Page 28 of So I Won a Werelion

I fastened my helmet and climbed onto the bike.The Mating Gamecrew followed us in the van.

Gabe waved to the crowd that had assembled outside the gate as he drove by. With our helmets on, they’d have no idea who was on this date. Was it me, or was it the new contestant, Hannah? Let them debate about it all night long.

He took the motorcycle on a lap around downtown. String lights twinkled on the light posts, and crowds gathered outside the restaurants and bars. The town had truly come alive in the last year, going from a dusty, dying little hamlet to a destination.

It was exciting. Not only because I stood to make a lot of money from it—

Right, I’d quit my real estate job. For good this time.

Gabe headed out of town, toward the mountains. Shifter land. There was no way he couldn’t feel my heart pounding. I had my arms wrapped around his waist, and we were so close.

I should’ve asked more questions, like where we were headed, and what we were going to do about the Scepter. We were supposed to come up with a plan tonight, and this close to Gabe, it would be easy to lose focus.

The sun had gone during our ride, and the sky was this mesmerizing combination of navy and orange, speckled with stars. The rocks and trees had succumbed to the shadows. Gabe pulled over into a dirt lot.

“Where are we?” Nothing looked special about it.

He quirked a brow, looking way more adorable than he had any business being. “Don’t tell me you don’t remember this spot.”

“I won’t tell you, but no, I definitely don’t remember.”

“Smart ass.”

I put my hand on my chest, drawing Gabe’s gaze to the bullseye, my cleavage. “You never complained about it before.”

“Your ass?” He leaned forward. “It looks amazing in those jeans.”

Oh shit. Heat rose in my cheeks and the muscles between my legs pulsed at the purr in his words. This wasn’t getting together with an old friend to come up with a plan for an ancient legendary artifact.

Gabe Wylde came to play.

“Come on.” He reached for my hand. “You’ll remember.”

The Mating Gamevan had pulled in beside us and they were getting their gear together. Bibi would be so pissed she missed that exchange.

Gabe led me down a narrow path, canopied by tree branches. It was dark, and animals called to us, knowing one of their own had joined them.

Which meant they’d know I was here, too.

He led me to a clearing on the edge of a cliff. The valley twinkled below us, and the sky looked close enough to touch.

Oh. This place was all too familiar.

“Remember where we are now?”

“Yeah.” I could hardly breathe. “It’s the same place you brought me the night—”

“I fucked things up.” His green eyes were practically glowing in the low light. “Can’t tell you how many nights I’ve laid awake since then, wishing I hadn’t hurt you that night.”

“So you plan to woo me?”

It was barely visible under his beard, but his cheeks pinked. “You got a problem with that?”

I crossed my arms in front of me, a move that, judging from Gabe’s hungry gaze, pushed my cleavage out of my shirt. “It won’t be as easy to win me over as it was when I was sixteen.”

“Of course not. But I’m prepared to work for it.” His gaze swept over my body. “You were absolutely adorable when you were sixteen.”

“And now?”

---