Chapter 33 #2
Liz tosses in another pair of shoes, trying to act as normal as she can.
She looks over her cart, satisfied, she starts for the front to check out.
She passes the intimates and stops dead in her tracks.
She rushes over and quickly picks out some new panties and real bras.
When she turns to put them in her cart, she spies a lacy thing hanging on a mannequin.
Riley flashes through her mind, the image of him on his knees, touching her.
She rolls her eyes, knowing it is stupid.
She is being followed and needs to get out of the store but she can’t help herself.
She looks for her size and grabs the bundle of red lace and straps, tossing it in before she can change her mind.
She quickly checks out and wheels her overflowing cart back to where Riley waits for her in the truck.
He watches as she walks out the door, heading back before seeing the man behind her, looking around.
His eyes never leave her as she starts walking faster.
Riley gets out of the truck, rushing to the passenger side and popping open the door.
As soon as Liz reaches him, he puts his hand on the small of her back and ushers her in, closing the door behind her.
He turns and looks back to where the man was, glaring at him as he turns and walks in a different direction.
Riley quickly loads up the bags, gets back in, and starts driving to his next surprise.
“Get everything you need?” he asks.
“Sure did, and I promise I’ll find a way to pay you back,” Liz tells him, gazing out the window as the town passes by.
“Will you stop? You’re not paying for anything, love.”
Liz scoots over on the seat so she’s sitting next to him, resting her head on his shoulder. He reaches over and puts his hand on her knee, rubbing idle circles with his thumb.
“You know, Mikey’s going to make you show him everything, right?” he asks, squeezing her leg, causing her stomach to do flips.
She pulls her head back, looking at him like he has two heads. “You’re joking right? He’s not going to care what I got,” she says, nervously.
“Why? Something you don’t want him to see?” he teases.
“What? No, I just don’t know why he would care.”
“He hasn’t told you yet? You’re his best friend, tossed me out the window as soon as you started telling him jokes,” he says, chuckling to himself.
“You’re an ass,” she says, trying to scoot back to the passenger seat, hoping he won't let her.
Riley tightens his grip, stopping her from going any further, pulling her back into him.
The gesture sends her heart racing in the best way.
Giggling, she lays her head back down, loops her arm through his, and closes her eyes, enjoying the lightness he draws out of her.
It has been so long since she felt comfortable around anyone, let alone a man, but Riley is different.
He makes her feel safe and seen, asking for consent to touch her when he knows she needs to be in control.
Even the times like now, when he grabs her like it's second nature, she knows in her soul he would stop in an instant if she showed even a sliver of discomfort.
The respect he has continuously shown her since the day in the interrogation room has built the trust and respect she now holds for him.
“Hungry?” he asks, idly rubbing his thumb back and forth.
“Starving.” Liz doesn’t open her eyes until they pull into a small lot on the side of the road. A bar is tucked further back with a lot of men in uniforms standing around.
Riley throws the truck in park and Liz starts to wiggle her way back to the door. “Stay. I’ll be right back,” he says, opening his door and hopping out.
Liz watches as he disappears behind a banged-up wooden door.
She looks around, seemingly in the middle of nowhere.
Liz sees a few small buildings down the road, but nothing else around.
A few of the men outside the bar start to look at her.
She slinks down in the seat, silently begging Riley to hurry.
After just a few minutes, he emerges with a big bag in hand, quickly making his way back to the truck. He climbs in, hands her the bag of food, and pulls out, heading in the opposite direction. The smell of fried something fills the small space, making her mouth water.
“Why aren’t we eating there?” Liz asks, fighting the urge to rip the bag open and dig in.
“I thought we could go somewhere more… private,” he says, sliding his hand back onto her leg before quickly adding, “In case Dmitri makes a move to attack, fewer people will be at risk.”
Something in her tells her that’s not the real reason he wants to go to this secret place, but she’s too content to question him right now.
They don’t talk, just stay cuddled close until Riley pulls off onto a hidden dirt road.
Liz bounces around as he drives over holes and rocks, wondering why he would want to come out here.
She looks over at him only to catch his eyes darting to her chest, jiggling with every bump he hits.
“Is this why you’re bringing me out here? To watch my tits bounce?” she asks, giving him a playful nudge.
“You’ll understand when we get there. I didn’t know the road was this bad, but I’m not complaining,” Riley says, winking at her.
Liz opens her mouth to respond, but she can’t form words when she sees where they are. The road ends at a hidden grove with a lake and small waterfall.