I giggle even though I shouldn’t. Then type his name into my phone.
Heaven: I’m not sure who this is. I don’t make a habit of returning texts from strange numbers.
Ryder: Sounds like someone needs a spanking. If I could find some keys, I would come and do just that.
I swallow back a moan and begin to squirm. We shouldn’t be doing this. We need to go slow and figure things out. We don’t need to complicate thingsany more than they already are.
But the truth is, Ryder and I don’t do slow. We don’t do easy.
Heaven: Promises, promises
I can practically hear his growl from here.
Ryder: Don’t play games you can’t win, pixie.
Heaven: Pretty sure I’m always the winner in these games.
Ryder: Not if I don’t let you come.
Heaven: Let me? Pretty sure I can handle that myself.
Ryder: You do want a spanking. You miss my hand on your ass, don’t you?
I close my eyes, remembering the last time I felt that beautiful burn on my ass. That delicious sting that would have me wet and desperate. The way he would soothe away the ache before offering more. The way my core would clench around nothing as he would trail his fingers through my wetness, teasing and taunting.
Ryder: I can hear your thoughts from here, pixie. You’re thinking about it aren’t you? My palm landing on that sweet, round ass as you’re stretched across my lap. Or maybe when I tied you to the bench with your ass in the air. Which did you like better, pixie? The flogger on your ass or slapping that pussy.
Holy shit this just escalated. We’re not a train. We are an asteroid moving at the speed of light.
Heaven: Goodnight, Ryder.
Ryder: Did I go too far?
Heaven: Since when are you worried about going too far? LOL
Ryder: Since this very second. It’s weird right?
Heaven: Very and not you. Don’t try to be something you’re not because of me. I’ve always loved exactly who you are.
Ryder: Pixie, you might be just as fucked up as me if you can say that.
Heaven: Nah. I just see what you don’t.
Heaven: Goodnight. See you tomorrow.
Ryder: I’ll be there.
I fall asleep a little easier and sleep a little sounder with those words, knowing that no matter what happens with the house or even with Ryder and me, I know he’ll be here.
Ryder
Grace
I pull into Heaven’s driveway for the third day in a row. This time it’s with a different perspective. With different knowledge. And for the first time in a very, very long time, I don’t feel positively consumed with suppressed rage. It is still there because I’ve been angry foran awfully longtime, and Heaven was only part of it, but it doesn’t feel like it’s strangling me.
I walk up the little yard to the front porch, stepping over the broken bottom step. I knock on the door a little easier today than yesterday. I thought the entire thing was going to fall off the hinges yesterday.
A brown-haired girl swings the door open. She looks me up and down with a lick of her lips. Kind of reminds me of the groupies on tour that trail after us. None of them looking for more than a good time. I was more than happy to show them, but this girl is irritating me. Because Iknowshe knows who I am. She knows I’m here for her sister.
