CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
Grayson — 18 years old
“Grayson, wait.” Riley digs her feet into the ground, and I come to an abrupt halt. Stumbling into my back, a sound of surprise spills from her lips. “I can…explain. About what happened on Halloween night.” Her voice is meek, filled with anxiousness and worry. Scared.
I spin around, cupping her jaw between the palms of my hands. She grips the lapels of my jacket, holding on tight. As if she’s terrified I’ll somehow disappear right in front of her eyes.
I am so fucking pissed right now; I can’t think straight.
Lowering my forehead to hers, my chest shudders with a harsh exhale. “I shouldn’t have punched him, though he deserved it for being so careless with his words. But I should have controlled my anger better.”
Riley blinks.
I know my words sound a lot like an apology and maybe I am trying to apologize. I know violence makes Riley uneasy, and I hate that she has to see this side of me. I never want to frighten her, not with my strength or my fury. Riley doesn’t need to know and definitely doesn’t need to see the violence I’m capable of. I don’t want her anywhere near it.
“Colton made a scene,” she grumbles under her breath, still looking horrified by what he said back in the house. “But let me explain, please. About what he said.”
My lips brush against hers, and she looks taken aback by my sudden tender kiss. “I don’t need to know what happened between you and Colton,” I whisper into her lips, “it doesn’t matter, because you’re here with me now. You chose me.”
“It was never a choice between you and him,” she breathes softly.
My heart stutters.
I think I was scared to hear her version of what happened that night.
I don’t want to know what went on between them. Whatever physical happened, I picked up the emotional pieces of Riley that night.
She chose to stay in my arms.
She chose to trust me.
Whatever happened between Colton and her is in the past. Colton might have made it sound like something was going on between them, but I know Riley.
My girl is loyal to the core.
Our relationship was built on longing and trust.
Feelings we didn’t quite understand then, but are clearer now.
Her lips move under mine, tentative at first before Riley pushes herself on her tiptoes and deepens the kiss. “Grayson?” My name is a question on her lips.
I break the kiss and pull back enough to stare down at her wide, glassy eyes. “Yes?”
She swallows. “Thank you. For always believing in me, for trusting me, for always putting me and my needs first.”
My thumb brushes along her jaw, her skin soft and delicate under my touch. Riley leans into me, and I feel the beat of her heart, thudding erratically against my own. Shit, I’ve been trying to be patient, allowing Riley to set the pace.
I didn’t want to rush her into sex, especially after her experience with Jasper. She deserves romance and flowers. Sweet and slow.
But when she looks up at me like this — with warm eyes that speak of lust and needfulness, I can’t possibly hold back anymore.
Especially after knowing what I know now.
My time with Riley is limited…
I’m not ready to break her heart yet; I need more time with her. I need to love her a little longer, before I am forced to say goodbye.
A sharp pain pierces through my sternum. “Stay with me tonight,” I rasp hoarsely. “Don’t go home.”
Her mouth parts in surprise, before her cheeks redden. And then a pleased smile ghosts her lips. “Okay.” She sighs, melting into my arms.