Best Of My Love (Home to Green Valley Book 4) (13 page)

They spent hours together, eventually stretched out side-by-side on their backs, holding hands, talking about life and watching the clouds go by. She’d always wondered if people actually talked about cloud shapes in real life, the way they did in the movies.

Riley rolled over onto his side, and Erica took a chance by reaching up to stroke his hair. She just wanted to touch him. It was such a joy.

“Your hair looks so red in the sunlight,” she murmured. “Like fire.”

“Your hair looks like spun gold,” he replied. He picked up a strand, inspecting it, before dropping it to run a finger slowly down the side of her face.

She sighed happily, closing her eyes at his touch. When his mouth touched hers, she sighed again.

They sat up, their mouths still joined, hands running over each other’s bodies. His arms held her tight, hands roaming up and down her back, before sliding inside the back of her jeans to fondle her butt. She shivered, heat rapidly spreading between her legs. He knew just how to touch her, just how to drive her wild.

Erica started to unbutton her blouse. Breathing heavily, Riley placed his hands over hers. “Love, I told you. No sex. Today was just about spending time together.”

“We did that. And I loved it. But you don’t have to reassure me, Riley. I’m sorry I was so silly the other night. I know you want me for more than sex. Me, on the other hand? I just want you for your body, so don’t even try to stop me from taking off my clothes.” She pushed his hands away and he growled, burying his face in her neck.

“Well if it’s just my body you want, how about I
help
you take off your clothes. That way you can get what you want all the faster.”

“Makes sense,” she said.

When he pulled away, she caressed his cheek, everything in her touch and expression telling him he meant far more to her than sex, and he grinned, obviously seeing that. He slowly unbuttoned the rest of her blouse, then slid his hands over her shoulders and down her arms to remove it. He softly caressed her, moving his hands back up to her shoulders, then down over her chest.

She sighed, closing her eyes and breathing deeply as his hands set her on fire—but just a little at a time, a slow, sensuous burn. He always seemed to pick up on just what she needed, just how she needed it. How was it possible that he already knew her so well?

He slid her bra straps down over her shoulders, kissing every bit of exposed skin as he went. She sighed his name when his tongue made contact with her, then again when his mouth moved to her throat. She closed her eyes, tilting her head back to accept more of him. His kiss stoked the fire he’d built inside her.

He gently lowered her to the ground, until she was on her back. Riley knelt between her legs, smiling gently but with a wicked gleam in his eye. He ran his large, strong hands over Erica’s thighs before removing her jeans. She looked up at him, wanting to capture him and carry the image of him inside her heart forever. This beautiful man, worshiping her body as she’d always dreamed he would.

He lowered himself to the ground to kiss her thighs before moving up to her stomach. He then pulled down her bra cups, exposing her breasts to his greedy mouth. She cried out softly, running her fingers through his thick, red hair while his tongue lavished attention on her sensitive flesh. When he took her nipple between his teeth and bit gown gently, she gasped, arching her back.

“Yes…Riley, yes…” she whispered, writhing beneath him, shivering at the thrill of his touch. “Touch me, please.” She looked down as he kissed her body, gripping his shoulders, digging her fingers into his muscular shoulders. The pleasure was so delicious, she could hardly stand it.

In a flash, her panties were gone. It was a thrill, being practically naked under the open sky, and it added to the pleasure she felt as Riley quickly donned protection before positioning himself between her legs and sliding his thick length inside her waiting body.

“Yes!” she whispered, accepting him joyfully, wrapping her legs around him to hold him fast.

“Whatever you want, baby… I’m all yours. Every part of me,” he groaned.

Erica closed her eyes, turning her head to the side to hide the tears of joy he inspired. She moved against her body against his, matching the slow, sensual pace of his grinding hips. Once the tears passed, Erica looked up into Riley’s face. She explored him with her hands, stroking his neck, his dear face. She ran the tips of her fingers over his mouth, and he sucked them in time with his thrusts. She moaned, her insides quivering in response.

“So good…” she moaned raggedly, closing her eyes again to concentrate on the pleasure flowing through her. Soft waves washed over her body, slowly getting bigger and bigger. Just when she was sure it couldn’t get better, he’d thrust into her again and send her higher than before.

It was total pleasure, and it seemed to go on and on. She wished they could make love like that forever. Just the two of them on a beautiful day. She pulled him even closer with her legs, needing to take all of him inside her. Needing more of him, forever.

The knot of pleasure in her core got even tighter, threatening to overcome her. Erica screamed softly, pressing her mouth against Riley’s shoulder to muffle the noise. Her body convulsed around him from the inside out, squeezing hard before finally relaxing.

“Oh…Riley…” She came down slowly, as he kissed her forehead, cheeks, chin. Then her lips. They kissed long and deep. All the while he stroked, gently, still moving in and out in a slow, steady rhythm. His breath came in short little gasps as he tried to hold himself back. She knew he wanted to take her, own her, consume her. She wanted to give that to him, too.

“Take me,” she whispered, holding him close again. “Give it to me, baby.”

Something behind his eyes leaped to life. He gritted his teeth and slammed into her. She gasped, trembling. “Yeah,” she whispered, staring in to his deep blue eyes. “Give it to me again. Hard.”

“Fuck,” he grunted, slamming again…again…faster. She grunted along with him, riding him as he rode her, moving against him. Their bodies came together in a slapping sound, over and over, as passion overtook them once more.

It was happening again. She couldn’t believe it. The familiar tightening, the overwhelming sensation of reaching the top of a peak…then she cried out again, as Riley’s thrusts turned frantic and her muscles clenched down around him.

“Yes!” she cried out, tensing all around him.

A few thrusts later, Riley groaned into Erica’s shoulder as he climaxed. “Shite…you’re amazing…”

Erica smiled over his shoulder, holding him close to her. It was the best compliment she could imagine.

She stroked the back of his neck, chuckling to herself. “Now I know why you brought me here and plied me with all that food. You wanted me to have the strength for this.”

He pushed himself up on his hands, grinning down at her. “The protein was for me, love. The wine was to make you more amenable.”

Erica smirked. “I thought you were against taking advantage of women who have too much to drink.”

“You’re a little person, but I don’t think even one glass of wine would be too much for you. Smart ass.”

Chapter Fifteen

Riley sat in the pub, half-listening to Quinn going on and on about overhead and operating costs and profit-and-loss reports. Most of it went over his head on a regular day, when he actually tried paying attention. When his thoughts were a mile away, back at the picnic with Erica, it was even more difficult.

“Earth to Riley,” Quinn grumbled.

Riley didn’t move until Sean smacked him upside his head.

Riley swatted at him. “Oy! What’d you do that for?”

Sean gestured to Quinn, who had a scowl on his face.

“Sorry to bother you with this boring nonsense about our business,” Quinn said. “I’m sure your own thoughts are much more important than anything I have to say about your future.”

“Calm down,” Riley grumbled, sitting up straight. “I’m listening.”

“Sure, ya are,” he smirked. “Tell me what I just said, then, about the profits for the last seven months.”

Brady snorted. “He could be looking at the books and not make heads or tails.”

Ordinarily Riley would have resented that remark—numbers were never his strong suit, since his school days—but he was glad for it then.

“The last time I checked, brother,” Riley reminded him, “I’m in charge of putting arses in the stools. Last I checked, we haven’t had a slow night since we opened. I’m doing my job.”

“Aye, by flirting with the customers,” Sean joked.

“Like you’re one to talk.”

“Yeah, well, try not to break too many hearts.” Quinn sounded more like their mam with each passing day, Riley thought.

“Are you feeling quite well?” Brady asked. “You haven’t been yourself lately.”

“It seems like you’re living in outer space,” Sean added. “And you’re always sneaking about, coming in late at night, leaving early in the morning. What gives?”

They all stared at him.

“I wish I’d known I was facing a firing squad today. I’d have brought my own blindfold and cigarettes,” Riley grumbled.

“What is it, man?” Brady asked.

“Nothing, really. I’m fine. I haven’t been feeling myself, you’re right, but it’s nothing serious.”

“I bet I know what it is,” Brady teased.

“Pray tell,” Riley muttered.

“A woman,” Brady guessed.

The three of them chuckled.

“Uh-oh. Has Cupid’s arrow found our brother’s heart?” Sean asked, his knowing gaze on Riley even as he played along. If Sean hadn’t struck so close to the truth, Riley would have laughed along with them. Instead, he glowered at Sean and remained silent.

More laughter.

“Shut it,” he warned them.

“That’s not a denial,” Brady said.

“No, he’s just getting over Lucy. It’s too soon to love again,” Quinn said.

They couldn’t get enough of making fun at his expense, it seemed. He suffered their jokes in silence. Anything was preferable to them knowing the truth. Quinn would lose it if he knew Riley was messing around with Erica.

The laughter died down, and the meeting went on. Riley did his best to pay attention, wanting to avoid more jeers. After what felt like forever, he stood and stretched once all business was covered.

He sensed Sean trying to get his attention, and he deliberately avoided noticing him. He wasn’t at all pleased with the way Sean had taunted him—of the three of them, he would have expected it from Sean the least. He was Riley’s twin. He was supposed to have his back.

“I’m sorry for what happened back there,” Sean said, once it was clear Riley was pissed. “Don’t be mad at me.”

“I didn’t appreciate it, is all,” Riley said, taking inventory of the bottles behind the bar and making notes on a clipboard.

“I know, and that’s why I’m apologizing. But you can’t blame them. They sense something’s up, just like I did. You’ve been so absent. Even when you’re around, it’s like you’re not around. Is it just you can’t stop thinking of her, or is something troubling you?”

“It’s both. I can’t stop thinking of her. And that’s what’s troubling. I’m crazy for her, Sean. Like bloody mad for her. I think I’m in love with her.”

“You think? You don’t know?”

“I don’t think I’ve ever loved a woman before. I’ve certainly never told one I did.”

“Not even Lucy?”

“Nope. Not even her, and we were together, even discounting the times we weren’t together, for years. With Lucy, it was always so tumultuous. With Erica, it’s easy. It almost seems too easy, you know? I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop.”

“You’re just superstitious given all the shit that happened to us. Rhian. Mam and Dad.”

Yes, losing Brady’s baby girl and their mam and dad had been traumatic and would make any one leery of losing another loved one, but was that what this was? Or was Riley just getting sucked into the changes he’d seen in Quinn, Brady, and Conor since they’d fallen in love, wanting that for himself?

At least he had Sean to talk about it.

“Do you think it’s just wistful thinking? Because of the others finding such great women?”

Sean shrugged. “I don’t know. I can’t deny they’ve fallen one after the other. And well, you know how I feel about my professor, Juliana Madison. There’s something different about her. Something I’m bent on exploring as soon as the semester is over. But I’m assuming you’ve had a chance to spend some quality time with Erica, even if it hasn’t been a lot of time. What do
you
think?”

It was such a relief to be able to talk about her with someone, finally. “I don’t know. She’s a grand girl. We all know that. I like spending time with her.”

“More than Lucy?”

God, why couldn’t his brothers stop talking to him about Lucy? He was over her. Completely and utterly. He’d never felt about Lucy the way he felt for Erica. “Much more. It’s totally different. She’s a different sort of person. Lucy was fun. She was a teenage girlfriend, if you see what I mean. The sort of girl you go with while you’re in school. Erica is another story. She has it together, she knows what she wants.”