Beloved Liar (The Reed Rivers Trilogy 3)

Me: Promise? XO

Reed: Hell yes. XO

My body is vibrating with excitement. I knew I’d miss Reed during his business trip. But I didn’t think I’d miss him this much—like missing a limb. I thought I was “adulting” when I said I should stay home to finish my mountain of work. In retrospect, though, I wish I would have done the irresponsible thing and joined him on his trip. Because these past five days have been pure torture.

To pass time until Reed gets home, I open my laptop and edit an article I’ve been writing, off and on, for the past several weeks—a secret article I haven’t told anyone about, not even CeeCee or Reed. I’m hoping to ultimately get this piece into Dig a Little Deeper. But if not, I’ll still be awfully proud of it, and happy I took the time to investigate and write it.

As I’m engrossed in the words on my screen, I hear the best sound in the world: the front door opening behind me. Squealing, I close my laptop with gusto, sprint across the living room, and hurl myself like a missile into Reed’s waiting arms. In a flash, we’re kissing and ripping off our clothes, right inside the front door, exactly as Reed promised.

Reed unties his tie and unbuttons his shirt with frenzied fingers. He peels off his shirt, breathing hard... and that’s when I see it: a new tattoo to join Reed’s collection. This one, on his left pec. ReRiGeRi. Instantly, I know what the seemingly random letters mean. They’re a tribute to us. To our love. The beginning letters of both our names, inked onto his flesh—over his heart—forever.

“I love it!” I exclaim, bending down to kiss the tattoo. From there, I work my way down Reed’s abs, to his treasure trail, and then to his hard penis. But before I take him into my mouth, Reed pulls me up and backs me into the door. His eyes ablaze, he binds my wrists with his necktie and raises them above my head. He opens the front door slightly, throws the long end of his tie over it, and shuts it again, pinning me in place with my back against the closed door and my hands trussed over my head.

With eyes like hot coals and flaring nostrils, Reed sinks to his knees and greedily kisses my belly. And then my thighs. He lays fervent kisses around my clit, never actually touching it, until I’m moaning and begging for more. Finally, he begins lapping at my bull’s-eye with confident strokes, until, soon, I’m shuddering and bucking and whimpering with pleasure. I’m wet for him now. Swollen and throbbing and aching. He slides his fingers inside me, and, still devouring me with his mouth, begins stroking my G-spot, over and over again, without reprieve. Without letting up or changing speed. He’s a laser beam. An oncoming train. Until, finally, my orgasmic screams echo throughout the expansive living room.

Reed’s initial job complete, he rises, grabs me by my naked ass, and fucks me against the door like he’s trying to kill me with his cock, growling into my ear with each thrust about his love for me, how good I feel, how hot I am, how much he missed me.

When Reed comes, it’s with a primal roar that sends me hurtling into a release of my own, thanks to a little help from Reed’s talented fingers. Finally, we’re finished and breathing hard. Glowing with sexual satisfaction. Reed frees my wrists from the door and unbinds them, and the minute I’m free, I throw myself into his hard chest and clutch him to me, overwhelmed by the intensity of my feelings. It scares me to know I not only love and want Reed. I physically need him. I wish I didn’t. It’s terrifying to realize someone’s got the power to decimate me. To shatter my heart into a billion pieces with one word. Goodbye. But it can’t be helped. I’m undeniably at his mercy. All-in. Laid bare.

“Never leave me,” I whisper, still clutching him.

Reed chuckles. “Don’t you worry, little kitty. From now on, you’re coming with me on every work trip. I was miserable without you.”

“No. I meant... never leave me.” I pull back and look him in the eye, my own eyes pricking with moisture. “Never leave us. I need you, Reed. Like air. It scares me to think how badly I’d drown if I ever lost you.”

Reed’s features soften. He puts his fingertip underneath my chin. “Georgina Marie, why do you think I got the tattoo? If stamping our combined names onto my flesh for eternity doesn’t tell you I’m not going anywhere, then I don’t know what would.”

Without meaning to do it, I make a face that says, Well, actually...

Because, damn, without intention, my mind was just now hijacked by this distinct thought: Well, actually... I can think of one thing that would say “forever” even more than a tattoo.