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Our bodies move closer until his lips are ghosting over mine. His warm breath flurries against me, and I wish so badly he’d close the gap, because I’m too scared to move. I don’t like the way my stomach flutters when he looks at me, the way it hurts being this close. It terrifies me that the only thing I want in this moment is for him to kiss me. For him to want me.

But Rhenn pulls away, reminding me that no one ever will.

I let out a deep breath, then fall to my back. I have to look at something that isn’t him, so I choose the sky, trying to find shapes in the clouds just like Mom and I did when I still had her.

Again, my link buzzes at my side. It’s gone off a few times now. I’m too full of self-pity to even care to read the messages.

“Who keeps messaging you?” Rhenn asks, back to his usual demanding self. What surprises me is when he reaches to check it himself.

“No one.” I sit up, trying to grab it from him. Of course, I can’t, and like a dummy, I don’t have a lock on it.

“No one?” he asks, irritation spewing from the question as he stares at the screen. “‘I’m bigger than I look, babe.’ ‘Maybe you need a reminder?’” Rhenn reads off the messages, pausing at the next one before looking at me, a storm in his perfect thundering irises. “‘You at home? I can be there in ten minutes.’ How the fuck does he know where you live?”

I roll my eyes. “Everyone knows where you live, so they know where I live. Can I have my link back?”

He stands, putting it in his back pocket, which means the answer is a big fat no. “Up,” Rhenn tells me.

“But I’m so comfortable.” My tone is exaggerated now that I’m annoyed. I’m getting ready to lower back down when he grabs my arm, forcing me to my feet. “Fine,” I gripe, dusting off my pants. “Bossy as ever.”

I’m not sure where I’m expecting him to take us, and I gave up on really fighting him when he’s like this a long time ago. It’s not like I can make him stop anyway. But when I see him pulling me toward the man behind the stand at the Ferris wheel, my mouth nearly drops, and when he grumbles, “Two tickets,” it fully does.

“After you, babe.” Rhenn motions for me to climb in first, putting extra mock on the word babe, like having read someone call me that was a direct insult to him.

I cross my arms, planting my feet where I stand. “If you’re making me get on this thing just so you can push me out when we get to the top, I’m not interested.” Not that I think that’s his intention, but it’s not something I’d put past him.

“Vixen. Get. On.”

I look up at the ride, seeing the lights and bright colors. The seats sway from the movement of the machine, even after it stopped. I’d be lying if I said I haven’t always wanted to ride one of these, since I’ve never actually been on a Ferris wheel. I’ve never done a lot of things I think I want to though, until it stares me in the face and I realize how damn tall the thing is up close.

I glance at Rhenn, who’s brooding impatiently for me to move.

With a deep inhale, I take my place in the seat, expecting Rhenn to climb in after me. I find him talking with the guy controlling the ride again, handing him something out of his pocket, then he makes his way beside me.

My fingers grip around the bar in front of us even before we start moving. It’s by no means fast, which helps, but it feels rocky, and honestly, a little terrifying. The thought of being suspended so high above the ground with nothing stable beneath me makes me uneasy. Doesn’t help that the wind is blowing my hair in my face.

My eyes clamp shut as the ride’s music starts again. The only thoughts pounding through my brain are clips from the movie Final Destination 3. Dramatic? Yes. I’m well aware this is nothing like that roller-coaster. Still, all I can imagine as we rise higher is this thing crashing down.

“You’re gonna miss the best part,” Rhenn says beside me, which tells me we are almost to the top.

How I can jump off cliffs but be scared of a child’s ride is beyond me.

I tighten into myself. “Yeah, I think I’ll pass. You can describe it to me later.”

He chuckles lightly, giving me the impression he’s already in a better mood. “Fine. Keep your eyes closed then.” A finger trails over my leg, rising high enough to make my lower stomach and inner thighs an instant aching furnace. “Either way, I’m going to need you to spread these.”

And now it’s a wet furnace.

Damn him.

“Sorry, pal. I’m three seconds away from throwing up and exposing myself to the world doesn’t seem like it’ll help.”

“You’re not exposing yourself for a damn person other than me.” He pulls his sweater off, placing it over my lap. “And I’ll be highly offended if you throw up, so try to keep that shit down.” There’s a playfulness in his voice, which helps ease my nerves.

I would argue with him that it’s cold and he needs the cover over his arms, but even I know it’s a lie. The nippy wind isn’t even a second thought as he moves to massage my thigh again.

“Just breathe,” Rhenn tells me, his voice calming.

I hold onto his words, allowing his presence to anchor me in the moment, and let in a shaky inhale.