Page 61 of Wrangled Love

The wheel spins in a rhythmic motion, and as we reach the top, Briar’s fingers grip my leg, her eyes squeezing shut.

“Remind me again what kind of person thinks this is enjoyable,” she mutters.

“Probably the same people who think pineapple belongs on pizza,” I tease.

Briar cracks one eye open, shooting me a mock glare. “I should have figured putting fruit on pizza and using a non-adjustable wrench to fix a leak weren’t your only questionable life choices.”

“At least I’m consistent.” I shrug. “Should I have the attendant let us off when we get to the bottom?”

She sits up straighter. “Oh no. You promised this would be worth it, so I’m sticking it out. No take-backs.”

I smirk. “Never.”

She exhales slowly as I rub her back, and the tension in her spine eases with each rotation. Still, at the peak of every climb, her grip on my leg tightens, making my cock twitch. I bite the inside of my cheek, reminding myself this is about making her comfortable. But as she shifts beside me, her hand slides higher, making it damn near impossible to ignore the way my body reacts to her, every brush of her skin fanning the flames.

The Ferris wheel lurches to a sudden stop, snapping my attention away from Briar’s hand on my leg, and I’m instantly on edge when I realize we’re suspended at the highest point.

Shit, I don’t think that’s supposed to happen.

“Oh god, what’s going on?” Briar asks, panic rising in her voice. “Why are we still up here?”

I flash her a comforting smile and give her hand a squeeze. “It’s probably just taking longer than usual to let the other riders off.”

I lean over the edge to watch the attendant at the controls. The Ferris wheel is small enough that I can clearly see him, yet high enough that we’re still tucked away from the crowds below. He’s frantically pushing buttons, eyes darting nervously around the fairgrounds. His lips move, and I’m pretty sure I catch a string of curse words under his breath.

Fuck, that’s not a good sign.

Bringing attention to the problem will only trigger Briar’s panic, and I might not be able to calm her down while we’re stuck up here. My best bet is to distract her before she reaches that point, like I promised. My original plan was to make out on the Ferris wheel, but this calls for something drastic. I want to replace her fear with an unforgettable memory that leaves her breathless for all the right reasons.

Her teeth are clenched, and she’s staring straight ahead. I cradle her face, caressing her cheek until her gaze meets mine.

“There you are,” I say, trailing kisses along the delicate line of her jaw. “Have I told you today how beautiful you are?”

“Are you trying to distract me?” she murmurs.

“Maybe. Is it working?”

I follow the slope of her neck, tugging her earlobe between my teeth. She releases a soft moan, leaning in, her hand resting against my chest. The space between us buzzes with electric energy. I press a soft kiss to the sensitive spot beneath her ear, my hand sliding to the small of her back, drawing her closer.

“Do you trust me?”

Her breath catches, and she tilts her head to give me better access as her fingers curl into the fabric of my shirt.

“Yes,” she whispers.

“Can I make you feel good, sugar?”

My hand drifts past her breasts, down her belly, fingers grazing the curve of her hip.

“Yes,” she repeats, a shiver running through her.

“Take your panties off,” I demand.

She blinks at me. “What if someone sees?”

“It’s just you, me, and the stars.” I nod toward the open sky. “The question is, can you stay quiet? Or are we about to give the whole county more to gossip about?”

She arches a brow. “Guess it depends on whether you bring your A game or not.”

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