When I pull up in Drayton's driveway, I've barely switched the car off before he comes out of the house wearing a leather jacket and hood, his black jeans and his gloves. Memories of last night's sheet shaking come flooding back and I feel as though I need a cold shower. He flashes a smile and starts heading towards the car with his head down.

"So I know it's kinda cold but I've already put a blanket in the seat compartment," he states as I get out of the car and shut the door. "I can tak-"

His sentence drops off as he lifts his head and takes in my appearance. His eyes sweep me from the thigh-high leather boots to the cinched waist of my winter jacket. He steps back and puts a hand over his mouth, rubbing his jaw as he admires me with longing glances.

"Damn," he shakes his head with a husky voice, "you look fucking incredible. I'm starting to rethink leaving the house."

I can feel a heated blush creep on to my cheeks as he steps forward and pulls me into his body, his hands gently grazing the skin on my thigh that's revealed between the boots and jacket.

"As much as I want to take you upstairs and have you riding me, rather than the bike," he smirks, "we do needa talk. So come on cheer."

He laces our fingers together and I squash the urge to argue with him, insisting that we go upstairs immediately and abandon all plans for the next twenty-four hours. But I'm well aware that we're in serious need of a decent conversation.

"Oops, I left my helmet in the car." I quickly rush back over to the passenger side of the car and retrieve the headgear while Dray starts the thunderous engine and slips his own over his head.

"Ready?" he shouts as I jump on to the seat behind him and snuggle into his back, gripping my hands together in front of his stomach.

"Yeah!"

It feels incredible to be back here again. That after all these months of tension and unresolved feelings and heartache, we can almost pick up where we left off. But this time it's even better, because I'm wearing the morning afterglow and that just seems to make everything I'm feeling, heightened.

We tear off out of the driveway and the winter air instantly rushes through my jacket and up my skirt. It's freezing but the adrenaline helps to mask most of the discomfort. Drayton expertly weaves through the Saturday afternoon traffic, winding past the cars, through town and towards the outskirts of Archwood. The familiarity of this route comes back to me and I realise that we're about to head up the winding road, towards the lookout that we'd come on our first ride together.

When we've made it to the top, it's a far different setting than it had been all those months ago. Snow covers the once grassy cliffside and the concrete pad is buried under a thick fall. The bike makes it through the snow and we stop near the park bench that we'd sat when Dray confessed the truth behind his smoking habit. I wonder if he chose this space for any underlying reason, or if he just likes it up here.

"How cold are you?" He grins once we've hopped off the bike and removed our helmets. He pulls a blanket out of the seat compartment and starts unfolding it as he walks towards me.

"I'm not too bad." I smile but gratefully accept the blanket he drapes over my shoulders. "Thanks Dray."

The bench seat is drenched with melting snow, so sitting down won't be an option, or so I thought until Drayton picks me up and sits me on the bike, he then slings his leg over, his back to the handlebars so that he's facing me. He grips each of my legs under the knees and drags me towards him so my legs are draped over his on either side of his waist.

"Comfy?" he asks once he's done positioning us in a very intimate manner. I'm not complaining though, it's giving me all sorts of creative ideas.

"Yeah." I chew on my lip with a wide smile and then decide that the blanket could be better used. I throw it over our legs so it's covering both of us. "So you wanna talk?" I prompt the inevitable.

"Yeah." He nods his head and stares out over the incredible view with furrowed brows. "I guess the first thing is Emily, I dunno how we-"

"Emily won't be a problem anymore," I state with a proud smile. Dray eyes me with a puzzled expression. It kind of excites me to be the one in the know instead of him. "That's what I was dealing with this morning actually."

I decide to fill him in before he has a brain aneurism trying to figure out what I'm talking about. I pull out my cellphone and hand it to him as I explain the entire confrontation from beginning to end. The look on his face at the end of my heroic story is a little hard to decipher.

"Why didn't you tell me?" he asks, handing the phone over. A little bout of panic swells. Maybe he's mad that I didn't say anything?

"Are you angry?"

"What?! No!" He shakes his head wildly ridding the doubt I'd just had. "No, I just wish I could have seen that. Sounds hot." 

His grin turns to the devious smirk that I'm all too familiar with as his fingertips caress my thighs under the blanket. I'm beginning to think that getting through any conversation is going to be near impossible at this point.

"That's a relief, you know." He exhales and the sexual tension slowly evaporates as a slight nervousness seems to take place. "I was worried we'd have to hide it."

"What do you mean, going to have to hide it?" I ask, my heart rate accelerating under his heated gaze. He lifts his hand and sweeps a strand of hair behind my ear.

"I mean that I'm crazy about you cheer." He caresses the side of my jaw which might be on the floor at this point. "You've held my attention since you threw that ball on the first day of school. Since you didn't put up with any of my bullshit and weren't afraid to tell me what's on your mind. 

When I taught you how to ride my bike, it was so I had a reason to touch you and when I took you to Cali, it wasn't because I had nothing better to do, its because I wanted to spend time with you and watch you experience something new, because watching you experience new things is fucking incredible. And when I dared you to kiss me, it's because I was too much of a pussy to just tell you that's what I wanted. Spending all those weeks together was both torture and the best weeks of my life. It was torture because every moment that I spent with you, I wanted to tell you how I feel, or kiss you or anything" - he throws his hands in the air - "Watching you with other guys was fucking torture because I wanted it to be me. But I was scared Dallas, I was! Because I knew that if I let myself fall for you, you'd leave and you'd take my heart with you."

His admission has thrown me through a loop. I hadn't been sure what to expect from this conversation. But it certainly hadn't been that. He's never been so candid in all the conversations we've had and I feel as though I'm about to implode with pure joy and ecstasy.

"You're incredible Dallas," he continues. "You're not afraid to try new things, you're always up for adventure, you aren't phased by the bullshit and you've been surprising me from the moment we first spoke. Holding back from you has been a fucking headache and I don't wanna do it anymore. I dunno what will happen when graduation comes round. I can't promise that it'll be easy but I think it's worth trying and seeing where this goes. If that's what you want?"

What I want, is to jump his bones and lose myself in the novelty that he provides. I almost feel as though I need to pinch myself to find out if any of this is real.

"Say something," he asks in a hushed tone, his hand tipping the bottom of my chin towards his face.

"Dray, I've literally been in hell watching you with that bitch for the last two months."

"I'm so sorr-"

"Just kiss me you idiot!"

I lean forward and clutch either side of his neck, bringing out mouths together, kissing him with absolutely nothing to hold me back. No doubt about how he feels, no girlfriend, no waiting date that's hiding in the shadows. It's just him and I, raw emotion, feelings out in the open. It's perfect and it was worth the wait. It was worth all of it.

His hand grips the nape of my neck, his other hand wrapping around my back so that he can lift me on to his lap. I wind my legs around his waist and grind myself against him. I could get used to this. It feels good, it feels right. Nothing has felt more right than this does.

"Cheer," Dray pulls away, exhaling heavily through his nose as he rests his forehead against mine, "I'm about two seconds away from getting you naked and it's way too cold for that."

"Maybe a little body heat is just what we need," I bite my lip and watch in delight as his Adam's apple bops up and down, feeling the swell throb beneath me.

"Never hold back on me." He grins, pressing his mouth to mine and feathering rough kisses against my lips. "I'm sorry for being such an ass for so long," he mumbles between the kisses. "I am definitely sorry that I wasted so much time."

"It doesn't matter," I tell him, taking his face between my hands, feeling the rough stubble of his jaw beneath my fingertips. "It doesn't matter. Let's just make sure that we don't let anything else get in the way from now on. I've spent long enough resisting you. I don't wanna do it anymore."

"Deal." He smiles the foreign but most definitely favourite smile I've seen to date. "God, I love seeing you happy," he mumbles, mirroring my thoughts.

I am happy. I couldn't be happier. If someone had told me that this is where I'd end up five months ago, I'd have called them out of their damn minds. It's incredible how much can change in so little time. I just hope that a little time isn't all that we have.

I'm not sure what will happen when it's time for me to move, but for the first time, I don't care. I'm more than willing to give it a fair chance because now that I know he wants the same. It's easy to believe that we might be able to make each other happier than we've ever been before.

A light snowfall starts to litter our surroundings with white flakes of snow. They land in Drayton's hair and I'm immediately dazzled by how adorable he looks with specks of white powder sprinkled in his hair.

"Shit," he glances upwards, "you're gonna get drenched."

He twists around and snatches my helmet from the handlebar that it was hanging from. The snow starts to fall a little heavier so he sweeps the hair from my face, pecks my lips and slides the helmet over my head before he flicks the shield down. It's enough to make my head spin with swoon-worthy sentiment. Who knew he could be so gentle. He turns himself around and slides his own helmet on, starting the engine and kicking up the stand before he makes his way down the icy roads. He goes slowly and carefully so that we don't slide out of control.

I'm not sure that a motorcycle accident would be the best way to begin our fresh start.

• • •

"Thanks for the ride Lahey." I grin when we've removed our helmets and hopped off the bike. There's a fresh layer of soft snow on his driveway, but the fall had eased up when we were almost back.

"Your jacket's soaked." He frowns, running his hands along the shoulders.

Before I can assure him that I'll manage until I get home, a familiar crisp white Benz pulls into the driveway and out hops Drayton's mother. She is the epitome of winter glam in a long cashmere coat, boots that look as though they'd cover my entire tuition and a plush soft beanie and gloves.

"Dray," she calls out from where she's parked next to the front door, "come and help me with the groceries!"

Drayton saunters towards her so I follow along, figuring I'll offer my assistance.

"Hello again Dallas!" Ellie greets me with a chipper smile. I haven't seen her since she met Dray and I at the airport and verbally beat the shit out of him. "How have you been darlin? I'm not in a foul mood this time! Unless Drayton here has been doing something he shouldn't."

She raises a brow towards her son who's currently leaning over into the trunk of the car, abiding by his mom's request. He rolls his eyes and proceeds to pick up the entire ten bags with absolute ease.

"On the straight and narrow Ma." He grins as she closes the boot.

"Good!" she coos. "Dallas, stay for dinner? We're having homemade burritos for Drayton's birthday."

"It's your birthday?!" I turn to him with bewilderment but he shakes his head in denial.

"No darlin," Ellie chuckles. "It's his birthday next week. But Leroy and I will be out of town, so we're celebrating early. Please join us."

She spins on her heel and struts up the front steps, disappearing inside. My attention turns to Drayton as we follow along behind her.

"Your parents won't be here for your birthday?" I give him a pouty frown but it's received with an indifferent shrug.

"I haven't spent my birthday with my parents since Abby died," I gasp the news and feel a pang of sorrow in my chest. "Don't worry about it. I obviously shared my birthday with Abby and its hard for them I suppose. I dunno. It doesn't really bother me. Gray and I usually throw an epic party or whatever. They go away and grieve, remember her in their own way. I like to honour Abby by getting blackout drunk and I don't think Ma and Pa wanna see that. They don't completely disregard my birthday so that's something I suppose."

He really doesn't seem bothered by the routine. I suppose he's used to it and his explanation is reasonable. It would be worse if they'd completely written his birthday off altogether. But I am a little concerned about his admission to dealing with his birthday in such an unhealthy way, I shouldn't be surprised though. Perhaps I can encourage a healthier grieving process this year?

"So do you like burritos?" He grins as he sets the bags down on the kitchen countertop.

"Um of course." I roll my eyes as if it's the most ridiculous question I've ever heard. I sit down on a bar stool on the opposite side of the island. "I've never had them homemade though."

"My mom doesn't do a lot of cooking," he explains as he unpacks the ingredients. "But she does burritos, really fucking well."

"Language!" Ellie sings out, swiping the back of Drayton's head as she comes shimmying back into the kitchen in a more casual outfit. Sweatpants and ugg boots with a warm sweater. "Where's Grayson and Spencer? They were here when I left."

"I dunno," Drayton shrugs, pulling some OJ out of the fridge while his mother taps her foot impatiently from behind him, "probably fucking in his room."

"Drayton Jacob Lahey!" she shouts, giving him another swipe which he manages to avoid, moving towards the cabinet and pulling two glasses from the top shelf. "Don't be foul!"

"You asked," he mutters, pouring us a drink each. I stifle a laugh because I'd rather not get on Ellie's bad side on the first night I dine with her. Drayton's probably on the money though. I wouldn't be surprised if that's exactly what Grayson and Spence are doing.

"Come on babe." Drayton picks up the glasses and signals for me to follow him as he rounds the kitchen island and heads for the entryway. My nerves tingle with the use of the word babe. He says it so casually, as if he's been doing it forever and it gives me a feeling of total exuberance. "Let's go stop those nympho's from making babies."

"Drayton!" Ellie screams from the kitchen but we're already halfway up the staircase.

"But before we do that" - Drayton leads us into his bedroom and sets the drinks down on a shelf - "you should take that jacket off."

He starts rummaging through his drawers so I undo the jacket and reveal the busty blue dress that I'm wearing underneath. Drayton turns around as I toss the jacket on to his bed, he's got a large maroon hoodie in his hands and his eyes rest with very little subtlety on my chest.

"Ooh, you're lucky I care about your comfort," he tells me, handing the hoodie over. It's one of his football jerseys, the number "1" and "Lahey" is printed in bold white letters across the back of it.

"Thanks." I grin before I pull the hoodie over my head. It smells like him, the scent immediately invading my senses in the best way possible. There's a very real chance that he won't be getting this back anytime soon. "It's huge!"

"Why thank you," Drayton smirks, "so I've been told."

"Ugh." I slap his arm in response to the dirty joke. I won't lie, I've missed this. I've missed every aspect of our relationship. "I meant the hoodie."

"It looks good." He picks up his glass and downs the orange juice while I inspect myself in his mirror. The hoodie is almost as long as my dress and paired with the leather boots, I look like I'm about to do a walk of shame.

"I'm keeping this by the way," I tell him as I sit on the edge of his bed and start unzipping my boots. He smirks and kneels in front of me, gently removing my hands and taking over the unzipping.

"Is that so?" He slides the first boot off without breaking eye contact, moving on to the next one while my heart starts to thump erratically. "You gonna sleep with it every night?"

"Maybe." I grin with a small shrug.

Once the second boot is removed, his hands slide up my smooth legs, tantalising and slow as he moves higher and higher.

"Would it be weird if I got a little jealous over that hoodie," he mumbles with a husky voice, getting up and trapping me between his arms, leaning over me so I have to fall back into the mattress.

"No, not weird." I barely manage to finish my sentence before his mouth meets mine and his tongue pries my lips apart. He reaches back, his hand gripping under my knee and pulling my leg up so it's wrapped around his waist.

I quickly wind my arms around his neck and pull him closer as the desire between us heats up impossibly fast. It's not surprising, I only need to see him to feel an astounding amount of arousal.

"Oh sheesh you two!" Grayson's voice chortles from behind us. We break our kiss but Drayton keeps his position, hovering over me between my legs as he glances back towards the door. "Get a room."

"We're in a fucking room," Drayton bites back. I lift my head and peer around his arm to see Spencer and Gray watching us from the doorway. Spencer winks and gives me a sly smile.

"Get out," Drayton orders, his glance falling back on me with a lustful expression.

"Mom wants your help with dinner," Gray sing songs.

"You go help her."

"I am. She wants us both downstairs. She was very specific."

"That's probably because I told her you and Spencer were making babies in your room." Drayton laughs as Spencer gasps and Gray groans in frustration.

I have to hand it to Dray, he has a special talent in winding people up. It's just one of the many things I adore about him to be perfectly honest.

Drayton huffs but gets up and helps me to my feet, the four of us start heading downstairs. I hang back with Spencer because I know that she's itching to question me, I feel a little bad that I still can't get into all the juicy details with her.

"Well that looked promising." She nudges me with her elbow as we skip down the stairs. "So is it all official?"

"Um, no actually." I realise that we hadn't specifically mentioned what we are, we'd just agreed to see how things go. "We're just seeing how things go for now. But I definitely got the vibe that it's exclusive. If that means anything."

Spencer clutches my forearm with a silent squeal and I have to share in her enthusiasm. For once, things seem to be going right.

• • •

I love this side of our Dalton ship.

Much love. Until next time. x
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