After Rain Falls (River of Rain, #2)

by C.E. Ricci

Every star in the night sky would have to burn out before it isn’t River.

He should’ve tattooed his name across every available inch of my skin in exchange for my sanity because in the end, I’ll never be anything but his. Until my dying day, I’ll belong to River Lennox.

“Is it me?” I choke out the words, giving traction to the thoughts that have been plaguing me for years, only to be given new life in the last few weeks. “Am I the reason everyone always leaves?”

“There was a point in my life when I thought your cum was the sweetest thing I’d ever tasted.” I grind the words out, desperate to gain control over the war inside me. Giving in to my desire to kiss and hold and fucking love him is the last thing I can do right now. “But I was wrong, baby. I think I prefer the taste of your tears.”

He is the object of my obsession, the gravity for my orbit, every star in the night sky, reminding me that I’m not alone. He’s the center of my goddamn universe. And I just broke him. So no, the person I hate…it’s not Rain. Not even close. The real person I hate is myself.

“People only obsess over each other when things between them are left unfinished.”

“This goes so much deeper than need and desire. The way I ache for you? It’s fucking toxic.”

“Too bad that isn’t the way the world works, mo grá. I carved my name into your heart and you branded your very essence into my soul. You can’t just forget that.”

Because he carved his name into my heart when he tore it from my chest. I don’t think there will ever be a day it doesn’t beat for him.

“Take what you need, Abhainn. I’m yours.” His eyes snap open and find mine the instant the words are out, probably in disbelief he heard them correctly. “I’m yours,” I say again,

The universe designed him to be my own personal downfall. But fuck if I’m not going to enjoy every second I have with him as I barrel towards the Earth. “You’re everything. Fucking everything,” I whisper against his mouth. “Chuisle mo chroí.”

“I might have you, but you own me. Every inch. Every thought. Every moment of every day, Abhainn. You own me.”

He’s mine. Only mine. Just like I’m his. And I know now, we’re no longer an almost. We’re everything.

“You’re all I want. All I’ll ever need,” I tell him, my voice rough and filled with gravel. “And I swear to you, River. No matter what, I’ll follow you anywhere.”