love with the ride. She loved the feel of Dominic’s
rock hard back pressed intimately against her front as she hugged his torso.
She loved how her thighs cradled his perfect backside as they straddled the
powerful machine. She loved how the wind whipped through her hair. She loved
the sensation of flying as Dominic leaned and maneuvered the bike with expert
precision.
The scent of him. The feel of him. The exhilaration of speeding through the air. Kate was
hooked.
Leaning her head against the muscled wall of Dominic’s back, she took in the
passing view of the sea as they flew down the seaside road. Kate could only
imagine how beautiful it would’ve been in daylight, with the sun sparkling off
the ocean like a jewel. Instead, the ocean was an endless sea of darkness,
undulating beneath the stars.
She inhaled, reveling in the clean, earthy scent of Dominic, combined with the
rich smell of his soft Italian leather riding jacket and the salty sea air. She
wished she could take that moment and put it in a bottle to keep forever. It
was so perfect.
She wasn’t a vampire heiress on the run. He wasn’t a rogue werewolf assassin
with a price on his head. They were two young people in love, enjoying the
simple pleasures life had to offer.
They made their way south, following the coast until the road turned away from the
sea, taking them inland. They rode for what seemed like forever, flying through
a dark sea of stars with nothing but rolling hills and countryside on either
side of them. Lights from the occasional town and lone building blurred as they
soared past them.
Dominic slowed at last as they entered the outskirts of a city. The buildings
there were plain and unremarkable, crowded together and marred with graffiti.
Kate thought it a strange place for Dominic to choose, but knew he had a reason
for his selection.
As they progressed deeper into the town, the landscape shifted. The heart of
the ancient town had been built within a small canyon, its buildings carved
from the sloping rock itself. The uneven roads wound up, around, and even over
the rooftops of the archaic, cave-like buildings.
Dominic rounded into a narrow street and slowed to a stop. A small stone
building, its dramatic parapets illuminated in white light, topped the rising
slope above them. He helped Kate off the bike and led her through an arched
stone tunnel and up a steep stone stairway.
The building was a tiny church, complete with a small bell tower. Kate admired
the simple, but beautiful stone façade, wondering how old the ancient building
was. Arched windows glowed with light from within. Stone wolves stood watch,
thronging either side of the worn wooden door. Cocking her head to the side,
Kate gave Dominic an inquisitive glance. “Where are we?”
“A region known as Basilicata,” Dominic said with a soft smile. She’d swear he
was being vague on purpose.
Kate resisted the urge to roll her eyes at his useless answer. In all fairness
to the man, she had asked where they were. “Okay, but what are we doing here?”
That slow, heart-stopping grin spread across his face. “That, cara , is for me to know, and for you to find out.”
Kate rolled her eyes at that one. Dominic led her by the hand across the small
stone courtyard of the church. He drew to a halt at the base of the steps,
turning to face Kate. Kate’s heart stuttered in her chest when Dominic sank to
one knee at her feet, holding her hand in both of his.
“In all my life, I’d never dreamt I would find someone who made me want to live
forever, just to be with her. I never imagined I could love anyone with the
deep, unconditional love I feel for you. I would do anything, be anything