Chapter 43
“Absolutely not. It’s getting dark; you’re going to get hurt,” he says, concerned when she tries to reach the zipper on her dress.
“I’ll risk it,” she says, still trying to reach the zipper. She looks over at Riley, standing there watching her struggle. “Help me get out of this,” she says, giving her hips a small wiggle.
Riley stalks over and gently places his hands on her shoulders, spinning her around so he can access the zipper.
He slowly unzips her dress, sending a shiver of anticipation through her.
As soon as he’s done his hands are on her again turning her back to face him.
Her eyes meet his, holding his stare as he reaches up and starts to pull the strap down her arm.
She can’t take her eyes off of him, the soft glow of the setting sun making him look more god-like than usual.
“What are you doing?” she giggles nervously.
“You asked for help, so I’m giving it to you,” Riley says, eyes dropping to her other arm.
He reaches over and pulls the other strap down, causing her dress to fall and pool around her bare ankles.
His eyes darken, nothing but want in them at the sight of her.
She stands there, laid bare in front of him with nothing on but a small black thong, wondering if she’s taking things too far this time.
His eyes drop to her body, breasts put on full display before him, nipples pebbling from the cool mountain air.
“Fuck, baby,” Riley says, taking a step closer to her. “I didn’t think you could look any better, then you do this,” he says, looking at her exposed body.
“I should probably go before it gets too dark,” Liz says nervously, cheeks turning bright shades of red.
She ignores the wetness starting to grow between her legs, trying not to think about how much a single look from Riley sets her entire being ablaze. She strides to the tree line, hoping it will lead to the waterfall as she ventures in.
Liz didn’t take into consideration how exposed she was going to be until she started walking through the trees, trying to pick a path that wasn’t going to trip her up.
She carefully navigates around the rocks and tree roots under her, avoiding as many low branches as she can.
It takes longer than she had hoped, but she finally hears water and makes it to the small opening at the top of the waterfall.
She carefully makes her way over to the edge, looking down at the grassy field below, hoping to see Riley waiting for her.
Her heart starts to race when she can’t find him.
She slides closer to the edge, hoping he just went to the car or somewhere else she can’t see from where she stands, but still can’t find him.
Liz paces back and forth, unable to think of anything but Riley. She stops dead in her tracks when she hears something snap behind her. She looks into the trees, looking for an animal that may have caused it. When there is nothing, she begins to panic.
Anxiety rising, Liz starts to wonder if Dmitri sent his men after them.
She takes a step toward the trees, still trying to convince herself it’s just a bird or small animal, but small animals don’t sound like grown men walking, and those footsteps don't belong to Riley.
She can feel eyes boring into her back, watching her every move.
Liz looks around, thinking to herself. If she could find a trail, or spot a better way down, she may have a chance of getting away. If she walks back down, she runs the risk of the men being able to ambush her. She needs to choose, jump or run.
Her head snaps to the trees, footsteps growing closer.
She realizes the fastest way to get away from whatever is watching her is to just jump.
She will never be able to outrun them in the dark, so she steps up to the edge, takes a deep breath in and readies herself.
She spins back around when she hears footsteps now charging.
She doesn’t have time to register what is happening before Riley wraps his strong arms around her waist, picking her up as if she weighs nothing, sending them both flying over the edge, careening toward the lake.