Since Juan was out cold, I didn't see the need to inconvenience him in waking him up. Besides, seeing him would be too soon after last night's fiasco.
The line was long, and there were children running circles around their parents while they desperately tried to shush them. The plane was full, and I was glad I was in first-class. I didn't mind the noise, but with my mind in meltdown mode, I could use the extra calm environment. It took quite a bit of time until I finally reached my designated seat. Once I did, I pulled my phone out of my purse and hastily texted River that I should be seeing him soon. Then I slipped the phone back to its place and let out a deep heavy sigh. I'd only had an hour of sleep and exhaustion began to creep into me. The moment my head hit the cushion, I went out like a light.
Three and a half hours later, we were cleared for landing. Forty minutes later, I strode out of the luggage area where a man came over to me, nodding with a quiet smile.
"Miss Quinn? Mr. Ellis is in the car waiting for you."
"Thank you," I murmured as he took hold of my things, leading me towards an awaiting tinted Maybach. My heart thumped wildly as I rounded the car, nervous and excited to see him.
River sat at the other end of the car, and before I had the chance to properly slide into my seat, the overeager man hooked a hand around my hips, tugging me next to him and thoroughly kissing me.
"Welcome home, petal," he whispered before kissing me once more, crushing every thought I had. All I could revel in was his touch, his lips, and his glorious scent that never failed to bring me back to him. He was my home. My refuge. My anchor.
It was his signature delicious kiss, as if peeling every layer of my soul, until I was bare, defenseless, and vulnerable. Guilt and shame filled me. And after last night's regret, I knew I had a lot to answer for.
"God, it feels like I haven't seen you in forever," he murmured against my lips, laughing. "You have no idea how happy I am right now."
Each word stabbed into my heart. My betrayal amplified with each loving word spoken out of those lips.
The tip of our nose touched. My hand cradled his cheek, and with my eyes shut closed, I reveled in the closeness of him while my heart ached deeply in my chest. "I love you so much; I hope you know that." There was a quake in my voice. Nervousness quietly laced my tone.
River was too ecstatic with our reunion to pick up on it. "I'm here for a little over two weeks. We're going to have a lot of time together. And after you're done filming, I'm sure you can find time to be my personal groupie back home," he mused, caressing the sides of my arms, lavishing at the feel of having me in his arms again. "You've gotten darker. I love the tan. Your eyes are like caramel instead of dark chocolate."
With little courage, I peeled my eyes open. And right then and there, I felt my heart break a little. It was subtle, like a little quake of warning before the tectonic plates shift again and combust from powerful pressure, wreaking havoc and causing destruction on its path.
"Please … " My solemn eyes sought his happy ones, seeking comfort, a reassurance that we were a solid team. "Don't stop kissing me."
Something passed in his eyes, but I didn't catch it because he dipped his head and did as I asked. His sinful lips, so divine, so passionate, incapacitated my train of thought. In no time, strong arms hoisted my body so I could securely straddle his muscled body. His well-honed legs were strong and ripped as hell. He had amped up his workout routine, that much was obvious. It emphasized his already toned body from the rigorous training he had playing a Viking. Even if he were a musician now, people would always remember him as their Viking.
Our kiss deepened, and his hands locked on my hips, grinding my sex against the strain in his pants. The rocking became so intense that I could almost swear I orgasmed in my jeans. But I had little care. River and I needed this-to reconnect the best way we knew how.
When our bodies spoke for us, we had difficulty controlling what was uncontrollable. I dying to feel him inside me, conquer me, but the man wasn't ready to escalate things further.
I waited with bated breath until he could consume me the way he usually did-unapologetically demanding as he annihilated my body. He wouldn't be gentle, either; I could tell by his hardness. He'd take and take until he had sated his hunger.
The limo had a partition, but the intense rocking motion we created didn't shield the driver from guessing what was taking place in the backseat. It was naughty. I had this desperate spasm in my chest, and the only way to alleviate the ache was to feel River in any way I could, the only way I knew.