Page 79 of Wicked Knight

“Hey, Spider, don’t I get a kiss, too?” Dmitri teases, his eyes locked on me.

This is the first time we’ve been together in front of anyone. But I guess Kade and Isabelle aren’t justanyone. They’re the people we trust most.

The same way I told Isabelle my secrets, I’m sure Dmitri would have spoken to Kade. Or he wouldn’t be here. And Dmitri wouldn’t be asking for a kiss in front of them.

I catch Isabelle mouthing the wordgoto me. So, I do.

I go.

I walk up to Dmitri and give him a teasing kiss on the cheek.

As expected, he raises his brows. “That’s the kind of kiss you give your grandma, Spider. Now kiss me properly.”

“You are crazy.”

“Yeah. We know.”

With a sigh and roll of my eyes, I lean in and kiss him properly. Then he hands me his helmet.

“Hop on, Spider.” He winks at me.

I glance back at Kade and Isabelle, who both nod their approval.

This is living.Everything I do with Dmitri feels like living.

And he’s here, luring me in for another adventure. This is ournext time.

I put the helmet on and hop on the back of his motorcycle. When I slip my arms around his waist, he brushes over my fingers and glances back at me.

I smile back at him, loving this magical moment with him.

He puts on a pair of Oakleys then signals to Kade.

With that, Kade and Isabelle shoot down the road. We follow.

I’ve ridden on the back of a motorcycle before, but it’s never been as thrilling as this.

Dmitri’s leather jacket smells like him. Like spice and smoke and masculine power. I bury my face against it, letting myself sink into the moment. The city blurs by, neon lights and buildings streaking the night sky like brushstrokes on a canvas.

Dmitri follows Kade, who’s like a demon on speed. I realize why they called themselves Hades’ Demons. It feels even cooler now.

We approach the route that will take us to Raventhorn, and Kade and Dmitri ride side by side.

Suddenly, Dmitri dips his head at Kade, and we split off, going down the opposite road while Kade and Isabelle head on to Raventhorn.

My lungs tingle with anticipation as I wonder where he’s taking me.

He’s so spontaneous I can never keep up. I can only imagine we’re heading somewhere we can spend more time together. Somewhere safe.

The hum of the motorcycle is the only sound breaking the stillness of the night.

Wind rushes past me, tugging at my hair and stinging my cheeks, but I don’t care.

All I care about is here and now, where my arms are wrapped tightly around Dmitri’s waist and I’m pressed against his back.

Out here, it’s just him and me under the blanket of stars, with the open road stretching endlessly ahead.

Out here, nothing is off limits to us and we don’t have to worry about his father or mine. There are no rules, no expectations, no secrets—they don’t exist.