kiss on his lips.
“I know you’re not,” I said as I stood up on the bed.
The back of the RV was cramped, and it was easier to walk on the bed than around it.
“Where do you think you are going?” he asked me with a sexy smile.
“To get some food. I am starving.”
“You are going out there looking like that?” he asked.
I looked down at my underwear and white tank top.
