Page 65 of The Tomorrows After You
“Brennan’s ankle got wrapped in one of the little loops and he was too afraid to jump off.” Riot’s voice was high and tight, trying to hold his laughter back to get the words out. “But he couldn’t hold on any longer so he just dangled there, upside-down, grazing the water, screaming his nuts off.” Riot wheezed and wiped away the amused dampness from his eyes.
Isuckedair in through my nose to catch my breath, my stomach musclesaching. Maybe itwasthe bourbon, but Icouldn’t remember the last time I laughed hard enough it hurt. Ipushedthe tears out of my eyes as wesettledback into silence, the last of the golden lightdippingbelow the horizon. Icaughtthe final glint of warm light as it bounced off Riot’s face. Hesettledback into his signature pensive expression. Whatwashethinkingabout?
What do youthinkhe’s thinking about?
I took one more steadying swig from the flask.
“I didn’t know herecordedit.”My voicewasquiet, but it still cutthrough the silence of nighttime with sobering truth.
When Riot didn’t reply, Istolea glance up. His forehead was tight, his scowl even deeper than usual. The muscle in his jaw flexed. Hetookthe whiskey from me withoutlookingandputit to his lips. Iheldmy breath. Riotputthe flask down on the blanket andgazedover at me, his expression remarkably warmer.
“Recordedwhat?”heasked. Iblew a breath out on a smile. Anotherbrimmingquietfellbefore helookeddown at his feet, his voice lower and softer.“Really though… You don’thaveto explain or justify anything.” He hesitated. “ButI’llalways listen if you want to talk about it.”
Always,he’d said. Almost like I wasn’t so temporary after all.
Hetwistedhis head to offer me a soft expression.
Did I want to talk about it? Not really. I neverfeltcompelledto justify it and even though the little glow of jealousy IthoughtIspiedin Riot’s eyesamusedme, I didn’t want to bring that ugliness into thisspace. Iwashaving too much of a good time with him here, so Istayedquiet. But Iofferedhim an appreciative smile,lettingmy knees fall toward him gratefully.
“Can I ask one thing?”His voicewaslow, almost shy.
Inodded, my chesttighteningwith anticipation. That stern,locked-jaw expressionwasback. He looked as if he could light a fire with only his eyes.
“What happened to the guy? Did he at least get what he deserved for taping you?” I almost laughed. It was an interesting question to choose.
I tilted my head back and forth. “Yes and no. The investigation is ongoing, but he’s in a coma last I heard.”
Riotraisedhis eyebrows, amusementcrossedhis face.“So… really no point indrainingthe oil from his car.”Hesquintedone eye at me with a charming smirk. Maybe he really could start a fire with only his eyes because my insideswere, sure as hell,melting.
“No, he’s very much handcuffed to a hospital bed as a murder investigation swirls around him.” I bit my bottom lip, trying to contain the warmth Riot’s defensiveness over me inspired.
He barked out a chuckle, shaking his head. “Where the heck did you come from, Nicolette Parker?”
“I live a complicated life,” I teased, pressing my shoulder more firmly into his. I inhaled the extra sweetness the whiskey brought to his rustic scent.
His blue eyes pinned me, suddenly a deeper shade of longing. “Yeah…” he whispered. “I’m getting that.”
We were impossibly close and his eyes dipped to my mouth. My heart raced. I parted my lips, inviting him to kiss me. I shivered with anticipation. He suddenly blinked and leaned back. My shoulders slumped.
“Are you cold?” His eyes ran down my body, making the shiver worse. Before I had the chance to answer, he leapt to his feet. “Come with me.”
He pulled me up. He led me deeper into the woods. The moon was almost full and the stars were bright, guiding us through the darkness. A little house came into view.
“Thisisa warming hut the snowmobilers use in the winter. It usually stays open…”Hedriftedoff,pullingthe door open with a creak. Heletout a victorious hiss. Helittwo of the gas lanterns in the corner and itwasjust enough to see the small room.
It was about ten by ten and had one window that overlooked the valley side of the forest. “It’s got a solar-powered heater but they disconnect it in the summer.” I stood in the middle of the room and wrapped his shirt tighter around my body. He took a step closer and put his hands on my shoulders, rubbing my upper arms. “Sorry, it’s still a little cool.”
I wasn’t cold. The whiskey and desire ran hot throughout my body, but I wasn’t going to tell him that. I was thoroughly enjoying the feel of his hands on me.
“We can head back if you want—”
“No,” I cut him off. “I don’t want to go back yet, Riot.”
My voice came out huskier, more pleading, than I expected. I took a step closer to him, letting the tips of my beaded nipples graze his chest. He sucked in a quiet breath and for a moment he was frozen in a look of consideration. His tongue darted out before he pulled his bottom lip in between his teeth.
Before I could blink, his mouthwason me. His lips parted mine, kissingme with uncontrollable force. His fingersslidup my neck beforecradlingthe back of my head, fisting his hand through my hair.
Where our first kisshadbeenheated, angry, passion-fueled, and hungry, this one, while just as desperate,helda tenderness that the other onehadn’t. Before, wehadbeentryingto prove something,tryingto take whatever we could get from the other person. Now itwasabout giving. Surrendering everything.
