Page 117 of Plug and Claim

“Don’t worry, I plan on keeping all my teeth.”

Kira offered him a wry smile, but he couldn’t bring himself to return it.

“Fine, I won’t,” she said. “But I need to ask. Besides the guard, did you really not kill any wolves that night?”

“Does it matter?”

“It matters to me.”

“Why?”

She turned her head to meet his gaze. “Because, I’m starting to think you’re not the monster you pretend to be.”

His heart was pounding in his chest. It was so loud he was sure she could hear it.

“I’ve killed plenty of wolves since, and that’s all you need to know.” He spoke coldly, or as coldly as he could, given how utterly happy and warm he felt with Kira pressed against him.

“You don’t look like a killer,” she continued.

He made his voice harder. Brittle. Each word enunciated slowly. “Neither do you.”

“Don’t underestimate me. I nearly stabbed you in your office, remember?”

“Nearly stabbed me?” Nathaniel pointed to the puncture wound on his abdominal muscles. He hadn’t realised that the knife had pierced his shirt until after she’d left his office, and it had ruined one of his favourite shirts. The wound had closed over, but the skin was still red and angry. “This is your handiwork.”

“Oh no,” Kira cried, turning so she was kneeling and leaning close to inspect the wound. “I didn’t realise I cut you!”

Nathaniel took her by the chin and gently lifted her head to meet his gaze. He smiled. “You’re awfully concerned about my health… for a killer.”

Her eyes narrowed. “I’m only concerned that it didn’t go all the way through.”

He barked a laugh, wondering how she’d dispelled his coldness so easily. “That may be, but just so you know… I like the sweet side of you as well.”

“Since we’re giving out compliments… I like the side of you that isn’t an asshole.”

“Do you indeed?” He peered at her through half-closed eyes, wondering whether to do it, to lean in all the way.

The last of the sun had melted into the horizon, and Kira’s face was half in shadow, half illuminated by the golden glow, and her amber irises glimmered with the captured rays of dying light.

His breathing halted, and he leant in.

He had to.

Just before their lips met, Kira pulled away, her eyes cast down. “It’s late. Should we go back?”

“Wait.” He scanned her face, noting the worry lines that had appeared and the thin line of her mouth. Why had she averted her eyes so quickly? “What’s on your mind, pet?”

He expected her to deflect the question, or to throw an insult at him. But instead, she looked resigned and sad.

“This afternoon with you was nice. Really nice. In fact, I think it’s the most fun I’ve ever had. And for a moment…” She looked down bashfully, twisting her hands, then lifted her chin and met his gaze again. “For a moment, I even thought this thing between us was real.”

Nathaniel felt a pang in his chest, and he reached for her, wanting nothing more than to brush her hair behind her ear and tell her that what they felt was real. Emotions didn’t lie. But his fingers faltered as an aching melancholy seeped into him.

He could never be what she needed.

Chapter 42

At His Feet