She smirked. “Only hipsters go to Brooklyn, and you don’t seem like the hipster type to me.”
He shrugged. “Just thought it would have a nice view of the city.”
“Oh. I actually haven’t been before. All right then. Let’s go to the Brooklyn Bridge. Do you know how to get there?”
He nodded. “Hang on tight.”
She did as he said and gripped him tighter as the bike roared to life and they sped on. Despite the freezing wind on the exposed bits of her skin, she wasn’t cold, and it wasn’t just her Lycan metabolism keeping her warm. Ransom had slipped her arms under his jacket and around his waist so she could feel every bump and muscle on his abdomen. Oh, how she wanted to run her fingers across them or maybe even slip her hand under his shirt to feel his bare skin.
Soon, they were crossing over the bridge. She held her breath, not because of the cold or how fast they were going, but because she’d never been out here at night. Or maybe she had, like when she was coming from or going to the airport, but it had always been in the back of a limo, and she never paid attention to what was outside.
But now, this moment … everything seemed so much crisper and clearer as the frosty air prickled across her skin and woke up all her senses. The lights above them were lit up and reflected off the dark waters of the East River. If only she could find a way to bottle this moment and keep it forever.
As they finished crossing, the motorcycle turned right onto the off ramp before veering back toward the water. They slowed down when they reached a side street and stopped inside the park where they had a view of Manhattan. Ransom turned the engine off and engaged the kickstand.
“It’s beautiful,” she murmured as she got off the bike and straightened her dress. “I was born and raised here, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen the city like this.” All the tall buildings of Lower Manhattan were lit up, and the moon looked huge behind them.
“Gorgeous,” he said.
The words made her shiver, and when she looked back, she realized he was looking at her. The blush on her cheeks made her turn away. Oh God, she was acting like some nerd. Ransom seemed so much more worldly compared to her. He was probably around Lucas’s age, she guessed. Or Zac, who was a few months older than her brother. It seemed so … exciting, being with an older man, and she had to act cooler or else he might think she was some dweeb.
“Do you want to have a closer look?” He nodded at the boardwalk.
“Sure.”
They walked over, the silence enveloping them with each step. It was funny how she was so used to the noise of New York City that out here it was almost deafening. When they reached the boardwalk, Ransom planted his hands on the railing and looked straight ahead, his brows furrowing together.
“You look like you’re deep in thought.” She moved closer to him impulsively. “What are you thinking of?”
He turned to her. “Nothing you should know about.”
“Oh?” She lifted a brow. “Why not?”
“Because it’s inappropriate.”
Now she was even more intrigued. Turning to him, she planted her hands on her hips. “Inappropriate for whom?”
“For princesses like you.”
“Maybe I’m not what you think I am.”
She thought he would ignore her or maybe even turn away, but to her surprise, he turned to face her and took a half step forward. His delicious scent filled her nostrils and drove her wolf crazy. Her heart pounded against her chest as he lifted his hand to caress her cheek. She barely had time to gasp when he bent his head and slotted his lips to hers.
This wasn’t her first kiss, not by any means, but this felt like a first … something. First time to feel like the whole world slowed down just for them. First time blood was pounding through her veins in excitement from the mere touch of his lips. First time she wanted anyone this bad.
His hand moved on her neck, digging his fingers through her hair to pull her head back, and at the same time, his tongue slid against her sealed lips to deepen the kiss. She didn’t need more convincing as she opened her mouth, reveling in the taste and smell of him. His tongue touched the edge of her teeth, exploring as he pushed in deeper. His other hand, meanwhile, snaked around her waist and pulled, their bodies snapping together just right—a perfect fit.
The deep growl that rumbled from his chest made her press her thighs together as desire shot straight to her core. Her hand slid up to his chest, the wild thumping of his heart against his chest strangely satisfying. He shifted his hips, and when she felt a bulge brush against her stomach, she groaned and clung to him, her hands fisting around the thin fabric of his shirt. She arched against him, not knowing what she wanted, but only that she needed to be as close to him as possible.
His body froze against her, and he released her mouth, making her whimper pathetically at the loss. For a brief second, panic crossed his face, but then that cynical, handsome mask slid back into place. His hands dropped to his sides.
Her wolf whined and howled in protest, but she quickly recovered, smoothing her hands down her dress. Act cool. It would be mortifying to let him know how much the kiss shook her, especially now that he seemed totally unaffected. “That was nice,” she said nonchalantly.
She expected him to react with outrage, like most guys when they realized they weren’t getting farther than a kiss. To her surprise, the corner of his lips turned up. That smile, combined with the cynicism in his green-gold eyes was a devastating combination. “Sure.
