Page 37 of Rage's Heart

Glancing up at him, I nodded. “As I’ll ever be.”

With a press of a button, the cart lurched forward, slowly climbing the first hill. The clicking of the track beneath us grew louder as we inched higher and higher.

“Having second thoughts yet?” Rage teased, his warm hand covering mine on the safety bar.

I turned to him, the wind already whipping my hair around my face. “Not a chance.”

The cart crested the hill, hanging suspended for one heart-stopping moment before plunging downward at breakneck speed. I screamed loudly as the world blurred around us.

Beside me, Rage’s deep laugh mingled with my shrieks as we twisted and turned, picking up speed with each drop. With my inhibitions thrown to the wind, I raised my arms high above my head, surrendering completely to the thrill.

When we rolled back up to the platform, I was breathless, my hair was a wild mess and my cheeks were aching from smiling so hard.

“That was amazing!” I cheered, turning to Rage with wide eyes.

He studied me for a moment, something soft passing across his features before he broke into a grin. “Yeah, it was.”

As he helped me from the cart, his hands lingered on my waist. “What next?”

We spent the next two hours running around the boardwalk like kids, trying every ride that didn’t have a sign declaring Beware - Out of Order. By the time we reached the carousel, night had fully fallen, and the park was lit up solely by the strings of lights and the full moon high in the sky.

“One more?” Rage asked, gesturing to the carousel with its faded painted horses.

I nodded eagerly, already climbing onto the platform. I picked a white horse with a golden mane, pulling myself up onto its back as Rage started the ride.

Instead of choosing his own horse, he came to stand beside mine, one hand resting on my thigh as the carousel began its slow rotation.

“Having fun?” he asked, looking up at me with those unreadable dark eyes.

I smiled down at him, feeling happier than I had in a really long time. “The most fun I’ve had in... maybe ever.”

His hand squeezed my thigh. “Good.”

As the carousel made its third round, I slid off the horse, landing squarely against his chest. His arms came around me, steadying me even as the platform continued to turn beneath us.

“Hi,” I said softly, tilting my face up to his.

“Hi,” he murmured back, one hand coming up to tuck a strand of windblown hair behind my ear.

I’m not sure who moved first, but suddenly our lips crashed together. His arms tightened, lifting me slightly so my toes barely brushed the platform.

I wrapped my arms around his neck, fully surrendering to the moment. This night had been perfect. He was perfect.

When we finally broke apart, the carousel had stopped, but I felt like I was still spinning.

“Hungry?” he asked, his voice rougher than before.

I nodded, suddenly realizing I hadn’t eaten since breakfast but had an appetite for something more.

“Ravenous.”

Chapter Eleven

Rage

I led Mac toward what used to be an amphitheater, enjoying the way her eyes widened when she spotted the small table I’d asked the King’s enforcer to set up.

There was a checkered tablecloth, a bottle of wine, and a large picnic basket. It wasn’t fancy, but from the look on her face, you’d think I’d rolled out the red carpet.

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