Page 82 of Don't Let Me Go
Chapter 33
Jackson
When I think of the time that I spentnotkissing Riley, it feels like such a colossal waste. I don’t mean the past few weeks. I mean my entire life. Because nothing in the past eighteen years can compare to this kiss.
It’s like I’ve been sleepwalking, like I’ve only been half alive. But standing here in this park and holding Riley in my arms as our lips find each other over and over again, it’s like I’m finally awake. More than awake. For the first time in my life, I feel alive.
“The concert’s starting,” Riley murmurs between kisses.
I cock my head and hear the riff of an electric guitar wail over the amphitheater’s sound system. It’s followed by a thunderous burst of applause.
“We should find the others,” I say, still unable to pull my lips from his.
“Or,” he teases, “we could go back to your place?”
“And what would we do back at my place?”
Riley grins and bites my lower lip. “Everything.”
He doesn’t have to ask twice. I grab his hand and lead him out of the park, both of us laughing like punch-drunk idiots. I order us a Lyft while Riley texts the others to tell them we’re skipping the concert and to ask Audrey to give Duy a ride home. Then we’re making out in the back of a silver Nissan while our blank-faced driver pretends not to notice.
Part of me is shocked at how comfortable I am kissing Riley. Given that until a few days ago, I was pretty certain I was straight, I thought I might have more apprehension about kissing another guy in public. But I don’t.
Maybe I’m just intoxicated with infatuation, but right now I don’t care what anyone thinks about me. Riley and I are together. That’s all that matters. And I’m not gonna waste another minute feeling guilt or confusion about that.
By the time we get back to my house, our faces are practically glued together. We stumble through the front door, tripping over each other’s limbs and giggling like schoolgirls. Aunt Rachel is vacuuming in the living room but stops long enough to raise an inquiring eyebrow at us.
“Someone’s home early,” she deadpans.
“We decided to skip the concert,” I say, panting so hard I’m almost breathless.
“I can see that.” Then, turning her knowing gaze to Riley, she adds, “It’s nice to see you again, Riley.”
“You too, Miss Haines.”
“We’re gonna hang out in my room,” I announce, shutting down any additional conversation. I then pull Riley down the hall as my aunt breaks into a satisfied smirk.
“Have fun! Be safe!”
I’m not gonna lie, I don’t love the idea of hooking up in a house with such thin walls and such a nosy aunt, but I’m too horny to care.
As soon as we’re in my room and the door is locked, I pull up a playlist on my phone, connect it to my sound system, and hope the music is louder than whatever Riley and I are about to get up to.
“Good call,” he laughs as he pulls me onto my bed.
Now that we’re alone, my hands and lips are itching to explore hisbody—to touch him in all the places that I’ve been aching to know ever since that dream showed me what was possible.
I pull his T-shirt off over his head, and kiss his neck and chest before working my way down to his stomach. I unzip his jeans and yank them off in one quick tug. In response, Riley tears off my polo and unbuttons my shorts.
I start to reach for his boxers, at which point it occurs to me how quickly things are escalating.
“Are we moving too fast?” I ask, suddenly nervous that I’m rushing him.
Riley pauses and looks up at me, his green eyes full of longing. “Honestly, Jackson? I feel like I’ve been waiting for this my entire life.”
Much to my surprise, I find I know exactly what he means. I might have met Riley only a few weeks ago, but in my heart, I feel like we’ve known each other for a lifetime. More than a lifetime. Gazing into Riley’s eyes, I’d swear we’ve known each otherforever.
“Me too,” I say, placing my hand over his heart.
