Rely on Me - Elizabeth Knox Page 0,37
brow. “I don’t know if you’re ready for this . . .” I toy with her just a bit, ‘cause why not.
“Get on with it.”
“My chest hair. When I was a prospect, they wouldn’t let me walk around shirtless, told me I looked like a fuckin’ Mammoth . . . so Dog gave me the name.”
Riva begins to giggle. It lasts for a bit and then she calms down. “Who’s Dog? I don’t think I met him yet?”
My heart sinks into my stomach. “You won’t, Mouse. He’s dead.”
“Oh my God. I’m so sorry. If I had known—”
“Baby, it’s fine. He was the old Prez of the club, a damn good man, and my best fuckin’ friend. Before he died . . . he told me to watch over Gamble, make sure nothin’ bad ever happens to her. They were together before he died. Shit, now I’m givin’ you some background history, sorry.” I say, lookin’ to the ground.
Riva steps closer to me, wraps her arm around my torso, and burrows her head against me. “At least your chest hair is a good heat source.”
She gets the sad vibes out of the room immediately, causing me to bust into joyous laughter. Riva tilts her head up to look at me again and all I see is my Mouse, my fuckin’ perfect Mouse.
“Fredrik,” She whispers my name.
“Yeah?”
“I really want to kiss you now.” Riva admits. I smirk, slide my arms down between her legs, and lift her up in the air. She shrieks like an excited little girl, causing me to laugh yet again. I hoist her up high enough so she can reach me with no problem.
Riva snakes one hand around my neck, while the other brushes lightly against my beard. “Fuck, Mouse. Don’t tease me. Lay a slammer on me already.”
“You impatient beast.” She laughs softly, easing her way closer and closer until she’s almost touching my lips. Her eyes meet mine again when she speaks.
“So, I should kiss you now, right?”
“Fucking woman, I’ll take what I want.” I hiss playfully, holdin’ onto the back of her neck as I crash my lips down to her own. Her chest rises in shock, but soon she settles back down in my arms. Her lips are soft and delicate, reminding me of whipped cream, or even icing. She tastes so sweet, like fresh baked blueberries.
Quickly I see how Riva is melting into me, pushing her tongue past my teeth they dance like two beings to the salsa. I move, then her, repeating over and over again.
I’ve never been happier that I was the man assigned to go to Puerto Rico. If I hadn’t been . . . we might not be here. I’m so happy that I’ve found her again, and even more than that, how she’s chosen to accept what I’ve claimed her as.
Riva is my woman, and if she’ll let me, I think it’s high time I consummate that declaration. Only, I don’t want to push her. She’s been through so much lately and I won’t force it on her before she’s ready. I’ll wait as long as she wants, ten minutes, ten hours, ten days, ten weeks, or ten fucking years.
She’s that important to me.
I’ll do whatever it takes.
Chapter Twenty
It was too damn good, the kind of good that ruins you for everyone else
~ Just a Kiss Away
Riva
Captivating, that’s what he is. He’s purely fucking captivating. Mammoth . . . he’s the manliest man I’ve ever met. Long, thick brunette hair with a scruffy beard, his physique much like a bodybuilder’s . . . but not as veiny. He looks more like he’s the type who chops wood all day, but I’m betting he could tear a tree down with his bare hands.
I inhale deeply through my nose as our kiss intensifies, wrapping my arms tighter around his neck. I want to be closer to him, to feel every inch of us pressed against the other’s body. Mammoth . . . Fredrik . . . he’s an enigma of a man, but he makes me feel the safest I’ve ever been. I don’t fear anything when we’re together because at the end of the day, I know he’ll protect me with his life.
He pulls his lips from mine, maybe an inch between us and stares into my eyes. His breathing is heavy, like he’s just ran a mile. “Mouse, we’re headin’ in a direction I won’t be able to turn back from. Not unless you tell me now. Fuck,