A shiver runs down my spine. “And…you’ve killed before?”
He points to the wall where he has military service medals mounted in a frame. “On the job, yes.”
I raise an eyebrow. “Outside?”
He shrugs. “Yes. My methods are questionable but always warranted. When the system can’t or won’t deliver justice, I do.”
Grayson watches me intently. I stall for a moment, still processing. “And Danny?”
“He’ll turn up with a shovel, no questions asked. I’d do the same for him.”
I swallow a hard lump in my throat.
He pulls me close and tips my chin up to look at him. “I’d kill for you, Pip. I’d die for you, too. But I’d never, ever let harm come to you. By my hand or anyone else’s. My choice is simple. I’d choose you every single time.” He bites my bottom lip, sucking it slowly before growling, “You’re mine. Now and always.”
I sit upright, wanting to ask the question that bothers me most about all this. “Do you remember your first?”
He takes a deep breath. “Yes. The drunk driver that killed my mom. He’d also pleaded not guilty to a separate hit and run and got away with it. I was sixteen.”
Shock washes over me. Sixteen? He was still just a kid.
“I’m so sorry for your mother,” I say, looking down.
A beat of silence follows.
Shit. Fuck. I feel guilty for even asking. He was a child getting justice for his mom.
Grayson caresses my cheek with his thumb, but I can’t bring myself to look up and meet his gaze. He allows his fingers to skate down my neck, across my shoulder, and down my arm to my hand. Softly. Cautiously. My skin pebbles under his comforting touch.
He leans forward and brings my hand to his lips, kissing each digit before leaving a lingering kiss on thepalm of my hand and placing it on his chest across his heart.
I feel his steady beat. Strong and steadfast.
With his other hand, he gently tips my chin up and hesitantly plants a kiss on my lips before resting his forehead on mine.
“Say something. Are you scared of me? Do you hate me?”
I shake my head. I couldn’t hate him if I tried.
“I’m not sorry for killing those who hurt my loved ones, Pip.”
“You killed Tanner.”
“Because he hurt you.”
Oh God, what kind of sick love confession is this? And damn if it doesn’t make me smile like a loon.
I bite my lip, pull back, and roll my neck to crack it. “I need therapy, I think. I’m hearing you say you’re a bad guy that’s done bad things for justified causes and…” I shift uncomfortably, “…all my ovaries can do is internally beat me up screaming,LET HIM AT US!I mean… that’s not a normal response to admission of murder.” I awkwardly laugh.
He smiles, kissing the tip of my nose. “You’re wired differently. I knew that.”
Darting down the side of my face, he playfully nips at my collarbone. I squirm and squeal under his firm grip against him as his teeth graze my flesh. A mischievous warning he could and would bite.
And I’d want him to.
“I knew you’d be pissed about the hunt last night, but you could handle it. I’ve watched you; I’ve learned. You don’t get easily rattled. I’m sure you’ll tell me why one day, but it doesn’t have to be today.”
I nod and give an appreciative smile. One day.
