17
Eilidh
My nerves are shotby the time we leave Fight Club a little after two a.m. after the two of them finally finish talking.
One bonus?
Garrett gives Dexter and his men a permanent conditional exemption to be in their territory, as long as they’re there to see me or going to see Garrett. Garrett, Dexter, and Lucius will sit down and work on revising the treaty deets in a couple of weeks, once Dexter and Garrett close the deal for the land.
“I think that went rather well,” he says once we’re back in the Audi and heading away from Fight Club. “What would you like to do now?”
It’s a nearly full moon, and it hangs in the gorgeous, desert sky where it lights the landscape with a silver, shimmering glow. “Well, it’s going to be dawn in just under three hours. As much as I’d like to do something, it’s late, and I’m tired, and I don’t want our first time together to be rushed.” That’s disappointing as freaking hell, though, because I was reeeally looking forward to getting boned tonight.
After several years, I can wait one more day, I suppose.
“Whatisthat?” He points to Sentinel Peak, where the largeAis visible in the daytime.
“That’s ‘A’ Mountain.” I start to explain what little history I know about it when I realize he’s changing direction, heading toward it. “Where are we going?”
“I want to see it.”
“Well, the park’s closed, but we can drive up there.”
“Why drive?” He smiles and pulls into a street parking spot across from the hospital just north of the peak. “Trust me?”
In this moment…yes, I do. He looks happy, and for some stupid reason, I can’t bear to tell him no.
Mostly because I’ve heard some of his history, and I personally understand how grief and loss can change a person for the worse. I saw Mom mourn my father, and if he’s really not dead…
I stare into Dexter’s eyes, which look dark grey in the dim light. “Yes. I do trust you.”
I can only hope that won’t be my undoing.
His smile does things to my lady parts in a way no other vampire—or human or shifter, quite honestly—ever has.
He gets out and comes around to my door, helping me out. “Leave your purse and wear your wrap.” I do, and he locks the car and puts the fob in his pocket. Then he scoops me into his arms. “Hold on, sweetheart.”
I drape my arms around his neck. “What are we go—HOOOOOLY SHIIIIT!”
The crazy fucker actuallylaughsas he blurs, racing up the side.
Of the.
Freaking.
MOUNTAIN.
I mean, yeah, it’s not Everest, and it’s not like it’s heavily forested, like in the Pacific Northwest or something, butdamn. I’ve seen vamps blur before, but I’ve never been held by one during the process or seen it happen over such long distances.
I close my eyes and press my face to the side of his neck as we race through the desert night, deftly avoiding cactuses. After what feels like forever, but is probably less than twenty seconds, I feel the breeze ease up as he comes to a stop.
He chuckles, the sound rumbling through his chest and warming my girlie parts. “You can look.”
“No,” I mumble against his shoulder. “I’m not sure I can.”
He chuckles and continues holding me. “It is a beautiful view. Such a shame not to look.”
Finally, I peek.
