Betting on His Bride

ChapterNine

Mara

“Don’t move.” River's voice has changed in the last few hours. It’s deeper, with a sexy gruffness, but it’s also how he’s more direct too.

It’s something I saw my dad do with my mom or even Felipe with my sister. I used to roll my eyes and shake my head, but I don’t roll my eyes when River does it to me. My body has a completely different reaction, and it’s only to River.

“I’ll be right here.” He narrows his eyes on me like he’s not sure if he should trust me, and I’m not mad about it. He doesn’t want me putting any clothes on and wants me to stay in the bed where we’ve been since the first round on the sofa. The bed is a lot easier to explore each other's bodies.

“Why do you even need to leave?” I huff. Instantly I regret it. The last thing I want to do is to come off as needy or clingy.

“Because you’re distracting, and I ordered the food to my place and not yours by accident,” he growls before he pounces back onto the bed and pins me to it. His mouth comes down in a hard, wild kiss like he’s been gone and missed me. Okay, maybe I’m not alone in this crazy need for him.

“River.” I sink my fingers into his hair while I think about how I’m falling in love with him.

“Fuck, I love how you say my name,” he groans before pulling away.

“How do I say it?” I lick my well-kissed lips.

“Like I’m a damn god or something. It’s addictive.” He gently touches my cheek, stroking me sweetly.

“A god?” I fight a small laugh.

“Go on and laugh, but something sent you here to tempt me.” I bite the inside of my cheek as he rubs his nose against mine.

River starts to say something else, but his phone goes off. He mutters a curse before he springs from the bed as gracefully as a lion. His movements are fluid, but his landing is hard and shakes the room. It reminds me of how solid he is—not that I could forget. I can still feel the planes and ridges of his back on my fingertips.

“Don’t move,” he orders again before he’s out my bedroom door. A few seconds later, I hear my front door close, and I roll over and stare up at the ceiling.

River Andora’s mouth was all over my body, and mine was all over his. That was the last thing I ever thought would happen when I found out that not only did we go to the same school but we also live in the same building.

My mind starts to tug in terrible directions as it always does. What if River found out I’m the reason Cillian has his scars? It’s partly why I don’t think his parents wanted his sister to marry him. River’s parents hold a lot of stock in image. So much so they’d rip the Andora family apart for it, and for money. I don’t know where River stands on it all.

If Cillian had a falling-out with our parents that ripped the family apart, I’d never want to think about being in the middle of that. It’s heartbreaking. Though it would never happen with my mom around.

I jerk up when I hear something from the other room. Realizing it’s my phone, I wrap the sheet around me to go in search of it. I’m not used to walking around naked, but I could if it meant River’s mouth could get to me faster.

The first thing I spot is River’s shirt, and I snag it off the floor, wanting to keep it. I glance at the front door and realize he must have left shirtless. I guess I can’t blame him because this one is covered in his release.

My phone goes off again, so I find my bag and fish it out. “Shit!” I gasp, glancing around the room to make sure the space is presentable, because half a second later there’s a knock on my door.

“Be right there!” I call, bolting toward my room. I toss the sheet back to the bed before I quickly dress.

My brother didn’t send a text saying he wanted to stop by. Nope. He’s in the area, which is actually a bit surprising since he stays in the historic Flores country estate. Why does he have to show up now?

Guilt instantly hits me at the thought, and my stomach starts to turn thinking about being torn between Cillian and River. The brother who not only was the best brother a girl would ask for but who also bares scars on his own face because he saved my life.

I smooth my hands down my hair before taking a deep breath. “Mara?” he calls through the door, sounding worried.

“Sorry!” I open the door to see both Glenda and Cillian. My sister-in-law smiles brightly at me, and her brows lift before her eyes widen. Shit. Did I forget something?

“You okay?” Cillian asks, giving me a curious look.

“Hug her,” Glenda orders as she slips out from under his arm and darts into my place. Cillian hugs me like he always does.

“I’m fine, I just wasn't expecting anyone. Come in.” I step back to let him in, and as soon as he’s inside, he starts walking around my place, seeing it for himself.

He goes to the pictures Amelia hung on the far wall just as Glenda suddenly pops up in front of me, shoving something into my hand. I look down and see the boxer briefs, and she smirks before spinning back around.

“It’s adorable,” Glenda says loudly. Oh my god. “Do you have a roommate?”

“My sister loves being alone,” Cillian says, more to himself, before he smiles at me.

“You enjoy being alone,” Glenda teases him.

“Enjoyed,” he corrects, and then I see the jagged scars on the side of his face pull tight. Cillian went years without smiling until Glenda came along. I adore the love I see between them, and I want the same.

“Food!” River calls as the front doors swings open. My stomach drops when his eyes land right on Cillian.

At least he put on a shirt when he went upstairs.