Page 134 of Kiss of Deceit

She disappeared through the doorway, and I halted, leaning against the doorframe. “What’s going through your head right now?”

She glanced over her shoulder, her hand on the freezer lid. “What?”

“Something is bothering you.”

With a laugh, she turned to face me, resting her palms on the freezer behind her. “There are killers in this town that know about my past. Who I can’t fucking catch. So yes, something is bothering me.”

I tsked. “I think you’re lying to me.”

Her eyes brightened with challenge, and my heart panged. There was the spark she’d been missing the last few days. Ever since Susan had told her the interns were leaving town, she’d been pulling away from me.

“I don’t think I’ve been in here since the night we met. The first and only time I let a stranger between my legs.” Her words were light and teasing. I’d known her long enough to quicklyrealize she was trying to distract me. Whatever was on her mind was something she didn’t want to share.

I strode into the pantry, kicking the door shut behind me. “I can’t come in this room without thinking about you.” My eyes drifted down her sweater and jeans. “Who knew the quiet little intern would flip my life upside down in the best fucking way?”

Her cheeks flushed, and I caught a speck of hesitation as I crossed the small space. I grabbed her hips, and lifted her, setting her on top of the freezer. She spread her legs, letting me stand between her thighs.

“Still upset about leaving tomorrow?” I asked in a low voice.

She frowned. “It’s not like I have a choice.”

I leaned forward, kissing her forehead. “Believe me, I don’t want you to leave me. But at least you’ll be safe. And once this town is back to normal, I’ll leave.” I paused. “If you want to be with me in the normal world too.”

This time, her warm smile was genuine, but I didn’t miss a hint of sadness in her eyes. “I want to be with you no matter where we are.”

My heart pattered in a way that only seemed to happen when I was with her. I was falling for this woman. I swallowed thickly. It was more than that. I was alreadyin lovewith her.

“Why so serious, Kole?” Her question tore me from my thoughts. “If I’m going to leave tomorrow, then give me a night to remember.”

With a gruff chuckle, I rested my knuckles under her chin, tilting her face up. “This isn’t a goodbye.”

Instead of answering me, she smashed her lips to mine, opening her mouth, and letting me control the kiss. Something I didn’t miss, since she always loved to be in control. Her tongue clashed with mine as I deepened the kiss. I let out a groan, savoring every fucking second of this. Raising my arm, I grippedher hair, pulling her head back to kiss her throat. Her quiet moan had my dick going rock hard.

“Are you going to miss me?” she panted as I tore my lips from her just long enough to yank off her sweater.

“Is that even a question?” I lowered my head, letting my lips trail over her collarbone.

“I still have secrets.”

“I’m aware.” I raised my gaze to meet hers. “I’ll wait as long as you need until you can trust me with them.”

She gripped my forearm. “I’m a killer.” Her statement was a whisper, spoken as if I didn’t already know what she did to Leon and Tristin. Her worried eyes searched mine, her nails nearly digging into my skin.

“So am I, Dani. Along with half of this town. The entire point of this place is to give chances to those who deserve it. You were protecting yourself. There is nothing to feel guilty about.”

“I don’t feel guilty.” Her voice wavered slightly. “You’d think I should after what I did. But I can’t bring myself to feel an ounce of anything when it comes to the evil of this world.”

“Don’t waste your emotions on people who don’t deserve it.”

“What if I’m part of the evil?” she mumbled as if almost asking herself.

“You’re not,” I said firmly, cupping her cheeks, tilting her face up. “You worrying about it proves that.”

Her eyes cleared, and while I wasn’t sure if it was my words that were helping or if she was putting on a front I couldn’t see through.

“It’s funny, isn’t it?” she murmured, her voice turning husky. “We’re right back where we started. The only difference from the first time we were in here is your head isn’t between my legs.”

“My face isn’t between your legsyet,” I corrected her roughly. “But we are absolutely not where we started. Back then, I didn’t know anything about you.” As I spoke, I gripped the hem ofher sweater and pulled it over her head. “I thought you were beautiful when I first laid eyes on you, but all I saw was a quiet intern.”