Page 62 of Plot Twist

He paused. ‘I’m not,’ he said in a low voice.

But he had definitely paused. Aha. I knew it. I knew he was too good to be true.

‘I do have Ivy, though. And a past. And it’s all a bit unresolved, I guess you could say,’ he said, slowly.

I shouldn’t let myself get involved in this. It wasn’t a good idea. But my body was screaming something completely different, and I ignored the nagging in my mind. He pulled me into his arms, moved his head to one side and kissed me. Confidently. No hesitation.

It felt like I hadn’t been kissed in a million years. It was hardly the top of the to-do list recently, with everything that had been going on. But as he pulled me closer towards him, I realised I needed it. More than ever. I didn’t want him to ever stop. His hands slid into the roots of my hair and a tingling sensation spread across my body as he pulled me closer to him.

My mouth melted into his as he let out a low groan. He paused for a second and I looked into his eyes, wondering if he was going to stop. Instead, he smiled and cupped my chin and moved his lips back towards mine slowly. I smiled back, leaning into the kiss with ease and his strong arms held me for a moment before he pulled me towards him, as though he just couldn’t wait any longer. He wanted me. Riley wantedme.

I couldn’t believe this was actually happening. Since I’d first clapped eyes on Riley, I’d had to block these thoughts from my mind. Time and time again, I’d imagined him kissing me like this, feeling the warmth of his body next to mine, touching me tenderly. My whole body felt like it was on fire. I didn’t have to blink the thoughts away this time, I could do everything I’d dreamed of with him.

The kissing intensified. Riley pulled away at one point. I almost gasped, ready to beg him to continue.

‘I’ve wanted to do this for ages,’ he murmured in a gruff, husky voice. ‘Becca, I—’

‘Sssh,’ I said, putting a finger over his lips.

I didn’t want to talk. I needed action. I pulled his mouth towards mine again, drinking Riley in, my hands grabbing at his toned, tanned back to bring him as close to me as humanly possible. He slid my top off and I leaned into his muscular body, kissing him hungrily. Our clothes lay in a heap on the floor as the sheets tousled around us. I couldn’t let him stop; I wouldn’t. Our bodies merged together, fast at first, before settling into a slow and steady rhythm.

It was all I’d thought it would be. And then some. My head felt dizzy as his body pressed closely on mine and he continued to kiss me tenderly throughout, his green eyes gazing intensely into my soul.

Afterwards, I lay in his arms under the covers. He kissed the top of my head gently. I looked up and caught him grinning down at me.

‘All in the name of research,’ he joked.

‘Oi,’ I said, punching him on the shoulder. ‘Judging by that performance, Mr Romance Writer, you don’t need any help when it comes to research. I’d say you’re fairly well versed in that department.’

‘Why, thank you.’ He grinned. ‘But I can’t take all the credit. It takes two to tango.’

‘I’d like to tango with you all day long,’ I murmured as I leaned up to kiss him.

And then his phone rang, the shrill ringtone bursting our bubble. Who even had their phone on these days? He pulled away.

‘Ivy,’ he said, grabbing his boxer shorts as he moved towards the door.

Ah yes, people with children needed to keep their phones on.

My lips were still on fire. I moved my fingers along them. They were screaming at me, wondering why it had stopped. The abruptness of the ending left me dizzy.

‘Hello?’ he answered in the living area. ‘Wait, Bridget, just slow down. What do you mean she’s not there?’

I sat up straighter on the bed, wondering what was going on.

‘Just slow down, Bridget. Tell me exactly what happened.’

He came back into the bedroom and stood at the foot of the bed, covering his mouth as he listened intently to what was being said on the other end.

Riley’s phone thudded like a dead weight beside me on the bed as he pulled his T-shirt over his head and flung his jeans on.

‘It’s Ivy,’ he said, his voice strained as he pulled on his jeans. ‘She’s not at nursery.’

I sat bolt upright in bed and pulled my clothes on, as quickly as my hands would allow.

‘What do you mean she’s not at nursery? I dropped her off there earlier.’

Riley grabbed his car keys, before swiftly collecting his phone again from beside me. I stood up and followed him as he paced towards the front door, grabbing my trainers in the process.