“Who gives a shit what Aro said? I still have my Pack. We just go by a different title, and now we operate outside of government control. I don’t have to pay the huge fees and taxes for living on that land. I just pay for my house and chip in for property taxes split between the entire Pack. It’s eight hundred bucks a year now instead of a thousand a month. The loan is under a human’s name. I even have a good interest rate on myhouse. I hated the Rogue stuff at first, but I’m good with it now.” He shrugged. “My people are okay, we have space to Change, I have a steady job, I’ll have my own den after this week, and I have the most well-behaved hamster on the planet. I taught him how to beg for treats. And I’m standing here, talking to you. Life doesn’t suck. You just have to look at it from a different lens.”
Huh. She really liked that.
She was staring up at him, her head cocked as she’d been listening to him, so when he leaned in suddenly and pressed his lips to hers, she wasn’t prepared at all.
Lyric froze. He let his lips linger there for a three count and then eased back. “Are you going to slap me?”
Her eyes were getting dried out from her lack of blinking. “I don’t think so.”
“Good. Can I kiss you again?”
“I don’t think that’s—”
He leaned in, but she was more ready this time, and she slipped her arms around his shoulders and held him tightly as she kissed him back this time. His hands went roughly to her waist and he dragged her closer, and angled his head the opposite way, thrust his tongue into her mouth.
Lyric lost her mind with lust. Every cell in her body reached for him. She hopped up and he caught her and walked her backward as she wrapped her legs around his waist. His kiss deepened as her back hit the driver’s side window of her car. He slid his hand against the side of her throat as he kissed the devil out of her, then gripped her hair gently.
Honk!
She jumped and gasped, dislodging herself from him. Her feet hit the gravel, and Vic tossed his truck a dirty look.
“Sorry,” he grumbled. “They’re cock-blocking idiots.”
Lyric placed her hand over her mouth in shock and looked around fast. She’d forgotten anyone could see them. What if oneof her Pack had been here? What if they had seen her lose her mind with Vic in such a public way just now? She would be punished!
Honk!
“Hold on!” Vic’s voice echoed across the parking lot. Frown etched deeply into his dark eyebrows, he dragged his gaze to her. “I have something for you.”
“If this is going to be some gross wiener joke—”
He slid something into her hand. She looked down at the small box of colored contacts in shock.
“I brought a pair just in case I saw you tonight.”
The butterflies were back. Did he realize how many presents he’d given her tonight? The neon shirt, bought her bingo cards, introduced her to his Pack like she wasn’t to be hidden, encouraged her to book a weekend getaway with people who might be nice to her, and now this?
“Thank you,” she whispered. She looked up at him, and pushed up onto her toes, then pressed a gentle kiss to his lips, and then to his cheek.
His smile as she lowered her heels back down to earth had her heart racing. He was so hot.
“Don’t be one of those guys,” she murmured.
“What guys?”
“The ones who get a girl interested and then don’t text for three days.”
He pulled out his phone and texted her,Not my style.
She giggled and texted him,Good.Send.
He texted her again.Let me know when you get home safe.
You too. Send.
Bye, Pretty Lyric.
She smiled at her phone, and then up at him. Softly, she said, “Bye, Hot Vicious.”
