Chapter 16
RIOT
I slip into the shadows, keeping my distance, but never letting them out of my sight.
Jasper’s dragging her through the crowd like a man on a mission.
His hand is around her wrist, his jaw set hard enough to crack.
I should let them go, give them their slight afterglow.
But fuck that—I’m not ready to be done. Not when I can still taste Sawyer on my tongue.
She looks over her shoulder once, breathless, cheeks flushed, lips ruined. Jasper’s too busy fuming, claiming her with every step, but I catch that flicker in her eyes. The one that’s still begging for more.
They duck behind a food truck, half-lit in the neon haze. I press close to the side, not even bothering to hide the grin stretching my lips. I want to see how he handles her now, want to know if she’ll let him wipe me off her skin or if she’ll keep the evidence to piss him off.
Jasper turns her, pinning her against the truck. His voice is rough, low, pure poison. “I said you could play, but I decide what happens.”
He kisses her like it hurts, his hand in her hair, thumb at her jaw—full possession. I should be jealous. Instead, it’s like a fucking challenge. The way she melts for him, the way her knees buckle, the way she clings—every second makes me want her more.
I watch her fix her lipstick in a daze, shaking, looking at herself like she doesn’t even recognize what we turned her into. There’s a hunger in her eyes now, something wild and shining. She likes this. She fucking loves it.
I wait until Jasper nudges her back toward the group before peeling myself away from the metal siding. My skin’s electric, my brain fried—I need clawing at my chest. I make sure I’m in her line of sight as they rejoin the others, smirking cockily and knowing.
Ash throws me a look, but I just shrug, hands in my pockets, like I haven’t been watching them the whole damn time.
I grab a tray of food, slide right in on Sawyer’s other side at the table, and watch Jasper’s jaw tighten at my presence.
Perfect.
Sawyer barely glances at me, cheeks still flushed, lips bitten raw. I bump my knee against hers under the table and lean back, acting like I don’t care who sees us.
Ash clocks me first, smirking around a mouthful of fries. “Damn, Riot, I didn’t realize you were part of our group now. Are you following Sawyer around, or is she following you?”
Jace, never one to miss a chance to stir shit, laughs. “Or maybe he’s just hoping for a little group action. You know what they say about tour life.”
Sawyer huffs and flips them both off, but there’s no bite behind it. She’s still running hot—her knee presses into mine like she can’t help it.
Silas joins in, voice a little too casual. “So, Riot, are you sticking around our place for the extra days? Or are you just planning to kidnap Sawyer and take her with you?”
I shrug, grinning wolfishly, letting my gaze slide to Jasper’s. “Might have to change my plans; seems like I might miss the fun.” I pause, cocking my head, challenging Jasper without saying a word. “If the company’s good, I’m happy to join in.”
Jasper stabs a fork into his food, not looking away. “Just remember you’re a guest. And guests know their place.”
I chuckle, letting my hand rest on the table close to Sawyer’s, fingers almost brushing hers. “I’m a delightful guest, Reign. Really polite. I always say thank you when someone shares.”
Ash howls with laughter. “Oh, shit. He’s got jokes.”
The tension at the table is thick enough to cut. The rest of the guys act like it’s all fun and games, but there’s an edge in every look Jasper throws my way. I’m not backing down—not tonight.
Sawyer sits there silent, but I see the way her thighs squeeze together, the way her tongue darts out to wet her lips. She’s trapped right in the middle of us and loving every second of it.
I lean in, dropping my voice low, just for her. “Hope you saved room for dessert, Temptress. ‘Cause I’m not done trying to taste you.”
She shivers, her eyes darting to Jasper—like she’s checking to see if he’ll let this game keep going.
I hope he does. Because I’m just getting started.
I lean in, elbows on the table, voice pitched just for her but loud enough for everyone to hear. “Sawyer. You wanna walk with me? Get away from the crowd for a minute?”
Sawyer glances at Jasper, biting her lip. There’s a beat of loaded silence.
Ash whistles obnoxiously. “Better check with her handler first, Riot.”
Jace grins, fake-innocent. “Bet five bucks Jasper follows within thirty seconds.”
Silas arches an eyebrow, gaze sharp. “Sure, you two can behave out there?”
Jasper doesn’t say a word, but his eyes slide over to me, cold and unblinking. “She’s a grown woman. If she wants to walk, let her walk.” But there’s something dangerous under the calm.
Sawyer sets her soda down, pushing to her feet. “It’s just a walk, boys. Try not to burn the place down while I’m gone.”
I stand and hold my hand out, fingers brushing her hip as she passes—just enough to remind everyone what game we’re playing.
Ash hums. “Just a walk, huh? Sure.”
Jace, laughing. “If we hear screaming, we’ll send backup.”
Sawyer rolls her eyes, but I see that thrill in her as we head off, the group still watching, talking shit behind us as we disappear into the blur of the midway.
SAWYER
Riot’s hand is warm and a little too tight around mine as we cut through the crowd, the carnival lights washing us in gold and red. I glance over my shoulder, just once—Jasper’s stare pins me in place.
“You know he’s watching, right?”
Riot grins, all wicked teeth. “Can’t say I blame him. If you were mine, I wouldn’t let you out of my sight, either.”
I bump his shoulder, pretending not to care, but every nerve ending is lit up. “So what’s your plan? Just wanted to show off in front of everyone?”
He shrugs, cocky and a little softer than I expect. “Maybe I just wanted a moment with you alone. Or as alone as we get out here.” His thumb traces the inside of my wrist, sending a shiver up my arm.
We drift past the games, the sugar and grease of the fair in the air. For a minute, it’s almost easy. But there’s nothing easy about the way Riot looks at me, or the way Jasper’s shadow stretches across every thought.
Riot’s thumb draws circles over my pulse as he chooses his words. “Forget about Reign for a second,” he murmurs, stepping closer so our shoulders brush. “This isn’t about him. Not right now. Just you and me. I want to know what you want, Sawyer. No games, no audience—just us.”
For a second, it feels like the rest of the carnival falls away. The noise, the lights, even Jasper’s shadow—none of it matters when Riot looks at me like I’m the only thing that exists.
I swallow, caught off-guard by how much I want to give him an honest answer. “I don’t know what I want,” I whisper, but it’s a lie. I know exactly what I want—him, this, the feeling of being wanted for me and not just as something to fight over.
Riot’s eyes soften just a little, that reckless edge still there, but something more vulnerable underneath.
“Then let me show you,” he says, his thumb tracing up my wrist to my jaw, tilting my face up to his.
“Just for tonight, Sawyer, let me have you all to myself. You deserve to feel what it’s like when somebody puts you first.”
My breath catches—he’s close enough that all I have to do is lean in. For once, I don’t look back at Jasper. I don’t need permission.
I let Riot close the space, his mouth brushing mine in a slow kiss, nothing like the wild energy he’s known for. He kisses me like I’m glass, and for a moment, it’s just us—no one else.
Riot’s fingers stroke the inside of my wrist, feather-light, sending little sparks racing up my arm. “You know I could be gentle with you, right?” he murmurs, lips ghosting over my jaw. “Not everything has to be rough. I can take my time with you, Sawyer. Make you feel good…make you feel wanted.”
His voice is lower, more intimate than I’ve ever heard it, heat simmering just beneath the softness.
“I could lay you back right here, hands all over you, take you apart slow. Make you cum for me so sweet, so soft, you’ll forget anyone else is even here.
” His breath fans over my ear, making me shiver.
“You’d let me, wouldn’t you? Let me hear those pretty sounds, just for me? ”
I can’t help it—I press in closer, the world blurring around us. “Riot…”
He smiles against my cheek. “That’s it, Angel. Let me spoil you a little. Let me break you down slowly. I want to taste every sigh, every moan. I want to feel you shake for me—just me. You’d like that, wouldn’t you?”
His hands slide down my sides, lingering at my waist. “You want soft tonight? I’ll give you soft. You want rough, I’ll ruin you for anyone else. Just say the word.”
My breath stutters out, every inch of me turned inside out by how gentle Riot’s voice is—by the promise simmering underneath.
For once, I don’t want to hide it. I look up at him, my voice quiet but wrecked.
“I want both. I want you to take your time with me…make it last. But I want you to ruin me, too.”
He grins, brushing his thumb across my bottom lip.
“Yeah? That’s what you want, Hellcat?” His voice is barely a whisper, but I feel it everywhere.
“You want to feel my mouth on you like I’ve got all night to worship you…
but you want me to take it rough when you start begging.
You want my fingers inside you while I whisper in your ear exactly how you taste.
You want me to make you scream for me—and then cover your mouth so no one else gets to hear you. ”
I shiver, lost in the heat of him, the softness and the hunger twining together until I can’t tell where one ends and the other begins. “Yes,” I whisper, shameless, letting him see every broken, desperate part of me. “God, yes. Please.”