Fiftysix - Seven Rue Page 0,104

sliding his fingers through mine and squeezing them tightly.

“I’ve never seen you like this. Know that I feel the same, Valley. We might’ve had a rough start…in a good way, and as I told you before, you’re mine. And you will be until I take my last damn breath.”

Which wouldn’t be anytime soon.

Riggs was a healthy man, and working out was only one thing helping him stay healthy.

I stared at him for a while, taking in his words and letting my feelings take over as I moved on top of him to straddle his lap.

Cupping his face with both hands, I leaned in and kissed him gently, showing him my not so wild side for once.

His lips moved against mine, letting me take over and control the kiss while his hands moved to my hips to hold me tight.

My heart was beating fast, making it hard for me to think straight. But when I broke the kiss to look at him again, I smiled before taking a deep, needed breath.

“I love you, Riggs. I don’t care how many years there are between us, or who will judge us for being together. You’re perfect for me.”

His face was serious all of a sudden, and for a split second I was thinking I just made a huge mistake.

Thankfully though, he lifted his hand to cup my own cheek, tilting his head to the side and letting a smile appear on his lips.

“Say that again,” he said quietly, his voice rough and deep.

I smiled, biting down on my bottom lip. “I love you,” I repeated, knowing that was what he wanted to hear again.

“I love you too, Valley. And I could give less of a fuck about what others think.”

Way to make a romantic moment not so romantic.

But that’s what I’d have to get used to from now on, and I didn’t mind at all.

I leaned in again, kissing him and then wrapping my arms around his neck to hug him tightly.

His arms came around to hold me close as he kissed the crook of my neck and took a deep breath while we held each other.

I closed my eyes to enjoy this moment, but after a few seconds, he loosened his tight hug to look at me again.

“I don’t want you to worry too much about Della and her view on this. When she’s ready to be confronted about it, we’ll do so. But until then, don’t let her affect your mood. You’re old enough to make your own decisions, and you’ve shown me that many times.”

I nodded, agreeing with him because even if I was only eighteen, that didn’t mean I was still a child or had no way of making my own life choices.

And although I wasn’t scared of going back home, I hated the thought of Della staring me down and calling me all kinds of things.

“Out of all the things she said to me, I think immature was what bothered me the most,” I told him.

“Fuck that,” he laughed. “You know how normal it was when I was your age to get married or have kids? Della grew up in that era as well, and she knows damn well that age doesn’t say shit about your maturity. Hell, I know men my age that are more immature than fifteen-year-olds these days. Push her judgmental self aside. She’s the one not able to hold a normal conversation between two adults,” he stated.

Fact.

“Do you think I can stay here tonight?” I asked, changing the subject and picking at his tie to then loosen it a little.

“Of course you can.”

Before I could say any more, bright headlights shone through the big windows on the front of the house, making us turn our heads.

I got up from his lap and let him get off the couch, and when we walked toward the front door, we saw Dad walking toward the house with a worried look on his face.

“Oh, boy,” I muttered, hoping he didn’t change his mind about fighting Riggs.

Dad usually wasn’t an aggressive person, but I did find it weird how calm he reacted when he found out what happened at the club.

Riggs opened the door before Dad could ring the bell, and when he saw me standing next to my man, he let out a deep sigh, almost as if he was relieved to see me with him.

“Can we talk?” he asked.

Riggs didn’t hesitate to let his friend in, but I was still a little skeptical as to why he