Page 34 of Thorns of Blood

“You’re really not helping your case, Liana.”

“Fine,” I grumbled, shooting him a scowl. “I promise not to bite you.”Only kill you. “Now, for the love of God, please give me some of that.” I nodded toward the tray.

He rolled his jaw, and I knew he was debating whether or not to trust me. I fluttered my eyes, even forced a smile while I held my breath, waiting for him to buy it. It didn’t take long.

“Okay then.”

With the room shrouded in silence, he fed me, and I greedily ate every spoonful he aimed my way. Scrambled eggs and bacon. Fresh fruit. Juice.

Seemingly lost in his thoughts, I studied my late husband’s nephew, looking for similarities and failing to find them. He had that going for him at least.

He smelled like pine, cigarettes, and something else. Cinnamon, maybe.

He was built like a brick wall but had the suave moves of a gentleman. It was all a disguise though, because if you stared long enough, you’d see a dangerous edge in his tense muscles and a darkness dancing behind those striking green eyes.

The man held my stare with disturbing interest and suspicion flared inside me.

“I have a proposition for you,” he said, and something in his expression made me wary. “Do you want to hear it?”

I remained silent, unwilling to play his stupid games.

Amusement brightened his expression. “Don’t tell me you’re scared.”

I gritted my teeth. “I’m not. But you asked if I wanted to hear it, and I’m sure you know that I don’t, so…”

He muttered a few curses. “Are you ready to hear it?”

“No.”

His chuckle was throaty and dark. “Well, I’m going to tell you anyway.”

“Then why bother asking?” All men were the fucking same. They dangled the illusion of choices, when in fact there were none.

He ignored me and continued as if I hadn’t spoken. “I propose that we marry.”

It was as if someone had dumped a bucket of ice water over me, freezing every atom in my body. There was no need to think about that one.

“No.”

My curt tone didn’t seem to dissuade him. “I can protect you.”

I smiled sweetly. “I can protect myself.”

“It would be convenient. You wouldn’t even have to change your last name. It would save you some paperwork.”

My mouth fell open. The man sure was thick.

“It would be convenient for whom?” I spat when I finally got myself together. But there was a disturbing gallop in my chest that I’d never experienced before.

“For both of us,” he reasoned with a straight face.

“I don’t mind the paperwork,” I said, but no sooner had the words left my mouth than an idea flickered in my mind. My gaze flicked to the open door behind him and I wondered if there was a way I could kill everyone on this boat. Except for the captain—I was humble enough to admit I’d need him.

“Don’t tell me you’re scared.” I hated his smile, all sparkling white teeth and full lips on a handsome, chiseled face.

“You wish,” I muttered as I fought a shiver. Fuck yes, I was scared. I valued my independence, had worked incredibly hard for it over the years, so the notion of tying myself to someone had my world flipping upside down.

I gazed out the window and said, “I’m not, but you haven’t exactly proven yourself as a desirable candidate.”