Chapter 14
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Riley
This is the moment I’ve been waiting for—him to admit he wants me just as much as I want him. But after what just happened on the beach with Parker, it feels wrong. There’s no way I’m telling him that Parker caused the jet ski mess. He'd lose it.
Grabbing his hand, I place it over my heart as I gaze into his anxious eyes.
“I want you to know that you already own my heart. I gave it to you the day I looked in the mirror and discovered the person you see when you look at me, not the devil my mother made me out to be. You know I’m the one who’s been pushing you to take this to the next level, but after everything that happened today with Parker, I don’t want our first time to be a reminder of that.
” Suddenly, I think of Parker’s lips on my breasts, causing me to shudder.
He leans his forehead against mine. “I would never push you to do anything you’re not ready for. You know that, right?”
“I know, I trust you completely. Would it be okay if I spent the night with you after the bonfire on Friday night?” I ask nervously.
He rubs his hands up and down my arms. “If that’s what you really want, then I’d love for you to stay.
” He gazes tenderly at me. “All I want is to spend the night with you curled up in my arms and to be the first person I see when I wake. I won’t be the one to rush you into anything you’ll regret later.
” He kisses me gently on the lips before he stands up, placing me next to him.
As we walk toward the house, it finally dawns on me what he just said. “Do you think I’m still a virgin?” I ask, stunned.
He turns to me while shrugging his shoulders. “I know you led a sheltered life, so I assumed you were.” He brushes my cheek with his thumb, trying to hide his embarrassment.
“Well, you know what happens when you assume, right, Hunter?” I’m grinning from ear to ear, right now.
“Yeah, I do, but please don’t make me say it.” He starts to laugh, his cheeks flushing a bright shade of red. Finally, he’s blushing for a change.
“You make an ass out of you and me.” As I say the word ass, I smack his for good measure. Wow, talk about buns of steel! Now I’m blushing too.
“I knew you had to go there. You couldn’t drop it, could you?” He lowers his eyes, shaking his head.
When we walk into the kitchen, he leans down and whispers in my ear. “I don’t want to ruin the moment, but I think you should check if your dad’s home and talk to him about Parker. If you want me there for reinforcements, just call.”
His hands are firmly splayed around my waist as I turn my head, capturing his mouth with mine. I hear his sharp intake of breath when I taste him for the first time. When I pull away, I meet eyes filled with heat and hunger. “Thank you for rescuing me today. I don’t want to think...”
He presses his finger to my lips to hush me. “I will do anything to keep you safe; you know that.”
“I know you want to protect me, but I don’t want you to get in trouble because of me. I will talk to my dad about what happened.”
“Talk to me about what?” Crap, I didn’t realize Dad had walked into the kitchen. I’m so busted.
* * *
Hunter
I left Riley so she could have a private conversation with her dad. It’s her decision how she handles the situation. She’s been mostly on her own since she was six, which has given her a maturity beyond her eighteen years.
I wonder how old she was when she lost her virginity, how many guys she’s slept with, and if she’s using any form of birth control. I have a million questions racing through my mind. Damn, I need a beer.
Grabbing one out of the fridge, I flop down on the couch and put my feet up on the table.
Then it hits me like a ton of bricks: I’m crazy about a girl I don’t know jack shit about.
I don’t know what her favorite color is, what kind of music she likes, or what her favorite food is.
Wow, this is starting to bother me like crazy.
But, after finishing my beer, I realized these are the trivial things you learn about someone after dating them for a while.
Riley’s the reason my heart beats faster and I get this silly grin on my face when I see her because she’s courageous, forgiving, gentle, and kind.
The thought of being alone when I was six years old terrifies me, yet she did it, and that makes her brave.
The fact that she has forgiven her father for walking out on her and her mother shows she is a better person than I could ever be.
I see the kindness in her eyes every time she looks at me, touches me, or kisses me.
When I shared my family story with her, she didn’t pity me; she only showed kindness and affection. Now I feel like an asshole because I haven’t been completely honest with her, but if I tell her the truth, I might lose her. I’d rather die.
Getting up to grab another beer, my cell phone vibrates in my pocket.
“Hunter, could you please come to the house?” she’s hysterical. “My dad wants me to press charges against Parker.” She’s sobbing uncontrollably.
“I’m already out the door. Don’t cry, baby, it’ll be okay.” I take the stairs two at a time, open the kitchen door, and she throws herself into my arms. Slipping my hand under her hair, I rub the nape of her neck.
She has her arms securely around my waist, and I can feel her hands clutching my shirt, trying to pull me closer. “You have to make him understand, I can’t do it! I won’t do it!”
My hands cradle her face, and I use my thumbs to wipe away her tears.
Tilting her head so she’s looking up at me, I say, “Riley, why don’t you let me talk to your dad alone?
I’ll give him my version of what I saw, and we’ll go from there.
” I kiss her forehead, the tip of her nose, and then her pouty lips.
“He’s in his office,” she says as I walk out of the kitchen.
I get ready to knock on his door when it opens. “I only have a few minutes, come on in.” He walks over to his desk, leaning on the corner. “First, I’d like to thank you for being there, I don’t even want to think…” He shakes his head, too upset to finish.
“You don’t have to thank me. Just give me a moment to tell you exactly what I saw.” He nods, so I start talking.
My jaw tightens as I tell Scott what happened. I don’t want to sugarcoat it, so I describe Parker’s behavior—as if he were high.
“I’m leaving now to talk to Jim, Parker’s dad.
I’ll see how this meeting goes first before we do anything drastic.
My main concern, and it should be Riley’s as well, is that this doesn’t happen to any other girl.
The next girl might not be so lucky; she might not have a hero to save her.
” He walks over to shake my hand before heading out the door.