Page 19 of Killer Confections

I want so much more.

I want to hear more of her sounds and feel her warmth. I want to hold her, cherish her, the way I should have been doing this last year.

I want it all.

I want to consume her, but this is all we can have for now.

When we pull away, I rest my forehead against hers, our breaths mingling as I cup her cheeks. She stares into my eyes, her cheeks flushed and her look dazed.

“I need you to listen to me, Loxley,” I swallow, my voice rough. She shivers, nodding. “You’re mine, okay? No matter what happens, you belong to me and I’ll be back for you.”

Her eyes flutter as she nods again.

“No, Short Stack. I need to hear you say it.”

“I’m yours,” she whispers, sounding as desperate as I feel.

“Good,” I praise, kissing her heated cheek. “Always remember that. I don’t know how long it’s going to take, but you’re not leaving me.”

Her brow furrows, “How long what will take?”

I press another deep kiss to her lips, savoring what I canbefore pulling away. “Don’t worry about it and don’t forget me.”

“I would never,” she shakes her head.

A man yells for Loxley from inside the house and she gives me one last pleading look. “I don’t want to go.”

“I know,” I comfort her, pulling her into my arms one last time. “Anytime you bake, think of me.”

“Always,” she sobs.

We finally pull away and it feels like my heart is breaking more and more with every step she takes. My future is fading right before my eyes, and there’s nothing I can do to stop it.

Not right now.

She gives me one last look. So much heartbreak and grief etched on her usually sunny features. I feel my soul pang in a way that shouldn’t be possible.

She pushes the door open and steps into the house and out of my life. Around me, the birds are chirping and the sun is shining, but she took all the joy and light with her.

She was my light.

And now there’s nothing left.

Chapter Eight

Atlas

Present Day

It all took a lot longer than expected, but I’ve kept tabs on her. When Connor, one of our tech guys, noticed she was looking into properties for sale, I had him redirect all of her searches to Columbus. I worked quickly, purchasing a storefront that was recently built and placed on the market.

I lowered the cost and had Connor push the property, hoping she would bite for the steal. She did, messaging me unknowingly about touring the simple layout. I messaged her back, heart pounding wildly as I instructed her to use the key under the mat to get in.

I still had loose ends to tie up, so speaking with her was off the table then, but I was there. I had driven my bike into the city, parking across from the glass storefront as I watched her.

My breath caught, and everything around me ceased to exist in her presence. Her face had lost most of its baby fat, looking slimmer and more mature—a face I couldn’t wait to see twisted in pure ecstasy under me. She hadn’t grown much, but her shape had changed. Her hips were wider, fuller, and her legs looked thicker. She was muscled, like she visited the gym regularly, but Jesus fucking Christ, was it doing her good. She looked amazing, and I had to reason with myself to stay on my bike and not stalk in there and throw her down on the empty counters and eat her alive.

I was reluctant to leave, but seeing her so close for the first time in years spurred me on to get my loose ends tied upmuch quicker.