“I… inspire you?”
“Only every moment we’re together, and even the ones we’re not,” I whisper, leaning in close enough to smell the sugar on her perfect pink lips. “You’re my little muse.”
We finish eating, pay, and head back out into the night. The moon is high in the sky, illuminating the constellation of freckles spread across Eloise’s face, the spark of joy hidden deep within her sky-blue eyes.
“Thank you for tonight, Riot.” Her voice is barely a whisper, yet it’s like fireworks in the charged silence between us. “I know I’ve said it already, but thank you for giving me this night. I had…” She looks off into the distance, her eyes welling with unshed emotion. “I had a lot of fun.”
Instead of answering, I step closer, wrapping my arms around her waist and tugging her close. I place my finger under her chin, drawing her gaze up to mine, demanding her attention.
“You don’t need to thank me for anything, little muse. This time with you has been a gift, one I’ll always treasure.” I lean in, breathing in her intoxicating scent. “At least until next time.”
She blushes, but instead of pulling away, Eloise presses on her tiptoes, her brows scrunched in concentration. Before I have time to ask what she’s doing, before I have time to blink, she places her lips against my cheek.
Time slows as the sky opens, raining down millions of heated sparks. They cover my skin, burrow into my bloodstream, and flood my being with pulsing, burning light.
“Eloise…” Her name rolls off my tongue like a prayer, and I just stand there for a moment, frozen under the weight of her smile.
“Something to keep you until next time,” she says, suddenly shy.
I shake my head, tugging her closer as my heart threatens to jump out of my throat. “I don’t think I’ll make it.”
She giggles, pulling out of my hold. Everything inside me begs me to hold her tight, to keep her with me just a little longer. But I know if I do, I’ll never be able to let her go.
“I should probably get going,” she murmurs, her voice suddenly sad. “It’s getting pretty late.”
I nod, my heart cracking as I’m forced to agree. “The motorcycle is still at the beach. I can walk you home?—”
“No, that’s okay!” Eloise waves her hands. “I don’t want to put you out.”
I raise my brow. “You won’t. I need to make sure you get home safe.”
She worries her lip. “I’ll be plenty safe. You really don’t have to worry about me.”
Shereallymust not want me to see where she lives… but why? “At least let me call you an Uber.”
She sighs reluctantly. “Okay.”
A few minutes later, the car pulls up. Thankfully, it’s not a male driver, so I’m slightly more at ease as Eloise slides into the back seat.
“Call me if you need anything—and I meananything,Eloise.” I reach out, cupping her face in a tender goodbye. Her pupils blow as she meets my eyes, and my cock tightens at the lust swirling deep in her gaze. “I’ll see you soon, little muse.”
“See you soon,” she whispers, reaching up and placing her hand over mine, giving it a gentle squeeze. “I’ll text you.”
“Yes, you will,” I murmur, leaning in to place a chaste kiss on her cheek, lingering a little longer than I should.
I pull back and close the door, watching the car pull off down the street, then stare at the spot where it disappeared long after it's gone. Absentmindedly, I reach into my pocket, smirking at the feel of her lacy panties between my fingers.
Mine. All mine.
After a few more minutes of reminiscing, I start walking in the direction of the beach, needing to recover my motorcycle before I head home for the night.
The salty breeze cuts through the humidity and allows me to take deep, clear breaths. It reminds me of Eloise—but then, all the beautiful things in the world do. Anything that brings me joy, or that’s filled with light, or is simply exceptional. All of these sights and sensations and daily little miracles remind meof her, remind me that there’s something good left in this world. Something to stay and fight for.
And I will fight for her. From the sidelines, if I must, but I will do it.There’s nothing else for me. Nothing I can do. It scares me—the finality of it all. Like some great beast has been woken within me, and I can’t banish it back to where it came from.
As I walk, the urge to put these feelings down on paper intensifies, filling every corner of my mind with a deep, pulsing need. It’s filling up my heart, flooding my soul, and I need to get itoutbefore it consumes me.
With the pressure mounting, I grab my motorcycle and speed back to my hotel suite, in such a hurry to get the lyrics out that I don’t bother locking the door behind me.
