Riley woke slowly the next morning, staring lazily at Paris’s chest as he rubbed her back in tender circles.
How long had he been awake? Seriously, didn’t he have to pee or something?
“Good morning,” he said to her, though was quiet so he didn’t startle her calm state.
He clearly saw her eyes open.
“Good… morning…” she murmured.
He chuckled at her slurred words. “You seem quite tired, Angel.”
“Angel?” She liked that name, honestly.
“Sleep well?” he asked, staring down at her softly when she snuggled a little closer.
She nodded in his chest, letting him run his fingers through her hair.
“Seriously,” he questioned, “how long has it been since you slept?”
“I sleep,” she said with a tired annoyance.
“How long?” he commented.
“Like…” she breathed out a sigh, “four hours? Not counting the multiple nightmares I have at night.”
“So less than four hours?” he questioned.
“Yeah, I think so.”
He chuckled low under his breath. “That explains it.”
“What?”
“The stress, the fears, the horror that you’re going through, it’s forcing your sleepiness away. Which was why you slept all night last night; you needed a presence, Angel.”
“Hmm…” she murmured. “Paris…?”
“Yes?”
She nestled a little into him.
She knew he was probably not the best person to snuggle with when he was most probably a drug dealer and a killer, but he was really warm.
And she was cold; the window was open, sending a draft into the room, and she just wanted to hug him forever.
“Paris…?” she whispered.
He chuckled. “Yes?”
“Have you…” she breathed softly for a moment, “have you been holding me all night?”
He brushed his fingers through her hair, making her lashes flutter as another wave of calm washed over her.
“Yep,” he answered. “You squeak like a mouse when you dream. It’s so fucking cute.”
She shoved her palm gently into his chest as an indication that he annoyed her, but then grumbled something.
“Huh?” he said.
She rose her face above the covers. “Thank you, Paris; for helping me sleep.” She glared at him, then. “Although, the mouse comment makes me regret saying it.”
He chucked again. “Oh, you’re so fun to tease.”
She rolled her eyes then, and he slipped off the bed, Riley staring at him as he stretched out his long arms.
She kind of liked him when he got out of bed; his hair was all tussled and tangled, and his shirt and jeans were wrinkly and ruffled.
It showed his imperfection, and she liked it.
“Well,” he said, yawning as if he woke minutes before she did, “I’m going to shower.”
“Wait…” Riley said before he could walk out of the room.
He paused and looked back at her as she slipped off the bed. “What’s up?” he said.
She stepped over to him. “Can I… try something that I’ve never done before?”
He eyed her suspiciously. “Uh, sure, but you better not stab me.”
She stared at him for a moment. “Please, don’t judge me.”
“I’m starting to worry that you’re going to stab me,” he stated.
But she caught his shirt and reeled him down to her as she raised herself on her tip-toes, clasping their lips together seconds later.
Paris gave in for only a second before he pushed her away, his eyes looking slightly glassy.
Riley took a couple steps back, pressing her hands to her chest.
Oh… he didn’t want her to do that… Maybe all his kindness was based off of a friendship not a relationship.
Her eyes burned with tears.
God, she was an idiot.
She stared at the floor as Paris eyed her sharply, his gaze slicing her skin.
She breathed out shakily. “I—I’m sorry. I wasn’t really thinking. I—I’ll go now.”
She stepped past him and almost exited through the door.
“Wait,” Paris said, making her pause.
She wasn’t in the mood for him to scold her right now.
She heard the bed ruffle as he sat on it.
“Come here, Riley,” he told her.
“You don’t have to make me feel better,” she said to him. “I’m serious. I accepted the mistake, it was my bad—”
“Riley,” he warned.
“I’ll just go,” she said, facing the door and took one step.
“Riley, one foot out that door and I’ll force you to eat ten tubs of ice cream.”
She still faced away from him. “What?”
“It sounds neat until you get brain freeze, so if you don’t want the punishment, come here right now; before I lose my patience.”
Wow… he was being pretty serious right now. She wasn’t really used to it.
So she turned and stepped further into the room, keeping her eyes on his collarbone when she stood in front of him.
He caught her waist then, making her yelp when she collapsed onto his lap.
She had no where to put her hands, so she really just collapsed on him like a fainting elephant.
She looked up in shock when the act made her straddle him, and her cheeks burned at his cold stare so she moved her eyes to his chest when she pushed him away.
He only caught her hands and pulled them forward, and she yelped when she collided with his chest and he guided her arms around him.
“I said I was sorry,” she stated angrily but with a hint of fear.
“You sure did,” he answered, flipping her over until her back met the bed.
She stared up at him when he climbed slightly on top of her. “What are you doing?”
He paused and looked up at her. “I was going to kiss you again,” he told her. “I thought that was what you wanted, is it not?”
She was silent.
“I can stop if you want me to,” he said to her, making her brows draw together at his kindness.
Wow, a mafia boss that didn’t want to one-night-stand every pretty girl he saw?
That was new.
It was nothing like those weird novels she read.
“Okay,” she said before she could think it through.
“Good girl,” he praised, lowering himself so their lips clasped together, and she drew up against him as he lowered to her level, twining his fingers in her hair as she wrapped her arms around him.
He tasted so good… It was so minty and sweet at the same time…
She loved it.
Paris pulled away slightly and got the tangled covers, draping them over both of them as he gazed down to assure her, “You’re cold. You’ve got goosebumps. I can’t kiss a girl if she’s not comfortable, right?”
She honestly didn’t feel it; all she could focus on was him, every hint of cologne, every speck of gold in his blue eyes.
He was gorgeous.
She nodded in response, letting him lower himself back down as he lightly kissed the corners of her mouth and lowered his lips back on hers.
She used her arms to pull him closer, letting him know that he wouldn’t crush her.
He listened, and set his elbows on both sides of her head as he leaned down further and kissed her harder.
He was so warm.
Closer… she needed him closer.
But he separated their lips, Riley staring up at him with lust-filled eyes as he smiled menacingly.
“You like kisses?” he said. “I can kiss you anywhere. That acceptation was very vague.”
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