Page 18 of A Lesson in Deceit (Mystic Riegan Duet #1)

Riley

I woke up early the next morning, the sun just peeking out.

I slid out from under River’s arm, my legs a little sore.

In the middle of the night, he’d rolled over, kissed me, and asked if he could make me come.

That time was slow and with my hands held above my head, while he looked down at me in the dark.

I tiptoed out of the room, my stomach needing food.

I’d only eaten nearly all the mini pretzels and most of the popcorn last night and I was in major need of something with substance.

I heard gentle snoring coming from downstairs.

Grayson was still here, happily snoozing away.

That didn’t mean he wasn’t up last night, watching me get railed by my boyfriend.

I pinched the bridge of my nose, making a mental note to find a way to gather enough courage to bring it up in a private conversation.

I let out a sigh before I turned to head down the stairs, when I heard a door open.

I turned my head making eye contact with Asher.

I swallowed, watching as he slowly closed his bedroom door.

His eyes roamed over me, taking in his brother’s shirt and my less than put together exterior.

There was a tiny glint in his eye that almost looked intrigued but as if practiced, his face went back to vague disinterest.

“Long night?” he asked, the tone in his voice telling me that he didn’t actually care.

“No, it was just fine. Thanks.”

One side of his mouth pulled into a smile. “I bet it was.”

“Excuse me?” My words came out in a harsh whisper.

“In case you need a reminder, I happen to live here too. When I come home at night and hear the tiny whimpers of my brother’s girlfriend coming from his bedroom, I think I can assume that the night was more than fine.” He stuck his tongue between his teeth, chuckling.

I stood there with my mouth open. “Y—You…you didn’t stand there and watch, did you?” Maybe it wasn’t Grayson there, maybe I had been wrong.

He licked his lips, whispering, “I came home later than I expected and I’m a respectful person, so I don’t like to make a lot of noise if I get in that late.

I wasn’t expecting to walk by his room and immediately need to tune you out because as much as I’ve shared with my brother, I’m not really interested in hearing him make you come, Riley. ”

I wanted to vomit over the fact that my boyfriend’s brother and professor used the word come in relation to me. “Oh, so it’s Riley now?”

He rolled up the sleeves of his button down, giving me another glimpse at his tattoos.

“We aren’t at school, but if you’d prefer me to call you Miss Monroe from now on, then okay.

That’s your choice.” He leaned his hip against the stair railing, getting closer to me.

It made me very, very aware that I only had River’s shirt on and nothing else.

“Or I could call you little liar, since you have yet to tell me what you were really doing yesterday.” His voice was lower now and I could hear my own sharp breathing with the silence that surrounded us, save for Grayson’s gentle snoring.

“I’m not a…”

“I’m not really interested and if I ever made it seem like I was, I apologize.” He placed a hand on his chest, his eyes narrowing at me. He moved around me to the stairs.

I curled my hand into fists, blowing out a few breaths. I threw my hair over my shoulder and turned to watch as he descended the steps. “Since we aren’t in school does that mean I can call you Asher or do I still have to call you sir ?”

He stopped walking at the second to last stair, turning to look at me.

I gave him a triumphant smile even though I was filled with so much anxiety from this little run in.

“Or maybe I’ll just use Mr. St. James, since I have a feeling that if you had to choose between the other two, you like the latter far too much.

” I scoffed taking the stairs two at a time, sailing past him.