But I’m so fucking ready.
See you soon, baby.
Love,
Riley
Chapter 20
Collins
“I WASN’T GOING TO MAKE YOU BEG FOR ME, BUT…”
Icaved.
Folded like the letter I handed to Creed this morning.
We leave to go pick up Riley first thing tomorrow, but today I let Creed read Riley’s response to me,
knowing that he would want him to read it, too. I’d bolted out the door and closed myself in the silks room that Creed had built for me in his guest house.
Is it ridiculous? Yes.
But I couldn’t stop from blushing over Riley’s words.
How the hell am I supposed to handle Creed’s reaction when he realizes that Riley is all in. Withbothof us.
Luckily, I had a physical therapy appointment scheduled for today, too. So now I’m holed up with my PT while Creed reads and processes Riley’s words. There’s no denying that I’m curious as hell to see how he’ll react when I tell him that the doctor gave me theall-clearat my check up yesterday.
I don’t want to be handled with kid gloves, but I’m also not sure exactly what I am and am not ready for, yet. I know he’ll move at my pace, considering he let me ride his lap in the hospital, but that moment wasn’t about pleasure and he understood that. It was a moment allowing me to overpower himso that I could feel like I was back in control when I started to spiral.
What Idoknow is that I miss that connection with him. With Riley. I’d barely begun my chapter in life as his partner, and I’ll be damned if I let the motherfucker who took me get in the way of that.
Fuck him for thinking he could break me.
I shake my head free of all thought and focus on the end of my session, using the silks to stretch my tired limbs.
The therapist Creed found to work with me also happens to be an educated aerialist. Her name is Marie, and speaks with the cutest French accent. Her dark eyes remind me so much of Riley’s, and it brings a sweet sense of comfort with every encouraging look she gives me. She’s so full of life and positivity. She gives me hope that I’ll be able to perform again someday soon.
I’ve got the silks wrapped around my wrists, stretching my arms and shoulders upward and pull my legs up and into a modified split to help decompress my spine when, all of a sudden, the door to the studio bangs open so hard that it bounces off the doorstop, nearly slamming shut again in the face of a very excited Creed.
All that big baby did was pout all day because he felt so left out. Like Riley and I were in on something that he wasn’t a part of.
As cute as it was, and with me being me, I couldn’t stand the thought of him feeling as if our relationship was imbalanced in any way. It looks like he’s now in the loop as he looks at Marie and hikes his thumb over his shoulder.
“Out,” he commands, but it lacks any bite. His eyes never leave mine as he rambles out a run-on sentence. “You did a fantastic job with my girl, we both appreciate your hard work and dedication, but she’ll see you next week.”
“You’ll be okay? Any soreness?”She asks me, ignoring Creed’s antsy impatience as she reaches for her bag and hikes it up her shoulder.
I nod, “No more than the usual soreness that comes with performing. A little tightness, but we’ll get it stretched out.”
Creed snickers at the unintentional innuendo and I shoot him a glare over Marie’s shoulder. My therapist just glances at me, where I’m currently wrapped up and fights to hide her knowing smile as she gathers her things and quietly slips out the door.
Before I can lower my feet to the floor, Creed is gripping my thighs and shifting my body until I’m firmly wrapped around his hips.
“Is he saying what I think he’s saying?” he asks, his bright eyes wide and imploring as he fans the folded letter between us. My arms are still stretched above my head, but it doesn’t pull against my muscles as Creed supports my weight on his hips.
I cock a brow at him. “Is he saying anything you didn’t already know?”
