No one else.
TWELVE
Ian stood with Riley in his living room, the night sky sparkling with stars visible through the large windows. Her revelations about her childhood had humbled him. She was stronger than he’d given her credit for, her relationship with his half brother something he understood much better now.
But that understanding didn’t calm his racing heart. And he couldn’t help the irrational fear that Alex would always come first for her. Irrational because she hadn’t decided to tell Alex about her father before Ian. The timing of the other man’s phone call had dictated that choice. And irrational because his jealousy over what she’d told Alex, and when, was based on the insecurities of the child Ian had been, not the man he was now. At least, that’s how he should be viewing things.
His mother had begged him to let the past go. If there was ever a time to do that, it was now. The question was whether he could.
“Ian?” Riley asked in a soft voice.
He turned toward her.
She stood in her bare feet, her hair tumbling over her shoulders, her eyes wide and more vulnerable than he’d ever seen them.
She reached for his arm. “I’m sorry I kept you in the dark.”
“I know.”
“So you’re not angry?”
He shook his head. “No, angry wouldn’t be the word I’d use.”
“Hurt?” she asked.
“I was.” He pulled his tie off and held it in one hand. The desire to drag her into the bedroom and tether her to his headboard was strong.
She bit her lower lip. “And now you’re not?”
“Now I understand you better. Which was all I ever wanted. To understand what bound you and Alex beyond basic friendship.”
She swallowed hard, the soft lines of her throat moving up and down. “And now that you know?”
He walked over to her. “Now, you and I are going to come to an understanding.”
“I don’t want to lose you,” she said before he could elaborate.
“That’s not what I want either.” In fact, he wanted her bound to his bed, where he’d know she belonged to him, he thought, winding the tie around one hand.
But then he wouldn’t know she was there willingly. Olivia’s words came back to him. His sisters and his mother all put up with his over-the-top behavior because they were related. They had to, as Olivia had so kindly pointed out. But she was right. If Ian wanted Riley to trust in him enough to come to him first, he needed to extend that same faith.
That didn’t come easily to him at all.
“So what now?” she asked.
Now he proved to her he was worthy of any leap of faith he wanted her to make. “I can handle your friendship with Alex. It’s an important part of who you are, and I wouldn’t ask you to give that up.”
She blinked, her eyes filling with tears. “Thank you.”
?
?But…you either trust me or you don’t. You either instinctively come to me first or there is no us. On that, I can’t compromise.” And he didn’t know if she could give in on this point that meant everything to him.
“Done.”
He blinked.
She wrapped her arms around his neck and held on tightly, sealing her lips against his. Stunned, he couldn’t move. Hell, he wasn’t sure he’d even heard her correctly.