Ignited ✔️

1:22

It had been just over a week since River and I kissed. I haven't been able to stop thinking about it, it was everything I had imagined and some much more. It was intoxicating.

We have seen each other only a handful of times in the past seven days and when we did we spent the time talking and cuddling.

River has texted me early this morning and told me to get dressed into something warm and comfy because he had a surprise for me, so here I am trying to find an outfit.

Usually I'd call Jenna and ask her for an extra opinion but we have yet to speak about the things that have happened over the last month.

My phone pings with a text and I throw myself on my bed -losing my towel in the process- to grab it.

A smile instantly made its way onto my face when I saw who it was.

Charming: Hey princess, I'll be there in a half hour, and I've got a surprise for you 😘

Can't wait 😉

I still wasn't quite used to the fact that River was a gang member, I knew he had murdered  people and I knew that he had gotten involved in some pretty messed up stuff, but I couldn't help it. I was drawn to him.

Realizing that I only had thirty minutes to get decent I rush over to my closet and put on my matching bra and panty set, it wasn't anything fancy or sexy but it was the nicest I owned. Baby blue with a white bow directly under my navel and placed between my breast.

I throw on a Mickey Mouse T-shirt and my favorite pair of ripped skinny jeans before grabbing a loose sweater and slipping my feet into my converse.

I brush my fingers through my hair and quickly braid it before letting it lay over my shoulder and applying light makeup, which consisted of some mascara and lip gloss.

I pull out some hairs from the braid  to frame my face and spritz some peach body spray on.

A knock sounds at the front door and butterflies invaded my stomach. I felt sick. I was nervous and I didn't know why, this was just a date.

Taking a deep breath I exit my bedroom after giving myself one final look over in my full body mirror and speed walk to the front door but stop in my tracks when I see John.

Bile started to rise in my throat and fear invaded my senses. He was staring at me with so much hatred you would've thought I was the devil himself.

"J-John" I stutter as he rises from his chair and heads to the door.

"Where are you off too?" He asks in an eerily calm voice.

I glance to the door as another knock sounds.

"I'm just heading out for a bit. I'll be back for dinner"

"Six o'clock and not a second later."

I nod my head and audibly gulp as John brushes past me and heads into his room. I let out a breath I didn't realize I was holding and quickly compose myself.

Another knock sounding at the door snaps my attention back to the present and I shake my head to remove the fear the had been planted inside.

I grip the handle and yank the door open to be greeted by River with his fist raised to knock again.

"I was staring to think you stood me up princess" he jokes with a smirk.

I flash a weak smile at him before grabbing my purse and shutting the door behind me. River and I begin walking to his car when he stops me by gently grabbing my arm.

"Hey are you okay?" He asks in a low voice.

I turn to face him and he brushes the loose hair behind my ear. I glance at the front door before quickly gazing into the golden sea that was staring at me.

I paste on a fake smile. "Yeah of course, why wouldn't I be?"

River raises an eyebrow at me. "Are you sure? You look like you've seen a ghost"

I nod my head and place a small kiss on his cheek.

"I promise I'm fine, I'm just a little nervous, I haven't been on a real date in a while" I half lie.

He studies me briefly and I knew he didn't believe me but he didn't push it for which I was grateful. I knew I'd have to tell him eventually if I wanted this to go any farther, I just wasn't ready yet. I didn't know when I would be.

River threads his fingers through mine and leads me to his black Range Rover. He opens the passenger side door for me and I slip in after thanking him. He shuts the door and jogs around the front before sliding in to the seat and starting the car.

He turns the dial for the radio and Sia starts blasting through his speakers. He slowly pulls out of my driveway and starts to drive. I watch as he drums his fingers against the wheel and his eyes never leave the road expect for a few side glances at me.

"Where are we going?" I ask after a few minutes of silence.

"It's a surprise princess, it's not to far just trust me"

Trust me

He made it sound so easy. Trusting people was one of the hardest things for me to do, and as crazy as it is I did trust him, not fully quite yet, but just enough to let my walls down.

A comfortable silence filled the car aside from the music playing in the background, I was at peace for the first time in a long time.

I take the time to admire him as he drives, I intently study the way his dark eyebrows furrow and the way his lips curve down ever so slightly. I gaze at the scar on his face and embrace the darkness in his eyes. He was empty and broken and I knew that I knew he was tattered and tainted but he was still beautiful.

His raven black hair had started to grow long again and was beginning to curl at the edges and I couldn't help but try my attention to his lip ring which was glistening in the light.

My cheeks heat up as I recall the passionate kiss we had shared, the way his body was pressed against mine, the cold metal of his lip ring as he claimed my mouth with his own.

River's deep voice breaks me out of my shared memory.

"We're here princess."