Page 103 of Silk and Sirens

“Caden,” she began as I started walking. “I can’t leave, not with Fletch⁠—”

“I’ll have guards watch over him. He’ll be safe.” She didn’t pull out of my grip, Langdon coming up from behind.

“Then where are we going?”

“I’m taking you home.”

Chapter 42

Aeris

“You shouldn’t be here,” I said, the phrase repeated so often I was pretty sure Caden couldn’t even hear it anymore.

Because as expected he didn’t respond, sweeping through my house with his gun to make sure we were alone. I’d already checked the home security, which showed no doors or windows had been opened in my absence, but Caden wasn’t convinced.

“If Vivienne finds out⁠—”

“You let me deal with Vivienne,” he grunted, moving to the kitchen and opening my freezer like he owned the place.

“Caden—”

He didn’t respond.

Grabbing a bag of frozen peas, he wrapped it in one of my tea towels, the one with little blue shells printed across it, then turned towards me.

“Come here.”

Reluctantly, I stepped closer, hissing when he pressed the cold bundle against my bruised knuckles.

“Let me guess,” I muttered, breathing him in without thinking. His scent was like dark chocolate and whisky, something distinctively him. “You think I’m completely defenceless.”

Caden’s mouth flattened, his stare hard enough to pin me in place. “You nearly broke your hand because you don’t know how to throw a punch.”

“I’ll have you know I kill men regularly,” I replied dryly.

“You poison them while they’re distracted by their cock.”

My brow arched. “Is that really all you think I do?”

A smirk tugged at my lips as I slid my free hand slowly down the front of his chest. Beneath my fingertips, every muscle felt coiled, tight with tension.

“I lure men somewhere private,” I said softly. “Men who think they’re untouchable. Pimps. Wife beaters. Rapists who believe having a cock between their legs makes them superior.”

My nails drifted lower, tracing over the hard line of his abdomen before gliding across his belt. “They come willingly,” I murmured with a wink. “Pun intended.”

The second my hand brushed lower, Caden caught my wrist.

“Aeris—” he warned.

“So uptight,” I murmured. “You’d think you were the one who got attacked.”

His eyes darkened, and he caught my waist and pulled me against him, so quick I could barely react, until my breasts pressed firm against his chest.

“Is there something you need to explain to me?”

I tilted my chin back. “Like what?”

“Like those documents.” His eyes searched mine, as if waiting for the moment I would lie.