Chapter 32 #3
“I know better now,” I continued, keeping my voice low and steady. “My life isn’t just mine to risk anymore. It’s yours. Every breath, every beat of my heart, every drop of blood. It all belongs to you. I won’t damage what’s yours again.”
I watched as the tension slowly drained from her body, her shoulders lowering from their defensive position near her ears. The fire in her eyes didn’t extinguish completely, but it banked to a smolder rather than a blaze.
When I was reasonably certain she wouldn’t push me away again, I carefully pulled her against me, wrapping my arms around her. For a moment she remained stiff, but then she melted against me, her face pressing into my chest as her arms circled my waist.
“You’d better not,” she mumbled against me, her voice muffled but still carrying a hint of that fierce protectiveness that had startled me so much. “Because if you pull something like this again, I swear—”
“I know,” I murmured, pressing my lips to the top of her head. “I would carve the machinery out of my own flesh before I let it be the thing that drives you away. Message received, Bishop.”
I rested my chin on the top of her head, content to stand in the middle of the room and hold her for as long as she needed.
Annie suddenly jolted in my arms, her body tensing as if she’d been shocked.
“Wait. How much did you hear earlier? When I was talking to Havoc and the PR team?”
“Nothing,” I admitted.
Annie just gave me a skeptical look.
“I don’t listen when you’re with Havoc. I watch the video feed.” I shrugged. “No audio.”
A small smile tugged at her lips. “That’s not very stalkerish of you. I expected better.”
“I’m still fucking watching you,” I pointed out dryly. “I think that qualifies as adequately creepy.”
Her smile widened, and I felt that familiar tightening in my chest. It was ridiculous how much power this one woman had over me.
“Why?” I asked, suddenly curious. “What did I miss?”
Annie’s expression shifted, a hint of nervousness crossing her features. “The engagement with Valor is over.” She hesitated, her fingers fidgeting with the edge of my chest panel. “Well, it will be. In two months.”
Two more fucking months of watching her pretend to be with that narcissistic prick, of seeing his hands on her, his face next to hers in photos, his name linked with hers in headlines.
I forced my jaw to unclench, burying the immediate, violent need to fly to the Tower and rip Valor apart. I needed to keep my shit together so I didn’t terrify Annie.
“Two months,” I repeated. My voice came out a rasp despite my efforts to control it. “If he touches you outside of PR requirements, I will break every bone in his hands.”
“Hey,” she said softly and reached up, her palm cool against my cheek. “I know it’s not ideal. But it’s a definite end date. And they’ve agreed to a ‘mutual breakup’ narrative, so neither of us looks bad.”
I nodded, leaning into her touch. “I can handle two months,” I said, more to convince myself than her.
I glanced at the time. The search algorithms would take hours to complete, and I had blood to spill tonight. The League season didn’t pause for my violent domestic urges, and I needed to maintain my standing.
“I have League business tonight,” I said, my hands reluctantly sliding from her waist. “The program tracking Mercer will run in the background, but I need to go remind a few bottom feeders why I’m at the top of the food chain.”
Annie nodded. “Of course. I should probably head home then.”
I caught her wrist, stopping her retreat. “Or,” I countered, my thumb pressing into her pulse point, “you could come with me.”
Her eyebrows shot up. “Come with you? To watch you brutalize people?”
“You’ve done it before,” I reminded her, my voice dropping to a low purr. “And you liked watching me work. Don’t lie to me, Sparks.”
I stepped back into her space, crowding her against the workbench. “I have a few meetings, and then I need to hunt down some seasonal ranking fights. It will be a bloodbath. Nothing I can’t handle. You’ll wear your mask, of course.”
“What about sleep?” she asked, though her breath hitched. Her pupils were already dilating with that dark thrill she couldn’t hide from me. “I have work tomorrow.”
I slid my hand down to grip her ass, pulling her harder against me so she could feel my hardening cock. “I’ll make sure you pass out eventually.”
“That’s not very reassuring,” she breathed, her voice losing its practical edge. “Last time you promised sleep, I got maybe two hours.”
“Not my fault I’m a greedy fuck when it comes to you,” I replied, my fingers digging harder into the soft flesh of her ass.
She smiled. “You’re a menace.”
“I’m your menace,” I corrected. “Is that a yes?”
She let out a shaky breath. “Yes. I’ll come with you.”
I smiled. “Good.”
“But,” she added, “I need at least six hours of sleep afterward. I mean it, Cipher.”
I leaned down, biting gently at her jawline before whispering against her skin. “You’ll get your six hours. But only after we’re both satisfied.” I picked up my mask. “Now let’s go. I have a reputation to maintain, and you have a Villain to watch.”
Annie’s eyes were dark, consumed by the shadow I cast over her. “Lead the way.”