RIVER
There was no question that our no-sex rule till he got better would not stick until the end of the night. Couples did have sex when their partners were sick. Let us face the fact here. We made love, and I slept in his arms. We craved each other, no doubt.
“You went to that place where it happened, alone?” My eyes were wide with horror. “Why did you do that? And what about that stunt you pulled out, standing in the pouring rain? Was it a part of your conquering your fear list?”
“I think I was over with that,” he said coolly, even if I was already glaring at him.
“For days? You could have gotten hurt, gotten sick, had a nervous breakdown, or gone insane alone, Krew. You don’t have to prove it to yourself.”
“I was not trying to prove anything. For years, I’ve been hiding from my own demons. Something triggered me, has lightened me up. You showed me something that what I had been doing was not going anywhere. It can’t be cure by letting the fear pulled me into it. I realized that I couldn’t live in that fear forever. That’s why I had to go there.”
“How did it go? I mean, I noticed that there’s a lot of improvements in you.”
“It wasn’t easy. Running back and giving up had crossed my mind many times, but when I thought of not seeing you again, it gave me strength.”
I placed my palm on his chest. “You’re the strongest man I know. But don’t pull that again alone. You’re giving me an early heart attack, Krew. And you ended up catching the flu instead. What if it happened when you were in the middle of the forest? What would you do? I’m sure there’s no cell service in there?”
“I went there prepared.” He grinned.
“Somehow, you managed to cheat your little retreat, huh?”
“Couldn’t call that cheating. I just brought essentials if in case.”
I rolled my eyes. “Whatever.” I pressed my lips to his. “Now, let’s make up for the lost days.”
“Thought you’d never say that.”
I stroke his length, and it instantly hardened against my palm. “I always like this effect on you.”
“You have the magic hand, baby.” He kissed me passionately, and I instantly moaned as he traced his fingers between my thighs, slipped them between my folds, stroking my now sensitive clit.
I moaned against our mouths, rocking my hips against his fingers. “I want you now.”
“All you have to do is say the magic word, River.” When I opened my eyes, he had a cocky grin on his face. He was making fun of me because he knew me too well. He knew how to turn me on quickly.
I squeezed his cock. “On the other thought, I have a lot of things to catch up.” In one fluid motion, he had me pinned under him before I could even drag myself out of bed.
“You’re not going anywhere until I made you come. Twice.”
“So confident SOB.”
“Because I know your body pretty well, beautiful.” He kissed me roughly before he slid in, contradicted to his slow thrust, inch by inch till I felt him all in. “How could I let you go when I know how it felt to be inside you. Unfuckingbelievable, River.”
***
I thought I just fell in love with Krew.
I stared in disbelief at the sleeping, handsome Krew. Sometimes, he took my breath away, surprised me, and annoyed me with his bark and controlling attitude. He also saved my life, saved my sanity—he was my real-life hero.
I watched him closely and resisted the urge to run my fingers on my face. Last night we slept with lights off even if I told him it was okay with me to keep the nightstand lamp on. As much as I wanted to spoon with him all day, I had a lot of things line up to do.
After three hours, I was with Krys in her penthouse. Journey also arrived earlier than I. It was very luxurious, modern, and really represented Krys’ personality.
“It’s just an Instagram post. It doesn’t have to be like these with props, hair, and makeup, and dress like I’m a socialite,” I complained. It was the tenth shots she did. I brought a few dresses with me from the wardrobe at Krew’s penthouse.
Krys’ makeup artist did my makeup and hair, and she was the one who chose what I should wear. Now, I was on her modern accent lounge chair taking poses.
“Hey, smile. I want to capture those shining blue eyes my brother’s been crazy over.” She was annoyed.
“Fine because I looked ridiculous, and I want this to be over.”
She rolled her eyes. “You’re endorsing the mascara, silly. So you have to make sure the viewers would see it.”
“Fine. Let’s get it over with.”
Journey was grinning with thumbs up. “I totally agreed with Krys.”
A half an hour later, we finished with a couple of shots. Then I changed into a baggy winter sweater with my legs exposed. This time I was holding my guitar while looking outside the window. Our props were a mug of coffee, cookies on top of the wooden coffee table. It was a little bit country with a modern vibe.
Thank God! We were done with all the shots for three posts on Instagram. After I sent the contract to Kai for review, he gave me a go, plus he checked the advertisement agent who messaged me, and she was legit.
After a few choices of pictures, I posted the picture. I was surprised to see my followers boosted up to forty thousand, thanks to Kai.
“You’re getting a lot of likes and comments, River. You should reply to some of these.”
I did per Krys’ request before my phone vibrated. It was my man.
“Gorgeous,” his first word.
“Thank you.” I grinned like a schoolgirl. Krys and Journey were smiling and giggling back at me.
“You left.”
“For a few hours.”
“Would you be here for dinner?”
“Sure. Anyway, I asked Kai to look over the contract. I signed it, and I just had my first picture posted on Instagram.”
“You asked Kai. I could have done it for you, River.” I heard a hint of anger and jealousy in his tone.
“You were sleeping, and I didn’t wanna wake you up. You need some rest, Krew.”
“I was okay when we fucked last night.”
“So, is that how we called it now? Well, I hate to break it to you, but Kai was the first to offer me a legal adviser while—where were you? Oh, you were camping in the middle of nowhere! So cut me some slacks if I just followed who was there for me when I needed someone to help me pull my shits together!”
“You left me, remember?”
“You used me as bait, Krew!”
“That was for your own good, and the last time I checked, I had that piece of shit locked up, thanks to my perilous idea!”
“You are the most insolent and insensitive jerk I’ve ever known!”
“Thank you so much. That means a lot coming from the same person who pushed herself to get what she wanted.”
“I can’t believe you just said that to me.” Dear God, I couldn’t believe he just said that to me.
“Well, should I remind you those words you threw to me before you left?”
“You’re unbelievable!”
“I think you just fucked the wrong guy, River.”
“Fuck you too!” I hung up on him as I stared at the screen of my phone, shaking with anger, and I thought I just broke my heart. I couldn’t believe it just happened.
“Trouble in paradise?” Krys soft voice lifted my gaze to her.
“I think we just broke up.”
“What? Why?” Journey asked, wearing a confused look on her face.
“He was so rude. I don’t want that kind of man who doesn’t know how to respect me. Can’t you believe that he just shoved it to my face that I used myself to ask for his help?”
“It doesn’t sound the kind of brother I knew, River. He might be a pain in the ass and doesn’t filter sometimes, but he would never disrespect someone he loves like that. Unless something is going on that pushed his limits.”
“He doesn’t love me.” I rolled my eyes even though it sounds better coming from Krys, but maybe, she didn’t know her brother after all.
“He got upset when I told him that I let Kai review the contract, then he said something, and I guessed you heard my response.”
“You two need to cool off. I’m sure Krew will apologize when he realizes he was way out of line,” Krys said.
“I hope so. You two look good together, and you both could light up the whole stadium with those so freakingly in-love-look.”
I glared at Journey. “Really?”
“Well, we’ve been best friends since high school. I’ve never seen you look like that to a man. You love him, River. And don’t you ever dare try to deny it because you were terrible at lying in any way.”