Riley’s blush creeps down to her neck. Beth quietly congratulates her while Riley drinks the rest of her water.

Grayson gets to his feet. “Do you want another?” he asks, pointing to her bottle. “I’ll grab you one.”

“Sit down,” I growl.

Everyone goes fucking quiet. Even Nolan, who’s been talking to himself while he walks his Lego knight around his plate, and Chase, who babbles constant nonsense. Nobody speaks. I feel ten sets of eyes on me but I’m only focusing on one. Riley looks like she might pass out—the color drains from her face. She knows I’m pissed.

As for everyone else, if it wasn’t already obvious I got a problem watching someone hit on Riley, it’s obvious now. I’m pretty sure Chase is even aware.

And you know what? Oh fucking well.

I shove my chair back and stand as Grayson slowly lowers himself into his seat, blinking at me. “I’ll get it. I’m getting up anyway,” I explain, snatching up my plate and empty beer bottle. I carry them with me inside, disposing of them in the trash and recycling bins underneath the kitchen counter.

Do I feel bad for exploding like that? Not one fucking bit. They’re lucky it didn’t happen sooner.

Lifting my head after closing the cabinet door, I look out the window above the sink.

Everyone is back to talking and eating, except Riley. She’s picking at her burger bun and looking down at her plate.

Do I feel bad now? Yeah, okay. Maybe.

Grayson leans forward to look at her. He tucks her hair behind her ear to see her face.

“Motherfucker,” I snarl, lips curling against my teeth.

I do that. I tuck Riley’s hair behind her ear. I throw my arm behind her and talk real close and make her laugh. Not this guy. Not anyone else.

Me.

Fuck feeling bad and fuck this.

I spin around and prowl to the fridge, nearly ripping the door off the hinges I throw it open so hard.

I’m getting back out there and taking that seat. I don’t give a fuck. Let Reed say something to me, I will straight up knock his ass out. He hasn’t said shit to Grayson about being all over my girl and he’s on the verge of fucking proposing.

I grab another bottled water for Riley and a beer I see hiding behind the milk for me. Might as well. I’m going to need it. When I turn to head back outside, the slider opens and Riley steps through it.

She closes the glass door and stares at me from where she’s standing on the other side of the counter, telling me she’s sorry with her eyes and her frowning lips, but she’s saying something else too. I know that look. Goddamn, I know it. That heat in her eyes, blue flames burning `cause she needs me and doesn’t care where we’re at right now or who could possibly catch us.

Her chest starts heaving.

Mine goes fucking tight.

Riley doesn’t say a word before she starts moving. She takes off down the hallway, sneakers smacking against the wood, and as soon as I set the bottles down on the counter, I’m following close behind. I don’t even look to see if anyone’s coming in the house. I don’t care.

We climb the stairs. I don’t know where the fuck she’s taking us. I’ve never been up here. I’m letting Riley lead.

She stops at the first door she comes to when she’s finished climbing, puts her hand on the knob and glances back at me—for encouragement, for me to stop her, I don’t know. If Riley’s expecting me to be the one to have sense in this situation, she’s shit out of luck. I want her. All the time and right now, so fucking bad. I’ll take her right here if she doesn’t get us somewhere private.

Reading that on my face or deciding for herself, Riley twists the knob and steps inside.

“I’m sorry,” she whispers when I grab her face and kiss her hard. I kick the door closed and slam her against it. She gasps and moans, purring deep in her throat. Her leg curls around the back of my thigh. “CJ . . .”

“I don’t want him touching you,” I growl. Riley starts whimpering I know I know I know. She’s breathless. “I don’t want him looking at you, thinking he has a chance. Thinking you’re fucking his to take.” I shove my tongue inside her mouth, slant her head with my hand and kiss her deeper. “I can’t sit there anymore and act like I don’t give a shit. I can’t. You’re mine, Riley. You’re fucking mine. He needs to know that. I want him knowing, you hear me?”

“Yes . . . yes,” she pants.

My other hand works frantically between us while Riley kisses the shit out of me—sucking on my tongue, my lips. Biting. Licking. Acting like she’s never been this turned on before and just hearing me say she’s mine is getting her there. I undo my shorts and free my cock. Her hand slides down my stomach and wraps around me, squeezing hard. We both groan.

“Fuck.”

“CJ . . .”

“Are we doing this?” I ask while I pop the button on her shorts, while I shove them down her legs and pull them past her Chucks. I don’t give her time to answer and she doesn’t ask for it. Riley jumps up, hitches her legs around my hips, grabs hold of my neck with one hand and pulls her panties to the side with the other, slanting her pelvis to take me.

“Yes,” she whispers, nodding quickly. “Please, do it. Please now please . . .”

I stare at her begging lips and those big blue eyes and fuck, I can smell her. How wet she is. How much she’s wanting me. Wanting this to happen, right here and now, where anyone can find us.

I forget about consequences—getting caught. Reed finding out. This shit exploding in our faces. I forget about the condom I have inside my wallet or the fact that we haven’t even bothered to lock the door. I only feel—Riley’s nails digging into my neck and her legs tightening, drawing me closer. The precum beading up on my dick. I don’t think. I don’t fight this.

I grip her ass, hoist her up higher on the door and push in, groaning as her tight walls grip me.

“I’m bare,” I tell her, kissing her hard. Growling. Jesus fucking Christ. “Fuck, Riley, if you don’t want this . . .”

She moans when I bottom out, loud enough I have to cover her mouth with my hand to keep anyone else from hearing her.

“Baby.” I lean back to get my answer. I need to know . . .

Eyes wide, she looks at me, nodding frantically while her breaths burst hot against my palm. “Please,” she mumbles. “I want this with you. Fuck me, Cannon.”