Page 59 of Hating On Riot

With a twinkle in his green eyes that brings out the gold flecks, he removes his T-shirt one-handed. Licking my lips, I look over his impressive torso and follow the sinful, dark strip of hair that disappears beneath his shorts. One piece of clothing, unless he cockblocks me, which he does.

“Never have I ever traveled outside the U.S.” He slides his pelvis over mine. I moan.

“You did that on purpose,” I call him out.

“Guilty.” His gaze roves over my bare chest and wanders past my belly button to my shorts’ drawstring. “Whatcha gonna do about it?” he challenges.

I punt it back to him since it was his never-ever statement. He surprises me. “I’d make our wish come true. Let’s travel the world, beautiful.”

“Riot.” An ache starts in my chest. My eyes water. It was our dream when we talked about the future while lying on a blanket beneath that oak tree that lost its leaves every year. “I would love that.”

“Good. That’s good, baby.” Emotion fills his voice. He swallows, his Adam’s apple bobbing. “I look forward to it.” His voice still thick with emotion, he presses a kiss to my forehead. “Never have I ever danced in the rain with my favorite person in the world.”

Smiling, I call him out. “You did that on purpose.”

He lowers his head and whispers in my ear. “Again, guilty.”

“Is that a wish?” I ask.

He lifts a dark brow. “It’s like déjà vu, isn’t it?” he asks.

“It is,” I concur, smiling. “Well, is it a wish of yours to dance in the rain? We’ll have lots of opportunity soon.” With the rainy season around the corner.

“It is, baby.”

“I’ll help you make it come true.”

“Thank you, Arie.”

The softness in his voice does something to my heart. My heart sings. My heart is full. I’ll dance in the rain with him any day. “Will we ever get naked?” I tease, looking between our bodies.

He chuckles. “Your call.”

That’s right. It’s my turn. I think long and hard about my next step. Riot decides for me when he captures my mouth in his and kisses me breathless. I cling to him. Weave my fingers in his hair. Yank on the soft strands when he moves his hips over mine.

“Never,” I’m panting, “Never have I ever kissed someone in a dark closet at one of Galley Rutherford’s insane parties.”

“You got me there, beautiful.” Smirking, he moves off me, putting his weight on one arm while sliding his shorts down with the other. He tosses them to the corner of the room. My face on fire, I cover my eyes. This is it. We’ll finally make love.

He clears his throat. Riot tugs on my waistband. “We can hold off if you’d like to wait, Arie. I’m a patient man. I've been waiting four years.” He puffs out a breath. “More than four, beautiful. I’ve been waiting since you rebelled and became brave for me. Only for me, Tiptoe.”

My heartbeat is loud in my ears. I remove my hands.

He’s too big. I’m small.

We won’t fit.

I’ll hurt.

He’ll hate himself for hurting me.

I’ll hate him for hurting me.

Oh, God, this won’t work.

We won’t work.

My eyes must be wide. My breathing must be erratic. Riot leans in, moves his mouth on mine, and whispers, “I’ll wait forever, if I have to, Arie Kim. Say the words, beautiful, and we can put on our clothes and snuggle.”