Throttled (Wild Riders #1)(50)

*



The glow of the television lit up the windows of the cabin and I was happy to see someone was still awake. I hadn’t called Reid on my way over. I wanted to surprise him. I wanted him to see that I could come to a decision about us all on my own. I parked the car and made my way up the stairs and I peeked through the window. Reid was sitting in the recliner, a blanket pulled up over him, his eyes wide as he stared at the television. Hoyt was on the sofa and looking equally as enthralled by what they were watching. Judging by the way they both jerked at a loud noise and whatever was on the screen, I had a good guess it was something in the horror genre.

He always was a big baby when it came to scary movies. While I loved them, I practically had to drag him to the theater with me, but he still went every time and held my hand like he wasn’t scared at all. I remembered feeling the tight squeeze of his hand around mine every time something unexpected happened, or how he’d kiss my neck when there was something he didn’t want to see and play it off as him making a move. It was sweet and silly and one of the reasons I fell for him. He might have acted like the big, tough guy, but he had a vulnerable side, even if he only let me see it. He’d probably even gone as far to suggest that he and Hoyt watch whatever it was to validate his man card, which made the sight of him sitting there that much more comical.

Reid pulled the blanket tight around him, not wanting to cover his eyes and look like the chicken I knew he was. He might not have been scared of fast bikes and big jumps, but put on a slasher flick and all bets were off.

I rapt on the window—loud enough to draw their attention—before I ducked out of sight.

“What the hell was that?” Hoyt asked, grabbing the remote and hitting the pause button. “You heard that, right?”

I covered my mouth, trying not to let them hear the laugh I was fighting back as I made my way over to the door.

“Had to be the wind,” Reid reasoned. I heard the heavy thud of their footsteps across the floor. I assumed they were walking over to look out the window I’d just knocked on. I counted to three before pounding my fist against the front door. One, two, three times. They both screamed. Deep, masculine screams, but screams nonetheless.

Reid whipped open the front door and was greeted by the laughter I’d been holding back the entire time.

“You boys watching a scary movie?” I teased, watching the angry, I’m-gonna-kick-someone’s-ass look on his face fade to an embarrassed smile.

“Son of a bitch, Nora,” Reid said, taking a breath.

“I’m sorry,” I said, holding my hands up. “I couldn’t help myself. You were so into the movie. It was like I was being handed a prank on silver platter.”

“You’re gonna pay for that,” he said, grabbing my hand and pulling me inside, undoubtedly from the monster he was afraid was lurking outside. I was intrigued by his playful warning and even more by the wicked grin that fell on his lips. I had a few suggestions for punishment, starting with the mandatory placement of my lips against his.

“I’m fully prepared for payback,” I joked.

“You say that now, but we’ll see,” he said, closing the door behind him. The low slung sweatpants and T-shirt he was wearing said he was in for the night. I hadn’t even thought about what I would have done if he hadn’t been home. Maybe surprised him by hiding in his room. I would have to save that for another night. It was invigorating to actually be thinking of ways to surprise Reid. To have some excitement in a relationship.

With Beau, I was never spontaneous, he didn’t like surprises or trying new things. He liked routine and familiarity. I thought I did, but the more I thought about it, the more I wanted the unknown. I used to be a free spirit and a little bit reckless, and I had fun. I thought that was one of the reasons I’d been hurt before—because I fell too hard and too fast for a guy that wasn’t as invested. But, looking at Reid and replaying in my head the reasons he’d really left, I knew that it had nothing to do with who I was. Neither of us were to blame. He was trying to make the best out of a bad situation—we were young and he had a lot riding on making the best of his opportunity. I wished he would have confided in me back then, but at least now we were getting a do over. I was getting a chance to be the kind of girl I wanted to be. With him.

“You’re evil,” Hoyt said, smirking as he crossed his arms over his chest.

“Oh, come on,” I said as I leaned against the counter. “You would have done the same thing. You two just made it too easy. All huddled up under your blankies like the boogieman was going to get you.”

“It wasn’t the boogieman,” Hoyt corrected. “It was a possessed demon child.”

“Even better.” I laughed.

“Now that you’ve scared the shit out of us,” Reid began, propping his arm across my shoulders as he stood next to me. “Why the late night house call?” I looked up into his eyes and almost forgot why I was even there. He leaned in and I felt an all too familiar burn deep in my belly as he whispered. “Not that I’m complaining.”

“I was hoping we could...” I wanted to lean into him the rest of the way and close the distance between our lips, but I felt Hoyt staring at the two of us like we were as interesting as the movie he’d just been watching. “Talk.”

“I think we can... talk.” Reid winked and bit at his bottom lip as he nodded. He turned his attention to Hoyt briefly.