Page 66 of The Prize

“Yes, and worked out with Jade.”

“Jade?”

“She helps me do pull-ups.”

“Seriously?”

“She’s capable of lifting a person off the ground.” He rubbed my tummy. “You should try it sometime.”

I laughed as he tickled me. “My stomach is fine, mister.”

“Yes, you’re perfect. We just don’t want to remind you and have you running off with Mr. Perfect.” He dipped to kiss my belly button.

I giggled. “Careful, you’ll spill the coffee.”

He patted the mattress. “It’s built to withstand quite a lot. As you’ve discovered.”

“You are Mr. Perfect.”

“I’m the man your mom warned you about...” He grimaced.

I reached up and ruffled his hair. “She’d have loved you. So would my dad.”

“After all the trouble I’ve gotten you into?”

I smiled to reassure him. “I’ve been thinking.”

“Oh?”

I exhaled a shaky breath of doubt. “Maybe we should just let them go, Tobias.” On his look of protest I added, “We have each other and if we go to the police now—”

“We’re closer than you think.”

“We’re taking on a monster.”

“Yes, but someone has to.”

This felt like the walls between us were finally coming down.

Tobias looked resilient. “What Elliot did to me made me stronger. I became more than I was. And now I’m coming for him.”

“You want to end this?”

“Him, Zara, I’m ready to end Elliot Burell.”

“Just be careful, that’s all I ask. If anything happened to you—”

He pressed his forefinger to my lips to silence me and I bit it playfully.

“Careful. You’re already in the danger zone.”

“Danger zone?”

“If you’re standing within feet of me. Anything can happen when you’re taunting me with your beauty.” He brought my hand to his mouth and kissed my wrist, pressing his soft lips against my skin.

I let out a contented sigh. “Thank you for breakfast.”

“I made something else for you.” He pulled me up. “Want to see?”