Page 75 of Ignite

Cain looks me over and cocks a brow. “Go good, then?”

“So good.” I nod. “Need a shower.”

Darting for the bathroom, I scrub my body clean. I pull on the fanciest hunter green sweater Eduardo picked out for me and fitted black jeans with my combat boots.

Cain interlocks our hands and leads me out of the building to a flurry of snow tumbling from the sky. I drop my head back and let out a wildlaugh as snowflakes kiss and melt on my skin. I know I have to be in a dream. Shit like this doesn’t happen to me. I was never meant to have a happy ending.

Cain draws me against his chest. “What’s going on in that head of yours?”

“I think… I’m happy.”

He kisses my forehead. “Dates whenever you want them, okay?”

Taking my hand, he guides me down to the sidewalk. We walk the streets, admiring the lights and Christmas decor in the highrise window displays. I fill him in on my day with Rev, and he tells me about a new government contract to provide security for the mayor at a convention in a few weeks.

It’s crazy to think about how many jobs he oversees. It makes me appreciate the time he carves out for me, knowing he’s obsessive with his work.

We turn at the next intersection. Christmas music spills into the air from a giant skating rink. When Cain leads me to the skate rental booth, my brows raise.

“Are you serious?”

“If you want to do something else, we can,” Cain says, frowning.

I rub a fist over my aching chest. “Ugh, I don’t know if my heart can take this sweetness.”

Relief floods Cain’s face. “Oh, you’re gonna take it, baby.”

Skates tied to our feet, we wobble over to the edge of the rink. I grip the barrier wall with both hands, worried I’m going to make a fool of myself the second I step onto the ice.

Cain slides out with grace. He extends his hand to me. “Come on. I’ve got you.”

His brown eyes hold me as I slip my hand into his warm one. He gives me a comforting squeeze.

Creeping onto the ice with his support, my feet somehow hold me upright on the thin metal blades. And after a slow circle around the rink, both of our athletic bodies find a good stride.

There’s a deep-rooted pain spreading in my chest, but I don’t think it’s a bad one. I can’t worry about what my future holds with this beautiful, dangerous man. Not when he’s right beside me, clutching my hand like he doesn’t ever want to let go. Sometimes he pulls me against him to twirl under the falling snow.

When the crowd thins out, we move over to a booth to buy hot chocolate loaded up with marshmallows. Cain sits sideways on the bench so he can keep his gaze on me.

“It’s like you like me or something,” I tease, heat flooding my cheeks.

Cain captures my jaw in his hand and turns my head to plant a kiss on my lips. “I love it when you’re sassy. How did I do for our first date?”

Flustered, I blink back at him. “You did splendidly. Now can you please take me home so you can fuck me?”

The pad of his rough thumb moves over my bottom lip. “Such a pretty, filthy mouth. Actually, I wanted to ask you for a favor.”

I straighten up. “Anything.”

“I was hoping you’d come with me to visit my parents tonight.”

“What!” The word comes out more of a squawk, and I smack a hand over my mouth, embarrassed by my outburst.

Cain averts his eyes. “You don’t have to. No pressure.”

“Um…” I give my lip ring a spin. “I’ve never done that before. I haven’t even met my own parents.”

His features twist with pain as he tugs my body closer on the bench. He kisses the top of my head. “My parents will love you, Ezra.”