Chapter 6
Where the Air Tastes Like Fire.
The morning Kylee left for LA felt like a scene from someone else’s life. She’d barely slept, adrenaline buzzing through her as she threw on her comfiest black leggings and a hoodie, trying to play it cool like this wasn’t the most insane thing she’d ever agreed to.
Jake didn’t ask many questions. He just gave her a distracted kiss on the cheek and said, “Have fun.”
When Kylee pulled up to the small private airfield outside the main airport, her stomach dropped. She stepped out of the car and stood frozen, staring at the sleek, matte-black private jet parked on the tarmac like it had been pulled from a movie. It had to be a mistake. This wasn’t for her.
Before she could even wrap her head around it, a man in a black suit approached, smiled, and said, “Idaho? We’re ready for you.”
Kylee blinked. “Me?” She laughs
He nodded. “Rio sent us.”
She climbed the steps like she was in a daze, her pulse pounding in her ears. The moment she stepped inside, she was hit with the rich scent of leather and the soft glow of custom lighting. This wasn’t flying, this was floating in a dream.
A flight attendant handed her a sleek black envelope. Inside was a $2,000 gift card and a handwritten note:
Idaho,
I’ll have a driver waiting when you land. Go buy something that makes you feel sexy.
Something that reminds you who you are.
He’ll take you to where you’re staying.
I’ll be there. Waiting.
? R”
Her hands shook as she reread the words. This was real. She was in the sky, in a private jet, with Rio Riot waiting for her on the other end.
And suddenly, every part of her life in Idaho felt very far away.
Kylee’s heart pounded as the sleek private jet’s door opened, the warm Los Angeles sun flooding her senses like a promise or a dare. She stepped down the glossy stairs, the roar of the city buzzing softly beneath the hum of the jet engines fading behind her.
Everything felt surreal: the smooth leather of her carry-on, the sharp scent of expensive cologne wafting from nearby, the flash of cameras somewhere out of sight, like a world meant for someone else.
A driver in a sharp black suit was already waiting, nodding politely as she approached.
He took her bags with a gentle efficiency and opened the back door of a sleek black car.
Kylee hesitated a moment, the weight of everything pressing on her, the luxury, the secrecy, the pull of something thrilling and dangerous just ahead.
Sliding into the cool leather seat, she glanced back up at the jet one last time before the door closed behind her. The card she’d found in her bag fluttered lightly on her lap: “I’ll be waiting for you. Go get yourself something sexy.”
The city rolled out before her through the window bright, wild, and alive. And for the first time in a long time, Kylee felt the air that taste like fire.
The sleek black car glided smoothly through the bustling streets of Los Angeles, the city’s energy seeping in through the tinted windows as Kylee settled into the plush leather seat.
The driver, a polished man with a calm demeanor, pulled up first to a high-end boutique, its gleaming storefront a siren call to anyone who loved luxury.
Kylee stepped out, feeling a mixture of excitement and nerves.
Inside, racks of designer clothes and sparkling accessories awaited her, each piece whispering promises of transformation.
She tried on several stunning outfits: a sleek black dress that hugged her curves perfectly, a silk blouse with delicate embroidery, and shoes that made her legs look endless.
The driver patiently waited as she picked, changed, and debated, the gift card burning a hole in her purse but inviting indulgence.
Once back in the car, Kylee couldn’t resist calling Kelly. Her voice was breathless, a mix of exhilaration and disbelief. “Kelly, you won’t believe what’s happening. They’re taking me all over the city to designer shops, shoes, everything. It’s like a dream.”
Kelly’s laughter crackled through the speaker, electric with excitement. “Girl, are you kidding me? This is insane! Did you tell Jake you’re coming alone?”
Kylee smirked, feeling a thrill she hadn’t in ages. “Hell no. I told him you were coming, that you won the tickets. So, just go along with the story.”
Kelly whooped on the other end. “Yes! That’s how we do it. Keep him guessing, babe. Keep him guessing.”
The city passed by in a blur of sunshine and luxury as Kylee smiled to herself, the weight of her old life falling away one fabulous purchase at a time.
The car slowed to a stop in front of an imposing mansion nestled behind tall iron gates, its grand facade gleaming in the California sun.
The driver turned to Kylee with a polite nod. “This is where you’ll be staying.”
Kylee’s breath caught. The sheer size and elegance of the place made her stomach flutter with a mix of awe and disbelief. She stepped out, her heels clicking on the driveway as she hesitated at the massive front door.
Before she could gather her thoughts, the door swung open and there he was. Rio, leaning casually against the frame, a slow, knowing smile playing across his lips.
“Idaho,” he said softly, eyes sparkling. “I’m so happy to see you.”
She blinked, still stunned. “This... this is your home?”
He shrugged, amused. “Yeah. No hotel for you. I didn’t bring you all this way just to have time away from you.”
Kylee looked around, still processing. “You have me staying at your house?”
Rio’s grin deepened. “Exactly. Welcome home.”
Kylee’s eyes narrowed slightly, a mix of surprise and skepticism coloring her voice as she asked, “Welcome home?”
Rio chuckled softly, the corner of his mouth twitching into that familiar, playful smirk. “Hopefully,” he replied, his gaze locking onto hers with an intensity that sent a shiver down her spine.
Rio glanced at Kylee with a slow, mischievous smile. “Kylee, go put on that bathing suit you picked out and meet me by the pool,” he said, his voice low and teasing.
Kylee’s eyes sparkled. “Well, looks like the party’s starting early,” she joked, already slipping away with a confident sway.
Minutes later, Kylee emerged by the pool in a sleek, black swimsuit that hugged her curves perfectly. Rio was already there, leaning casually against a lounge chair, watching her like she was the only person in the world.
“Damn, you know exactly how to make an entrance,” Rio said, voice dripping with playful admiration as he rose to his feet.
Kylee grinned, flicking water at him with a cheeky smile. “You think you’re the only one who knows how to turn up the heat?”
Rio chuckled, stepping closer, the sun casting a golden glow over his sun-kissed skin. Their eyes locked, the air between them thick with electric tension. He reached out, brushing a wet strand of hair from her face, fingers lingering just a second longer than necessary.
“Careful, Kylee,” he murmured, “I might just have to make this a night to remember.”
Kylee laughed softly, biting her lip. “You’re on, Rio. Let’s see if you can keep up.”
The flirtation danced between them light, teasing, but charged each touch and glance building an undeniable spark that promised the night was just beginning.
Rio eased into the cool water, then pulled Kylee close, his hands steady as he guided her onto his lap. She didn’t resist in fact, she leaned into him, and her body pressing against his as the warmth between them sparked electric.
He smiled, his eyes dark and hungry. “I missed you more than I thought I could,” he murmured, his voice low and rough with longing. “Seeing you here... it feels like everything’s right again.”
Kylee traced lazy circles on his chest, her voice playful yet sultry. “Is that so? You sound like you’ve been rehearsing.”
Rio chuckled, his breath hot against her ear. “Maybe I have. Can you blame me? You’re unforgettable, Kylee.”
She tilted her head back slightly, locking eyes with him. “You better be careful, Rio. You’re making it hard to pretend I’m just here for the concert.”
He dipped his fingers into the water, splashing a little playfully. “Pretending’s overrated. Let’s make this real, even if it’s just for tonight.”
Her lips curved into a mischievous smile. “Oh, I plan on making the most of it.”
Rio’s hands slid beneath the surface of the water, resting at Kylee’s waist, his thumbs brushing gently along her ribs as if memorizing the shape of her.
Her thighs straddled his lap, her knees brushing against his hips, and the tension between them was growing thick, heavy with desire and the weight of everything unsaid.
“I like this swimsuit,” he said, his eyes dipping down to take her in. “But I think I’d like what’s underneath even more.”
Kylee bit her lip, trying not to smile, but the heat in her chest betrayed her. “You picked it out,” she teased. “You must have known what you were doing.”
“Oh, I knew exactly what I was doing,” he said, his voice dropping. “But I wasn’t prepared for how good you’d look in it. Or how hard it’d be to keep my hands off you.”
His fingers slowly trailed up her spine, slick with water, leaving goosebumps in their wake. Her breath caught as she rolled her hips slightly just enough to feel the firmness beneath her, proof of what she was doing to him.
She swallowed hard. “You’re dangerous.”
Rio leaned in, his lips brushing her neck just below her ear. “So are you, Idaho.”
Kylee’s fingers curled around the back of his neck, holding him there for a moment as her pulse thundered.
Her thoughts flashed to her life back home Jake, the kids, and the carefully constructed reality she was supposed to live in.
But it all blurred under Rio’s touch. All that mattered was now.
This moment. The fire licking beneath her skin.
“I shouldn’t be doing this,” she whispered.
Their lips hovered inches apart, breaths mingling, hearts racing. The temptation was unbearable and growing.