A loud groan escapes my lips as I lift my head up from the pillow.

I rub my eyes, clearing my vision, and glance around the room I'm in. It's a little dark and I'm the only one here.

I peer out of the window to my left. Oh god. I'm at Dallas' house. Vague memories of last night resurface in my foggy mind.

The party. Drinking with Liv. Jax being a certified creep. River in the mask.

I look for my phone and find it on the floor next to the bed, along with water, paracetamol.

I quickly down the paracetamol with a gulp of water. My head feels like I've went fifty rounds with Mike Tyson.

I then glance at my phone and see that it's 4pm.

I send River a quick text.

Where are you?

I throw the bedsheets back and climb out of bed, padding over to the nearby ensuite.

My phone pings.

Downstairs. We're heading into town for some food before Dal's party if you want to come.

I quickly text back.

I have no clothes. Last night's dress is ruined. I also need a shower.

My phone vibrates as I'm searching for something to get rid of the godawful taste in my mouth. I find a bunch of brand new toothbrushes under the sink and rejoice.

I read River's reply whilst I brush my teeth.

Take a shower then. There's a dressing room in the room next to the one you're in. You'll find something in there.

I frown at my phone screen. Whose are they?

My phone vibrates a minute later.

No one's right now. Dallas buys them for the girls he brings back.

I shake my head. A sugar daddy in the making.

Thanks. I'll come then!

My phone vibrates.

For me you will. Later.

I feel my heart start to race as I type out my reply. My fingers hesitate over the send button.

I shrug and send it.

Hm. Depends on how good you are.

River replies lightning fast to that.

Come downstairs and say that to my face.

A small smile works its way onto my lips.

Make me, Kavinsky.

When a few minutes pass and he doesn't reply, I decide to make my way to the dressing room.

I peel off my dress from last night, and find a pleated skirt and cropped tee that's kind of my style. I pull the tags off, almost having a heart attack at their prices.

Once I'm filled dressed, I exit the room and pad down the hallway. I pocket my phone as I round a corner, and find myself stifling a small scream.

River is walking towards me, hands in the pockets of his grey sweatpants. His eyes meet mine, and darken a little as they take in what I'm wearing.

I back up until I meet a wall. I press myself into it. River smiles, watching me.

"Aren't we going ou-

I gasp as River grabs me and pulls me away from the wall, before throwing me over his shoulder.

"Be quiet."

He walks up a whole flight of stairs with ease and he strolls into his room with me slung over his shoulder.

A few seconds later, I'm thrown down onto his bed. I sit up as he snaps his door shut.

I laugh and say, "Aw. Looks like I might have hurt your ego."

River's green eyes meet mine as he sits down on the edge of the bed next to me.

His deep voice sounds, "Come here, Ana."

I think about disobeying his commend, just to infuriate him more. But then I eye the way his muscle tee clings to his lean upper body and places emphasis on his toned, tatooted forearms, and I'm crawling towards him.

I climb onto his lap, my knees resting either side of his thighs and my hands placed on his shoulders.

I look at him, feigning a bored expression. "Yes?"

River searches my face. "What do you remember of last night?"

I raise my eyebrows in surprise. "Um. The party... Jax... You. Where's your mask?"

I press against him and add, "I liked it. It was sexy,"

River's hands finds my waist and still me. He frowns a little and asks, "Do you remember the car ride home?"

I pause for a second, searching my brain, before shaking my head. "No. Why? Did something happen?"

Disappointed flits across his features. But it's gone as quickly as it came. He nonchalantly replies, "Nothing important."

River then tilts his head to the side, and says, "So, do I disappoint you in bed, Anatolia?"

At the dangerous look in his eyes, I let out a nervous laugh. "Uhm-I-

One of his hands slides to my thigh and grips it, scrambling my thoughts.

When I finally find my words, I say, "I was just reminding you that you're not God's gift to every woman."

His hand slides up my leg, under my skirt. My breathing becomes a mess. "Oh, yeah?"

I let out a breath as his hand finds the front of my underwear. There, he draws slow circles.

Shakily, I say, "But-you could always make me change my mind."

River chuckles darkly as he presses a thumb against the pink fabric of my underwear, causing me to moan. His lips meet my neck and he whispers into it, "I don't need to. We both know you're lying."

I arch my back into him as he lowers his lips to my neck. My eagerness causes him to draw back.

His dark, green eyes meet mine and he asks, "A little while ago, I asked you what you think of me. You said-

My eyes drop to his chest. They trail over his tattoos. "I don't think anything of you."

As the words leave my mouth, he moves my underwear to the side and touches my entrance.

I almost let out a scream at the feel of it.

"What would be your reply now if I asked the same thing?"

I rock my hips, desperate to feel more of him. River obliges and slides a finger deep into me.

"Fuck, River, I want-

River shushes me. "Answer the question, and I'll give you more."

His finger strokes into me, again and again.

Release shimmers in the distance, and I reply, "Everything."

River withdraws his finger, before adding another. They both plunge back into me, driving deeper and deeper.

As one hand pleasures me, he uses the other to grip my chin and tilts it upwards, forcing me to look at him. "Come for me, Anatolia."

Moments later I do, and then I collapse against him as he withdraws his fingers.

He tentatively holds me there against his hard body.

After a while, he breaks the silence by saying, "You know, right from day one at Thornhill-when you came stumbling into my math's class, I wanted you."

I sit up and look at him, startled. "What are you talking about? No, you didn't. You didn't even like me."

I thought of the times over the years where we'd shared classes and River had caught me staring at him. He'd always given me an icy stare in return. Or simply got up and left.

River's hand brushes my shoulder. "I didn't. I liked you, and I didn't know what to do with it. So I covered up my little crush on you with ignorance. Pretended you weren't even there. And on the days where I couldn't, I simply hoped you disliked me enough to never engage with me."

My mind reeling at this new information, I ask, "Why would you hope for that?"

"You have a good life, Ana. I didn't want to fuck it up."

I smile at him. "Just wanted to fuck me instead?"

River laughs at this, "Oh, I definitely daydreamed about doing that over the years."

I feel my cheeks burn, but not as hot as usual. River Kavinsky, the boy every girl at Thornhill had wanted for the past six and a bit years, had dreamed about having me.

I'd be lying if I said I hadn't ever glanced over at his strong body and God-given face in class, and pictured his mouth on mine as he pushed me up against the lockers and-

"We should go."

River's deep voice snaps me out of my daydream.

I nod and say, "After food, I need to stop by my house before Dallas' party. To tell them where I'll be and who with."

River raises an eyebrow at me as he stands. "Are you sure they won't lock you up if you do that?"

I get to my feet next to him, fixing my skirt as I do so. "I don't know. Maybe. But I don't want to keep the fact I'm seeing you a secret anymore-if that's OK with you."

He nods once and takes my hand, leading me out of the room. "That's more than OK."