The Worst Kind of Promise (Riverside Reapers #2)

by Celeste Briars

“This is not your fault. You need to understand that.”

“This is his fault, okay? This is all on him. He took advantage of you. This small-dicked asshole took your freedom, your choice, and he’ll be paying for every second of it for the rest of his miserable life.”

Friends. Did I seriously just say that? Why did I say that? Why couldn’t I just tell her the truth? I want to be so much more than just friends.

Faye’s the embodiment of everything pure in this world, like the furry, white heads of blooming dandelions swirling away in a summer breeze, or the way seafoam laps between your toes before dissolving into damp granules of sand.

Jesus. I want to hug her, touch her. I want to hold her in my arms and never let go.

Note to self: don’t look into Kit’s eyes unless you want to spontaneously combust on the spot.

“You do. You might not be able to see it, but I do. I’m not some problem you need to fix.”

“I called you because I trust you. I knew you wouldn’t make a big deal about this like my brother would. I didn’t ask for princess treatment.”

place. I’m angry that now I’m debating with Kit about temporarily moving in with him. I’m angry that I couldn’t handle this myself—that I had to rely on someone else to pick up my shattered pieces and try to hot-glue them back together.

“Things can’t go back to normal, Faye. And that’s okay. I’m thankful you trusted me with what happened to you,”

you. I want to offer you support when you need it, even if you’re adamant about pushing me away.”

yourself doesn’t mean you should be. Accepting help isn’t a sign of weakness; it doesn’t diminish your strength or resilience. You’re stronger if you acknowledge you need help,”

“You’re so content with carrying all this weight on your shoulders. Now let me carry some of it for you.”

I notice that he’s pants-less. He must’ve shucked them off because of the heat, and now all that greets me are two large, round globes of ass barely contained in the thin covering of his boxers.

Don’t get me wrong, it’s a fantastic ass. But it seems…wrong to be ogling him this early in the morning. Or at all.

This matters to him. And I’m beginning to think it matters to me too.

It feels good to be in his arms, despite them crushing me.

She looks beautiful. My gaze gravitates toward her eyes, which might seem like safe territory if it wasn’t for my desire to get lost in them.

“Promise me you won’t tell Hayes about what happened here,”

To some extent she might be protecting Hayes

Hayes is one of my best friends. No, I don’t feel great keeping the truth from him. But, given the situation, it seems justified. And it’s not really my secret to divulge.

“I don’t know. I kind of like the idea of causing a little trouble.” Fuck. Trouble with Faye sounds like the perfect pastime. I swallow thickly, my Adam’s apple bobbing in my throat. “You wouldn’t dare.”

“You’re telling me that the big, bad Kit Langley is afraid of a little trouble?” “When it’s fun sized and dangerously addictive like you, I am very afraid.”

“If you wanted me on my knees, Faye, all you had to do was ask,”

I’m not interested in fucking for the sake of fucking. I want to mean something to someone.” Faye means more to me than she’ll ever know.

them. I don’t know much, but I know one thing for certain: winning Faye Hollings’ heart isn’t a game. It’s the end of the line.

Faye will never believe a word I say unless I prove it to her. So I do just that.

She clings to me like she doesn’t want to let go, like breaking our connection will make the heavens themselves crumble to dust. I don’t want to let go, either.

“I can’t! I’m so fucking hard right now that I can’t think straight. You do this to me. No other girl does, okay? All of the girls I’ve been with haven’t held a candle to you. You’re all I ever think about, and it kills me that I can’t have you.”

“My brother’s going to kill me, isn’t he?” “If he’s going to kill anyone, it’s going to be me,” I admit, and upon seeing the frown twisting her lips, I quickly fire back, “But it’s fucking worth it.”

I have no idea how something so simple, so ordinary, could bring me such immense pleasure.

It kills me that she seems so surprised, like she couldn’t understand why I’d want to spend every second of my time with her. I’m obsessed with this girl. I’d give her anything she wanted.

Two days being trapped in a car with the man who I want to ruin me in every thinkable way.

“You know, I’m a pleasure to be around. Funny, handsome, conversational, a great big spoon. You’re getting the meet and greet without having to pay me anything.” “I didn’t realize you were pursuing an escort job,” I joke. “Oh, Faye. I would never charge you. You can have all this”—Kit gestures to his romance novel-esque physique, making a show of flexing every muscle he can—“for free.”

As attracted as I am to Kit, it’s weird how my body—which has been conditioned to flee or fight whenever in a sexual situation—feels no danger in his presence.

Believing that someone genuinely wants to spend time with me is hard. I’ve always felt like a responsibility to Hayes.

' The feeling you get when you're raised by your siblings and not your parents

I can’t help but feel like I’m just a responsibility for Kit too…one I burdened him with.

“If it makes you feel any better, I’ve always felt the need to apologize. You know, as a woman in society.” “I don’t want you to feel like you need to around me,”

“Princess, you’re the sweetest thing I’ve ever tasted.”

How much luggage could one woman possibly need for the summer?

I might’ve said a lot of charming stuff at the café, but oftentimes when I speak, I usually have zero recollection of what came out of my mouth.

Mood

Fuck. I want to bite her tongue, leave behind teeth impressions, mark her as mine. Give her a princess treatment she’ll actually enjoy.

I feel for Faye. I can’t imagine going through something so traumatic, then having to deal with the fallout for the rest of your life.

But this…this has to be the worst mistake of my life.

I’m not sane enough to be awake right now. Mentally, physically, or emotionally. I’m running on two Red Bulls, a bag of Life Savers Gummies, and some questionably flavored beef jerky.

“Ah! Why are your fingers so bony? And why do you always feel the need to resort to physical violence?” I threaten him with another attack. “Because you’re the only person in this entire world that incites enough annoyance in me to need to resort to physical violence,”

“Flattery will get you nowhere.” “Flattery gets me everywhere.”

She’s my sun, and I’m the idiot orbiting around her.

What the hell does ‘pulsating sword of steel’ mean? FAYE: Are you…reading one of my books right now? KIT: It was on the bathroom counter. FAYE: That’s private property. KIT: Your name isn’t on it. FAYE: That’s just common decency, ass.

Don’t you ever think with anything besides your dick? KIT: What can I say? He has a big head.

You know, I think I’ll stay on my side. It’s cool and smells good over here. KIT: Are you implying that my side smells? FAYE: Well, you are in it, so… KIT: That’s low, Faye. That’s really low.