Page 37 of Beyond Enemy Vows

A slow smile spreads across my face.Especially then.

He raises an eyebrow. "You liked being mine."

I blush again. "Maybe."

He brushes a strand of hair from my face and kisses my lips softly. So perfectly, I lick them to take everything I can from it.

"We could get something proper next time. Something silk. Or leather. Something that fits."

I bite my lip. "You planning to collar me like a pet?"

He pulls back just enough to look me in the eye. "No. I'm planning to honor you like something sacred. Something no one else gets to touch. Not anymore."

Jesus Christ.

Pretty sure I'm getting wet again.

There's a sharp knock at the door that makes me jump, the bubble of intimate conversation momentarily bursting. Niko rises, touching my shoulder briefly.

"Pizza's here," he says.

I pull the blanket around my shoulders as I hear the door open. There are some muffled voices, then it closes. A moment later, Niko returns with two boxes, a victorious smile on his lips.

"Dinner is served," he says, setting them down in front of us. "A veggie one for you, and one properly made Hawaiian for me."

I scrunch my nose at him. "I still can't believe you're eating that abomination."

He flips open the box, revealing the steaming pizza topped with ham and pineapple. "This 'abomination' is a masterpiece of contrasting flavors. Sweet and savory."

"Keep telling yourself that," I counter, opening my own box. The aroma of cheese, vegetables, and herbs fills the air, and my stomach growls in response.

Niko laughs as he settles beside me again. He hands me a napkin and takes a slice of his pizza, biting into it with exaggerated pleasure.

"Mmm. Perfection. It's so good."

I roll my eyes and take a bite of my own slice. It's actually pretty good for a small-town Irish pizza joint. The crust is crispy, the sauce tangy.

"Not bad," I admit. "Though nothing beats Chicago deep dish."

"That's not pizza. That's a casserole," Niko says with mock seriousness.

I gasp in outrage. "How dare you? That's blasphemy in my city!"

"Your city has many virtues. Something that's 90% bread with cheese isn't one of them."

I scoff. "You're lucky you're so damn good-looking," I say and immediately feel embarrassed by the ease at which that came out.

He just looks at me and grins.

We eat in comfortable silence for a few moments, the fire crackling in front of us. I can't help but sneak glances at his profile. The strong line of his jaw, the slight shadow of stubble, even the way his eyelashes cast shadows on his cheekbones.

This feels so normal. So right. Like we've been doing this forever.

"What are you thinking about?" Niko asks, catching me staring.

I take a sip of wine. "Nothing."

He gives me an are-you-kidding look.