Because this isn’t just a book. It’s a pristine hardback special edition of an iconic wolf shifter series, with the title in shiny gold lettering and a fancy paper wrap over the cover. These are older books now, but it’s the sort of book that people say, “Oh this is the best, really, I can’t believe you haven’t read it!”
I reach down, and the paper is smooth and cool against my fingers. I lift it carefully out, then gasp. It’s an excess of oxygen and I swear I’m lightheaded as I blink at the gorgeous sprayed edges. It’s truly stunning. A swirling pattern of green, blue, and purple with two painted wolves that wraps around the pages.
“So beautiful,” I murmur.
“Yes,” Blake agrees softly.
I tear my gaze from the book and back to my phone’s screen, where Blake has a soft expression, which I can barely comprehend.
And as I lower my hand holding the book, my eye is caught. “There’s more.”
“Mmm.” Blake’s face gets bigger, as though he sat forwards.
There are four more books beneath, each just as beautiful. I turn each of them over in my hands, examining the details and line them up. The edge designs combine to make one big picture.
My heart does some weird thing. Squeezing and pulsing. He sent me books. He wouldn’t have had those lying around, would he? But he’s filthy rich and utterly gorgeous, as well as older and experienced. Out of my league.
“This was really kind, Blake,” I say eventually.
“It’s purely selfish, I assure you. I thought we could read them together.” He shifts the camera until I can see his desk. And on it, there is a matching set of books.
“Oh!” I melt. “You want to read them too?”
“They might be inspiring.” His eyebrows flick up.
And that’s when I remember that they’respicybooks. My cheeks burn.
“And when you visit me, Bunny, we can go shopping for more.”
I’m silent for a moment, choked up, not sure what to say. Embarrassed, and desperate to have this perceptive man as my own. To meet him. Touch him. Whisper secrets and listen to anything he wanted to tell me.
“I’m shocked there are no weapons or sex toys in this box,” I joke to lighten the mood away from the seriousness we’ve fallen into. “Did you run out of supplies sending them to other assassins?”
His smile goes dark and feral. “Ohhhh Bunny. Your jealousy is wonderful, if unwarranted. The only thing you’ve received from me that I’ve sent before to someone else, is money.”
I bite my lip to prevent myself from smiling, even as my body floods with relief.
“But if you miss the sex toys, we can pretend,” he purrs. “If you want to.”
“Maybe.” Yes. Desperately.
“But only if you show me your face.”
Oh. God.
13
BLAKE
“I can’t.” Distress and conflict bleed into her voice.
“Yes, you can.” I need to see her again.
It’s a craving deep in my gut. That flash of her face, the few seconds she looked right at me, smiling, is tattooed onto my soul.
I’ve never seen anything so lovely as her, her eyes bright.
“This has to be anonymous,” she protests. Her heart isn’t in it. “For the sake of my work,” she adds.
