Page 104 of Kill Feed

“You know what the worst part is?” I continue.

His eyes narrow. “There’s a worst part?”

I smile wider.

“I actually missed you.”

Adrian’s mouth parts, eyes barely flaring, but I notice the change. It’s a sudden shift of surprise that jolts through his body, although lacking the dramatics. And what he does next sends me into a frenzy.

He leans forward, burying his face in my neck, nuzzling at the warmth. He’s a man of few words, but I know exactly what he is saying.

My hands slide to his waist, tugging him closer until the heat of his body presses flush against mine, a heat that feels both consuming and inevitable.

Chapter 28

Dante

The kitchen fills with heat and the smell of butter, coffee, and maple syrup as the miserable rain continues outside, dusting the morning air in a dull grey.

I crack another egg into the pan and glance over my shoulder just as footsteps drag against the stairs. Adrian appears half asleep and devastatingly sexy for absolutely no reason. Dark hair messy from the sheets, and one hand rubbing lazily at his eye as he squints against the kitchen lights.

Ender lifts her head from beneath the table, tail thumping once before trotting toward him.

“Morning, princess,” I announce from behind the stove.

He ignores that and moves toward the counter, fingers brushing along Ender’s head as she presses against his leg. There’s still sleep clinging to him, softening the sharper edges of his face, and I honestly think I could watch him exist for hours on end.

Adrian drops onto one of the bar stools with a quiet exhale and rests his elbows on the slab. “What are you doing?”

I gesture vaguely to the spread around me, to the bits and bops of food adorning the countertop. “Cooking.”

“I can see that.”

“Then why ask questions you already know the answer to, baby?” I say just to irritate him. His mouth twitches faintly. Not quite a smile, but close enough.

I slide a mug of coffee toward him, and he takes it without hesitation, wrapping both hands around the warmth as thunder rumbles again outside. He peers into the mug and almost seems surprised. Of course, I made him the usual he always orders from that bitch Emily at his favorite cafe.

Adrian doesn’t say a word as he takes a sip, and I watch him with anticipation. When he doesn’t complain, continuing to take bigger sips, I can tell he likes it.

Ah, take that, Emily.

“You always cook this much?” he finally asks, mug almost empty.

“Only when I’m trying to impress someone,” I chime, “And before you assume, no, you’re the first one—and only—I’ve ever brought home.”

“I wasn’t going to say anything,” he adds flatly. Sure you weren’t.

After cooking him the best breakfast he’ll ever have in his entire life, I serve him like the princess he is despite him nagging that he can do it himself.

“You slept through the storm,” I add, watching him tear through the food I made.

“So?” He replies with a mouth full of food.

“You were practically unconscious,” I grin. “I could’ve shaved your eyebrows off.”

His eyes narrow immediately as one hand shoots up to touch his face.

I laugh. “Relax, kitten. They’re still there.”