Page 30 of Rear View

Ryah

The drive to Emerald Cove was stunning—seaside with cliff-faced mountains.

Snow-peaked caps and waterfalls of ice that hung down the sheer rock along the road.

The sky was a spattering of clouds backlit by a waning sun.

And when that light had reflected off Xavier’s arctic eyes, it had turned them a piercing shade of blue.

The farther from Edgewater we got, the more my invisible noose loosened. For the first time in two years, I was free.

I was envious of people who lived like that. Did whatever they wanted. Dreamed and made plans. My gaze flicked to Xavier. A kindling of hope sparked in my chest, because with him, it almost felt…possible.

My exhale was soft and long. “What if we never went back?” I said, the words out before I could think or stop them.

His warm hand landed on my thigh. My core clenched and I eyed that touch, wanting it to slide north. “You wanna run away with me, darlin’?”

That answer required a level of vulnerability I was too deprogrammed to give. So, instead, I stretched my arm out and settled my palm over the back of his neck in answer. My nails danced lightly along the skin there until goose flesh rose across his arms.

He cleared his throat. “Where you been hidin’ all my life?”

The truth felt like a mood dampener, not that he didn’t deserve it. But once I told him, things would get real. I’d already lost one relationship because of it, but losing Xavier… I couldn’t even think it.

“You tell anyone you were leaving?” He shifted, his fingers flexing against me.

“Oh, God.” I grabbed my phone. I’d gotten completely sidetracked by him. I glanced his way. Not that it was a bad thing. He was a very sexy package.

Turning away, I cleared my throat, then sent matching texts to Zoya and Miles.

Me: Going out of town with Xavier for a few days.

I was about to click off the conversation, but my brother’s response came fast.

Miles: Video chat. Now!

Frowning, I clicked the app and made the call. He answered immediately, his face filling the screen. His eyes were wide. Concerned.

“You alright,” he demanded.

My frown deepened. “Yes.” I ran a hand up and down, gesturing to myself. “Clearly.”

“Show me Xavier.”

Xavier chuckled.

I opened my mouth to chastise my brother, remind him which of us was older, but his expression turned to stone, unrelenting as he gave me a look that said, “You know why.”

Sighing, I swiveled the phone X’s way.

“Hey, man,” Miles said, the tension from his tone gone. “Good luck tomorrow.”

X tipped his chin up. “Thanks, boss.” He dropped the shifter into third. “I’ll take care of her.”

“Appreciate it,” Miles said, then to me, “Hey, Ry?”

I swung the screen back my way. “Yeah?”

“Stop bothering the guy when he’s driving?” he taunted.

I jabbed the screen with my finger and the two of them laughed.

“Message me when you get there.” His smile was proud. “And have fun.”

“I will.” We disconnected.

Xavier flicked his signal light on and slowed as we approached a gas station on our right. “He’s protective.” It wasn’t a complaint or criticism. Just an observation.

“Yeah,” I twisted the sleeve of my coat between my fingers. “He worries.” A fact that was my fault. I was glad he knew, that he cared. That he watched out for me, but in the same breath, I hated that he had to. That should’ve been my job.

Xavier veered us across the lot and up to the pump. He pulled out his wallet and grabbed a stack of cash. “Get whatever you want in there, darlin’.”

“I’m okay. Just need the washroom. You want anything?”

He shook his head. “All good.”

Climbing out, I headed inside and stopped dead when I eyed a rack of key rings a few steps away, homing in on one in particular. One that reminded me of my rally driver. Biting my lip, I picked it up and smiled.

* * *

I drew an easy breath as I shifted on the cream-colored leather couch of our palatial hotel room. One Xavier had apparently upgraded us to while I’d packed.

The place was all warm tones and rich woods.

Comfortable. The floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked the moonlit, ice-rimmed harbor I’d already taken a thousand pictures of.

Our dishes from the room service he’d ordered after we arrived two hours earlier sat on a rolling cart off to the side.

His meal lean and healthy to ready his body for the next day.

Mine a greasy feast fit for a five-year-old queen.

Adjusting my laptop in my lap, I peered at Xavier where he stood across the room, a ball in his grip as he trained, practicing hand-eye coordination drills while I told him, for the twentieth time, “You really didn’t have to do this.”

He stopped, then shook his head. “I grew up in a real fancy house. Everyone thought we had money. And my old man did, but Ma, and Fallon, and me…we never got shit.” His laugh was dark.

“I ate the same bare-bones thing every day, wore the same clothes through high school. Dad used cash to control us, ’cause he knew we couldn’t leave if we didn’t have it.

” Those arctic eyes collided with mine. “I’m doin’ good for myself now, and I finally got someone to share it with. Let me do this for you, yeah?”

His words practically hit my soul. God, he’d deserved so much more.

He shifted his stance, squaring himself to the wall again, showing off the cut of his ribbed, black sleeveless shirt and gray sweats.

The tattoos running down his arms and across his broad and densely muscled chest on full display.

The sight of him like that, so focused, it was mesmerizing.

Throw. React. Throw. React. His movements were rapid-fire.

Stare intent. And the sheen of sweat that slicked his skin as he worked made my mouth run dry.

That body. I bit my lip. What I wouldn’t do to run my hands under—

He eyed me over his shoulder. My cheeks heated at my being caught blatantly ogling him. He tossed the ball my way.

I jolted and clumsily grabbed it, the rubber warm against my skin.

“What’s with the tape?” he asked, flicking a hand to where it covered my computer’s camera.

My chest tightened and I fought to keep my expression easy. “I just…don’t like knowing people can see.” Because he could, and he had.

His brows rose like a follow-up question was imminent.

I desperately didn’t wanna go there. Needed to change the subject, fast. “How’re you feeling about tomorrow?”

His stare lowered to my lips, then back. “Real good.”

Swallowing hard, I trailed a hand over my throat before I reached into my pocket and touched the key chain I’d bought earlier, before tugging it free.

Stand tall, Ryah. Don’t be afraid. Just give it to him.

He closed in, and that gaze narrowed on me when he gripped the back of the couch, then leaned forward, giving his arms his weight. “What’s goin’ on, dream girl?”

I shifted again, sitting straighter. “I got you something.”

His head cocked.

Taking his hand, I dropped it into his palm, my face burning. Again.

He rolled it over, his thumb trailing the edges of the black, souped-up little hatchback there. A silver sticker with the words “Vroom, Vroom” ran along its side, reflecting the lights.

I hid behind the curtain of my hair as I gave a soft shrug. “It made me think of you.”

Hooking the key ring over his finger, he held it up and stared, and stared, and stared. The way he looked at it, I couldn’t place the emotion, but whatever it was, it was deep.

He wrapped his fist around it and cleared his throat. “I love it.”

My heart fluttered in my chest. “It was nothing, Xavier.”

“Nah.” He shook his head. “It ain’t nothin’.”

Leaning forward, he set his mouth to mine. I arched back, a breathy moan breaking free when his tongue dived past my lips. Liquid heat pooled between my thighs as I slid my hands into his hair and tugged him down to me. I wanted his body closer, wanted his touch everywhere—

A knock came at the door.

Xavier growled before he clutched the back of my neck and deepened the kiss for several heart-pulsing seconds, then growled again, and pulled away. Grabbing his charcoal hoodie from the back of the chair, he threw it on.

“This interview shouldn’t take long, darlin’,” he said, then under his breath, “I fuckin’ hope.”

I bit back my laugh when he headed for the door and opened it.

A pretty redhead in a body-hugging green wool dress stood there. Her hair was done in an elaborate Dutch braid that fell over her shoulder, her makeup flawless as she beamed up at Xavier.

My lungs seized and I suddenly felt woefully underdressed and woefully under… everything .

“Good evening,” she said, her voice soft as a bitter tang coated my tongue.

He tipped his head. “Hey.”

Her gaze flicked past him to me, and that megawatt smile faltered. Smoothing a hand over the side of her cleavage, she asked him, “Are you ready?”

Pressure built in my chest. A need to make myself seen by her. Well, more seen. Shoving my computer aside, I scurried across the room.

Xavier grinned down at me. “Ryah, this is Trina, the team’s publicist. Trina, this is my girl, Ryah.”

The way he said “my girl,” like he was proud… My thighs clenched. I inclined my head. “Hi, Trina.”

She lobbed a dismissive smile my way. To him, she said, “We should go.”

Xavier eyed me. “You sure you’re alright alone?”

No. I wasn’t. I wanted him there with me, instead of wandering off with Publicity Princess. Shoving that petty voice aside, I shook my head. “I’ll be fine.”

Trina settled a hand on the cap of his shoulder, her smile saccharine. “I’ll take good care of him, Ryah.”

He maneuvered away from her, his eyes almost feral as he closed in and lifted me from the ground, pinning me against the wall.

I squeaked and my heart did a contented little somersault when his mouth met mine.

The kiss was slow and warm, and I wanted nothing more than to keep it going. All night. Forever.

When he pulled back, he lowered me down and tracked his thumb across my cheek. “Don’t forget me, now.”

I couldn’t if I tried. Trina looked away, her arms crossed over her chest. My inner Petty Betty smiled, all swagger and full of teeth. That’s right, he’s mine.

“Be back soon.” He winked, and with that, he left.

Throwing the latch in place, I dead-bolted the door and headed back to the couch, touching my swollen lips, the warmth of his kiss still lingering there.

My phone buzzed with an incoming call from my parents. Grinning, I answered.

“Hi.”

“Hey, sweetie. How’re you?” Mom said, her voice high and sounding suspiciously like she already knew the answer.

My smile widened further as I headed for the massive en suite bathroom, with its golden marble countertops, slate-tile shower and two-person Jacuzzi. “I’m good.” Turning on the latter, I set the temperature and let it fill.

“A little birdie told us you went away for the weekend.”

My dad’s voice came on the phone. “With a boy.”

I laughed and headed back to the room to grab my nightclothes. “That little birdie has a big mouth.”

“Don’t be mad at your brother,” Mom said. “He was just excited.”

A text pinged through, and I eyed my screen.

Zoya: Hey, girl. Just getting to your message now. You headed to see your parents?

Me: No. I’m with Xavier.

The ensuing pause had a visual chase across my mind of her spitting out a drink as she fumbled her phone. I snickered.

Zoya: Holy shit! I just spit out my drink!

I barked a laugh, but I got it, seeing as the last time I’d left Edgewater was over two years earlier, when Z and I took off on a camping trip to celebrate finishing undergrad.

Zoya: Good for you. You need this, Ry. Just be safe and make sure to get you some, girl.

“Sweetie? Are you there?”

“Yeah, sorry.” I stared out across Emerald Cove, the calm settling over me so foreign, I had to work to let it in. My shoulders lowered, my muscles eased and I inhaled deep. “I’m here with Xavier.”

“I’m so happy for you,” she said, a smile in her voice.

I was happy for me too. Happy and greedy for more. Greedy for everything. I wanted this, to be with Xavier. Unshackled and free. To look forward to the future.

A message dinged in on my laptop from Professor Barlowe. I rolled my eyes and closed it down.

“You sound good.”

Something I hadn’t been in so, so long. Something she’d noticed but couldn’t pry from me. Like a dark cloud that had been lifted—well, not completely. But it was lifting. I hadn’t heard from him in days, and I was out of Edgewater, so it was a start. “I feel good, Mom.”

“So, you like him, then?” Dad asked.

My entire body warmed, and the answer came easy as I trailed a finger along the arm of the couch. “Yeah, Dad, I like him.” I liked him a lot.