Page 174 of Defiant Beta

“Something you won’t mind getting dirty.”

My curiosity goes through the roof. “Like with strawberry syrup?”

His eyes dip to my chest, and his gaze is hungry. “Not that kind of dirty.”

“I’m out of strawberry syrup,” I call down, and I ask myself what the hell I’m doing hanging out of my window in the middle of the night, discussing strawberry syrup with an alpha who might or might not be in love with me.

“You’re not making this easy.”

“What am I making hard?” I ask innocently.

“Shit.” He groans, scrubbing a hand over his mouth. “Keeping my mind on task.Thatis what you’re making hard.”

“Just that?” I snort. “I stocked up on chocolate sauce. The runny stuff that?—”

He turns around and quickly walks away. “I’ll wait for you in the car.”

And I swear he adjusts himself in his pants before he gets in.

Grinning, I stick my head back in my apartment and go looking for something I don’t mind getting dirty.

Ten minutes later, I’m dressed in a navy hoodie, black jeans, and ankle boots. I claim a kiss from Levi as I slide into the passenger seat of his Ford Mustang.

He starts the engine as I buckle up, and we head to a mystery he won’t reveal.

“Is it dirt bike racing?” I ask.

“Nope.”

“Paintball?”

“No.”

“Hiking?”

“Nope.”

“Bouldering or rock climbing?”

His cheek dimples as he flashes me a grin. “You give me far more credit than you should.”

“Um, sheep herding or axe throwing?”

He chuckles. “Where are you getting these ideas from, or do you have a list of outdoor activities you’re working through?"

I’m sharing my bucket list of everything I want to do when a small, unremarkable sign catches my eye, and my stomach clenches.

“Della?”

We whiz past the sign, and I turn to face Levi. “Yeah?”

He bounces his gaze between me and the main road. “A while ago, you said something to Vincent. He seemed to think you were joking, but I don’t think you were.”

Another sign leaves me breathless, and my palms sweat. “So?”

He takes my hand, lifting it to kiss the back while his eyes flicker from me to the empty road ahead. “This isn’t a date. I have one planned, but not tonight. Afterward, if you still want it. This is something you need.”

He turns onto a side road.

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