Follow the River (River of Rain, #1)

by C.E. Ricci

For the first time since he’s stopped in front of us, his eyes leave our coach and zero in on my own. They’re two deep pools of honey whiskey, the most distinct amber I’ve ever seen on a human. Seems fitting they match his voice.

The way I’m studying him, it portrays…interest. And interested, I fucking am.

“You aren’t disgusting, River. He is.”

I wait until I hear the click of the door latching shut before I curl into myself and sob. Cold, mangled, and defeated.

I fucking wanted him to kiss me.

But it’s not just his body. It’s fucking all of him. His intelligence and quick wit. The sharpness of his tongue when he lays into me, letting me have a taste of my own medicine. When he smiles and laughs and is fucking secure and honest with who he is. And while I’m insanely jealous of that freedom, it might also be the biggest turn-on of all. I’m beginning to realize resisting him was a futile effort from the start, and I thank my lucky stars I don’t have to anymore. Because right now? He’s all fucking mine.

“Take what you need, Rain,” I say breathlessly.

I couldn’t tell you when it happened or why, but over the course of the past five weeks, River went from being my enemy to…my everything. My friend, my lover. The keeper of my secrets. My saving grace. And for the life of me, I don’t want this to be over between us.

Fuck me, he’s so goddamn sexy. Sensual and perfect. And he’s mine. My brain screeches to a halt at the thought. No, he’s not mine. Not really. That’s not part of our agreement. Because it would never work out between us.

“I don’t want a goddamn project,” River shouts as he throws his hands down, his voice booming through my tiny apartment. He swallows roughly and shakes his head before speaking again in a gravel-filled voice. “Jesus Christ, Rain. I just want you.” My brain screeches to a halt as it processes his declaration. I just want you.

“If you put half as much effort in trying to make us work as you are in trying to rip us apart right now, we could be fucking unstoppable,” he mutters softly. “We’d be everything.”