Page 150 of Lost Lyrebird

She meets me at the club, and we set out at dawn.

Honestly, when I asked for the date, I expected her to put up more of a fight or batter me with questions.But it’s as if she’s finally letting down her guard, because she readily accepted, which floored the fuck out of me.

It’s progress, a step forward, and there’s something monumental about that.Getting the opportunity to earn the trust of a woman who’s been through a rough life and protects her heart—reaching a point where she brings down her walls to not only let you see past them, but to also give you a chance to prove yourself worthy and earn possibly more than her trust, maybe even her heart—is everything.

Through the straightaways, twists and turns, as wind whips past us, and the sunshine bears down on us, I tell myself to revel in the moment and be grateful for it.For one day at least, things are going in my favor.So I won’t fuck it up.For now, I’ll let the past go and enjoy the present with the woman I’ve chosen to make mine.

When I can, I place my hand over hers, or I palm her thigh to try to convey, through feeling alone, how much having this time with her means to me.

Hours later, I slow as I pull off into a gravel lot.The sole of my boots skates across the dirt as I come to a stop.Lily moves to get off the bike, but I hold firm to her hands on my chest, stealing just a few more seconds of her grounding effect on me.

Then she’s using my shoulders for leverage as she dismounts the bike.She removes the helmet I loaned her and brushes some of the escaped strands from her ponytail back from her face.She huffs a second later, pulls the tie out.After finger-combing it back into submission, she quickly weaves it into a loose braid that hangs over one shoulder.

Tipping the front of her sunglasses down, she peers at me over the top of them.The impact of those forget-me-nots is devastating to my ability to remain calm and collected, and yeah, to my goddamn dick because hello, the sassy look sends a rush of heat straight to my cock.

“Are we stopping to stretch our legs, or is this the place?”

“We’re here.”

I lift my chin towards the east ridges and the path revealed between the pines.After putting the kickstand down, I remove my helmet and gloves while Lily walks around and loosens up her limbs.As soon as I’m off the bike, I do the same.

It’s a good ache—one I know well.Doing it side by side with a woman is new, though, and watching her bend and stretch as she takes in the view and our surroundings sends my thoughts into unsafe territory.

I imagine all the ways I want to get lost with her in those woods.Kissing her against a tree.Picking her up and having a wild-as-fuck romp in the wilderness.A dozen different scenarios fly through my head.

So I turn, adjust my stiff dick, trying to put distance between me and my depraved mind.When I’m somewhat more clear-headed, I face her and crack my neck, then twist to do the same to my back.When I’m rewarded with audible pops, Lily makes a face—an adorable one where her features pinch together.Then she turns and motions to me.She wraps her arms around her chest.

“Help me pop mine.I can never do it by myself.”

Well, fuck.

Cautiously, I wrap my arms around her.Lily’s gaze darts up to mine, and she gives me a knowing smile.Because yeah, I’m stiff and the matter’s only getting worse as I press more firmly into her.Partly her fault, because she’s wearing skin-tight jeans and a see-through red crop top.

We’re not perfectly aligned—but the subtle difference of her smaller frame against my larger one—appeals to me.

Looking down, I meet her eyes.“You sure?”

Her grin turns wicked.

“Course.Wouldn’t ask if I wasn’t.Now stop being a baby, and do me.”She laughs at this.

It’s quite possible I’m not the only one with sex on the brain.

I lift her easily and jar her enough that her back does indeed pop.She lets out a relieved sigh, and her grin stays firmly in place when I release her.She bends over one hip and then the other.She even plays it up, fucking taunting me with her body, and it takes everything in me not to reward her behavior with a smack to her gorgeous ass.

After facing the mountains, she crosses one arm in front of her, holds on to it, and turns.Then repeats it in reverse.

“It’s beautiful here.What’s this place called?”She lifts her sunglasses to the top of her head, and her gaze travels over the meadow before us and up the mountainside.The sunlight plays over the tops of the trees, lending deeper contrast to the places it doesn’t penetrate.

“Sunrise Valley.”

“Never heard of it.”

“Because the people who know of it don’t share it.It’s the only way it stays this way.Otherwise, it’ll become something else.”

She thinks about this for a moment and nods.“I can see why.”

“The trails are amazing here.Full of wildlife too, so be careful and pay attention to your surroundings.”