Chapter 10
Chapter
Ten
SKULL
“Biology, Lass. Remember?” I wink at her as I answer my phone.
“You just couldn’t let shit rest?” Abel sounds pissed, and I look around the room, narrowing my eyes when I spot the camera in the far left corner of the room.
“How often do you use that?” My voice growls as the mere thought of him spying on Ivy has my blood boiling.
“Every fucking day. Now stop acting like an overprotective arse and put me on speaker.” I pull the phone away from my ear and do as he asks because I may actually get some useful intel from him.
Like where Ivan Pavlova is so I can kill him.
“How are you doing, Ivy?” She waves at the camera as if she knew it was there all along.
“Peachy, how’s Dylan?” Ok, wait.
Why are they talking as if they’re old friends? I knew Abel was more hands-on with the Dahlia Initiative now that he was completely retired from the original chapter in Paradise, but this was way out of character even for him.
“Excited about our trip to Egypt next month. She’s been talking about seeing the Pyramids since she was a teenager.
” They both chuckle, and it makes me uncomfortable that they can have this easy, familiar conversation while I have to watch every fucking thing I do and say because she doesn’t trust me yet.
“Easy Skull, no need to drop her on the floor.” Shite.
I readjust her legs and ass securely on my lap, holding her closer than any friend should. I mean to replace that title immediately. Abel chuckles, bringing me back to myself.
“If I were still the VP, I’d ask if a status change needed to be filed and a cut ordered.” I groan and look at the camera, knowing the lie I’m about to tell will not convince anyone, not even myself.
“But you’re not. Besides, that isn’t necessary.” I grind my teeth so hard I think I chip a fucking tooth.
“Yet. I’ll respect it as long as you respect her. Now, talking about boundaries -” I lose it.
“Feckin hell, Cannibal! Stay out of this. All I need to know is who I’m protecting her from and for how long because we will not be living our lives trapped in this building!” My chest heaves with anger.
“Hey,” her palm against my cheek is like a cool breeze in the storm of red-hot rage that surrounds me.
“This isn’t living, Hen.” I rub my stubble into her palm.
“Did you just call her poultry?” I ignore Abel and pay attention to the woman in my arms.
More importantly, to the rumble of her stomach and frown.
“Have you not eaten?” She shakes her head.
“Abel, send the intel to my laptop. We’ll be offline.” I stand with her and start walking to her front door.
“If anything happens -” I turn and glare at the camera.
“Finish that sentence, and Dylan will be traveling alone.” The fucker laughs at me.
“I’ll get that order and status updated. It’ll be Chaos’s first official act as the new VP.” My phone beeps when he hangs up.
“Status change?” Ivy’s whispered question reminds me that she’s hungry and I need to feed her.
“Never you mind that insane man.” I open her door and close it before jogging up the stairs to my apartment.
“Wait, the locks.” I shake my head at her.
“Are to protect you, and you aren’t there. I swear on my life nothing is going to hurt you as long as I breathe.” She lets out a gasp as I set her on her feet in my hallway.
“You don’t even know me.” The infuriating woman hides her face behind the tumble of brown curls that I want to wrap around my wrist while she sucks the life out of my dick.
FOCUS ARSEHOLE.
“I want to. Badly,” I can’t seem to stop touching her, and thank the good lord, she seems to enjoy it so far.
“How badly?” I tuck her hair back so I can see if she’s teasing me, but what I find in her eyes is pure need.
“Say the word, and I’ll have you naked in seconds.” Were my words too forward?
Probably.
Was I holding my breath, praying she took me up on my offer?
Abso-fucking-lutely.
“That’s not entirely what I meant.” That adorable frown that I’m growing way too accustomed to seeing surfaces, and my hand itches to smooth the wrinkles out while replacing the frown with an orgasmic grin.
“Is that a no, Hen?” I couldn’t hide the amusement in my voice if I tried.
“Maybe dinner first.” Her eyes widen when her brain catches up with her mouth.
Her hand flies up to cover her lips, and she shakes her head at my growing grin.
“Deal. Dinner than dessert.” I wink and move her further into my domain.
The cold, empty apartment is suddenly warmer with her presence.
“Aren’t you going to close and lock the door?” I despise the panic I hear in her voice.
“No. For two reasons. One, if anyone enters this building, the alarms warn me.” I point at a kitchen stool, and she promptly sits but keeps the open door in her sight.
“And most importantly, two,” I pull my shotgun from the mount under the counter and place it on the counter between us.
“Anyone wanting to hurt you must first go through me.” A little gasp is all the warning I get before she launches herself at me.
The moment our lips touch, I’m a goner.
She’s mine, and no one is taking her from me.