Page 415 of The Tempted

Chapter Twenty-Five

I’m learning that sometimes life ends up differently than you expected, that I don’t always need a plan, and sometimes I have to let go and see what happens. It’s a pretty amazing journey, letting go of the things you thought you wanted and enjoying all the surpriseslifehas to offer you.

In other words—I’m learning to like detours.

And Riggs? He’s the best detour of all. I think I might be addicted to his dick. Is it possible to have a penis addiction? Hi, my name is Lauren, and I’m addicted to Riggs’ cock. Don’t sign me up for Dicks Anonymous, I most definitely will not go.

I’m perfectly content.

That thought alone should scare the shit out of me but it doesn’t. Riggs is teaching me to roll with the punches, to ride the wave, and that’s pretty fucking awesome, considering the only waves I’ve ever ridden are the ones in Mexico.

In all seriousness, it’s not just his cock, it’s everything. Riggs is everything I never knew I wanted.

And that’s a hard thing for a girl like me to swallow because I usually know how to keep my feelings intact. I’m someone who likes to be one step ahead of the game, a girl who likes to know what will happen, before it even does, never allowing myself to get hurt.

Break my heart?

Give someone that kind of power over me?

Absolutely not.

Yet here we were, Kitten and Tiger, and no other label could compare. I didn’t need him to carve our names into a tree because I hadhim. I had his word, his vow he wanted to see where we went, a promise he’d try.

It was enough for now.

It was everything.

He was pushing a wagon in a supermarket for Christ’s sake and he wasn’t even complaining, not one bit…and we were in the produce department too.

After we showered together this morning, he insisted we go shopping for a mattress. Riggs’ bike was out of commission and since I had sold my car, we were walking the streets of Brooklyn. We stopped first at Sleepy’s, where he insisted we roll around on every mattress they sold. Finally, he picked one perfect for us and it was being delivered the following day.

Afterward we walked along 86thStreet when he turned and asked me to wait outside for a minute as he went into one of the many dollar stores that lined the busy street. I didn’t question him, I loved that Riggs was full of surprises, and waited outside while he delivered the most thoughtful gift I had ever been on the receiving end of. Five minutes later he emerged from the store, his grin firmly secured to his face as he waved a bag over his head.

My face hurt from smiling so much.

He leaned forward and pressed his lips to mine before handing me the bag. I opened the bag and pulled out a pair of socks that had kittens all over them.

“You bought me socks?” I asked, looking back inside the bag to see it was full of all different kinds of funky socks. Some had kittens, some had superheroes; there was even a pair of Christmas socks in there.

“Make sure you wear them too,” he said, draping his arm over my shoulders. “Can’t have those feet of yours ice cold anymore, especially when you’re rubbing them on me in the middle of the night,” he added.

“You bought me socks,” I repeated.

“So?” he kissed the top of my head and dragged me into the supermarket.

They were only socks to Riggs, not a big gesture in his book, but in mine they were the sweetest gift anyone had ever given me. He was taking care of me without even trying.

And how did I repay him? By forcing him to eat fruits and vegetables. I looked down at the celery in my hand then back at Riggs who appeared bored as he stared at the apples in the wagon.

“What’s your favorite thing to eat?” I asked, watching his head lift and his eyes snap toward mine. He grinned mischievously at me and I laughed out loud. “Not what I meant,” I said. “What’s your favorite meal?”

“One could argue that what I had for breakfast this morning was in fact a meal,” he pointed out.

“Food, Riggs. Tell me your favorite food,” I clarified.

He took a minute to think about it, then straightened his shoulders and smiled at me.

“Spaghetti and meatballs,” he said, smiling as he pushed the wagon.

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