Page 145 of Severed By Vengeance

She laughed and jumped off the counter, walking toward the door and pulling on her boots. “That’s the point. Besides, I have something I have to pick up, so this actually works in my favor.”

I couldn’t help smiling when she pulled a white beanie over her head. If she didn’t need the fridge and pantry stocked, I’d take her upstairs and fuck her under the skylight wearing just those damn boots and beanie.

A year and a half later, I still craved every part of this woman like a starving man who couldn’t ever satisfy his hunger.

“Later,” she whispered, clapping my chest, knowing exactly how my thoughts stumbled and free-fell into the goddamn gutter.

My grin pulled wider as I followed her out the door, anticipating my prize, the only motivation for going out into this fucking weather and dealing with people.

God, the things I would do for this woman were limitless. Maybe it was unhealthy, but I didn’t give a damn. Everything we’d gone through to get to this point was well worth the effort. She changed me. Changed the course of my life, and I strived to be a better man, maybe even a better human because of her.

Maybe.

Some days were harder than others to control what had been so deeply ingrained in me for so many years. But we loved each other and accepted the cards life had dealt us. Even when my departure from Ares demanded blood, she understood despite still holding a badge. She knew Ronan was still out there, and that my final body count wouldn’t conclude until I tore his heart from his chest. Especially after finding out he was behind Eva’s abduction. That son of a bitch had sold my girl. I never hid my hatred or the plans I had for his death from Eva. While she hadn’t exactly given me the green light, she hadn’t protested either.

Our love was unconventional, chaotic, passionate, and all-consuming. It didn’t need to make sense to anyone but us.

* * *

All in all, the grocery store trip hadn’t been the worst thing I’d had to do. Just a few more items, and we’d be on our way back home and under the cover of stars with my girl sitting on my face.

“Derek, I’m going to go grab that thing I told you about.”

“I’ll go with you.”

She started to walk away backward. “No, just grab what’s left on the list, and I’ll meet you at checkout.”

Eva disappeared around the corner before I could stop her. I questioned whether I should go after her. Something was off.

Had she been nervous?

“Excuse me, sir,” a woman’s chirpy voice broke my thoughts. Upon turning to find the intrusive voice, I was met with a redhead in a blue top that was probably three sizes too small. She certainly wasn’t dressed for the weather. And not that I was interested, but the wrong move in any direction and her tits were guaranteed to pop out.

“I’m sorry to bother you,” she continued, despite my lack of response, “but would you pass me that jar of peanut butter up top?”

Again, I said nothing and simply reached for the jar so she could be on her damn way.

As I grabbed said jar over her head, she made no effort to move aside. I could have sworn she moved in closer.

“Move.”

She shifted uncomfortably, though not deterred in the least.

“Don’t see many people like you around here.”

The woman was shamelessly staring at my lips. Maybe two years ago, I would have taken her back to my cabin and degraded her in ways she’d never forgive herself for. Now, however, she was one drunken wink away from me telling her to fuck off. I wasn’t a man of false pleasantries.

“Was that your girlfriend? She’s very pretty.Exotic.”

“Mywife,” I said, grabbing my cart and starting down the aisle.

“Hey, handsome?” Her hand landed on my forearm. “If you were looking to have a little fun after the wife’s asleep, I own a little place down the road. I can keep you warm. I know a few things,” she said, her tone low and breathy as she arched her back.

I suddenly feared one of those buttons becoming a projectile.

Catching her wrist, I opened my mouth to speak, intending to send her to hell in as few words as possible, when a loud crash and commotion had us both whipping our heads to the front of the store. She tried to latch onto me, but I tossed her ass and ran. Eva had told me she’d be waiting up front.

It had been six months since my last hit. For the most part, that life was behind me, but for her, I’d break that record without a second thought. The pit of my stomach bottomed out when I saw her on the floor on hands and knees, two bastards in a wrestling match behind her, arguing about who was next in line.