Page 78 of Kill for a Kiss

Sterling glances at me as I settle onto the couch. “You feeling alright?” he asks, calm but braced for my answer.

I nod, shuffling under the weight of his gaze. “Better,” I admit. And it’s true, mostly. The fog hasn’t cleared completely, but it feels lighter. I feel better. Iambetter, because of him and how he takes care of me. The tea has been helping, even if it tastes like herbs and earth. Knowing Sterling made it just for me…that part makes it easier to swallow, makes it taste a little sweeter.

My eyes follow him as he turns to the stove, reaching for the kettle like he knew I’d want more.

Stan drops onto the couch beside me with a groan so exaggerated it makes the floor protest. “Man, I’m starving,” he announces, rubbing his stomach with both hands like he expects sympathy or snacks. “I could eat a whole deer.”

Sterling angles himself enough to glance back. “I’d like to see you take one down in your current state.”

“You kidding me? I could still out-hunt you with one hand tied behind my back.” Stan scoffs, sitting up straighter with mock offense. “Is there even any game out here?”

“There’s some,” Sterling replies, pouring warm water into cups. “Deer. Rabbits. Wild boar, if you’re lucky.”

Stan perks up. “Boar? That sounds like a good meal. When’s the last time we had a proper spit-roasted anything?”

Sterling doesn’t answer. He brings me the steaming mug instead and passes it over gently with the handle facing me. His eyes linger as I wrap my fingers around the warmth. Our eyes stay on each other’s as I take a sip. I smile wide. It’s perfectly warm, perfectly comforting.

“Not sure I’d trust you even with a kitchen knife right now,” Sterling says to Stan, still watching me.

Stan frowns and clutches his chest. “Wow. No faith. Ya hear this,Elle? He thinks I’m fragile.”

I lift a brow and take another sip. “I mean…he’s got a point.”

Stan gasps. “Et tu, Elle?” His tone is theatrical, but the smile tugging at his bruised mouth is genuine.

Sterling smirks a bit, enough to show he might be enjoying this more than he cares to admit. “She’s being realistic.”

Stan slumps in place, mumbling about betrayal and injustice. A moment later, he leans back, arms crossed behind his head, glancing sideways at Sterling. “Say, Silver,” he says, dragging out the nickname, “you don’t mind going out to hunt, do ya?”

Sterling doesn’t answer right away. He’s cleaning out a rifle now, focused and calm, barely acknowledging the question.

But Stan keeps going, looking quite pleased with himself. “I mean, it’d just be me and Elle here. Alone. Could be good for both of us, y’know. Little bonding time.”

Sterling doesn’t react as openly as Stan would. But I see how Sterling’s shoulders go still and how his hands slightly hitch. It’s a pause anyone else would miss. I don’t.

Stan grins wider, eyes glinting. “Unless you think I’d try something. But that’d be ridiculous, right? I’msupertrustworthy.”

I bite my lip, trying not to laugh into my tea.

Sterling lifts his head slowly. His gaze lands on Stan, flat and cold. It might scare others, but it doesn’t seem to be working on me or Stan. In fact, I find it rather endearing.

Stan shrugs, unbothered. “So what’s it gonna be? Trust fall or trust issues?”

Sterling, to his credit, doesn’t take the bait outright. He flicks his eyes to me once—quicker than a blink—then turns back to Stan. I can almost hear the thoughts churning behind his eyes.

“You hunt,” Sterling says, flat and direct. He tosses the rifle without ceremony. “Get out.”

Stan fumbles it against his chest. “Wait, what?”

“You want meat? Get it yourself.”

I sip my tea, catching the way Sterling avoids looking at me now, his jaw a little too tight. His mouth, even tighter. He’s flustered. And honestly…it truly is endearing.

Stan whoops, already on his feet. “Hell yeah! Been ages since I had a good hunt.”

He heads for the door, the rifle slung over his shoulder with dramatic flair. Then, just as he’s halfway out, he turns to face me.

“Oh, Elle!” he adds. “Don’t miss me too much. I know it’ll be hard.”