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The patience I need with her rivals that of a saint. If that isn’t ironic, I don’t fucking know what it is.

Even famished, she takes her time, eating slowly and humming softly. My cock welcomes those sounds, wanting to elicit others as well, throatier and raspier as she moans while I am buried inside of her, not knowing where she begins and I end.

As I go mentally through all the scenarios that could put an end to my desire, a slice of ham falls from her plate. Kill pounces, scarfing it down and cocking his head expectantly. I swear there’s a glint in her eyes at finding a way to manipulate him. I can’t let her train my fucking dog, so I call him and make him sit next to me.

“Don’t try me. You know who’s in charge.”

“Yeah? Who?” she sasses me.

Putting her cheek in her palm, she looks around and squints at the espresso machine.

“You want coffee?”

“Of course I want coffee.”

“Too bad,” I say and move to make myself one. Turning around, I prop my ass against the counter, sipping leisurely.

Her fingers clench around the knife and I place the empty cup down, prowling toward her. I grip her neck, tilting her head back.

“How much would you like to kill me right now, huh? You can try, but you’ll fail.”

“I could be persuaded not to if you’ll just make me a cup or show me how,” she tries, smiling so brightly you’d think she had sunshine for breakfast.

This feels too fucking intimate, of something we could have had, but she butchered it.

“Yeah, my life has always been worthless to you,” I snap, removing my hand that curls into a fist at my side.

She lowers her head, fidgeting with her fingers on her lap.

“That’s not true,” she whispers.

I let out a self-deprecating laugh, staring her down not to spew such utter bullshit in my presence. “What? I can’t hear you.”

“You heard me all right,” she yells. Standing up and pushing at my chest, she forgets for once that Kill is between us, not checking the tense situation at all.

“Tell me, Luciana, did you figure out who your parents are? Because I know. You didn’t even get paid for my kill, and in the end, you lost it all.”

“Who are they?” she murmurs, eyes swimming in hope.

“As if I would tell you.”

She grabs the knife, and just to see how far she’ll go, I allow her to press it into my neck.

“Tell me.”

“Kill me and you’ll never know.” I push myself further into her.

She takes a step back, knowing she won’t kill the only person who could give her what she desires most. And I must keep her in check.

It takes everything in her to lower it. The moment she does, I press my thumb and forefinger together, activating the shock in her collar. The knife clatters to the ground as a zap electrifies her body.

“Do that fucking again and I’ll keep this up until you beg for mercy.”

“I’ll never beg.”

“You did once. And I bet it won’t take much on my part to have you beg again.”

If looks could kill, I’d be buried six feet under right about now. But this image helps me more to remain in control than her trying to get under my skin once again.