PART 16

Lucas' intentions changed the instant he pulled her body against his and wrapped his arms around her, splaying his hands over her back. She stared at him with wide brown eyes and in that insane moment he saw what it would be like to have her. He saw the ultimate possession, a sharing he'd never dared allow himself with any of the women he'd had in his life. White-hot passion. Basic driving need. A mindless surrender and he'd wanted as he'd never wanted before.

Without uttering a word, he dipped his head to hers, his thumb curving along her cheekbone as his lip made contact with her own. So surprised was she by his kiss that Riley gasped. Lucas deepened their kiss, opening his mouth wide over hers, thrusting his tongue to the back of her mouth. And all she can do was cling to his shoulders and kiss him back, and marvel at the fire that exploded in her stomach on first contact.

Never in her life had Riley been kissed with such exquisite care, or such generous attention. Lucas' mouth was first insistent, then tender, then a delicious mixture of both. Riley wanted to melt right there on the spot, and she was helpless to stop the soft sigh of delight that escaped her.

Lucas responded to that sigh by moving the hand at her waist higher, skimming it up over her back, then across her shoulders, then down again, to the top of her zipper. And that was when Riley realized things were getting out of hand, and that she'd gone too far. And that, finally, gave Riley the strength to pull away from him.

She couldn't make herself to look him in the eye. So many emotions were swirling around inside her that she didn't know how to act. The embrace she'd shared with Lucas had shaken her to her core, had made her feel happy and excited and needy and hungry. But there was shame and guilt and embarrassment and regret in the mix, too. Shame that she had behaved so unprofessionally. And regret that it wouldn't happen again.

Because it wouldn't happen again. This was a complication neither of them needed. There was no reason for them to get involved, and every reason for them to avoid it. And still she didn't know what to say or do.

Lucas, however, spared her having to say or do anything by simply mumbling softly, "Good night, Riley."

She heard his footsteps as he walked to his room. And even after all that, Riley still didn't know what to say or do.

…..

Idiot! Lucas cursed himself over and over. He shook his head and walked towards the mini bar in his room. Drink in his hand he turned on the stereo and looked out the window. It's late but the streets below are still alive and crowded, just like his thoughts.

Something in your eyes, makes me want to lose my self, makes me want to lose myself…in your heart

Something in your voice makes my heart beat fast, hope this feeling will last the rest of my life

If you knew, how lonely my life has been

And how low… I felt for so long,

If you knew how much this moment means to me, and how long I've waited for your touch…

If you knew how happy you are making me…Ohh, I never thought….

Fitting. Lucas had heard this song before but never paid much attention but now crazy as it may sound, he actually felt like the song was written by him.

…..

"Are we going to talk about what happened last night?"

It was Lucas, not Riley, who posed the question during breakfast the following morning. He'd promised himself when he awoke that morning that he would follow her cue, that if she pretended nothing happened, and then he would, too. But if she wanted to talk about it, then, he'd steel himself for the inevitable discussion. But she'd breezed into the kitchen with a bright smile and a cheery, "Good morning," and hadn't offered one indication that today was any different from those that had preceded it.

"No, we're not going to talk about it," she said.

He nodded. Okay. That was fine with him. Wasn't it? Hell, men never wanted to talk about that crap. So he'd just shut up now.

"Why not?" he heard himself say and he cursed himself for it, "I think we should talk about it."

He looked at Riley long enough to see her staring straight at him. "What's there to talk about?" she said.

Lucas clamped his teeth together at the question. Well, hell, honey, he thought, if it didn't move you enough even to remember it, then I'll just have to try harder next time.

Riley stood up and started clearing the table. "Lucas, what happened last night was a... I'm not going to say it's a mistake because I don't feel that, but it definitely should never ever happen again."

"We both know what's at stake here. I was sent here to do a job and I have to focus on that. I'm going out for a run."

…..

She kept up a rapid jog, taking turns at random, forced to slow to a brisk walk when she developed a stitch in her side. The breath heaved in and out of her lungs.

How could she have been so stupid? She almost tossed away the one thing that had been her sole purpose for the past eight years because of one man. Riley had always been practical and could fix almost anything, but she couldn't fix this-at least, not fast enough.

This wasn't her first time pretending to be something or someone else. She'd played other roles and she'd done it convincingly. So why is it that she's having a hard time pretending to be Lucas Friar's girlfriend? Because she doesn't want to pretend, she wanted to be Lucas' girlfriend for real.

Riley had never before met a man she wanted as much as she wanted Lucas Friar. Damn it, she is still a virgin! Other women had one night stands, swift-spur-of-the-moment relationships, if they could be called that. Why couldn't she?

She knew why. Riley wanted what her parents have. She wanted true and lasting love. Love driven by respect, loyalty, patience and understating. And for the first time in twenty-six years Riley is questioning if she will actually find her own Topanga.

…..

Riley had been gone for almost an hour and Lucas was starting to get worried when she walked in. Her t-shirt was sweat-soaked. Her shirt clung to her body; the bra that she was wearing was also wet and all but translucent as it moulds her rounded breasts and taut nipples.

Lucas' body reacted. He should suppress his feelings, but he wasn't sure how long he could. It seemed all he ever did since he met her was deny, smother or compromise. And he was getting damn tired of it.

"Did you have a nice run?" he asked.

"I did."

"I need to go to the studio. If you don't have any plans I would like you to accompany me."

Riley didn't feel like going anywhere but she didn't want to argue either. "Let me take a quick shower and changed and I'll go with you."

Sorry for the late update. Hope you guys enjoyed it. Please review and leave your comments. Happy Halloween 👻👻👻👻👻👻