Page 105 of Vicious Sentiments

“And spoil the surprise?” He grips my thigh. “I don’t think so.”

Chapter Fifty-Five

The limo slips around curves on the dark roads, and finally the scent of the ocean hits me and I know we are getting closer to home. My heart speeds up and my skin flushes in anticipation. I’m tucked in the alcove of Cape’s arm and chest and I can practically feel his body burning between our clothes. Julian is on the other side of me, his eyes roaming and roaming, and if I don’t get what I want out of tonight I might explode.

I’m surprised to see that we pass Margo’s house and the limo stops in front of Julian’s. If I wasn’t already having a hard time formulating thoughts, then I would be completely speechless.

Julian squints out the window that faces the ocean and I try to see what he’s looking at, but the windows are too dark. I think I see the outline of a car as it pulls away but then Julian is back to eyeing my legs, albeit with a small hitch in his brows.

When Cape helps me out of the limo, my mouth falls open as I take in the brand new car in the driveway with a giant pink bow on top. I have no doubt that Marney had a hand in picking the bow, but by the gray metallic of the car and the way it’s shaped like a tiny bullet, I know that this is Julian and Cape.

“You didn’t….” I spin to look at Julian as he gets out of the limo. He’s wearing a cheshire cat grin and he slips his hand into his pocket.

“Well, I did expect you to pass your driverstest but…” He tosses me a shiny key fob, and I barely catch it against my chest. “At least, next time you try you can wreck your own car.”

I bite my lip. “It’s too much.”

“It’s not,” Cape grunts next to me and then in one swift movement he bends and latches his arms around my ass, picking me up and taking me closer to the car with its precious bow.

The limo quietly disappears behind us and I think that Cape is going to set me in front of the driver’s door but instead he steps past the hood, and I grip him tighter at the sight.

Hidden in front of the sleek new car is a stunning motorcycle, slim and dainty but still daunting. It also has a bow but this one is red.

I snap my expression to Cape. “I can’t ride a motorcycle!”

“I’ll teach you.” He lets me slide down to my feet and he nudges me towards it while pressing something into the palm of my hand. It’s another key fob, and I stumble in a stupor.

Are they both insane? A car and a motorcycle? I hardly need either, but the way they are both grinning at me makes me think this makes them happy to do.

“You guys…” I hold my arms out at my sides. “I can’t accept these.”

Julian comes to stand beside Cape and tilts his head.

“You can and you will. But you like mine more than his right?” He gives a playful jab into his Cape’s side.

“Right now she might, but once she learns to ride there’s no better feeling, and your gift will rust in the garage,” Cape snaps.

I shake my head and turn to gape at the two modes of transportation that I don’t deserve. The solar lights that dot Julian’s driveway give a warm under-glow to both, and I have to admit that there is something alluring about them. And they are mine?

I’ve never even had a bicycle.

I chew my lip, tears at the ready, but Julian pulls me into him and catches me when I stumble.

“We’re not done.” He tilts my chin up to him and his eyes smolder. “Don’t cry yet. baby.”

Cape punches in a code to Julian’s front door, and I’m ashamed to say that I only know that the back door is keyed. He leads the way, and the familiar scent of Julian hits me. It’s stronger than what his body smells like and it wraps around me. I breathe it in deeply, feeling the giddy urge to put my arms out and spin in the foyer, feeling his presence around my whole being.

“This way.” Julian wraps an arm around my lower back, breaking my fantasy and nudging me forward.

“You guys really didn’t have to do this.” I still have the two fobs, one in each hand, and my palms are sweating. I worry that my nerves are going to dull their shine.

“Don’t.” Julian leans in and whispers in my ear and then he gently puts his hands over my eyes. “Just enjoy it. You deserve it.”

I can’t see, but Julian has his back against me, and I take a step in sync with him. What could he possibly have left to give me? I already feel like the luckiest girl alive. Unless he unveils my eyes and I see Cape naked. I doubt there is anything else that could be so weighty on my soul.

We take a shaky step down together, and I know we’ve reached the sunken living room.

“No crying,” he whispers in my ear and then removes his hands.

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