Page 53 of Worth the Risk
“I want you.”
“How bad do you want me?” My eyes pop open at his words. I’m thrilled and shocked all at once. I’m on fire.
“Bad,” I whine.
“I need to hear you say how much, Winnie.”
“I want you so much I can barely see straight, Rhett. I feel like I might die if you don’t kiss me.” My words are rushed and hard to hear, but he must understand me, because he grips my chin to tilt my head to the side and devours my mouth with his. My heart is beating out of my chest and I can’t catch my breath. He’s barely touched me and I’m already aching for him.
I turn into him, never breaking our kiss, and he holds me tight against him. Our kiss is pent up passion from the last eight years and need for one another now. The combination is making my head spin. I’m matching him lick for lick and letting my hands explore down the ridges of his stomach, then lower. I feel his hiss when I’m finally under the waistband of his pants, but I don’t stop. I want him, have wanted him for years.
Before I get to the place I’ve been heading for he sweeps me up and stalks toward my bedroom with me in his arms. I kiss the stubble at his jaw and nip at it. When we enter the room he doesn’t hesitate to toss me onto the center of my bed, I bounce once with the motion and watch in stupified awe as RhettHolloway crawls onto my bed and over me. My blood heats with the look in his eyes. I feel beautiful right now, more beautiful than I may have ever felt in my life. He goes in to kiss my lips again but I put my hand to his chest and he sits back on his heels. I lean up, wanting to be close to him when I speak. I need to know something before this goes further. He’s staring so lovingly into my eyes I almost forget my own name, let alone what I was going to ask. I clear my throat.
“I can be a lot to handle, Rhett.” I tell him. Trying my best to convey the truth in them. This is his last chance to get out before I fall over the edge with him. I hold his gaze, bracing myself for what's to come. If I’m giving him the out, he could take it and my heart with him in the process.
“Winnie, if you give me the chance, handling you will be an absolute pleasure for the both of us,” his says. It’s exactly what I needed and possibly the sexiest thing I’ve ever heard. I launch myself at him, feeling more ready for what's next with him than I ever have.
“I love you,” I say between our heated kisses. His answer is one I’ll never forget, no matter how wrinkly I get one day, no matter how foggy my mind gets.
“I will love you until my heart stops beating, Winnie Parker. Maybe even then.”
With his words, my fate is forever sealed. I’ll never recover from this fall. I’ll pray I never have to.
Last night was the best night of my existence. I’ve only ever been in love one time and it was with the same woman. Leaving Winnie this morning was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. I woke up 20 minutes before my alarm went off and all I could do was stare at her beautiful face so peaceful in sleep. I left her a note and programmed her coffee to start around the time I thought she would be up. When I got back today I would be asking her to move in with me. I never wanted to be apart from her, not even by a small metal fence.
Today, I’m going rafting with Colt and I’m going to tell him about me and Winnie. I’m not sure how he’s going to take it or if Winnie will be alright with me taking the lead on this, but I can’t hide it anymore and he needs to know. He’s my best friend and I don’t want that to change. The only reason it would is if he decides he can’t be happy for his sister and me.
It’s been a couple years since I’ve done this and I’m excited to get back on the water. I’m picking him up at our take out and driving back up the river where he already unloaded the raft so we can put in. I see his truck as I round the last windy corner of the canyon before I get to our meeting spot. He gives me the finger as a greeting as I pull up to the empty spot beside him. I shake my head but laugh.
“Yeah, you too, man!” I yell out the open window. He gets out of his truck, hops in mine and we’re finally on the way. I’m getting pumped. I love this stuff. Growing up here, Colt and I have been on this river more times than I can count but it’s always exciting. He pulls out his phone.
“Hey I gotta take this, it’s the office.” I nod. It's interesting to see him taking care of business. Colt has found a way to make money doing what he loves and that makes me really happy and proud of him. As we’re going down the road I’m thinking about how much I've been needing this. I love the rush that comes with trying to work with the rapids, it’s the same feeling I get when I’m riding down the side of a mountain on my bike with too much exposure on a techy line. I’ve been chasing that feeling since I was seven years old and accidentally went down a Black slope on a family ski trip. When I made it down, my adrenaline was through the roof. I think one of the reasons I’ve loved hockey for so long is for the adrenaline.
Feeling like I’m flying across the ice and no one can catch me is one of the best feelings in the world. Well…it was. I guess it’s not gonna be like that anymore. Sometimes the realization that I’m done playing professionally hits me out of nowhere and it feels like I’ve been injured all over again. I stop next to the boat and Colt already has the door opened, jumping out. I smile and rush to catch up and focus on the present. I want to be here right now and not thinking about the past. I’m shutting the door asColt comes around the back, then comes up and grabs me by the shoulders. He gets a serious look on his face.
“You brush your teeth this morning?”
“Clean teeth, clean lines!” I say it like a battle cry. It’s just a superstition but one we’ve lived by since we were 16. A guide told us once that clean teeth help you navigate the rapids, we fully bought into it.
“Woo! Hell yeah!”
“Let’s gooo!” We get our boat set up and shove off down the river. Clear Creek Canyon is one of the most beautiful places to raft. After a few rapid sessions we hit a lull.
“How’s it being back, man? I know it wasn’t exactly on your terms, but I am glad to have you back.”
“It’s good. I mean it’s only been a little over a month, but honestly it feels right. I always knew I wanted to come home eventually…my timeline just got sped up.”
“I know your family sure is happy you’re back.” I smile at that.
“It’s been pretty great to see them regularly. I didn’t realize how much I was missing out on being away. We talked but it’s not the same. I’ve facetimed Hazel once a week since she was born but getting to really be in her life is something else. She’s the cutest thing.”
“Huh…you know, I know your family means a lot to you, but I don’t think I've ever heard you talk this seriously about them. Are you growing up or something?” He snorts. “What's next? A wife and a baby?” I can’t stop the image that my mind shows me.
Winnie.I gulp and try to clear my throat before laughing along with Colt. I’m not sure if that’s something I should share with him just yet.
“I mean, a wife doesn’t sound so bad.”
“I didn’t say it sounded bad, but it doesn’t really sound likeyou.” I can’t blame him for thinking that. I haven’t beena relationship guy since he’s known me. A long time. He met Lacey, the only girl I’ve dated more than a couple months, when I thought things may be getting serious. He wasn’t a fan and now I wish I would have taken his opinion a little more seriously.
