Page 37 of Look My Way (Bloody Desires #1)

Zavier

Liam packs a bag, double checking his bathroom for anything he might be forgetting. “We’ll have to come and water the plants tomorrow before hitting the road, and . . . and . . .”

Walking behind him, I squeeze his arm. “Relax. Take a breath, carino. It’s all been taken care of. While you were in the shower, I called in a favor with a good friend. She’s going to stop by and take care of it while we’re gone.”

“Good friend?” He looks back at me and . . . wait . . . is that jealousy I see in his eyes?

“My sister.” I smile smugly. “Foster sister. Don’t tell her I called her the first thing out loud,” I say playfully.

“You have a sister?”

“Yeah. We were in foster care together.”

“Any other siblings or family you’re forgetting to mention? You’re still such a huge secret, when I feel I’ve told you everything.” He turns around, taking both my hands in his.

“No . . . well, I have a niece on the way. But that’s it, just the two of them.” My toes tap his, our noses rubbing together as I lean down a little. “And I have you too now.”

“Yeah.” His face falls a little, fingers sliding away from mine, but I hold him in place.

“Hey. What’s wrong?”

“I . . . are you sure I’m really what you want?”

“I’m sure.” I press my lips to his. “Very sure. You’re mine, remember? You said it last night.”

“Does that make you mine too?”

“Yes.” My lips stretch. “You can keep me while I keep you.”

His mouth parts, breaths rushing out, and he smiles a little. “Okay.”

“Okay,” I repeat, kissing his nose and then his temple. He laughs as I trail my lips to each of his cheeks and his chin, shoving me back when I get carried away.

“We should get going soon in case Daniel stops by. I can’t face him yet. He left me a text, but I haven’t read it and don’t want to.”

“Then don’t. We’ll pretend the asshole doesn’t exist today.” I move behind him, slamming one of the photos face down. “That’ll make it easier. I’ll hold my hand over your eyes as we pass that atrocity in the living room too if you want.”

He huffs a laugh. “That’s not necessary. I just . . . I didn’t think I’d ever have to do something like this.”

“I’ll be right behind you every step of the way, whether I’m somewhere hiding in the shadows or right next to you.”

“Promise.”

“I promise.”

“This is so . . . so unreal. All of it. It still feels like some elaborate dream.”

“It’s real.” I spin him toward the mirror, wrapping my arms around his chest. “See.”

“Yes.” His face lights up. “I see.”

I press a chaste kiss to his cheek before pulling away and helping him load his bags in the back of my truck.

We walk back inside, and as he’s getting ready to step out back to water his plants, I grab onto his wrist. “Don’t be alarmed if you walk out there and find a new addition to your garden. ” I wink and his mouth falls open.

“What did you do? You didn’t get me another stalker, did you? Cause I can assure you one is enough.”

“No way.” I scoff. “That’s a job for me and me alone.

And you’ll see when you get out there.” I waggle my brows and he rolls his eyes, opening the door.

He walks out first and I follow behind him, pressing a hand to his back.

Feet coming to a halt, he lifts a hand to his chest and looks back at me. “How did you—”

“I had to drive to three different cities and ten different stores to find it.”

“I was starting to think I’d never have one.” He reaches for one of the leaves on the small tree, a smile cracking across his face. “It’s perfect. I can’t believe you went through all the trouble to get me one.” He bounces on his feet a little.

I rub circles up his spine, pressing my lips into his hair. “And I’d gladly do it again if it keeps you smiling like that.”

His cheeks flush as he looks between me and the plant, touching the thin, small branches while squeezing my hand.

“Sí, carino. We are both really here.”

His chest dips, fingers tightening around mine. “Yeah. You are.”

I peck his cheek and guide him back to my truck. “So, where are you going to put your new lemon tree?”

“I don’t know. Where it was left for me isn’t such a bad spot.”

“You have plenty of time to think about it, and then I’ll help you plant it wherever you choose.”

“I can do it myself,” he says, opening his car door.

“Of course you can, but I’m here to help it get done faster if you want. Two people are always better than one, and anything to give you more time to paint my rock for me.”

Chuckling, he ducks his head and gets into the car. I slip in after him, starting the engine seconds later before offering him my hand. He doesn’t take it until we’re halfway down the street, leaning his head on my shoulder as he sings the random song playing on the radio.

As we arrive at my place, I lift his hand to my mouth and press a kiss on his soft skin. Turning his face slightly, his eyes sear into mine. “I can’t believe I’m about to finally see your place.”

“I’m sure the dust bunnies won’t believe it either.”

He snorts. “Are you really sure you want to come with me tomorrow?”

“I’m sure. Besides, you’re already packed, and I cleared my whole schedule for the rest of the week.”

“I’m not keeping you from anything important, am I?”

“Nah. I’m right where I want to be.”

His phone buzzes and he sighs. “I bet it’s Daniel again. I haven’t responded yet. He’ll probably show up to my house.”

“Let him. He can go by all he wants. You won’t be there.”

“No, I won’t.” His lips jump, but when he reaches into his pocket, his face pales. “Shit.”

“What is it?”

He looks up at me, his face looking like all the blood has been drained from it. “My editor. He’s in intensive care in a coma. They don’t know if he’ll make it.”

“Oh, carino. That’s not good. I’m sorry.”

“I think what’s worse about the whole thing is, I don’t even feel bad. Does that make me an awful person?”

I stroke his chin. “No. You’re probably just in shock.”

“Yeah. That could be it. I think I also may be letting my hate for the guy get in the way of me feeling any remorse. It’s not right, I know.”

“Sounds very normal to me. He’s at least still alive, isn’t he? Which means there’s a chance he’ll pull through?”

“Uh-huh . . .” His eyes travel to the window and he slips his hand out of mine. “And like some damn monster, I’m hoping he doesn’t.” His eyes water.

“No, carino.” I wipe at the corner of his eye. “It’s hard to feel bad for people who finally get their deserved karma. And the guy really did get what was coming to him.”

His eyes flash back to mine. “That’s horrible to say.”

“Yes, and he was horrible to you, wasn’t he?”

“Yeah, but that doesn’t mean I want him to die. I was just hoping he’d get fired or something. It’s just so crazy to think that something as simple as a few bees in his garage could take him down so easily. He was highly allergic apparently.”

“Yikes. Sounds like a problem that should have been taken care of before getting worse.”

“Yeah. My publishers are assigning me to a new editor. Whoever they choose will have to read the other books in the series.”

“Is that a bad thing?”

“No.” He goes quiet. “It means my book is getting pushed back and I’ll have more time to look it over.”

“Work is always better when not rushed, isn’t it?”

“Yeah, and I’m not sure I’m completely set on the epilogue.”

“And now you have time to think on it. You can take a break from that creative mind of yours until Monday and come back even better when you do.”

“You’re right. We can both take a break from our jobs together.”

“We can. Now, shall we go inside and order some pizza for lunch?”

“Pizza sounds perfect, and then I can look through your place like you’ve had time to examine mine.”

“Shouldn’t take you very long. I don’t have as many hobbies as you, and I’m hardly home enough to have a collection of anything.”

“Well then, I can’t wait to see all the bare shelves and lack of personality in your home.”

“Good.” I smile. “Cause that’s exactly what you’ll get. Why do you think I’ve gotta show so much personality when interacting with people?”

“Wait . . . you have? Didn’t notice.” He wiggles his brows and I elbow him lightly in the side.

“Hey now, that’s not funny.”

“I wasn’t trying to be.” He beams up at me while pushing the truck door open, and then slowly steps onto the concrete.

I get out after him, grabbing the bags from the back, and I point to where my apartment is since he’s so hell bent on staying ahead of me.

Leaning on the door frame, his hips jut out as he waits for me to open the door.

As soon as I do, he squeezes his way past me. “Can’t give you time to hide anything at the last minute.”

I bark out a laugh, shutting and locking the door behind me as I drop his stuff at the entryway. He’s already prancing around the living room, moving around a vase with flowers and a frame with a picture my sister made me take.

“This is cute. I was expecting zero decor, though.”

“Yeah, Felice put that there. She said I needed to at least make it look like someone lived here.”

“She has good taste.” His gaze dances around us. “She pick the curtains too?”

“She did.” I nod, mouth lifting in the corners. “Those notes on the fridge with my grocery list are mine, though.”

A laugh crawls up his throat. “They’re a nice touch. Really brings more life to the place.”

“Hey, only someone who lives here would make a grocery list.”

“You make sure to keep the laundry hamper full too?”

“Yes, and toothpaste smears on the mirror,” I say with a fake straight face.

He laughs again, shaking his head, and inches closer to me. “It’s a nice place.”

“Yeah, and it’s looking even better right now.”

“Oh yeah?” He stands on his tiptoes, running his fingers through the back of my hair, and my heart kicks in my chest.

“Oh yeah.” I give him a very toothy smile, pressing my mouth to his, and we get stuck like that for a while, our hands going everywhere and our breaths panting. He’s the first to break the kiss, lifting his fingers to his lips, and his cheeks pinken.