AllFreeNovel
Share Us
We take the rest of the ride in silence but I see her worrying her hands back and forth in her lap. She’s nervous about this. Or me. I’m not sure which but I crave being near her. I want to soothe her.
We pull up at the zip lining place and she winces when she sees it. I get out quickly on my side and come around to hers. I open the door before the driver and hold out my hand to her. Her tiny hand shakes in mine and I stop and pull her to the side of the car, handing the driver some money. “Hang on a minute.”
Then I drag her to the side and lean down until only she can hear me. “Raven. I don’t think you want to do this. Are you scared of heights or something? If you are, it’s not a big deal. We can just cancel this little outing.”
She shakes her head, biting her plump lower lip while she stares at the ground. I can’t stop staring at her lip pulled into her teeth. I put my thumb up and pull her lush lip out of her teeth. Then I struggle to keep myself under control because I really want to run my tongue over her lip where it’s rosy-red from her teeth. I want to taste her and that’s a big fucking mistake. I feel like if I take one taste it will never be enough.
“I have to do this. The sponsor specifically asked for this one thing. I can’t turn them down.”
“So what? Do something else and tell them you couldn’t zip line. Tell them the line went down. Hell! Tell them anything you damn well want. They can’t make you do it!”
“They might ask for their money back or cancel the job. I can’t afford to pay for this place without their money.”
“I’ll float you a loan. Just don’t do it.”
Shaking her head, she takes a deep breath and grabs her backpack off the ground. She pulls out her phone and starts taking video and chatting to the camera.
I dig my fingers into my palms, trying to keep from picking her up and dragging her out of here.
There’s no reason to do this if she is going to be terrified. “What if I just do it and you take the video.
I know before she says it, she won’t agree with it.
“Nope. It has to be me.”
I throw my hands up in the air and growl under my breath, angry at her stubbornness and worried about her.
But she just pushes her slim shoulders back and stalks ahead of me, taking her damn video.
And when we get in line and we start filling out the liability forms and all that other shit, I see her color returning to her face. See how she’s smiling at the camera even though she’s still shaking slightly.
Dammit! She’s a lot more woman than I gave her credit for. I shouldn’t have teased her and I definitely shouldn’t be thinking the thoughts I’m thinking right now.
They call our number and I step up to the stand, slipping into the harness and grimacing when the guy yanks it so damn tight that it feels like all the blood is being cut off to my nether regions.
“Smile, Roderick.” I turn and see Raven taking more damn video and smiling like a crazy woman.
I wince when I move and groan. “This stuff is so far up my ass that it feels like I’m being cut in two,” I grumble.
She giggles and her pale cheeks turn pink. “I told you you didn’t have to come.”
“I’m doing it. Stop bugging me, woman!” I growl.
I move forward and they give me the spiel about what to do. I grunt and then I’m moving to the edge of the platform, ready to dive off. Then I push off and it feels like I’m flying through space. The trees underneath me ground me and I zip along faster and faster, holding my arms and feet out, feeling like a damn superhero.
I throw my head back and laugh, exhilarated. I haven’t felt this alive in so damn long!
It feels like it’s over too fast and I grunt when I hit the end of the line, jerking when they help me stop.
I wheeze and rasp out a breath, my heart racing out of control and I punch the air with a huge grin on my face.
I look back where she’s standing on the other platform and whoop at her. “That was amazing! I wanna do it again!”
The man unhooking me grins. “It’s hard to stop once you start, right?”
“Yeah, man!” I fist-bump him and then I turn to where she’s perched and I can see the fear on her face. “Is it alright if I wait for her?” I ask.
“Sure. Just be sure and stay clear of her when she comes in.” I nod my head and then step to the edge, watching as she takes a deep breath and then stops on the edge. I can see it in her pale green eyes. She doesn’t want to do this. Doesn’t want to be here.
