Rylie peered over the cliff and looked at the huge drop. "You've jumped off this thing?"
"Yeah. It's a rush," Reid answered.
She turned and gave the blonde Son an appreciative smile. "Damn, you are badass."
Reid smirked. "You want to try?"
Rylie's smile grew. "Catch me if you can." She threw her body over the edge.
Wind whipped around her, trying to hold her up. She laughed, letting the Power flow through her. Hands grasped around her waist, and she turned in midair to see Reid, his eyes as black as night, falling with her.
His Power wrapped around them, slowing their descent. Her back pressed against the ground, and she looked up into those dark eyes. He braced himself on one hand and traced her cheek with the other.
"I win."
"Guess you do," Rylie said, smiling.
"What's my prize?"
Rylie's breath caught, and for a moment she couldn't speak. "What do you want?"
Reid's smile grew, and a mischievous glint entered his eyes. "I could show you better than I could tell you."
Her breathing faltered as he dipped his head and nipped her shoulder, making her body shuddered. He kissed a slow path up her shoulder and neck, across her jaw, and claimed her lips. She wrapped her arms around his neck and tangled her hands in his hair, deepening the kiss.
Thunder boomed overhead, the sound reverberating off the cliff.
His hand trailed to her side, to the bottom of her shirt. His fingers inched their way beneath the material and caressed the bare skin as they slowly moved up.
Rylie grabbed his hand, holding it in place, and pulled away. "Reid, I…I can't."
Inhaling deeply, he pushed himself up and looked down at her. "Okay."
"I'm sorry, I just…."
"Ry, it's fine. I don't want you to do anything you don't want to do."
He didn't understand. She wanted to. She really wanted to let him strip and pleasure her until she screamed his name. But she was afraid. She silently cursed Devon for making her fear this kind of intimacy with someone.
He dipped his head and kissed her again before standing. He held out his hand and helped her stand.
"Think you can handle getting yourself up the cliff?" Reid asked, giving her a playful nudge.
"I think so." She let the Power flow through her, and felt her body lift into the air. She landed on the ground a few feet away from the cliff, and the blonde Son landed next to her.
Rylie walked back to the car and slid onto the hood, leaned back on her forearms, and looked up at the night sky. The moon shone brightly in the sky, the white orb surrounded by twinkling stars. Smiling, she closed her eyes. "It's been so long since I could just relax for a night. Not worrying about be found and attacked."
She felt Reid pull himself up next to her. His arm slipped under her and gently pulled her closer. She snuggled into his warm body and let out a contented sigh, staring up at the sky. Lightning flashed across the sky, briefly illuminating the couple.
* * * * *
"Where is she?" Caleb asked, looking at his watch. It was two in the morning.
"What makes you think she's not here?" Tyler leaned against the wall b the door, watching the oldest Son.
"She borrowed my car, and it's not here. Which means she's not here either."
"You know, I haven't seen Reid since Rylie left the bar," Pogue commented, glancing around.
Caleb's eyes grew wide for a second, and then he let out a long breath, running a hand over his face. "They're together."
"What?" Pogue asked. "No way. He probably took off with some chick from the bar."
"Yeah. And that chick just happens to be my sister," Caleb growled.
"Caleb, chill," Leila sighed. "If they were together, it's not like they'd do anything."
"Clearly, you don't know Reid," Pogue said.
"And clearly, you don't know Rylie. She won't let anything happen," Leila stated. "Not again," she added under her breath.
"What do you mean 'not again'?" Caleb asked.
"It's nothing. Forget I said it," Leila answered quickly.
"No. What did you mean?"
The front door opened and Rylie walked in, followed by Reid. They stopped when six pairs of eyes zeroed in on them.
"Uh, hey guys. What's up?" Rylie said, feeling a little uncomfortable.
Caleb's eyes went from her, to Reid, and back to her. "Where have you been?"
Rylie shrugged. "Out."
"I thought you were going home early?" Caleb asked through clenched teeth.
"I was. But then decided not to," Rylie answered.
"You mean Reid decided not to?" Caleb corrected, glaring at the blonde Son.
"No. I decided not to. I didn't want to stay at the bar, but didn't want to come back here either," Rylie said.
"What did you do to her?" Caleb shot at the blonde.
"Nothing!" Reid exclaimed.
"Bullshit," Caleb spat. "Did you fuck her?"
Rylie's jaw dropped. Did he think so little of her that he would assume she'd let some guy do her?
"What? No!"
"The only reason you leave Nicky's with a girl is if you're going to get some," Caleb said. "But I can't believe you'd do that to my sister!"
Rylie's hand connected with Caleb's face, and the sound echoed around the now quiet foyer. Caleb stared at his sister as a large red handprint appeared on his cheek. Everyone was silent.
"I can't believe you!" Rylie snapped. "How can you think that I'd leave a bar with some guy and fuck him? I'm not some cheap whore who lets guys have their way with her. I like to keep my dignity, thank you very much!"
"Did you have dignity when you let Devon fuck you?"
Everyone's eyes went to the living room. Leila let out a long list of curses.
Rylie glared at the woman before her. Her long red hair fell over her shoulders in lush curls, and her bright green eyes shone with excitement.
"Cassandra," Rylie snarled.