“I know what you need,” he says, his voice lethally soft. “But if you want it, you have to trust me.”
I press my lips together as I realize why River’s been treading so carefully. He doesn’t just need my forgiveness, he needs my trust. After everything he’s done it should be a lot to ask but it’s really not. I love River and I know deep in my bones that he never meant to hurt me, and I know he’d cut off his own hand before doing it again. It’s why he’s been so hesitant of late.
So I give him the trust he needs and keep my questions to myself as I go to my room and change.
River didn’t say where we’re going, but I decide if he’s not going to touch me yet, I can at least make him regret that decision. I choose a black bra and wear it under a gauzy see-through black shirt. Six months ago, I’d never have gone out in public in a top that showed my scars but somewhere between Jude calling me a warrior and the others worshiping my body, I stopped feeling the need to hide them.
I pair the top with flared black pants and a thin belt. I’m almost ready when River finds me in the bathroom. His gaze peruses my outfit before he steps up behind me.
I pause, my mascara halfway to my face, as he unbuttons my pants and slides his hand between my legs.
I drop the mascara and brace my hands against the bathroom counter. “What are you doing?”
River rolls the pad of his finger over my clit before going lower. “Just adding the final touch to your outfit.” He spreads my arousal around then pulls away to retrieve a small black vibrator from his pocket. “Open.”
He holds the egg-shaped part of the toy to my lips and I watch his eyes blaze in the mirror as I suck it into my mouth. The toy pops free when River pulls it out.
He works his hand between my legs and I gasp as he slides the egg inside of me. The way it sits means the curved part of the toy nestles between my lower lips and presses against my clit. Desire sprinkles over me. “Not much of a punishment, River.” I sigh in pleasure, my fingers curling around the bathroom counter.
River chuckles darkly. “Just remember,” he says as he gets out his phone, “you wanted this.” He presses a button and my knees almost buckle when the toy vibrates inside of me.
The powerful buzz lowers to a subtle, torturous vibration and I catch my breath, staring at my flushed cheeks in the mirror.
River meets my gaze. “That was a five. You’re on a one now.”
I swallow and wet my lips, starting to get a sense of how this evening is going to go. “How many levels?” I ask.
A self-satisfied smile plays on the edges of River’s lips. “Twelve.”
Fuck.
River leaves me to finish getting ready. When I come downstairs all four of the guys are waiting by the door. I stop on the last step, struck by how incredibly lucky I am to have trespassed onto a crime scene and ended up here, with them. They’re so gorgeous I could die but it’s the way they look at me that has my heart beating overtime. A myriad of emotions cross their faces as they take in my outfit.
Behind his glasses, Oz’s eyes fill with awe. Jude looks so fucking proud and Eli, well Eli looks like he wants to tear my clothes off and take me right here in the hall.
River’s gaze is more guarded but from the way his fingers tighten around the car keys and the possessiveness in his eyes as he takes in my outfit, I’m surprised he hasn’t ordered me to go change. Instead, his hand shifts in his pocket and the vibrator between my legs gives a short, sharp burst.
I grip onto the banister, glaring at him, but he just stares back. I guess teasing each other is a two-way street.
River keeps the vibrator on the lowest setting as we drive to our destination. The vibrations aren’t strong but they’re constant and, by the time we pull up in front of Mozzy’s, I’m a squirming mess. It doesn’t help that I’ve been sitting in the back between Eli and Jude, both of whom spent the drive tracing patterns on my inner thighs.
I need to come, and the sensations in my core are no longer enough. They’re too gentle to be pleasurable anymore and the soft vibrations are just an aching reminder that I needmore.
Eli holds the door open for me and I get a short reprieve, the toy turning off, when Josh spots me from behind the bar. He sets down the drink he was pouring and limps over to us.
“You’re back!”
I smile as he folds me into a hug. “You look good,” I say when we come apart, emotion choking me up. The last time I saw Josh he was lying on a stretcher, beaten to a pulp.
He lifts his fringe off his forehead to reveal a nasty scar. “This one’s sticking around and my leg’s kind of screwy but I’m healing well. The doctors think I’m a freak of nature.”
I laugh. “I’m just glad you’re okay.”
He hooks his arm around me and kisses the top of my head. “Back at ya, Frey.” He waves at our group. “Go take a seat, I’ll send Matty over to get your order.”
River leads us to one of the booths by the windows. He and Jude take one side while I’m sandwiched between Oz and Eli on the other.
My senses tingle and I look up to find River glaring at me. “What?” I ask.
