Page 28 of Riding the Line (Willow Ridge #2)

Duke

‘Duke, seriously, where the hell are we going?’ Cherry asks for the hundredth time since we parked across the street from Willow Ridge High.

She dubiously scans the football field as we race past, her hand wrapped firmly around mine as I lead her to where the next item on her bucket list awaits on a Thursday night.

I’d offered out a hand to help her get down from my truck – whatever I can do to touch her somehow, even if it is brief and swept off as just a bit of chivalry.

The cool slide of her fingers across my palm sent shivers skittering across my skin, and then she just never let go.

Her fingers shuffled about and eventually slipped between mine, pulsing as her grip tightened.

I just wanted to pause and marvel at the way the gaps between my fingers seem so perfectly formed to fit hers.

‘Patience, Baby Hensley, we’re almost there.’ I flash her an irksome grin, to which she rolls her eyes.

‘Do you know what this reminds me of?’ Cherry asks. Silvery moonlight rains down on the apple of her cheeks

‘Mhm?’

‘Your senior year prank.’

I bark out a laugh, a little too loud considering we’re trespassing right now, but the brilliant memory rushes back to me too quickly.

Toilet paper dangling throughout the gym, wrapped around desks, and stuffed in lockers, all witnessed by a cunning little twelve year old who caught Wyatt and me sneaking out that night and demanded we take her with us in return for not telling.

‘What a night.’ I shake my head as we round the edge of the fence and head down the alleyway that leads to the outdoor pool. ‘I can’t believe you convinced us to let you come with.’

‘ Blackmailed is probably the right term,’ Cherry giggles, and the sound vibrates through my very soul. It’s so care-free and innocent, that I can’t help but think back to last weekend when I picked her up from the diner, the contrast in her now.

Rage crackles beneath my skin even just thinking about it.

The way Levi didn’t even try to feign ignorance when I confronted him on Monday, acting as if it’s what she wanted.

The self-control it took just to fire him and not call a hunting-party on his ass afterwards is something I deserve a medal for.

I chuckle. ‘You realise that means you’ve technically already broken in somewhere, though? That didn’t even need to be on your list.’

‘That was before my fall, though. It doesn’t count.’

‘If you say so. Did you ever tell your parents?’

Cherry crosses her heart with her free hand. ‘Never.’

‘You are a good girl, aren’t you?’

‘Only for you,’ she admits, biting down on her lip, eyes locking shamelessly with mine.

It makes me stop and swallow.

Fuck, I bet she’d be such a good girl as well.

So eager to please.

I’m incredibly glad that we’ve finally reached the pool gate where I can turn my attention elsewhere, as opposed to the thoughts that are already making my cock twitch.

Somewhat reluctantly, I slip my hand from Cherry’s to whip out the key in my pocket, my energy immediately dulled from the loss of contact.

Like she’s the spark that brings me to life.

‘Okay, so I know it technically doesn’t count as breaking in if you have the key, but it is trespassing, which is close enough,’ I tell Cherry as I slide the key into the lock, giving the handle a wiggle like Wolfman suggested.

The lies I had to make up to convince him to give me the key were ridiculous.

Eventually something clicks and the gate rattles open.

‘And I thought we might as well double up with another item.’

Edging the rusty gate open, I gesture towards the pool ahead of us, midnight-blue water barely lit up by the pale orbs of light dotted along the pool’s walls. The water is unbelievably still, the star-speckled sky reflecting along the surface, ready for us to dive into the liquid night.

‘Again, it’s probably not the kind of wild-water swimming you had in mind, but—’

‘It’s perfect,’ Cherry gasps, immediately slapping a hand over her mouth when she realises how loud she was. She winces, but her grin still overpowers the expression. ‘The swimsuit wearing makes a lot more sense now.’

Cherry glides in, letting me shut the gate behind us. I hesitate for a second, taking down a few slow, long breaths.

Because I think I’ve let myself go too far.

Having her fall asleep in my arms, being the reason she didn’t break into pieces that night, gave me a high I’d never felt before. As does every night now, when she calls me up so I can help talk her to sleep, knowing I’m the last thing she thinks of before she drifts off.

So here I am, about to walk into what might be our most torturous situation yet.

Swimming together, at night.

Seeing Cherry in her bikini.

Half-naked.

I never saw myself as a masochist, but clearly I don’t know myself as well as I thought.

I didn’t have to do this. I could’ve avoided this item on her list. But when it comes to Cherry Hensley, nothing makes sense except for her .

Because Cherry’s like a beautiful storm – one that I can’t help but chase, even if I know the outcome could be catastrophic.

But somewhere in the middle of all that danger I’d be risking could be a quiet moment of brilliance for just the two of us – the eye of the storm – while the world rages on around us.

And for some reason, right now, driving into that tornado of temptation seems worth it, if only for that.

Cherry is already sitting on the pool’s edge, sneakers beside her as she dips her long, slender legs into the water, swishing them about.

So much uncharted territory that I’d give anything to run my hands over.

Blue light ripples across her body, reflecting through the water, highlighting every beautiful inch of her tanned skin.

It gives her silky hair a blue tinge too and I have to fight the urge to take a photo on my phone so I can paint her later.

Midnight Beauty , I’d caption it.

‘Are you coming in?’ she asks, fluttering her dark lashes at me. Her gaze drops to my jeans, then once to my T-shirt, and back to my face.

‘Of course,’ I respond, shrugging off my jacket and dropping it beside her.

Once I whip off my T-shirt, I look down to catch where Cherry’s wide eyes are trained on my chest, cherry-red lips popped open.

I clear my throat and her eyes shoot up to mine, a strong blush spreading over her cheeks.

She cuts her gaze back to the water when my fingers start playing with my belt.

It doesn’t take me long to work my jeans off, leaving me in just my black trunks.

I settle myself beside her, dropping my legs into the cool water, skin prickling in response.

My puddled jacket acts as the barrier between us. The line I mustn’t cross.

‘Your turn,’ I say.

Her eyes flash again, and I don’t miss the way her chest lifts higher, pressing against her tight black halter neck.

But then she’s pulling her top over her head, revealing the flimsy bikini beneath that barely contains her breasts.

It might as well be a couple of scraps of material strung together.

Now my eyes are the ones widening.

I force them toward the pool ahead as she also shimmies out of her shorts, tossing them behind us. I don’t look at her properly yet, not when I’m unsure if I’ll be able to stop my eyes from roving over every inch of her incredible body.

‘It’s gonna be so cold,’ she says as she swirls a finger in the water. She splays out a hand above the surface, watching the light reflect off it. The same one that was wrapped up in mine moments ago. I wonder how it would feel against the rest of my bare skin—

No, I’m in enough agony already, let’s not go down that road.

I nod, pressing my lips together. ‘Best thing to do is jump straight in, get your head completely under.’

‘On three?’ Cherry grins, teeth tugging on her bottom lip. Her legs bob in the water, anticipation vibrating off her.

‘One,’ I start. ‘Two …’

‘Three!’ Cherry yells and throws herself in with a loud squeal.

I submerge myself quickly after, the cold instantly racketing through my body.

The stark contrast makes me tense for a beat before the water’s embrace eases it away.

Nothing but silence floats beneath the surface, and it’s a small moment of unbelievable calm that I force myself to bask in for one more second, before shooting back up.

Cherry whips her hair back as she breaks the surface, a long trail of water splashing me. Her innocent giggle echoes around us as I wipe the water from my eyes, scowling. But then the brightest smile I’ve seen from her yet spreads through her pink cheeks, reminding me again of why I’m here.

‘Come on, then,’ I say, nodding towards the other end of the pool. I start taking slow strokes through the water, lazily kicking my feet. ‘It only counts as swimming at night if you actually swim.’

‘I guess so,’ Cherry hums, pushing off the wall to swim beside me. ‘Shall we race?’

‘How about we just … relax?’ I suggest, twisting in the water so that I’m swimming on my back.

The warm summer night air kisses my bare chest, creating a welcome contrast to the cool water beneath me.

I can’t remember the last time I went swimming.

Cherry copies me, her long body stretching out under the moonlight.

‘Okay, but I hope you’re not trying to turn one of my bucket list items into one of your slow, little moments again like you did on the Ferris wheel,’ she jests, the splashing water doing little to hide her playful tone.

‘I would never dream of hijacking your big moment.’

‘I’m rolling my eyes, by the way.’

The laugh that barrels out of me is pure joy.