“There isn’t one thing about you that doesn’t work for me.”
“My body likes you better than me,” I purred, pressing farther into his stroking hand.
His laugh was a deep rumble. “You’ve spent way too long not having the things you need.”
“I don’t need that much.”
“I know it’s a lot to take in. And I should probably go slower, but I can’t do it, Pip. I should have done this two years ago. I’m already late.”
Sitting back, I said, “It’s not your job to take care of me.”
“I know that. My job usually doesn’t require keeping things alive.” Cradling my face in his palms, he said, “Iwantto take care of you. Please let me.”
No one had ever wanted to take care of me before. He’d done more for me in one day than anyone else had in my entire life.
“Why?” I whispered.
“Because I love you.”
“I’m scared.”
“Me too.”
Surprise had me looking up. He was the strongest person I knew. No way he was scared.
He half smiled. “You aren’t the only vulnerable one, Pip. Turns out living is way scarier than death. It’s a lot more… uncertain.”
A deadly hitman showing his vulnerable side? Frankly, if he got any hotter, he’d be a public safety hazard.And he is mine. “I’ll let you take care of me if you let me take care of you.”
“Deal.”
There was officially no room left in my stomach. The butterflies had taken over.
Turning back to the laptop, I hit a few buttons, and through the speakers, a line started to ring. Moments later, my supervisor answered.
“I just got off a very disturbing call, Redding.” He greeted me. “What’s this about you threatening a customer?—”
“Mr. Wilson.” I cut him off before I could lose my nerve. “I quit.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“I quit. Effective now.”
“Now just one minute?—”
I disconnected the call and closed the laptop before he could even finish.
Oh shit, I quit my job.The panic was swift, a surge of adrenaline so forceful that my hands began to tremble, and the urge to call back my supervisor and tell him I didn’t mean it was strong.
“Thank you.” Hiro’s voice cut through the polarizing wave of worry.
“W-what?”
“Thank you for trusting me to take care of you,” he said, wrapping around me from behind and burying his face in my neck. “For choosing me.”
All the panic gnawing away at my insides vanished just as fast as it had appeared. It was probably a skewed and oversimplified way of looking at it, but he was right. I did choose him.
Just like he’d chosen me.
