Page 144 of Things I Wish I Said
“Terrified is a strong word,” he croaks out.
I swallow a laugh.
“Being up this high doesn’t bother you at all?” he asks.
“Nope.”
He huffs out a breath. “Aren’t you scared of anything?”
“Afraid not.”
He shakes his head, and I’m pretty sure he’s holding his breath.
“Just breathe,” I add because the last thing I need is him passing out on this thing. I doubt I have the lung capacity for CPR. “It’s actually really pretty if you can just calm down and enjoy the view.”
The muscle in his jaw ticks as the Ferris wheel creaks to life and we descend a few more feet. “They’ve got to be about done boarding people,” I say, just as we slowly start to move, this time without stopping.
Grayson doesn’t relax though until we near the bottom, but quickly tenses back up as we start to rise again, and as adorable as a frightened Grayson is, I feel a pang of remorse.
Maybe if I distract him . . .
“There was this little carnival that came to town every single summer when I was little. It wasn’t much. They had a few rides, games, and a petting zoo, but I remember going every year. I’d get a candy apple and ride the Ferris wheel without fail. When I started growing older, I’d dream about one day having a boyfriend, and how maybe he’d take me, and we’d ride together.”
Grayson glances over at me now, his mouth a tight line. He's not relaxed by any means, but he’s listening.
“And there was always one thing I wanted to do.” I allow my gaze to drop to his mouth, those full lips which I know taste exactly as he smells—like cinnamon.
Every time we’ve kissed, he’s initiated it, and for once, I want to be the one to take his mouth with mine. For once, I want to distract him from the fear clawing through his veins like he’s distracted me from mine.
His throat bobs, a whispered “What?” coming from his parted lips.
“This.” I close the gap, brushing my lips over his.
He’s tentative, following my slow, languid pace. Every time the car shifts or rocks, he stiffens. The muscles in his back pull taught beneath my fingers, and his mouth slows.
But I want to make him forget. Erase his fears. Occupy all his thoughts until there’s room for nothing else. Until he forgets where we are or what we’re doing. Until he forgets his own name.
I shift closer, turning and lifting one leg over his.
“What are you . . .?” he croaks.
Once I’m straddling him, I drop my lips to his neck, nipping and kissing my way up to his jaw. Grayson’s breath hitches in his throat and as we near the bottom, I rock my hips lightly, enough to grind into him but not enough to shift the car.
The pace of his breath quickens when I find the sensitive hollow of his throat, bringing my mouth to his ear where I nibble on his earlobe, whispering, “Touch me,” at the same time I slide one of his hands beneath my shirt.
With one hand on my ass and one on my breast, he holds me in place while sliding beneath my bra.
I grunt and my mouth slants, ravenous as his hands glide over me.
I drag my teeth over his lower lip, and my eyes flutter open. Somehow, we’ve wound up on top again and the Ferris wheel has paused, so I pull back. The blacks of his eyes are wide and wild, the gorgeous gray nearly gone.
“Now look,” I breathe, glancing to our right where the pier and ocean stretch out before us.
Grayson follows my gaze, his throat bobbing as he takes in the scenery before turning back to me; only this time when he looks at me, the fear has faded and has been replaced with lingering lust and an emotion I can’t name. Then he whispers, “Definitely the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.”
Chapter thirty-four
GRAYSON
