Page 70 of Shiny Things

My jaw dropped as I stared at her, reconsidering my decision to go to my parents’ house now as my eyes drank in the sight of her.

“Ready?” she asked with a new silent confidence.

“To throw you over my shoulder and take you to bed? Yes.”

She rolled her eyes. “To do the parent thing.”

I scrunched up my nose, wishing we could do anything but that. With a sigh of disappointment, I nodded. “Yeah. We should probably do that thing first. But let’s make it fast because I have other ideas for today after seeing you dressed like that.”

She chuckled.

On the ride down in the elevator, I said, “You know, my mother hates it when I wear all black. Always has.”

“I know.”

“You do?”

“Yup. Why do you think I dressed to match you? A united front, right?”

I shook my head and grinned. “Right.”

Kim

Chapter 19

I couldn’t believe I let him talk me into doing this. I needed time to prepare what I was going to say, how I was going to act, all the damn things. But no, he just sprung it on me.

It wasn’t like I didn’t know this day was going to come, but when I woke up this morning surrounded by the scent of my mate and feeling happier than ever, this was not how I thought my day would go.

As we made our way down to the garage, Novaleigh was there taking a picture of my car in the drive.

“What are you doing?” Elias asked.

“Reporting an unauthorized vehicle. We can’t be too careful these days.”

I started to protest, but he stopped me and walked to his bike to pull something out of the locker he had on it. Then walked over to my car, opened the door, and hung a tag from the rearview mirror.

“I don’t see any unauthorized vehicles here. Do you?”

Her jaw dropped and she looked pissed. But I couldn’t stop grinning.

He walked back to the bike and pulled out our helmets, handing me mine. I still wasn’t sure where or when he’d gotten one for me, but it was those little touches that made me feel truly loved.

I tried desperately not to look in her direction as I climbed on the back after he mounted the bike. Riding with Eliasfelt natural and comfortable now. With the wind in my hair it felt a bit like flying in my skin, and I understood the appeal for him.

All too quickly we were riding through the big iron gate up to his childhood home. I was suddenly a ball of nerves.

When he parked the bike, I just sat there not ready to get off. I’d been to this house dozens of times but always as the help. That may not mean much to my mate, but it sure as hell meant something to his mother.

“It’s going to be okay,” he told me.

“I trust you.”

Slowly, and with shaky legs, I forced myself to get off the bike.

He followed, placing the palm of his hand across my lower back and guiding me towards the door, up the stairs, and then inside.

“Hello?” Helena called out.

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