We open the rest of the gifts and are left with a pile of paper.
Once everything is cleaned up, I can no longer keep the giddiness in control. Dancing on my tiptoes, I say, “Okay, the big finale is something outside.” Rubbing my hands together, I grin at Valen, and he has the gall to look slightly terrified. “Oh, stop,” I swat him playfully. “It’s nothing bad.”
He feigns leaning away in fear when I go to hug him.
“Sometimes I do not know with you,” he retorts but smiles as he says it.
“You’re in for a treat,” I promise.
Still clad in my pajamas, I quickly change into jeans and a sweater, and Valen does the same. Hand in hand, we make our way downstairs where I lead him to his present. I make him crouch down in the lobby and slide my sleep mask over his eyes so there’s no risk of him peeking.
Taking his hand, I guide him outside.
“A few more steps,” I encourage, making sure he doesn’t fall, although I’m sure with his reflexes he’d be offended that I’m even worried about that. “You can open.”
Valen blinks slowly, and it’s comical how big his eyes get when he sees what’s in front of him.
“A motorcycle?” he asks, lips parted in shock.
“A horse with wheels,” I counter with a grin since I love his name for it. I plant my hands on my hips. “Since you’ve mastered driving and you got your license, I figured it was time.”
Valen indeed got a permit just in case. He talked about going somewhere to rent and ride motorcycles, but little did he know what I had up my sleeve.
“Ava, this is too much,” he repeats his earlier words, and I shake my head. “These are not cheap.”
“You deserve the world. Up until now you’ve had a pretty shitty go at life, and I want to make sure you feel loved andappreciated every day.” I rub his arms, and he pulls me into a bear hug I melt under. “Besides, I know I like clothes and stuff, but I’m smart with my money. I have plenty put back, so I promise it wasn’t an issue.”
“Thank you for this extraordinary gift,” Valen murmurs into my hair. “I thank the universe every day for you, Starlight.”
We stand there breathing each other in as the world continues to pass by. It’s like we’re frozen in our own moment in time and nothing can break it.
“Okay, go play with your new toy. I know you want to.” I wave him toward the bike.
He grins at me with a fang-filled smile and I resist the urge to take him back upstairs for a quickwham-bam, thank you, ma’am.
As he swings his leg over, I fight the drool that threatens to spill out at the visual of him astride the bike. He shakes out his dark brown hair before fitting the helmet over top and I swoon at the imagery of him with a mask.
New kink unlocked. Maybe I could convince him to leave it on later tonight?
“Looking hot, stud muffin!” I can’t help but shout. He looks around to make sure nobody overheard me. When he jumps off and strides back over to me, I take a step back, giggling.
“You’re trouble,” Valen growls in my ear. “If you’re not careful, I’m going to bend you over this bike and have you screaming for a different reason.” Before I can respond, he hops back on and jets off. He lets out a little whoop of joy, and I hug myself in contentment.
Best Christmas ever.
CHAPTER 34
VALEN
The motorcycle purrsto a stop in front of the precinct, and I reach behind me, giving Ava’s knee a gentle squeeze.
She takes her helmet off, shaking out her long pink hair. “What are you going to get up to while I’m at work?” she asks, attaching the helmet to my bike—though I notice she must like my termhorse with wheels, because she keeps using it.
I shrug. “I’ll hang out at the library like usual.”
“Do you ever find anything useful there?”
I take my own helmet off as she jumps onto the sidewalk so I can talk to her face to face. “Plenty. I thought I might check out the … I believe they’re called bodice rippers. See if I can find anything useful in those.”
