“I know. I hoped I’d wake up the morning after finally killing Andrew to be magically cured—but nothing changed. Only the small high of completing what I set out to do. But the hunger is still there.”
River’s eyes soften through what I recognize as relief. “You think it’s the same?”
“We are more alike than you realize.” My hand finds his face, then threads through his longer on top hair. “I’m in love with you,” I admit, tears fill my eyes.
Two fingers come to pinch my chin, and with a gentle urge he lifts my face to his. “I think I may love you too, but I’m not sure I’m capable of such an emotion.”
A cotton ball forms in my throat. “You think you love me?”
“I’d burn this fucking world down if you asked.”
“That is more than anyone else could ever give,” I mutter.
River draws back and runs a hand through his hair, letting a single piece fall in front of his eye. “Is it?”
“Yes.” I take in a weighted breath to refill my lungs. “I refuse to live without you. River, you helped me save myself. You’ve supported me as I’ve healed. You make me feel so good and encourage me to be my true self.”
“Because you’re perfect the way you are, Lux.” His eyes rake up and down my exposed body, but he takes a few steps back, as if trying to convince himself I’d be better without him.
“I was made for this life and I want to walk beside you as we live it together.”
River’s jaw clenches as he bites his bottom lip as if processing my words, but continues toward the door giving me a way out. “I could easily just stalk you for the rest of your life,” he says, a slight curve of his upper lip. “However, I cannot promise you I will not kill every single man you try to bring around.”
He thinks he’s scaring me, but he is failing miserably. I step back and extend my arm to find the dining chair behind me, then slide my bare bottom into it, getting comfortable while I wait for him to realize there is no future for me without him.
“I’m sure you’d quickly find out that I’d bring them around you only so I could see you again.”
A smirk transforms his features showing his satisfaction for my response. “Is that right?”
“Yes.”
“Are you choosing a life with me?”
“There is no choice. My fate was sealed the night you brought me home from the cabin. There’s no way I’m letting you leave me.”
Before I can ask what he’s doing, River lowers himself to his knees. “Is this what you want, Raven?”
My heart skips a beat. “Yes.”
With a quick lick of his lips, he moves to all fours, then on his hands and knees he crawls across the hardwood floor, like a lion stalking its prey back toward me.
My breath halts at the alarming and erotic nature of it.
Dipping down to press a long kiss on the tops of each of my feet, his arms wrap around my waist. Then traveling upward, his lips lightly dust my core. He draws back to stare up at me. “How would you like to be touched?”
Licking my lips, I rub them together for a moment before I give in to what I’m yearning for—control. I slide my palms over the tops of my knees and with a gentle grip, I pull my legs apart further exposing myself to him. “Eat.”
A low chuckle rumbles through his chest, forcing a wide smile. “Anything for your pleasure.”
River leans in, hooks both arms around my legs, and then presses a lingering kiss on the inside of both my thighs. Chills span my body as my head falls back, my limbs melting from his warmth.
“Oh god,” I moan. Relaxing into the chair, I let him take whatever he wants from me, but suddenly without warning, my legs lock in place. My heart pounds and a buzz of panic rolls over me. “Stop.”
River stills, just enough for me to calm again, regaining my comfort.
I’m in control.
“Okay, continue.”
