“Do you know how I killed that Albanian guy?” she answered instead.
“You sliced his femoral artery. Luc told me. He admired your cutting skills.”
“You should probably remember that I know where the major and minor arteries are, the veins, your weak spots… You ever hurt me, Stan,” she vowed, her tone seething, “and I’ll makeyoubleed out.”
A wicked light appeared in my eyes, one that she couldn’t see because of our position. “I expect no less of a Valentini woman,liunissa.”
She grunted, and neither of us mentioned the erection that dug into her side until I tipped my hips back.
“You’re lucky I didn’t throw my goddamn ring in your face.”
My.
I could work with that.
“I’m lucky to have you lying in my arms, period.”
That gained me a harrumph.
Then, eventually…
“Thanks, by the way, for Cade. Not. Ma was in here chirping about the state of his arm.”
“He ambushed me as I?—”
“I’m sure he did. Next time, no broken bones orI’llnever hear the end of it.”
“Sorry.”
“Don’t be. I can tell you’re the baby of the family. That’s why the snake bite exists.”
“The snake bite?”
“Yes. Where you pinch another person’s arm. Here.” She tried to pinch mine.
“Oh! And it hurts?”
“On people with more than 6% body fat, yes.” She tsked again. “You’re dating the eldest daughter, Stan. Be smarter about punishing my dipshit younger siblings, would you?”
I closed my eyes.
‘You’re dating the eldest daughter.’
Not past tense.
Present.
I didn’t deserve her.
But like the fucker I was, I had no intention of backing off.
I burrowed my nose into her hair and felt her relax against me. Felt it when she slept. And I tumbled along with her.
Because she was mine.
I was hers.
Period.
