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“Enough to eat pineapple on your pizza for the foreseeable future?” I cock a brow.

“Enough to eat pineapple on my pizza for the rest of my life.”

My heart does a full somersault in my chest.

There are not enough words in the English language to describe the intensity of my feelings for this man.

It happened slowly and yet kind of all at once.

He became a quest, a challenge, a thirst I simply had to quench.

But once I had him, I knew I had severely underestimated who actually held the power here. It was never me. I think, in a way, I’ve always known that.

He wasn’t a quest or a challenge. Those are just the things I told myself to make me feel like I still possessed even a semblance of control where River Parker was concerned.

Newsflash, I don’t. I never did.

He had me from the first time he smiled at me.

And what’s worse, I think he knew it too.

“I knew from the first moment I laid eyes on you that you were something special,” he says as if his thoughts mirror my own. “I’m happy to report just how right I was.”

“Now is not the time to gloat.” I smile, feeling much lighter than I have all day. “It’s time to order pizza.” I kiss the corner of his mouth before stepping out from under the water.

His eyes trace the movement, watching me as I exit the shower.

“Well, are you coming?” I ask, glancing at him over my shoulder as I slip into my robe.

“What do you think?” He grins, following me out of the bathroom moments later.

“Char.” My eyes flutter open and instantly meet River’s, his face so close to mine I can feel his warm breath on my face. “It’s time to wake up.” His hand touches my hair, fingers slipping through the tangled strands that I didn’t even bother to brush after getting out of the shower.

Pulling the blanket up to my face, I cover my mouth as I speak, having not yet brushed my teeth.

“What time is it?” The words drag up my throat painfully, like I gargled glass before falling asleep.

“Almost noon.”

“Noon.” I shoot up too quickly and the room spins for a brief moment. “How did I sleep so late?”

“I’m sure your body needed the extra rest.” He shifts in bed seconds before his lips touch the back of my shoulder. “How are you feeling?”

“Like I got hit by a truck,” I admit, the events of yesterday slamming into me.

As if my body suddenly remembers what my brain is just now revisiting, a horrible cramp twists my stomach, causing me to double over.

“Are you okay?” The worry in River’s voice is so clear he might as well have it tattooed on his forehead.

“Yeah. I just need... I need to use the restroom.” I throw the covers back, not the least bit concerned that I’m naked outside of my panties, which I kept on for obvious reasons.

Shifting, I can feel the overfull pad press against me, and I inwardly cringe.

Without another word, I stand and step softly across the small room before disappearing inside the bathroom. As I expected, the pad is saturated in dark blood, and I remove it as soon as I’m sitting on the toilet.

My stomach twists again, this time the pain more emotional than physical as I lean over, hugging my knees to my chest.

I don’t know why I feel sosad. I mean, I knowwhy, and I know everything I’m feeling is probably completely normal, but I certainly wasn’t prepared to feel it.