Chapter 289: The Bathtub
When they reached Eli's room—his room, because at this point, it was practically Eli's second home—Riven pushed the door open with his foot. He helped Eli sit on the edge of the bed, steadying him when he swayed a little.
"There." Riven patted his shoulder. "You're tucked in. Mostly. Try not to die of embarrassment when you remember this tomorrow."
"Nothing about this is embarrassing," Eli murmured as he closed his eyes.
"We'll see about that." Riven still assumed that by the next day, things would change and Eli would backtrack. He was a soft bunny, he was not built to be a male lead and rival others. He was an MC, and people would become rivals for him!
He turned to leave, hand already pushing the door shut, when Eli's voice floated after him—small and soft and heartbreakingly earnest.
"Don't drink," Eli whispered.
Riven paused, his hand frozen on the door.
"You promised… Just one glass…"
Damn it.
For a second, he was tempted to say something clever, something dismissive, to brush it off like he always did when someone tried to scold him. But then he remembered Eli's wide, pink eyes that were firm. He would not allow Riven to drink another glass.
He let out a long sigh and shoved the door back open so Eli could see his face.
"Fine, fine," he grumbled, even though his voice was softer than he meant it to be. "I won't drink."
Eli managed a tiny smile. He looked so relieved that Riven had to quickly avert his gaze before his chest did that stupid ache again.
"Sleep," he muttered, flicking the blankets over Eli's legs. "And no more ambushing me when you're drunk."
Eli closed his eyes, clearly fighting sleep.
Riven stepped out, shutting the door quietly behind him.
Once he was in his room, he saw that wine bottle. It was just half-finished, glinting in the lamplight. He stared at it for a moment, then sighed, picked it up, and tried to find places to hide it in his room.
He didn't drink it.
He could have, and maybe that was the part that annoyed him the most.
But Eli's voice still rang in his ears—You promised.
So he shoved the bottle deep into the cabinet by his bed, hidden behind a pile of old books.
Then, with a low groan, he stripped out of his clothes and padded to the adjoining bath.
If Ronan came back early and smelled wine on him, he'd never hear the end of it.
Riven sank deeper into the warm water, steam curling around him like a lover's embrace. His eyes fluttered shut, relishing the moment of solitude, until the soft click of the door broke his reverie. He opened his eyes to find Ronan leaning against the frame, a smirk dancing on his lips.
"You had wine?" Ronan drawled, his gaze piercing through Riven's defences. Riven sighed, knowing all too well that damn dog nose of his could sniff out any secret. "Yeah, but only a glass. Eli monitored," he replied, a hint of defiance in his tone.
To his surprise, Ronan didn't launch into a lecture. Instead, he stepped closer, the air thickening with tension. With a slow, deliberate grace, he began to shed his clothes, each article falling away to reveal the sculpted lines of his body. Riven's breath caught, his eyebrows raising in silent invitation.
He had to suppress a lecherous giggle.
He watched, entranced, as Ronan's skin glistened, the water reflecting the flickering light. Riven couldn't help the smirk that crept onto his face—he wasn't about to say no to a hot man, not ever. As Ronan approached the edge of the tub, Riven's breath hitched.
Riven felt the warmth of the water envelop him as Ronan slipped into the tub behind him, the gentle ripple sending a shiver of anticipation down his spine. Ronan's arms wrapped around him, strong and possessive, pulling him back against that solid chest. The steam rose around them, making it even more intimate.
As Ronan began to nuzzle against him, kissing gently along the curve of his neck, goosebumps erupted across Riven's skin.
"I thought you would be mad that I drank," Riven murmured, trying to make sense of the thrill coursing through him.
Ronan chuckled softly, his lips brushing against Riven's sensitive skin. "We have only one night left, it's too short to get mad at you." His warm breath tickled Riven's wolf ears, making him squirm with delight.
With a sudden, possessive grip, Ronan clutched Riven's chin, tilting his head to face him. Riven's heart raced as their eyes locked, the intensity palpable. Before he could catch his breath, Ronan leaned in, capturing Riven's lips with a ferocity that left him breathless. It was a kiss like he was devouring him, raw and passionate.
Riven melted into it, parting his lips to let Ronan deepen the kiss, their mouths moving together in a frantic dance of need. The water sloshed around them, the only sounds beside their gasping breaths and Ronan's deep grunts.
With each kiss, Ronan's hands roamed freely, tracing Riven's sides, fingers curling possessively over his hips. Riven dared to grind down against Ronan, feeling the evidence of desire pressing against him. A low growl rumbled from Ronan's chest as he responded, his hands tightening around Riven's waist, pulling him in closer. "You're like a damn succubus."
"I will be taking that as a compliment." Riven purred.
Ronan's hand slid from Riven's waist, fingers trailing lower until they found the heat of Riven's shaft. He grasped it firmly, rubbing in a steady rhythm, coaxing soft moans from Riven's lips that melded into their fevered kisses. Each sound fueled Ronan's desire, igniting a wicked smile on his face as he absorbed the sounds.
Riven's head fell back slightly, breaking the kiss, his breath hitching as Ronan worked him skillfully. The water sloshed around them, mixing with the heat radiating from their bodies. Riven felt entirely consumed, his senses overwhelmed as he leaned into Ronan's touch.
"Tonight," Ronan whispered against Riven's ear, his voice low and sultry, "I want to take full advantage of every second. You're mine."