You okay?” I asked when I noticed Amelia shivering. “You aren’t afraid of heights, are you?”

She shook her head vehemently. “What? No. That’s silly…”

“We don’t have to go on the ride if you don’t want to. I won’t be mad.”

“I’m not afraid of heights.” She reiterated her every word, well-enunciated to prove a point.

“Alright, I believe you.”

“Good.” She crossed her arms over her chest, but every once in a while, she would look up at the Ferris Wheel, her irises painted in hues of uncertainty.

The ride operator opened the entrance door, ushering us forward.

Amelia hesitated to follow him, so I gently pressed my hand into the small of her back. This seemed to snap her back into reality. She took small, timid steps. “Are you sure –”

“Yes!” she said, cutting me off. Without another word, she sat down in her seat.

I thought about pushing the issue, but given the look on her face, if I asked her again, she would probably bite my head off or something. So I sat down beside her and buckled myself in.

Beside me, Amelia was struggling with hers.

“Do you want me to help?” I asked, my voice soft and gentle. When she didn’t answer me, I carefully placed my hands on top of hers, squeezing them gently. This got her attention because she looked up at me with great big eyes. I smiled before I brought together the two ends of her belt.

Click.

“There, now you can’t fall off this thing,” I whispered, tightening the strap just for good measure. My hand lingered by her thigh, desperate to sneak my fingers under her skirt. My desire for this woman heightened to insurmountable levels. I wanted her. I needed her. But I wasn’t sure I could ever have her.

Finally, I pulled down the safety bar, just in time for us to start moving.

“Eek!” Amelia squeaked with surprise.

“Hey, it’s okay. I’ve got you.” I wrapped my arms around her shoulders and pulled her tight against my chest. “Nothing is going to happen to you.” To my surprise, she actually melted into my body, her eyes closed. I held her during our ascent, my hand rubbing her arm in a comforting motion.

Soon, we were at the very top. The view was impeccable. London was beneath our feet. A rush of adrenaline surged through my body, making me feel like the king of the world. “Amelia, look.”

Slowly, she opened her eyes and gasped. “Wow…” she murmured, leaning forward slightly, her eyes full of wonder and awe. “It’s beautiful.”

I smiled, pinning a strand of her hair behind her ear. “Not nearly as beautiful as you.”

Her cheeks glowed with a soft pink hue at my words. Slowly, she turned, looking me straight in the eye. “What’s your angle?”

Her question took me off guard. “My angle?”

She nodded. “What do you want from me?”

“Nothing?” I was confused by her sudden hostility. “I can’t flirt with a beautiful woman?”

She narrowed her eyes in suspicion. “Look, I’m not saying you’re a bad guy or anything, but I’ve just been in too many relationships where guys only want to use me for one thing and one thing only.”

I frowned. “Amelia, you’re a beautiful girl, there’s no denying that, but you’re also intelligent, witty, and extremely hard working.” I took her hand in mine. “I want to spend time with you because I like you as a person, not because I want to get in your pants.”

Before she could say anything, the ride jolted.

Amelia screamed, leaning forward dangerously.

I grabbed her by the shirt and reeled her into my body, my arms wrapping tightly around her body. If we were to fall out of the sky at that very moment, I would have shielded her body with mine – given up my life for hers.

She started to shake, her eyes forced shut with fear.

There was a horrible grinding noise. I held Amelia tighter, kissing the top of her head. “It’s okay. Everything is okay. Nothing is going to happen to us.”

The couple below us looked hysterical.

I kept calm, cocooning Amelia in my embrace. She was the only thing I could think about. My every instinct was telling me to protect her – to keep her safe, by any means necessary.

Another jolt.

Amelia buried her face into my chest.

“Shh…” I ran my fingers through her hair as I dared a peek at the ground. We had to be at least a hundred feet in the air. We would never survive the fall…

And then, the ride finally clicked into the right gear, and we started our descent. Amelia didn’t dare to let go of me, her hands clutching at the fabric of my shirt.

Once we were at the bottom, I had to unbuckle us both and carry her in my arms. I sat down on a nearby bench. “Amelia, we’re safe now,” I whispered, trying to pry her off my chest, but she wouldn’t budge. So I continued to hold her in my arms, rocking her ever so gently.

My hand ran up and down her back. She felt so tiny and vulnerable in my arms. In that moment, all I wanted to do was protect her. I wanted to keep her in my arms forever. To make her mine.

Eventually, she looked up at me, the edges of her eyes red and puffy. The fear in her eyes made my heart ache. I should never have allowed her on that ride.

Gently, I wiped away her tears, letting my thumb caress her cheek. “It’s okay now. I promise.”

“Can you just take me home?”