Page 30 of Ride or Die

“I do.” Riley walked faster towards the park entrance. “What about your bike?”

He met her gaze and held it.

“Don’t worry about me,” he told her.

Yes, sir.

She blinked at the tightened awareness in her low belly.

Saint slid his hand into hers as the raindrops picked up, and she tried to be cool. Steam curled around their legs as they made their way to the park entrance.

It started to pour, and leaves swept through the gutters on the torrent of water. They ran, and a laugh bubbled out as she jumped a stream on the road. Saint was careful to keep pace with her shorter strides.

“One more block!” she yelled over the rain. Her socks squelched with every step, water between her toes, but it was fun. When they got to her building, she buzzed in and pulled him in behind her.

Riley’s hair was plastered around her head, and water dripped off Saint’s nose. The worn carpet on the stairs did little to soak up the water they brought with them to the fourth floor. She pulled the leather coat closer. The pathetic baseboard heaters were dented and never worked properly.

The apartment door waited at the end of the hall, and she stopped in front of it.

“I really enjoyed this, even the rain,” Saint said. “It was nice to get to know you better under less… stressful circumstances.”

She nodded and smoothed her drenched hair off her forehead, still catching her breath.

He seemed too tall, too much, for a space that smelled like paint and weed.

Riley’s hand twitched to catch the drip off his eyebrow, and she tucked her hand behind her back, clenching tightly. Too comfortable already.

She pried her hand open and made herself look up.

He watched her, saw everything.

His boots almost touched her sneakers, and warmth radiated off him, scented with rain. The smugness was gone from his face, and the crinkles around his eyes were real and genuine.

He was a trap. Too good to be true.

She looked for the dry amusement but found only careful darkness. The warmth from earlier spread inside, and the back of her hand brushed his. He didn’t move, waiting for her to decide how she was going to play this.

He always waited for her.

So far. It’s been a day.

The air stalled in her chest, and Riley made her choice. I’m awake now. Living.

She stretched up on her toes and carefully brushed her lips over his. He didn’t move, or crowd her, or press her into the wall. His shoulders were hard under her hands, thrumming with tension. He kissed her back, softly, too gently.

Not what she expected, and yet her heart raced.

She dropped back onto her heels. His eyes didn’t leave hers, even as a drip rolled down his temple.

“You could come in, if you wanted,” she said into the silence. She looked down and pulled the leather jacket tighter around her shoulders.

“Is that what you want?” he rumbled, and shivers rippled along her skin, even the parts that had stayed dry. His eyes were dark, and nerves boiled in Riley’s belly. He raised an eyebrow, and that awareness flared again.

“Yup.” She nodded. “Definitely.”

“Alright, then,” Saint said, face lightening as he smiled. “I’d like that.”

A laugh released her from the moment, and she got the door unlocked. The small studio smelled of laundry and lavender. A few dishes were stacked in the sink, and she hadn’t made her bed.