Eastwood Academy

Chapter 45: Unexpected

I've woken up next to River once before, and this time couldn't be different. Instead of coming to in a blind panic, I feel more peaceful than I have in years. I'm lying cradled on River's broad chest, his strong arms around me, pulling me to him even in his sleep. I'm practically straddling him.

Loving that it's Saturday and we don't have to be anywhere, I close my eyes and snuggle into River, savoring the feel of skin on naked skin.

A short while later, I feel him stir under me, stretching leisurely. Opening my eyes, I peer up at him, unable to keep what I'm sure is a dopey smile on my face.

"Good morning," River rasps and a shiver races down my spine at his voice. It's huskier than normal, which is ridiculously sexy. He shifts again, tangling his legs with mine as he moves in to kiss me, and I feel the hard ridge of him brush up against me.

One kiss is all it takes, then we're back to where we left off last night. There is no getting enough of River, there never will be. There's a fire, a passion between us that only seems to grow. Every time I think I've reached the limit of the intensity of my feelings for River, I'm wrong. The newfound confidence I have in us is allowing me to lose myself in the experience of us. The first couple of months I liked him, I spent all my time trying to block out my feelings instead of leaning into them.

Ten minutes later, both of us are slick with sweat and gasping from our little morning romp. If River is this amazing with his hands and tongue, I can't wait to see what it will be like when we actually have sex. My mind flashes to the conversation I overheard last night, but I resolve immediately to put it out of my mind. I've moved on. River is mine and I'm his. I can't change his past, but I know we're each other's futures.

"You turned my legs to jello again," I accuse him, laughing at the proud look on his face.

River stands in one fluid movement and walks to pick up his scattered clothes and I get my first full look at him completely naked in daylight. Tall and tan, his body is a six-foot-two work of art. From his muscular thighs to his broad shoulders, River is seriously ripped. I don't know what his coaches have him doing for soccer practice, but it's working. When I make no move to get up, he turns back towards me grinning.

"Need some help?" He offers.

"Yes please," I say. He walks back towards me and I take the opportunity to shamelessly ogle him. As he stops next to where I'm sitting on the bed, my eyes fall to the left side of his rib cage, where his tattoo sits. I've only seen it in dim lighting. Now I can see the broken hourglass with the grains of time spilling out clearly, and it's even more beautiful than I remembered. Whoever the artist was who drew the design, they're extremely talented.

Following my gaze, he pauses. For a moment, I expect him to shut down like he always does with any reminder of her, but he only looks at me patiently, so I reach up and trail my fingertips across his tattoo. He shivers under my touch, looking vulnerable for one long moment before his expression changes, and he grins down at me.

"Remember when I first showed you my tattoo?" He asks me. Both of us laugh.

"How could I forget? I was convinced you hated me," I say.

"I could never hate you, Brooklyn. Just the opposite. I thought you'd never want me because I behaved so badly," River says quietly.

But I couldn't get you out of my head. You consumed my thoughts and haunted my dreams," River confesses, pulling me to his chest and kissing me.

"I tried not to want you, but it was no use. You're all I want," I whisper when we break apart, tracing my hands over his lips and cheekbones.

When I'm putting my clothes on, my phone buzzes with a text from Jessica asking where we are. Pulling the rest of my clothes on in a hurry, I tell her to meet me in the kitchen. River says he's going to find Tyler and help with clean-up duty. Considering how many people were here last night, I'm sure that will be epic.