81. Harsh Words

Riley anxiously fiddled with a loose thread on her shirt, her heart racing as she waited for River’s response. His intense gaze was fixed on her, his lips pressed together in an unreadable expression. She had thought it would be better to be honest about her feelings, but now she second-guessed herself. Keeping her emotions bottled up was like a torture of its own. Ever since that unexpected kiss, she couldn’t get him out of her mind. His touch, his scent, his voice - they all lingered in her thoughts like a sweet addiction. She had barely slept the night before, consumed by thoughts of him. And when she woke up this morning, she could hardly contain her excitement at the thought of seeing him again and being able to take care of him. Even when he was being grumpy and mean, she found herself wanting to kiss him again. The memory of his soft lips on hers made her pulse quicken and her cheeks flush with desire. “You can’t like me,” he finally said. His voice sounded rough. She tilted her