Goddess Revenge: Goddess Series Book 4 (Young Adult / New Adult) by M.W. Muse

the same pleasant but manly scent he wore on his birthday.
    He followed her to the media room where Calli and Paul were already plopped on the couch. It was a small media room. Calli’s parents didn’t really like the movie theater feel of home theaters that were popular of late; rather, they wanted to be comfortable and cozy while watching movies on the state-of-the art flat screen with surround sound system. Instead of oversized recliners, the Rhodes had a custom overstuffed couch and ottoman built to fit in the back part of the room. Legacy and River had to climb onto it, and it was big enough that several people could spread out in several different directions without touching each other.
    She passed Calli a bowl of the popcorn, and River handed them their drinks before he and Legacy scooted into place. They sat right beside each other, their legs touching. When the movie started, the lights automatically dimmed in increments until the only light radiating in the room came from the screen. As soon as it was dark, she felt as if she was alone with River in this room. Even though it was small, Calli and Paul seemed to be far enough away that they might as well have been in another room entirely.
    When she lifted up slightly to grab her drink, River gently stroked her back. As she eased back against the couch, he slowly slid his hand up and across her back so that his arm was wrapped around her shoulder and she was up against him rather than the couch. They both munched on the popcorn while they watched the movie, their hands brushing against each other every now and then in the bowl.
    But no way was she actually watching the movie. It was some action flick that Calli had picked, thinking the guys would like it. Legacy was too focused on every move and every sound River made to even think about paying attention to the screen. She was obsessing about River, analyzing everything. He’d been careful the first time he’d put his hand on her knee, just like he had been again today. But if he was keeping what happened between them private, did he feel that way about showing affection in front of Paul and Calli? He did put his arm around her, which either meant he didn’t care what they thought, or it was too dark and they were too self-involved to care about the likes of them.
    But then again, he’d put his arms around her plenty over the last six months. Ugh! She didn’t need to think about what he might do. She just needed to let go and enjoy—truly enjoy—this time with him.
    About thirty minutes into the movie, she turned to River. “Please move the popcorn so I’ll stop eating it.” She chuckled.
    He laughed lightly and set it on the other side of his legs. Then he lifted the hand that was dangling off her shoulder and gently stroked her hair while he went back to watching the movie. He lightly ran his fingers through her hair, grazing her scalp every few strokes, making it prickle. She tilted her head in his direction, her breath hitting the crook of his neck with each exhale while she breathed in his scent—a scent she was finding more and more pleasant—with every inhale.
    River’s breathing spiked a few seconds after she’d started breathing against his skin. He slowly slid his other hand onto her leg while he turned his head in her direction, resting his cheek against her forehead, knotting his hand in her hair.
    She wondered if he was peeking at their company. She didn’t really care at this moment if they noticed what was happening. What did that mean? She immediately blocked that worry and placed her hand on his chest. A soft gasp escaped his lips. Then he moved the hand he’d just placed on her leg up to the hand that was on his chest. He gently caressed it.
    Legacy pulled her hand away, just slightly, and River continued to rub it until their palms touched. He rubbed his palm against hers, lightly grazing his fingers against hers. That light touch tingled throughout her hand, making her move her