Page 188 of His Virgin Romance Series

I secured away our food, and then we started the next leg of our journey. Ten minutes later, I parked outside a large meadow-like field that was dotted by huge trees whose branches stretched out for miles. There was a light fence enclosing the area, but we could easily vault over and take out pick of trees. Without the wind slamming against our faces from the speed we were traveling, it was actually not overly cool.

The moon hovered over the field in all its bright glory, surrounded by a peppering of stars that seemed to burn a little brighter.

“Wow,” Abby said, as we moved further into the field. “This is amazing.”

“I’ve passed this area a ton… I’ve never actually stopped here though.”

We found a nice large tree and settled under it. Then we brought out the food and got sucked in, considering we were both hungry from the ride and the smell.

“Wow,” Abby said. “That is one amazing burger.”

“I told you,” I nodded.

I watched Abby attack her meal, and I couldn’t help smiling at the sight. She wasn’t evenly remotely self-conscious about it. She ate to her heart’s content, and she actually managed to polish off most of the burger.

We ate mostly in silence until the edge was taken off our hunger. But all the while I kept glancing over at Abby, noticing just how beautiful she was. There was something almost pure about her, and it made me want to be better… I just didn’t know how.

“Ryder?”

“Yeah?” I said, looking up at her.

“Thank you.”

She said it softly and fervently, and she looked me directly in the eye. I felt her gratitude reverberate towards me and I was touched by the sincerity of it.

“You don’t have to thank me,” I said gruffly.

“No, I do,” she insisted. “You have no idea how amazing it felt to be outside… the ride here… that was one of the singular most liberating things I’ve ever experienced.”

I raised my eyebrows. “Does that mean you actually like my Harley now?”

Abby smiled. “I could get on board with motorcycles,” she nodded. “That was amazing.”

“I’m glad you had a good time.”

“Ryder?”

“Yeah?”

“The dagger that I use in my training… did it used to belong to your father?” she asked.

I paused. Obviously, she had heard one of the guys talking. “Yes,” I admitted. “His father gave it to him when he was a teenager.”

“And your father gave it to you?”

“Well… yeah.”

“I feel weird using it now.”

“Don’t,” I said. “It suits you better, and I never really used it much. I think you should keep it.”

“Keep it?” Abby repeated, and she sounded astonished.

“Yeah,” I shrugged. “A little gift from teacher to student.”

“Seriously?”

“I’m dead serious,” I nodded.

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