Their Virgin Hostage (Masters of Ménage #5)(78)

"You think I slept with Dominic and Law because I wanted to get back at Greg?"

"Of course. Greg was going to be your husband, and you saved yourself for him. Spreading your legs for my brother and Dominic probably made you feel powerful. Was revenge sweet?"

It had been, but not for the reasons he thought. "I didn't save myself. I just never cared enough about anyone to sleep with them."

"And yet you came to care for my brothers in the couple of days since we drugged and kidnapped you, then ripped your world apart? Yeah, I believe that."

But she had. And she was starting to think that maybe her love and future were worth fighting for.

"I don't care what you believe, Riley. I know who I am. I know what I've done and what I feel. I've absolutely come to care a great deal about your brother and Dominic. Sleeping with them had nothing to do with revenge and everything to do with moving on with life. You can't understand that because you're clinging to the past. Some woman hurt you, and now you won't let it go, so you'll take it out on me. Fine, but stop and think about the fact that I'm not you. Greg hurt me. Becks hurt me. My dad hurt me. Guess what? I won't let them ruin my life. I won't allow them to change me. I might be naïve and stupid, but I will keep trying to find love. I don't care how it comes to me. If it comes from one or two or three men, I'll take it. I don't care what the rest of the world thinks because no one there cared that my fiancé was going to kill me. You, Dominic, and Law cared. That's all that matters to me."



       
         
       
        

"We didn't care because of you." The words came out on a harsh rasp.

That hurt, but then he seemed determined to make her see his twisted truth. "They do now. I can't change how you feel."

And Riley didn't get to choose her reality either. From now on, no one ever got to decide who Kinley Kohl was or what she would do. No one got to change that deeply held part of herself that kept trying to fill her heart, despite all the evidence that it wouldn't work. She refused to believe that she would end up alone.

"Have you thought about the fact that we're just isolated here in Alaska and they're horny? Or that they feel sorry for you?"

Hurt flared again. It was time to leave. If Riley wanted to be mean, she needed to stay away from him. That woman had damaged him, and he didn't even want to recover.

But the question haunted her. Did Law feel sorry for her? When she thought about it … no. She'd felt his caring. It might not be love, but Law felt something for her. It wasn't strictly pity or desire. And Dominic Anthony would never sleep with someone because he felt sorry for her.

Riley was glaring down at her, challenging. Some beast trapped under his skin wanted her to fight with him. He just kept poking at her, then pulling her back when she tried to walk away. He behaved like a kid who didn't know how to emerge from the dark corner he'd put himself in.

Anger fled in a rush of sympathy. Riley had loved and lost, and he didn't know how to find his way back. It was sad, and railing at him wouldn't help.

His deep disconnect would likely cost her everything, but again, she wouldn't allow that to change who she'd become or what she believed.

Kinley didn't hesitate. She simply stepped closer and wrapped her arms around him, resting her cheek on his chest. "I'm so sorry."

He tensed around her. "What are you doing?"

"Offering you what Simone didn't. She didn't deserve the three of you. I know you miss her, but you need to let her go and find someone who will love you. The three of you deserve a woman who will stand at your side and proudly be wife to you all. Don't compromise or settle, Riley. This is your forever. You have to fight for it. I just learned that. Don't let anyone take it away from you."

Riley blinked at her in silence, his expression incredulous.

She eased back enough to look into his eyes. "Find someone who makes all of you happy. I know I'm not her because you're not interested in me, and when the time comes, I'll step away quietly. Just let me have a few days with them. Let me know what it means to have a lover. By the time we have to return to the real world, I know it will fall apart, but can't you and I be kind to one another until then?" 

He held his hands up, shoving himself out of her embrace. "What are you doing? I've been horrible to you."

"I'm being true to myself. You're hurting, and I'm not the kind of person to ignore that. So I'm offering you comfort."

She slid against him, her eyes downcast because she didn't think she could stand to see censure in his stare. To her shock, when she pressed closer to him, she discovered that his cock was stone hard.