Thank you for the comments and reviews, it's very-very much appreciated.

And I'm happy to say that I will be posting a RUCAS Christmas 🎄Story so keep an eye...

Part 22

Lucas could not believe how low he'd stooped. He hated people who snoop around and yet here he is eavesdropping on Riley and Thor's conversation. He sensed trouble. If there was one thing Lucas has learned from these past few days, that is how to recognize trouble. He could now spot a potential trouble coming at him from a mile off. This particular trouble was a hell of a lot closer.

For the first time, she broke the silence since Thor left. "You can come out now," she said.

Behind her, the swing door swished open. Lucas dropped onto a stool by the counter.

Riley glowered at him. "Eavesdropping?"

"I need a drink – something stronger than coffee."

"Brandy sounds good," she offered.

Lucas stood; opened the cabinet and took out the brandy.

The silence had stretched on too long. She asked politely, "Do you have plans for today?"

"No." Lucas took a drink of brandy. "You?"

Picking up her glass to drain the brandy from it, "I need to make a phone call and maybe see someone," she said tautly.

Lucas stood up, and clasp her wrist. "You will not meet up with Fudo, Riley."

"You-will-not-tell-me-what-to-do!" she snapped.

His eyes were like green fire. Not stopping to think, Lucas dropped his head and kissed her, hard and fast and with all the pent-up emotion of the last hour. Then he stepped back, his heart juddering in his chest. "You promised Thor that you won't be seeing Fudo," he snarled.

His kiss, so unexpected, so forceful, had seared through her like a bolt of lightning. Her adrenaline sky-high, any caution lost in rage, Riley wrenched her wrist free and blazed, "That's a private conversation and I have no intension of breaking my promise!"

"Good," Lucas said blandly. Like a steel clamp, Lucas' hand closed around her shoulder. "I'm not sure what you're planning but if you need to speak to Fudo, then meet him here." With a deliberation that was subtly insulting, he released her and stepped back.

Unable to think of a thing to say, as furious with herself as she was with Lucas, Riley marched out of the room with as much dignity as she could muster.

…..

Riley was in a foul mood. She'd go mad if she didn't punch or shoot someone.

Events for the past weeks had moved at a breakneck pace and she hadn't found a single minute to regain her equilibrium. Not a moment to think. She'd simply been told what to do and had been expected to obey without argument. And she had, though it went against every instinct and every aspect of her personality.

She looked around and locked her bedroom door. Riley stripped to her underwear; breathing deep, she set off and did yoga. The exercise warmed her, and all the kinks—physical and emotional—of the last hours washed away.

An hour later, Riley was ready. She was overdressed, she thought, and decided to do without earrings and to leave her hair loose around her face. Her yellow blouse draped over her black trouser; she strapped a gun to her ankle and went in search of Lucas.

Riley stopped dead in her tracks, making a tiny shocked sound. Lucas was not alone when she found him in the living room. He swept her from head to toe in a single comprehensive glance.

Fudo Miyagi was standing beside Lucas. Fudo, she noticed, looked every bit as shocked as she felt. "Riley," he said gruffly.

She managed a small smile. "What are you doing here?"

Fudo shook his head and replied. "Your boyfriend invited me over."

Riley's forehead furrowed. "And why would you do that Lucas?"

Lucas just shrugged. Her expression turned furious. Riley pushed a wave of hair back from her face and walked towards Fudo.

Like Thor, Fudo is wearing dark glasses and no doubt to conceal a black eye. His lips swollen and cheekbone bruised.

Lucas cleared his throat. "Why don't we sit down?"

Riley motioned for Fudo to go first. She noticed him winced when he sat down. She frowned with concern. "Since your face is not as mangled as Thor I'm guessing he tackled you from below."

Fudo's laugh was low and self-mocking. "I think I'm getting too old for all of this."

Riley knows only too well what he means. Without his clothes on he'll probably looked as if he'd been run over by a truck.

Fudo tipped his head back, smiled up at her, dark eyes hot, wicked. "A good nurse and couple of days of R & R and I'll be good as new."

Something must have shown in Lucas' face; Fudo straightened, his muscles taut in a ferocious mixture of aggression and defense.

Impulsively Riley leaned forward, took Lucas by the elbow and propelled him towards the kitchen. The warmth of her skin surprised him.

"Where are we going?" he asked.

"To the kitchen, I need your help with the coffee."

His heels clattered as he dutifully accompanied her, his steps, she noted, matching hers stride for stride.

Distracted by her thoughts, she hadn't noticed that she stopped halfway through the kitchen. His chest collided with her back, pitching her forward, and Lucas had to grab her around the waist to keep her from falling. Heat rushed from her body to his.

Lucas found himself speaking into her hair. "Something wrong?"

"Do you really want to know?"

Oh sure. "Why don't I make the coffee?" he said instead.

Riley said nothing. She stood frozen in the kitchen, listening to the sound of metal clanking against metal.

Lucas thrust a steaming mug in her direction. "Here, warm up while you talk. Do you want milk?"

She shook her head. The coffee did smell wonderful. Riley took the mug, pausing a moment to press it against her breastbone. The warmth spreading through her torso wasn't like the heat that had shot through her a few minutes before, but it was comforting nonetheless.

"Lucas, you shouldn't have asked Fudo to come."

"You needed to talk to him."

"Yes I do."

"So what's the problem?" he asked.

"The problem is that you shouldn't involve yourself in any of this."

"It's a little too late now, don't you think? Come, we're being rude to our guest."

be ready folks...this is where the fun really begins 😎😎😎