Page 124 of Hometown Halftime

Because this isn’t flirting or another layer of tension that we can laugh off later. It’s his unguarded truth. And I can’t fight him on this, because I care about him too.

The realization crashes into me hard enough that all the remaining anger drains right out of my body. Riley must see something change in my face because the tension starts slowly easing from his shoulders.

“I’m sorry,” he says quietly. “I shouldn’t have handled it like that.”

I stare at him for another second before closing the distance between us. He looks down at me with eyes so intense and vulnerable that I can’t help the emotion swelling up inside me. Then I reach out, gripping his jaw and crash my lips to his.

Riley makes a startled sound against my mouth before he wraps his strong arms around me, pulling me flush against him. The kiss turns heated quickly, every unresolved emotion from the night crashing together between us all at once.

It’s all there in the way his mouth moves against mine, rougher and desperate while my fingers slide into his hair. And God, kissing Riley when he’s angry might actually be the end of me.

“You drive me insane,” I say against his lips.

A rough laugh leaves him before he kisses me again. “You literally just yelled at me.”

“I’m aware.”

“Still kind of scared of you, to tell you the truth.”

I kiss him again, deeper, like I can’t get close enough to him.

“And I’m fucking mad that I got a little turned on when you defended my honor,” I pant.

He grabs my ponytail before he whispers against my neck, “I think you like fighting with me. I bet you’re wet right now, aren’t you, Kitten?”

“Damn you, Riley Weston.”

His forehead presses briefly against mine while both of us breathe hard. Then his eyes flick toward the stairs. And when he looks back at me again, heat rolls low through my core so hard it aches. I claim his lips again in a kiss so deep he stumbles back.

Because suddenly I know exactly where this night is heading.

Chapter fifty

Riley

My ass hits the kitchen island hard enough to make the water bottle wobble while Kinsey’s fingers fist in my hair and my hands grip her waist so hard I might leave bruises. Every kiss feels charged now, full of everything we just said out loud in this kitchen.

“Kinsey,” I breathe against her mouth, my hands sliding further up her skin because touching her has become a basic need at this point.

She kisses along my jaw, and the second she rolls her center against me, my cock goes rock hard. She presses against me without hesitation, filled with confidence, and my head falls back while I try to pull myself together.

“Jesus Christ.”

“Are you okay there, Rookie?” she asks as her eyes scan my face.

I’ve spent weeks trying to hold myself together around this woman, and now her body is flush with mine and I’m about to lose my goddamn mind.

Fuck, I’m so far gone for this woman it’s embarrassing.

“I need you.”

The words come out rough and strained, but I’m past the point of want. I need her underneath me, her skin against mine. The need to claim her after seeing that man’s hands on her is driving me to madness.

I take her hand and lead her to the stairs.

“Riley—”

“I’m trying really hard to keep it together right now,” I admit while climbing the stairs. “Come with me, Kinsey.”