He’s still straddling his bike, but he nods at a nearby sign mounted on the fence. It has the logo of a development firm printed in the corner and an artist’s impression of a shiny new building. “Is this going to be a hospital?”
“A state-of-the-art omega refuge and rehabilitation center.”
I shake my head, bemused. There’s a severe shortage of medical and care facilities in this city, but this lot has been abandoned for years. “Why? No one invests in this neighborhood.”
“They do now.”
I look past the sign to the lot. Every inch of the old, burned-out boarding house has been cleared away, a new concrete slab already gleaming under the street lights. “There’s nothing left.”
“Not one goddamn skin cell.”
His harsh tone has my head whipping around and my mouth falls open. “Youhad something to do with this?”
“I knew an investor. Rich guy, looking to support omegas in need after we rescued his sister from a trafficking ring.”
“That’s…” My head spins to think he made this happen. Somehow, he’s wiped my slate clean and found a way to help other omegas in the process. “Ark, this is amazing.”
His fists bunch on his knees, his gaze burning into mine. “I couldn’t save you from Narkle, so I wanted to send his ghost to hell after him.”
I walk over to him, my heart pounding in my chest. The very worst things that ever happened to me occurred right here, and I never thought I’d get their stain out of my skin. “Ark…”
He opens his arms and I step right into them, tears already prickling my eyes. “I know, baby.”
I bury my face in his throat, breathing in the scent of violets and vengeance. “I can’t believe you did this.”
He rumbles against my chest, his hand stroking soothingly down my spine. “Youmade the fucker pay, Abbie. I just wiped any trace of him from existence.”
I sniff, pulling back to look down at my boots. “I used to come out here and kick his ashes around. Or, at least, that’s what I liked to tell myself.”
He smiles and hooks a strand of my messy hair behind my ear. “Well, we can visit the sewer I had them flushed down… Or you can hop back on the bike, and I’ll take you somewhere with a better view.”
I give a shaky laugh as I untangle myself from his arms, sliding back onto the seat behind him. He pauses to help me get settled, his gaze lingering on my bare legs. “Gotta say, no one wears denim like you do, butterfly.”
I flush, tugging on the short hem of my skirt, but then give it up as a lost cause. “You look pretty good in it yourself, Pres.”
He smirks, and that smile is etched behind my eyes as we continue the ride. I block out everything but the feel and smell of him, not just as solid and protective as a brick wall, but with a huge, generous heart that beats against mine.
I finally look up as we navigate the second hairpin bend, a smile tugging at my lips as I realize where we’re headed. It’s a steep climb to the Pine Lake Lookout, and I shiver the closer we get to the top. Even over the purr of the Glider, I can hear the rumble of distant thunder. Clouds are scudding across the sky as we pull into the parking lot, the wind snapping at my limbs, at least a few degrees colder than before. I wait for Ark to turn around, but he reaches down and pats my calf. “Let’s get off and stretch our legs.”
I look at him doubtfully, but dismount and walk to the edge of the path. The whole city is laid out below us, a midnight carpetof sparkling lights and pockets of leafy darkness. If it wasn’t for the lightning flashing in the distance, it’d probably make a pretty neat make-out spot. “We should get back down before that storm hits.”
Ark has climbed off his bike, but he shrugs as he removes his helmet. “Time for at least one kiss, don’t you think?”
I smirk, my heart back to double-time as I saunter over to him. He makes a damn compelling picture leaning against the side of his bike, but my gaze is locked on his lips. For a big guy, Ark has a pretty mouth, and I’ve often wondered how it will feel against mine.Not to mention what his dirty blond scruff would feel like on other parts of my body…
Which it seems I’m finally going to find out as he draws me in with a powerful arm, only stopping when I’m planted between his feet. I run my hand up his other forearm, watching the tattoos dance against his tanned skin. When I reach his shoulder, I trail my fingers over his collarbone before curling them around his thick neck. “Just one?” I tease.
He smiles, and I realize what a crime it is that I see it so rarely. The tension in his face eases away and I pull him closer, right as his arm tightens on my waist. Those soft, smiling lips part beneath mine as we kiss, open-mouthed, tongues tangling the moment we connect. It’s both hungry and languid, and my fingers slide up his nape to thread through his hair. It’s as silky as his mouth, another harsh part of him softening under my touch. His tongue sweeps mine, and he makes a sound in his throat, something that’s both rough and sweet at the same time. I offer him a soft moan of my own, and his thigh slides between mine, pressing against my sex. My stomach flutters, my panties growing slick with arousal. As he deepens the kiss, I clutch him tighter, my other hand gripping the leather of his cut. Every inch of my body feels electric, and I press against his chest while the approaching storm gathers behind me.
When I finally break away, we’re both grinning like giddy teenagers. “Well, that was worth the wait,” I quip.
“Mmm.” He stands slowly, making no move to reach for his helmet. “It’s definitely a great start.”
I cock a brow at him and look over my shoulder at the darkening sky. “We should probably head back though.”
“Why would we do that, butterfly?” He steps forward until we’re toe-to-toe, something dark and hungry flickering in his eyes. “We haven’t had the best part of the trip yet.”
“Oh, yeah?” I peer down into the dark woods. “You planning on lighting a campfire and braiding my hair?”
