She couldn’t help but wonder if this was normal for him.
He leaned back in his chair, tossed his napkin on his empty plate, and said, “Can I take you home?”
“Definitely not.”
He smiled. “Brutal.”
“You could be a serial killer.”
He pulled out his badge and put it on the table. “I’m a cop.”
Sage gasped and covered her mouth. “Worse.”
“You don’t like cops?” He stared into her soul like she was an even bigger steak than the one he’d just finished.
She shrugged.
“You could be a copanda serial killer,” she said.
“Just a cop. Can I take you to your place?”
“Like I’d tell you where I live.” She drank a sip of expensive wine, then ran her tongue over her lips, her eyes locked on his.
He wiped his mouth and sat back in his chair, smiling, looking at her from different angles, telegraphing how confident he was that she was goingsomewherewith him.
Half of her wanted to get up and saunter out, and say something like, “Thanks for the food, but I don’t fuck cops,” but the other half of her wanted to sit on his lap and ask if she could see his handcuffs—she was so confused. She looked for a bathroom. If she could just get a closed door between them, she wouldn’t be able to see his drop-dead-gorgeousness, and then she’d be able tothink.
Before she could do anything, he reached around the table and grabbed her chair leg, dragging her close to him. He leaned in and kissed her softly on the mouth, surprising the hell out of her. She half-expected to feel a mate reaction, even though that was impossible… but there was nothing. She didn’t pull away. She let herself be thoroughly kissed by this perfect specimen of a male. His touch was surprisingly gentle and when he probed her lips with his tongue, she couldn’t help but respond. Sweet and minty, his tongue explored her mouth slowly. His outdoorsy scent, like balsam wood and campfire smoke, made her emotions melt and her body quicken. She forgot who she was, where she was, and even what she was, other than the lucky recipient of Canyon Wheeling’s attention. She yielded to him, already drunk on his scent and addicted to his presence. She pulled him closer, wanting nothing between the two of them.
Nearby, a woman laughed, the sound breaking through the general murmur, reminding Sage they were at a restaurant. What if someone saw her kissing avod!? She broke the kiss, then pulled back and scooted her chair away from him, wracking her mind for somewhere private they could go.
“You can take me to WyldeWoode Waystation Hotel,” she said, shocked at her boldness, but relishing it as well. WyldeWoode Waystation Hotel was a boutique hotel near the east end of town owned by Sergeant Bullet Rockford, avod,which meantfoxengave it a wide berth.
Canyon smiled broadly, then pulled out his wallet and threw several bills on the table. He stood and held out his hand to her. Sage took it. He grinned at her and her heart swooped in her chest. He led her to the parking lot, to his big truck. He opened the passenger door then grabbed her hand to help her up.
Was she really going to go through with this?
She climbed right up into the seat, so apparently, she was. He ran around and got in, then started the truck and gave her a grin. The drive was less than five minutes and they didn’t speak—not one word.
The hotel came up quickly and Sage stared, transfixed. She’d driven up the drive a short way on a dare as a teenager and hadn’t been back since. The place was situated on several acres hidden by a thick tree line. The sign at the road was carved into wood and painted, with the words ‘WyldeWoode Waystation Hotel’ flanked on each side by two massive wolves carved out of tree trunks. Canyon turned up the drive and drove a half mile in before another sign came up. This one was identical to the first, but the wolves were bigger. Sage stared, awestruck. Wolves were scary, but they were beautiful, too, and powerful. Sage had always been attracted to their power, and she’d always thought any salvationfoxenwere to find would have to include thevod.
The hotel was bigger than she’d thought it would be, looking almost like a modern castle. She counted four floors and two wings and a thousand questions filled her mind. Did Sergeant Rockford live here, and if so, did that mean thevod’stunnels under Serenity ran to the hotel? Would she see anyvod other than Canyon?
Canyon’s hand found her thigh and he squeezed. She covered his hand with her own, squeezing, pretending they were normal—human even, on vacation, her chest feeling light and fluttery. It was all so new and exciting—and dangerous.
Canyon parked across the parking lot from it. He turned the truck off, then twisted in his seat to face her. He picked up one of her hands and put it to his mouth, kissing each knuckle. She watched him, entranced. The man was sexy beyond belief. He was hot from every angle. His muscles were perfect, and everything he did was stunning. His perfect lipskissed each of her knuckles in turn, then he pulled her hand in to his chest and massaged each knuckle he’d just kissed.
“Oh,” she breathed, lost in the pleasure of his touch.
He covered her hand with his, then pressed it to his chest over his heart, and she almost thought he was being romantic, but then he slid her hand down to his jeans, directly onto his hard cock! The thing was a beast, and she couldn’t resist giving it a good squeeze, then she snatched her hand away laughing.
He laughed, too, one arm draped over the back of the seat, the other over the window.
“Just checking we’re both here for the same thing,” he said.
He spread his legs and lifted his hips so she couldn’t help but get an eyeful of his thick cock straining to be set free. She bit her lip and contemplated. Was she really going to have a one-night stand with avod? Not just avodbut avodvod?!
Hell yeah, she was. He’d better be worth it.
