Page 33 of Bonded

“Not a real one. I mean I have on the internet; I just didn’t think it would be this lovely for real. Can we go on it?”

“Yeah, yeah, sure. C’mon.”

He smiles as he helps her up onto one of the two-seater horses. “Did you know this is all hand-painted?”

“Really? Oh, my God, that’s amazing.” She pulls his hands around her waist, holding them tight as he wraps himself around her—the pole on the horse between them.

“Hold tight.” He leans his chin on her shoulder as it spins—the horses moving up and down. Kat closes her eyes and leans back, enjoying the breeze as the carousel continues turning faster.

“Riley, thank you. I’ve had a great time tonight, and it was good to do something nice.”

“You’re welcome.” He kisses her neck, making her flinch, “I’ve had a good time too and I really hope we get to do it again.”

As they come to the end of the ride, in his usual kind and gentlemanly manner, he helps her down and she smiles, she’s not used to guys treating her with such courtesy. Then he wraps his arms around her and rests his hands on the curve of her butt.

“Look, this is a little presumptuous, but do you want to come back to mine, for coffee? I have a late-turn, tomorrow so I can sleep in for once.”

“Riley…” she sighs, then looking him in the eyes she reaches up and kisses him. He reciprocates and pressing his lips wantonly against hers—his hand caresses her back. She takes a breath and pulls away. “Sorry, I can’t do this. Not tonight.”

“Kat, please. Please I want to be with you.”

“Riley, I need some time. I told you, I really like you, but I can’t rush into something. I’ve had a really lovely evening, so please don’t spoil it.”

“You know Kat, I liked you the moment I saw you. At the hospital, when you walked into that interview room, I knew I had to see you again. But I understand, this is complicated for you and it’s okay. Anyway, I still have to get my head around a few things—I mean sleeping with a wolf, that’s going to be a pretty weird thing.”

“Okay, so now you’re weirding me out with that comment,” she laughs. “Seriously though, you don’t think it’s too odd, being with me? I’m not sure how I’d feel in your shoes.” She frowns, stroking her hand on his face, questioning if she should go back with him. Even Luna’s quiet; Riley’s calm mannerisms win her wolf over. But then, once again, her mind becomes filled with thoughts of Ryan, and no matter how hard she tries, how determined she is to blot him out, she can’t. Again he becomes the sole focus of her thoughts.

“Well, the wolf check box on tinder is not my usual go-to, but when you have a brother who can be a snake, you kinda get used to weird,” he laughs.

“Yeah, that is weird, but then that’s shifters for you.” She grins and bites his lip and growls playfully before she kisses him.

“Hey c’mon, nights not over… let’s go play the funfair and I’ll buy you some candyfloss. Wolves eat candyfloss, right?”

“Oh, we sure do. We love a good sugar-rush!”

***

Kat climbs into the cab and opens the window to wave goodbye, and Riley leans in. “Okay, it’s been really fun,” he kisses her. “So just drop me a text and let me know you got home safe. Shall I call you tomorrow?”

“Yeah, okay, but Riley… if I don’t answer, don’t assume the worst, that I’m ignoring you. We might have got spun-up at short notice.”

“Spun-up?”

“Oh um… yeah, it means sent on a mission. I guess I’ll have to teach you the military lingo.”

“Yeah, well, I look forward to learning new things from you.” He kisses her again, “I would say I’ll teach you some medical terms, but I think you know all of those already. Maybe I could find some gynecological ones?”

“Mm… yeah, they might be more fun to learn? Right, I really must go. I’ll speak to you tomorrow.”

Kat leans back in her seat and smiles as the cab drives away.

“What the hell are you doing?” She sighs, worried that in her haste to make Ryan jealous, she might have just given herself another problem; falling for Riley’s special charm.

“Oh, hey Kat wait!” Riley runs behind the cab, waving the plushie he pulls from inside his jacket. Disappointed, he watches the cab disappear from view. “Hmm… " He sighs, stroking his hand gently on the soft fur of the toy wolf—he won for her at the fair for her. He looks at it and smiles. “Well, guess we’ll both have to wait to see her again then. C’mon, I’ll take you home.”

Chapter 10

“Hey Diggs, slow down man, I think you’ve had more than enough for tonight.” Zak frowns, watching as his friend throws another glass of whiskey down his throat.

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