Chapter Eight

Chevelle




River kissed me.

And not just a peck on the cheek or lips but kissed me kissed me. It was a fireworks behind my eyes, turned my world upside down, kind of a kiss.

But why?

“Why would you…do that…” I whisper, shock coursing through my veins as thousands of different thoughts cloud my mind.

Why did he just kiss me?

What does it mean?

How do I feel about the fact that he kissed me?

Does a kiss change things between us?

“I’m sorry...I just…” he stammers, face flushing with embarrassment. “Sorry...I shouldn’t have done that…” raising his hand to my cheek, he brushes it lightly before running it beneath one eye and then the other, I’m assuming cleaning up my makeup mess. “I really am sorry…I hope you know that. I don’t think of you just as a girl that was in a coma.” I nod my head in response, letting a moment of silence pass between us.

“That was my first kiss…” I murmur, as I wring my hands in my lap, trying to decide how I feel about it being with River. I mean, I know it wasn’t like my actual first kiss…but it’s the first one that I remember.

“Sorry about that…” he chuckles, trying to lighten the sudden tension surrounding us. “didn’t mean for your first kiss to be me mauling your face…”

“You didn’t…” I say, shaking my head back and forth as I scoot back on the bed, putting a little bit of distance between us, “maul me, I mean. You didn’t maul me. It was…” Mind blowing. Great. Fantastic. Out of this world… “nice…”

“Nice?” River says with a laugh, as though he can’t believe what he just heard. “I give you your first kiss, or at least one that you can remember since I highly doubt that you are that inexperienced and all you have to say about it was that it was nice?”

“Eh…you win some you lose some. Just don’t quit your day job. I’d hate to see what would happen if you took up kissing as a profession. You’d be jobless within a week. Maybe less.” I retort, biting the corner of my bottom lip as I pull my legs up to my chest and lean back against the wall.

“Just wait.” He remarks with a smirk, shaking his head as he eyeballs my bare legs. “That nice kiss, you won’t be able to stop thinking about it. It will haunt your every waking moment and will consume your dreams. Your nights will be a mix of heaven and hell. Heaven, because it will be me that you’re dreaming of. Hell, because you won’t be able to stand it. You will find yourself waking, weak and wanting. Mark my words.” River teases as he climbs from my bed and makes his way towards the hallway.

“Keep dreaming, loser!” I yell as he exits my room, his full bellied laugh echoing throughout the hallway.



⨳



My aching bladder wakes me from an incredible dream of full, plump lips and a rock-hard body that I could get lost in for days.

Damn him! I curse as I finish up in the bathroom, at the dawning realization that he was right about the kiss haunting my dreams.

Turning the corner, my thoughts are on the memory of the kiss combined with the dream from last night when I slam into the wall, before falling back on my ass.

A burst of laughter alerts me to who the culprit actually is rather than an innocent wall.

“Fucking hell, dude!” I screech at River, slapping him against his broad, very bare chest once I get to my feet.

River grasps my hand before I get to pull away, holding it against his chest, directly over his beating heart as he husks “bit distracted were ya?” The feel of his warm palm and the smooth skin of his chest against my hand causes a cold chill to course through my body, my skin breaking out in goosebumps as another feeling settles low in my stomach.

River slowly lowers his face towards mine, eyes zeroed in on my mouth; a smirk on his handsome face as he murmurs “told ya you wouldn’t be able to stop thinking about my mouth on yours.” Then, edging in just a bit closer, our mouths just a fraction apart, he holds my stare.

My heart’s a drum against my ribcage as I hold my breath, afraid that if I take even the smallest of inhalations, I’ll cave and close the small gap between our mouths, if for no other reason than to remind myself what it felt like, what he tastes like. Drawing me out of my thoughts, he whispers “you want to again, don’t you?”

My mind’s shut off. I’m not thinking responsibly or of what the ramifications may be if something were to happen between River and I as I close my eyes, fixing to give in to temptation just as the doorbell rings, breaking the moment.

“Saved by the bell…” River murmurs but doesn’t move as the bell goes off again. I can feel his breath against my skin, the tingle of anticipation on my lips. The bell rings for a third time, followed by a round of knocking as River slowly backs away, eyes never leaving my own as I try to slow my breathing.

Fucking hell! This man…how am I supposed to look at him as just a friend and not make things complicated when he walks around looking like that? Kissing me like that?

“Dude! What’s up?” I hear River greet whoever is at the door as I turn to make my way back to my room.

“Just in the neighborhood and thought I’d drop in. Haven’t seen you around much the last month or so. What’s going on?” another deep male voice says, as I hear the door shut in the living room.

“Just staying busy. You know how it is. How’s clinicals going?” River asks as I move to shut the door to my room, peering around it as I watch River and another tall, dark haired man walking into the living room.

River catches my stare, holding me prisoner for a few beats before throwing me a wink, his mouth pulling up in a cocky smirk as he continues with his guest.

Deciding that I need to get out of the house and away from River for a bit, I get dressed in a rush. I really wish that I had a girl friend to talk to about all of these feelings that are creeping up for River, I think as I glance at my reflection in the mirror, wondering what River see's when he looks at me.

After slipping my feet into a pair of slip-on shoes, I head for the front door. Rounding the corner, I see that River and the guy with the dark hair are deep in conversation and quietly make my way to the front door, hoping that I can get out without River noticing.

He will probably be mad that I left without a word but it’s better to act first and ask for forgiveness later then be told no, right?

“Where are you going?” River asks just as my hand turns the doorknob.

So close.

“Umm…to the mall?” I answer as I turn back around the face the duo.

“Are you walking?” he asks, a smirk on his face.

Shit! I hadn’t thought of that.

“Umm…I’ll just call a cab.” I say turning back towards the door to leave.

“Why don’t I go with you? I could use a few new things.” River suggests, standing and turning toward his friend he asks, “Wanna go to the mall?”

“Nah. I’m good. Need to be getting anyway. I don’t like leaving Callie any longer than I need to. She’s due any day now and I would never forgive myself if something were to happen and I weren’t there and I could have been. Ya know?” the dark-haired man replies as he gets to his feet also.

“Understandable. Well, tell Callie that I said hi and don’t be such a stranger. I know once the baby comes you won’t have hardly any free time but you both need to take a break every once in a while, for the sake of your own sanity.” River says as we step through the front door and out into the hallway.

“I’ll keep that in mind.” Then, turning to me, the dark-haired guy sticks out his hand, “I’m Fynn by the way since this guy here doesn’t have enough manners to introduce us. It’s nice to meet you.”

Fynn is tall and muscular with dark, mussed up hair and a strong but friendly face. He has vivid green eyes surrounded by thick lashes, his nose has a bump in it, like it may have been broken a time or two, a strong jaw covered with a fine layer of hair and full lips that turn up in a breathtaking smile, showcasing perfectly straight, white teeth. Fynn is beautiful, in a manly way, of course.

“Chevy...” I rush out when I hear River clear his throat. I feel the heat of embarrassment in my face at getting caught staring. “It’s nice to meet you too.” I murmur shyly, taking Fynn’s offered hand.

Releasing my grasp, Fynn turns to River, clapping him on the back, then pulling him into a manly hug.

“I can see why you’ve been so busy lately,” Fynn whispers quickly and then, “It was good to see you man,” he drawls as he pulls back, “I’ll keep in touch.”

River just smirks in response, glancing in my direction once again.

“Good to see you too and sounds good. Later man.” River says with a wave as we exit the apartment, making our way towards his truck.

I stand outside the truck, watching as Fynn gets into a black SUV and pulls from the parking lot.

“He’s married with a baby on the way. Don’t even think about it,” River says as soon as I close the truck door after climbing in.

“What are you talking about?” I ask, my stomach sinking at getting caught ogling the beautiful man.

“I saw the way you were looking at him. He’s taken. As for me, I’m all yours if you want me,” he says with an ear-to-ear grin before busting up laughing.

“Keep dreaming Romeo,” I say with a laugh as butterflies take flight in my stomach.

I’m honestly not sure if he’s being serious or not.

I also don’t honestly know which I would rather him be. I thought I had to just be friends with him, but some of the things I feel towards him aren't very friend-like.