Page 116 of Vicious Desire (Fallen Royals 4)

I go around the side of the building. It’s sort of quiet over here, and I stop once I don’t see Riley’s car.

She appears behind me, arms already crossed.

“I don’t know why the hell you think you can order me around—”

“Stop.”

She blinks at me, then presses her lips together.

“I miss you,” I say. We’re going straight for the truth, I guess. “You drive me crazy. Sometimes I want to strangle you—especially when you thought I set up that god-awful party. When you thought I’d ever do that to you…”

Her gaze slides to the ground.

Maybe she didn’t fully believe it was me—but it was an easy enough lie to put credit in.

“Riley.”

She lifts her chin. “You miss me. You say you didn’t do it—why wait until now?”

I grit my teeth. She loves the truth. But sometimes truth bombs hurt—they explode and take out everyone around them.

“Why?” I stalk closer.

She automatically backs up. Her back hits the wall, and her eyes go wide.

She’s barely breathing.

I thread my fingers through her silky hair, cupping the back of her head.

“I’m pissed that you believed Amelie over me,” I say. “Do you…?”

She sighs. Her hands come up and grip the front of my shirt. “She got in my head.”

I nod once, ready to let her go. It isn’t everything—but it’s a step in the right direction.

Just as I’m loosening my grasp, hers tightens. She pulls me down to her, and her lips catch mine.

My body erupts in electric shocks.

The ache in my chest eases.

I lean into it, reclaiming her mouth. My hands slide down her body, gripping her ass and lifting her. She wraps her legs around my hips, and she lets out a little squeak when her back hits the wall.

Her tongue traces the seam of my lips.

I growl. Our tongues dance around each other.

I capture her lower lip between my teeth and tug, eliciting a groan from her, too.

We kiss until she breaks away, turning her head sharply to the side.

My erection is pressed against her core with only our jeans separating us. I’ve never wanted to get in a girl’s pants more—specifically because it’s her.

I turn my attention to her neck, pressing kisses and nips from just below her ear down to her collarbone. Slowly, her hand comes up and cups my cheek. She brings my face up, and I watch her as she watches me.

She’s breathless. I am, too.

“Holy shit,” she says. “I—”