Page 32 of Their Reckless Thief (The Below #1)

We talked through dinner, the conversation flowing as smoothly as the wine.

She told me about growing up in Newark, how the city had shaped her—its grit, its pulse, its sharp edges.

She spoke of the nights she’d spent staring at the Manhattan skyline, wondering what life was like on the other side of the river.

“I used to think the city was some kind of dream,” she admitted, twirling the pasta around her fork. “Like, if you could make it there, everything else would fall into place. But the closer you get, the more you realize it’s just another kind of beast.”

“Tell me more about your parents.” I took a sip of wine, hoping the question wouldn’t throw off the steady stream of conversation.

She picked at her pasta for a moment and sighed.

“Sometimes I can’t remember much about them.

I was young when they left. I remember them kissing me goodbye.

They were dressed up and said they were going on a date.

We lived next door to a nice, elderly couple, and my parents trusted them to check on me. I had their phone number by the phone.”

Celeste took a tentative bite of her food, lost in thought. I didn’t push, allowing her the time to say what she wanted at her own pace.

“When they didn’t come home, our neighbor came to stay with me.

She called the cops and reported that my parents never came home.

Days went by and they never came back. I knew in my gut I’d never see them again.

Part of me felt like they’d abandoned me, that it had all been an elaborate plan to break free of the one thing tying them down in this life. ”

I reached across the table and put my hand on hers. “No way. There’s no fucking way anyone would see you as a burden, Celeste.”

She took a sip of her wine. “I don’t know about that. I wasn’t exactly the easiest child, always wanting my way, throwing a fit if I didn’t get their attention.”

I scoffed. “Sounds like typical only-child behavior to me. I wouldn’t know since I have a sister, but still. You were just a kid.”

As she sipped more of her wine, I could see the tension from the conversation slowly melting away. “This is honestly the best Italian food I’ve ever had,” she admitted as she took another bite.

“I don’t settle for anything less than the best. You deserve that.”

She rolled her eyes, but I could tell she appreciated it. “Smooth, Voss. Real smooth.”

Dinner was so easy and natural, that for a while, I forgot about everything else—the missing women, the tension in The Below, all the bullshit that came with my world. Sitting across from Celeste, hearing her laugh, and seeing her smile, made everything else fade away.

After dinner, we strolled through the park.

The soft sounds of rustling leaves and the distant buzz of the city was muffled by the night.

I led Celeste to the edge of the park, where the trees thickened, and the path turned darker.

It was the time of night when the creatures from The Below liked to roam about, looking for unsuspecting humans to attack.

Sometimes it was to eat or feed off energy, but sometimes, they did it for kicks.

They all knew better than to fucking mess with me, though. Celeste was safe.

Celeste glanced around, her face a mask of curiosity as she tried to figure out what the hell I was up to.

I stepped into the shadows beneath the tall oak trees. “All right, this is where things get serious.”

Her eyebrows shot up. “Serious? What the hell are you talking about, Dorian?”

Without answering, I began stripping off my jacket, then my shirt, folding them neatly before handing them to her.

She took a step back, eyes wide as she clutched the bundle of clothes to her chest. “What the hell are you doing?”

I grinned as I shed my pants and handed them over. Stripping for Celeste and hearing her heart rate pick up was my new favorite hobby. “I’m going to shift.”

She looked down at the clothes in her arms, then back at me, her confusion turning into incredulous laughter. “Shift? And you expect me to…what…watch? Hold your stuff?”

“No, you’re going to climb onto my back.” I kicked off my shoes and took the clothes from her. “It’s the only way we’re getting to my special spot. Fastest way to travel, I promise. Oh, and no need to hold my stuff, I have a nice little pocket where I put them when I shift.”

With a wave of my hand, I stored my clothing in the pocket of reality I’d used so many times before, yet I knew it was shocking for Celeste to see.

Before she could ask more questions, I started to shift, my bones cracking and reshaping into a larger, furrier form.

Her eyes went wide as my body morphed into my wolf form.

I towered over her, my fur gleaming under the moonlight filtering through the canopy of leaves.

She crossed her arms, her expression skeptical as ever.

“The hell I will,” she said, shaking her head. “I’m not climbing onto your back like some… some…”

I cut her off with a low growl, making her jump. I lowered myself to the ground, nudging her leg with my snout.

She stared at me for a long moment, and I could see the wheels turning in her head. Finally, she let out an exasperated sigh. “You’re fucking unbelievable, Voss.”

After a bit of hesitation, she swung a leg over my back. Her arms wrapped around my neck tightly, her grip strong yet hesitant.

Finally.

With a powerful push of my hind legs, I took off running, my paws pounding the soft earth as I dodged trees and ducked under low-hanging branches.

The night air rushed past us in a blur. Celeste gasped, her grip tightening around me, and I couldn’t help the thrill that coursed through me, knowing she was trusting me with her safety.

In under five minutes, we reached my special spot—a small, secluded clearing with a still pond at its center.

The moon hung low in the sky, its reflection perfectly mirrored on the surface of the water.

A soft blanket was already spread out next to the pond, along with a picnic basket filled with dessert and wine.

I shifted back into my human form, catching Celeste’s shocked gaze as I grabbed my clothes from the pocket and got dressed.

“Told you it was fast,” I said with a smirk.

“I found this one night when I was exploring the human world. I like to explore every chance I can get away from my duties in The Below.”

She stared at the scene before her, her eyes wide. “This… this is beautiful, Dorian.”

I spread my arms. “Only the best for you.”

She took a step toward the pond, the moonlight dancing off the water illuminating her face. “It’s the most romantic thing anyone’s ever done for me.”

Something tightened in my chest. Something warm. “You deserve it,” I said softly as I sat down on the blanket. I patted the spot next to me. “Now, let’s eat. Dessert’s on me.”

We sipped on wine and shared chocolate-covered strawberries, talking about our pasts and our families.

She told me about growing up under Roberto’s influence, about the life on the streets that she’d clawed her way out of.

I shared stories about my pack, about the wildness and freedom of being a shifter, about the loyalty that came with it, about the burdens.

“I am the firstborn male in my family, the one expected to take over from my father whenever he decides to step down from his duties as a leader of the pack. He wasn’t exactly happy with my choice to devote my loyalty and time to Vincenzo.”

Celeste raised an eyebrow. “Why did you? Devote yourself to Vincenzo?”

I ran a hand through my hair, thinking back to the first time I’d shown up at Vincenzo’s door and asked if he was hiring. He’d laughed in my face, then said he appreciated someone who had the guts to knock on his door and ask for a job.

“Mafia life, hell, city life, fascinated me. I had somewhat of a sheltered life living in the forest amongst other shifters. We’d hear rumblings of this vampire lord, who commanded power with a flick of his wrist. I was enamored with that kind of power and wished I could wield it myself.

Working with Vincenzo gave me a new sense of belonging.

I soon learned I was damn good at my job.

Sure, everything I did was out of loyalty for him, but at the same time, I was making a name for myself. ”

“And what name would that be?” Celeste smirked and took another bite of her strawberry.

I grinned. “Oh, you know the name well, don’t you, baby?

Dorian fucking Voss. I’m the one who keeps nightlife lively, who makes sure everyone stays in line and does what they’re told.

In return, Vincenzo protects my pack. They can live in harmony deep in the forest, away from all the shit I deal with on a daily basis. ”

The conversation drifted into something even deeper.

“What’s your biggest fear?” I asked her.

She hesitated, her gaze dropping to the wine glass in her hand. “Losing control. Being trapped. Not having any way out.”

I nodded, understanding more than I wanted to admit. “Same here,” I said, surprising even myself. “Being caged, tied down, not being free to be who I am or to do what I want to do.”

Our eyes met, and the world quieted around us. I leaned in, slowly closing the space between us, my lips hovering mere inches from hers. She tensed, and before I could close the distance, she turned her head and blew out a shaky breath.

“No kissing on the mouth,” she whispered, reminding me of her rule, the boundary she’d set from the beginning.

I didn’t push it. Instead, I trailed my lips down her neck, kissing her softly, loving the way her body trembled at my touch. Her breath hitched, and the tension between us grew taut, the pull growing stronger.

My wolf growled deep inside me, wanting to take Celeste. I sat up on my knees facing her and pulled her up to her knees. She smirked. “You’re not going to try and kiss me again, are you?”