Page 16 of Property of Heart

Norie waits until he’s gone before she says, “Maybe it’s a Lexmore Beach chapter thing because Sevrin always smells me too.As if our stink rats out our well-being or something.He did seem happy, though.So, he made Heart claim you, right?”

“Yeah,” I murmur and without thinking I blurt, “He should have given me a test run first...then I wouldn’t have objected at all.”

My eyes go wide and I slap a hand over my mouth.Why the hell did I say that?Norie throws her head back and barks out a laugh.She almost chokes and pulls the lollipop from her mouth to cough.

“Dude, I can guarantee that wouldn’t have made a difference.I took Fatal for a ride first, but he was still a dick.A dick that did offer me a deal to become his old lady, solving the issues I was facing.I guess it was different since he offered while Karev went over your head...in the end it did work out for all of us.”She tilts her head.“Wait.You two had sex...your reaction.Ah, yes...the sweet chemical messengers sending signals and shit.Works different with pain and pleasure with you not feeling shit when you get stabbed...all while getting stabbed with a cock is a whole different...pointy tip.”

We stare at each other.Blink a few times.Then laugh our ass off.

That’s when Fatal and Heart stroll into the kitchen.

“Good to see the old ladies are getting along,” Fatal states and walks to Norie to give her a kiss.

“I came to get you,” Heart says and holds out his hand.

My palm glides over his and then he’s tugging me to my feet.

I hold up my lollipop.“Thanks, Norie.Talk later.”

She smiles.“For sure, just come find me when you have time.”

Heart and I walk into the hallway and I glance over my shoulder.

“Fatal will join us as soon as he’s had his coffee...and his fill of his old lady which can take a while.”Heart chuckles.

He might seem relaxed but my anxiety is bubbling to the surface the closer we get to church.What if things are about to blow up in my face again?Why did Karev return if he left last night?

We’re standing in front of the door when I turn to Heart and ask, “Is Karev going to rip us apart?Is he going to take me away and demand I leave town and start all over again?”

“The fuck?”Heart snaps and narrows his eyes.“Did he make you do that in the past?How many fucking times?”

My feet are suddenly very interesting to study closely while I keep my mouth shut.

Heart’s fingers wrap around my throat and he pushes my chin up with his thumb.“How many times, Lina?”

“Four,” I whisper.

A muscle in his jaw jumps, and the thunderous look in his eyes tells me he’s pissed.

There’s one thing he does need to realize.“Mostly because I tend to screw up.”

“Mostly,” Heart grunts.

“Mostly,” I echo on a whisper.

The corner of his mouth twitches.“Let me guess...each of those four times involved you getting your hands on a knife.”

I wince because...guilty.

“Thought so.Well, same shit this time with the exception that you’re not going anywhere.You’re my old lady which means you’re my responsibility.Karev only came back to check on you ’cause he had second thoughts about the whole situation.”

Second thoughts.Surprise, surprise.So, he did come back to get me.

Heart sighs.“Not about us, about the guy he buried in the woods.”

The guy he...Rob?

“You guys should be in church discussing this with the others,” Fatal grunts from behind Heart.