Craved kisses.

River.

As I walked to Debbie's room, I hesitated for a minute before placing a soft knock on the door, waiting for her to respond.

I truly understood her plight and… even though I failed to understand why, I knew she was heartbroken. She, for one, didn't deserve being with that jerk. Nor even loving him the way she seemed to have.

Debbie was introduced to Black just one year after we returned to the pack. She was calm, collected, beautiful, sexy, hot! Everything I needed in a woman. And yes, I was jealous. I had seen the kind of person Black was, and I didn't want that for her.

She was too fragile for that monster.

A few seconds standing and she still hadn't answered the door. My hand flew to the handle—twisting, pushing. The door wasn't locked.

I pushed the door open. “I'm coming in,” I announced before stepping inside.

My eyes caught her. Debbie, lying on the bed.

Face down on the pillow. She wasn't moving. Didn't acknowledge my presence.

“Debbs,” I called softly while still standing by the door.

“Get back, please.” She muffled. “I don't want to see anyone. I just want to be alone.”

I ignored her. Walked to the table beside her bed. “I brought you food,” I announced as I dropped the food tray.

“Take it away, River. I don't need it.”

I scoffed. Walking up to the bed, I stared at her—the way she just lay there soaked in the sorrow caused by that good-for-nothing husband.

“Sweetheart, you need to get up. You have not had anything, and I don't want you to develop an ulcer here. Stand up. You need food.”

Then she turned. My eyes caught hers.

Fuck. Look at her eyes. She had been crying for hours.

I moved without thinking, squatting beside the bed.

“Debbie…” I drawled. “Look at you.” I looked around. There were tissues on the bed, under the blanket, on the floor beside her. “Debbie…”

She wasn't saying anything. She was just watching me.

Goodness, her beautiful face—a face that usually stirred something forbidden in my heart—was now laced with sadness. Thanks to Black.

I held her hand. “Get up, baby. You need to eat,” I whispered.

She scoffed. “Need to eat?” she asked in a clouded voice that resonated with her emotions. “Did you just say that I needed to eat? No! I don't. I don't need any fucking food!” she snarled low.

“I don't need y'all's food, I don't need no food at all. Pls… pls just… fucking take those shits away. I don't need them.”

My chest tightened. My eyes on hers as I squeezed her hand softly. “Why? Why don't you want food? Look at you. I'm very sure you have had nothing since yesterday, and today, I know you still haven't eaten, so why reject food?” I whispered—just loud enough for her to hear.

“Can't you see? River…” she called. And the glassy eyes broke into streams of tears. I held her hand in mine tightly.

“I'm too big. I'm too fat for anyone. Maybe…” She sniffed. “Maybe if I… if I just zipped my oesophagus up, I would be the perfect wife, the perfect woman. The perfect size that would be desirable.”

I froze. Not because of how she was crying but… like I was trying to understand what she meant by all those perfect this and that.

“Wait.” I released her hand. My brows furrowed.

“Debbie, are you by any chance talking down on your body?” I asked.

She didn't respond. She was still sobbing low.

“Are you by any chance criticizing your body, Debbs? Like… is that what happens with Black?” I asked again.

“River, I—”

“No.” I interrupted. “I want to know. Did Black ever say things to you that made you feel not enough?”

She shook her head. “No. He didn’t say things to me that made me feel not enough. I know. I… I know. I goddamned know that I am not… I am not enough.” She choked out.

I exhaled, my eyes shutting briefly.

Honestly, I didn't know where all those shitty things were coming from.

Debbie was perfect. She was everything I craved in a woman. Everything we wanted. Because I knew it wasn't just me. My brothers too.

She had the curves. Killer curves that any man would die for. Thick enough to make you want more than you can swallow.

I held her hands. “Look at me, Debbie,” I said.

She still wasn't looking at me. Her face remained on the mattress.

My hand gently flew to her chin, and slowly, I raised her head up.

Her sad eyes met mine.

There were some strands of hair on her face. My finger went up, gently pushing them off to the side.

“Debbie,” I called, voice low and calm. “You are beautiful. You are divine. You are… I… I don't know how to describe you. But baby, you're everything a man wants in a woman. And no, I'm not saying this because I want you to feel better.

“I had told you this before, and I will say it again. You are beautiful, sexy, fucking hot. Your presence can make any man drool.”

She didn't say anything. She just watched me.

I brought her hand to my lips, planting a soft kiss on it.

Then I leaned in. Slowly, until my face was now inches away from my brother's wife's.

I shouldn't do this, but I couldn't help it. Not after I had waited this long. My lips met hers.

I felt her freeze on my lips. Her breath hitvhed.

But I didn't stop. My lips worked slowly against her lips, tugging her lower lip into mine.

So fucking soft. Her lips were so soft. I had been dying to taste this sweetness for two fucking years. And now, I have it here.

 I felt the jolt of electric shock wash over me. My heart pounding in excitement.

My lips moved against Debbie's stunned ones. I knew she was still in a shock state, but don't worry, I was ready to help her loosen up.