Page 72 of Vicious Temptation

She laughs softly, shaking her head. “I don’t have cop friends.”

“Then let me be your first.”

Twenty

Remi

Thiago has a way of making everything around him seem smaller. His massive frame dominates every space he steps into, and my extra-large sofa is just another casualty. He sits sprawled across one end of it, one arm draped along the back cushion, looking entirely too good for a man I absolutely should not be letting this close to me.

I don’t know what I was thinking when I invited him up.

Maybe it’s the leftover adrenaline from tonight’s shootout, or maybe I just didn’t want to be alone afterward.

That’s bullshit, Remi, and you know it.

I do know it. I could’ve gone to Valentina’s or to my parents’. I could’ve called any number of family members who would’ve dropped everything to be here, but I chose Thiago because I wanted more time with him.

I’ll probably regret that decision the second I wake up tomorrow morning, but tonight, I’m letting myself enjoy his company without overthinking what it means.

“Are you okay?” he asks, pulling me out of my thoughts. “What happened back there...”

“I’m fine. We’re good, and that’s all that matters.”

Fuck. I answered too fast.

I know he’s a cop. He sees violence and death more than most people ever will, so he also knows how someone is supposed to react after nearly being killed.

And it probably isn’t reloading and returning fire as if it’s second nature.

I look away and sigh, forcing a slight crack into my voice for the performance. “I just...don’t want to think about it right now.”

There’s the slightest twitch near his eye, as if he catches the bullshit, but if he does, he doesn’t call me out on it.

The room goes quiet again, and within seconds, the silence begins to crawl beneath my skin.

My thumb rolls absently over Papá’s ring until I realize I’m practically grinding the metal into my palm. Before Thiago can notice, I slip it back into my pocket and push to my feet, stretching my arms above my head.

His eyes follow the movement, drifting to the exposed skin beneath my shirt and lingering near my navel piercing.

I like having his attention there way more than I should.

“I have to check on Hannibal and Clarice. Pizza should be here in about ten minutes.”

“Hannibal? Clarice?” He stands even though I didn’t invite him to join me. “Like the movie?”

“Yeah. Exactly like the movie.”

I deliberately slow my pace as I lead him down the hallway, hyperaware of him following me. Every time I ease my steps, the warmth of his body draws a little closer.

“Pets?” he asks.

“Companions,” I correct, turning to lean against the doorframe.

Thiago stops directly in front of me, leaving barely any space between us. Somehow, it still feels like too much. He braces one forearm against the wood above my head and dips his face toward mine.

“I meant what I said earlier.”

My eyebrows knit together. “About what?”