CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN
Colton — 21 years old
We rode for an hour.
Until we reach the winter carnival I wanted to bring Riley to.
The feel of Riley’s arms around my middle, clutching me like I’m her lifeline or, somehow, her salvation. She doesn’t need to say it out loud, I know I’ve gained her trust. Two years of patience…
She trusts me to keep her safe, to protect her.
It feels like I’ve won the fucking lottery.
The winter carnival is supposed to be my surprise for her. I’m trying to sneak in a little date, without Riley noticing.
But then, she’s sharp and intelligent. I know she’ll catch on soon.
I wait for her to descend safely from the motorbike before I climb off too. Riley removes her helmet and looks around her in absolute awe. “I’ve never been to a carnival before,” she whispers, her eyes bright with curiosity as she takes in everything.
Really?
Warmth spreads across my chest and fills my lungs. I didn’t know she’s never been to a carnival before, it makes my surprise even more special now.
My stars have finally aligned. It’s all happening the way I want it to. Now I just have my debt left to collect, and once I do that— I’ll have everything I’ve ever wanted.
My eyes rove over her face, staring at her flushed cheeks. There’s still time left to collect what I’m owed, but Riley is not ready yet.
In the meantime…
I’m going to give her the best memories tonight; memories she’ll never want to forget.
I grasp her hand in mine, and she looks down briefly at our entwined fingers before going back to staring at the glowing Ferris wheel. She doesn’t pull away from my touch.
“Wanna ride the Ferris wheel?” I ask, still watching her. I can’t seem to tear my eyes away from her face. She’s just so goddamn beautiful. And cute.
Riley nods excitedly. “Yes! Can we? I’ve never been on a Ferris wheel before.”
She’s like a kid, innocent and eager in her curiosity.
I grin, brushing my thumb over the back of her knuckles. “We’re going to change that tonight.”
It’s a little late and the carnival closes in an hour, so most people have already left. The crowd is dwindling. We make our way to the waiting line of the Ferris wheel. There’s only a couple before us. I pay for our tickets and then nudge Riley to get into the empty seat, before I slide in next to her.
The girl operating the machine closes the metal bar around us and locks it, before the Ferris wheel starts moving again. Our booth sways back and forth. The higher we go, the tighter Riley holds onto the metal bar until she’s got a death grip on it. Her knuckles turn white, and her wide eyes are too big for her face.
“Are you scared of heights?” I ask, pulling her fingers away from the metal bar and holding her cold hands between mine. I bring them up, closer to my mouth, and blow, trying to circulate some heat with my warm breath.
Her chest rattles with a sharp exhale. “I didn’t know until now, but I think I might be.”
Hmm. “I can help you with that, can help you forget about how high up we are.”
Her hands are too cold, so I take out the leather gloves from my pocket and help her wear them. She lets a happy sigh the moment her hands are covered and wrapped up in warmth.
“Help me?” She tilts her head, regarding me with a soft look in her eyes. “How so?”
I bring my hand up, my fingers curling around the back of her neck and I tug her toward me. My thumb strokes the pulse in her throat, my breath feathering over her lips. “I can kiss you. Would you like that, Riley? Do you want my lips on yours? I’ve missed the taste of you on my tongue.”
We haven’t kissed again since that day, against the wall, in Maddox’s apartment. But we’ve had phone sex three more times since that night.
The burn between us is slow and intense. Building with palpable tension.
Riley scrunches her nose and it’s so cute, my heart does a flip. “I thought we agreed to no sex.”
“Kissing is not sex.” I’m grinning now.
She scowls at me, but there’s no hostility in her expression. “Kissing is an act of foreplay. And kissing with you, will definitely lead to sex.”
“Because I’m so irresistible?” I tease, chuckling before I relinquish my hold on her. “Because you’re horny and want me as much as I want you?”
Riley simply stares at me, eyebrows raised in defiance.
I lean back, raking my fingers through my hair, and give her a sheepish look. “Patience has never been one of my virtues, but fuck, it’s hard trying to be the good guy.”
“I think you’re doing pretty good,” Riley admits softly, with a timid smile on her lips.
My heart ricochets against my ribs. I swallow, before speaking again. “Yeah, you’re the only woman I’ll allow to friendzone me.”
“We’re not friends.” Her words are both a confused statement and a question of uncertainty.
“We are not?” I frown. “What are we then?”
The cart sways back and forth and then comes to a halt, once we’ve reached the highest point of the Ferris wheel. Riley curiously looks down and then sucks in a deep, fearful breath. Her gaze slides up, staring at the starry night sky instead.
She swallows. “I think we’re something in between.”
“Between what?”
“Something in between careless attraction and reckless affection.”
“My feelings for you are not reckless,” I tell her roughly.
Her cheeks flush with a deeper pink. “Mine are.”
My heart lurches into my throat. “Why is it reckless?”
“Because it gives you the power to break me.” Her smile is almost bittersweet, almost like she already knows I will break her heart. As if it’s inevitable.
“I would never—”
She shakes her head. “You keep saying that, Colton.”
“You’ve trusted me tonight, to take you away.” I grasp her gloved hands in mine, squeezing. I need her to see how good we can be together. I used to think that Riley and I were fire and water, that we would never be able to mix. But I’ve realized now that we’re both burning in the same flames. “Why can’t you just give me a chance to prove myself?”
Riley is silent for a minute. “Okay,” she whispers so quietly, I almost miss it.
I blink
And then blink again. “What?” I question, my astonishment evident in my voice. I wasn’t expecting her to agree so easily.
Her teeth tug on her lower lip and she’s thoughtful. “I have a suggestion.”
Oh? Well, now I’m very much curious. “I’m listening.”
The Ferris wheel starts moving again, making its descent.
“Friends with benefits and we can test our feelings like that.”
Her words shock me. Tossing my head back, I let out a deep laugh. “I knew you were as horny as me.” She gives me a mock glare and I quickly disguise my laughter with a small cough. “So, when do we start? Here?” I wiggle my eyes suggestively.
“No, jerk. Next week.” Riley gives me a haughty look.
I rear back in surprise. Did she just suggest we have sex and then tell me to wait one week? One fucking week? My dick will shrivel up by then. “What?!”
She purses her lip, a teasing glint in her eyes. “Just kidding.”
“My dick almost wept at the unfairness.” I scowl at her. “That was a bad joke.”
“It doesn’t have to be now,” she tells me, her voice softening. “How about we just do... what feels right?” Riley shrugs.
I am quiet for a minute, mulling over her words. “Are you going back home tonight?” I ask when we finally reach down, and the girl that’s operating the wheel unlocks the metal bar for us.
Riley shakes her head as we slide out of the booth. “I’m not sure that’s safe, not after the stunt we just pulled.”
That’s true.
“How about you pack your bag and we go back?” I suggest, while thinking about how I want to get her alone and what I will do with her once we’re in private. My throat dries at my wild, lustful imagination.
“I mean...Maddox is busy with his family. Lila is staying with her grandparents,” I continue, trying to sound extra convincing.
Maddox and Lila are complicated.
Now I understand why they were fighting so hard against their attraction for each other. Their friendship was perfect and they didn’t want to take the risk to change the dynamics between them. They dated for six months and everything was blissful.
Until things got messy and complicated. Now both Lila and Maddox are left to deal with their broken hearts and the devastating consequences of their love.
“You think we should leave and go back to Boston?” Riley asks when I fall silent.
I’m holding her hand, and I don’t even know when I reached for it. I must have done so unconsciously. Riley tugs me to a cotton candy stall.
“I don’t care about spending the holidays with my family and neither do you. So, let’s go back to our apartments. I can book us plane tickets and we’ll fly out tonight.”
She nods right away, without even giving my suggestion a thought. “Okay.”
“Why are you being so easily agreeable tonight?” I question cautiously. Riley is always so stubborn. Should I be worried?
I pay for her cotton candy while she scowls up at me. I can see her trying to hide her smile though. “Don’t ruin this, Bennett.”
I take the fluffy, blue cotton candy from the vendor and give it to her. She takes it, pleased with her sweet, carammelic purchase. Riley takes a small bite, and then sighs happily.
Her smile widens, and I swear my heart fucking stutters.
Fuck, I think I just won the lottery.
Two hours later, I pull into Riley’s driveway. She quickly climbs off my bike, and hands me her helmet. “My parents are not home yet. I’ll quickly pack my bag,” she tells me, her voice a little breathy. “Wait here.”
I raise the visor of my helmet. “Sure.”
Her hair is a little messy, her cheeks flushed and her red lips—fuck, I want to taste them so bad. Almost as if she can read my mind, she bites her lower lip, her eyes glinting with something akin to mischief.
“Are you trying to seduce me, Miss Johnson?”
“No.” She blinks, feigning innocence. “But are you seduced, Mr. Bennett?”
Such a temptress she is.
“You’ve had me under your spell for a long time now,” I confess, my voice huskier than I intended. “What are you going to do about it?”
Riley taps her index finger against her chin, smirking. “I have a few ideas,” she purrs.
I let out a groan. She’s killing me and it’s going to be a sweet fucking death. “Go and pack your bag.” I growl low.
She lets out a breathy giggle before spinning on her heels. She takes two steps forward and then comes to a halt. I hear her shocked gasp and her body stiffens.
Confused, I turn my head to where she’s looking, searching for what has upset her. When I finally notice the reason behind her shock, my heart thumps against my ribs.
Time slows down.
And dread fills my veins. Fuck.
That’s the last person I want to see right now, and I don’t want him anywhere near Riley. How long has he been sitting there, on the stairs of Riley’s porch, waiting ?
He slowly rises to his feet, shoving his hands into the pockets of his jeans and he takes a step toward my fucking girl.
Her feet are still glued to the ground, her body tense and unmoving. I don’t know if she’s even breathing. He takes another step, and then two more, slowly closing the distance between him and Riley.
Once he’s within reach, I notice a twitch in her fingers. A quiet tremor runs through her body and my lungs squeeze painfully.
“Hello, Riley,” he says, her name soft on his lips.
Her whole body shudders at the sound of his voice and it’s like watching a statue coming to life. “Grayson,” she breathes his name.