He smirks. “So, with this boyfriend of yours. Does he still have a shot with you?”
“Maybe,” I say, smiling wide.
“What about that guy at your job?”
I tilt my head to the side. “What guy?”
“The guy you sit on the outside patio and eat lunch with on your break.”
“Leon? We’re just friends. We share the same interest in crime fiction.”
“He better be,” he says.
Jealousy looks cute on him and a smile stretches across my face.
Once we arrive at Raven’s apartment, I unlock the door. Her shift isn’t over for another few hours, so I’ll get started on dinner for us. I place my cookbook on the granite counter, grab the pot from the cabinet, and put it on the stove.
My heart jumps in my throat as he watches me, leaning against the pale yellow wall. We stare at each other, and his gray pupils drink me up from head to toe.
“Are you hungry? Do you want to stay for dinner?” I ask. “I’m not the best cook, but I promise I’m not going to burn the food.”
“We need to talk,” he says, yanking out a chair at the breakfast nook and sitting down.
“We do.” I sit on his lap and wrap my arms around his neck, and tears stream down my cheeks. “I’m so sorry for how I treated you and left you. I was afraid—you know, about my parents. And when you killed Mr. Arthur, it made me feel as if I’m following in my parents’ footsteps, and you already know this, but I want to apologize again. I was being stupid and selfish. I know I fucked up, okay? I miss you terribly.”
“I know, angel. I’ve been doing a lot of thinking, and I don’t want to lose you again.” He shakes his head. “No, it’s my fault. I was in a fit of rage when you told me what happened to you, and I didn’t realize how my actions would affect you.” He tilts my chin to look at him and uses the pad of his thumb to wipe my tears. “I’ve been going out of my mind about you. And I worry about you a lot. I understand why you’re so upset at me for killing your boss. He tried to harm what was mine, and I will always protect you from who harms you. I would lay down my life for you.”
I move my hand to stroke his neck. “I don’t want people to die because of me. That’s all. Every time someone hurts me, I don’t want them to be killed. I can’t have that on my hands. I knew you were a killer. I get it, but I don’t want to ever push you to do something that could ruin our relationship. I love you so much, Viper.”
He slides his hand into his back pocket and hands me a folded piece of paper. “I wrote something for you. I’ve been working on my handwriting and reading. I had Google to help me.”
Slowly, I unfold the paper and read the sloppy handwriting.
I’m sorry I hurt you, please forgive me.
My vision becomes blurry, and I stare into his deep gray pupils.
“Of course.” We kiss, and he yanks open my shirt and kisses down my throat. “I’m sorry too. For letting my insecurities and fears come between us.”
He kisses my forehead. “You’re moving back home today. You’re not spending another minute away from me.”
I nod. “I love you so much, Viper.”
“I love you too.”
My cheeks flush. “You know, Raven won’t be home for the next couple of hours.”
“Is that so?” He smiles.
“Uh-huh. I want you to fuck me good.”
I unbutton his shirt, and he sets me on the counter and kisses me on the lips.
I lift my arms above my head as he yanks my shirt over my head and tossing it to the floor.
“You never taught me how to suck your dick properly.” I whine.
“I will, but first I’m going to worship your body with my tongue and dick.” He smirks.
