A shot of something that felt suspiciously likejealousyexploded through me.
Was he sleeping at someone else’s house?
Did he just hook up with other dudes and stay with them?
“Where do you sleep if not at your house?” I asked, doing my best to keep my tone even.
He shrugged. “At…work.” He said work like it was a replacement word for something else.“I have a room there.”
That anxious feeling in my chest was back. I didn’t know what he did for work, but I knew it was illegal and that he was expected to kill people regularly. Outside of the whole gay awakening I was currently going through, this was a huge reason I was so hesitant to admit I might have feelings for this tall, handsome whirlwind of a man.
I couldn’t date a fucking murderer for real… Could I?
Cal’s mouth quirked at the corner as he watched me process what he was telling me.
“You have a million questions. I can literally see them trying to shoot out of your ears.”
“I do.” I nodded, pressing my tongue to the inside of my cheek.
“Then ask me. I’ll tell you anything you want to know,” he said, and I sighed.
“That’s just the problem, Cal. I don’t know if Iwantto know. Won’t knowing about what you do put me in danger?”
It was his turn to sigh. Stepping into the room, he gently shut the door behind him and made his way to my side.
He slid his hand around the back of my neck and rested his forehead against mine. It felt so intimate andright.
In the privacy of this room, I let myself lean into him. Tentatively, I allowed my hand to brush against his hip the way it wanted to.
Curling my fingers into his hoodie, I looked into his warm brown eyes and inhaled his masculine scent.
“You’ve been in danger from the moment I laid eyes on you, Ryan Fairview.” He whispered. I trembled beneath his touch as he delicately traced his thumb over my lips. My mind was screaming at me to pull away, but my body wouldn’t move.
Why did he have this effect on me? Why did my body crave him so damn much?
“That’s what I’m afraid of,” I whispered. “I’m afraid you’re going to get bored of me one day and kill me.”
Cal shook his head and pressed a gentle kiss on my lips. It was brief and tender and nothing at all like the harsh way he had touched me in the field earlier.
“Things are different now. You’re still in danger, but you’re no longer in danger of me, Ryan. I already told you I would kill anyone who touches you. That includes people who touch you with intent to harm.”
“I don’t want you to kill anyone at all, Callum.” I sighed, finally pulling away. Not because I wanted space between us butbecause I wanted to be able to look at him better. I needed him to see how serious I was.
Cal gave me an uncharacteristically sad smile and let me go.
“That’s unfortunately not an option, ginger snap.”
I frowned. “Why not? Is it an impulse, like they say on TV shows about serial killers? Do youneedto kill people? Do you enjoy it?”
His eyes widened in surprise, and he looked pensive for a moment.
“No one has ever asked me that before.” He chuckled.
“Well, I’m asking now,” I said firmly.
“It’s… complicated,” he admitted, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly.
“I don’t have anything planned for today. I have time.”
