Page 86 of Need Him Like Oxygen

“Does he sleep here a lot?” I asked, voice low, as I washed up the mismatched plates. She had exactly two of them, so Cinna herself had eaten off one of the lids of the to-go containers.

“This is only the second time,” she said. “I know I probably shouldn’t let him. But…”

“But it would have been nice if someone had done something like this for you as a kid,” I filled in, understanding.

“Something like that,” she agreed. “I know what it’s like to feel like you’re sleeping with one eye open. I think it’s why he’s so tired when he’s here. He knows he’s safe.”

“You’re good with him,” I said.

“I usually suck with kids. They’re always afraid of me.”

“He’s not really a kid,” I said, shrugging. “No more than we were at his age, anyway.”

“Yeah,” she agreed.

“Besides, I’m sure you’ll be good with kids you know.”

“I’m not having kids,” she said as she put leftovers into the fridge. “I can’t, actually, even if I wanted them. Which I don’t.”

“I’m not having kids either,” I admitted, realizing I’d never actually said that out loud before.

“Really?” she asked, watching me with her head tipped to the side.

“Really. These fucked-up genes end with me. Hasn’t been a normal person in my bloodline in generations.”

“You’re normal,” she said. Then, at my raised brows, I saw her remember the times when the mask slipped, when the darker side of me came out. “I mean… normal for a mafia capo, anyway.”

“I got snipped at nineteen. I’ve never regretted it,” I said, shrugging. “I can enjoy everyone else’s kids. Then go home and get a good night of sleep.”

“I’m a fucking nightmare when I’m sick. The idea of having to take care of a needy, crying kid when I’m feeling like shit…” she said, shaking her head.

“Yeah, you’re not a great patient,” I said, smiling at her.

“I’m pretty sure I actually snarled at you a time or two.”

“Or twenty,” I agreed, getting that rare little twinkle of laughter out of her.

“I bet you’re a big baby when you’re sick,” she accused.

“Next time I have a cold, I’ll call you over to play nursemaid. Not,” I said at her eye roll, “what I meant. Though, you’d look fucking amazing in a sexy nurse getup. Short white dress, thigh highs, a red bra peeking out…”

“Given this a lot of thought, have you?” she asked, shaking her head at me, but there was a smile on her lips as she turned away from me. “Keep dreaming because that’s not going to happen. I don’t think I’ve… ever worn a dress.”

“We’ve finally found the real reason you didn’t go to the boss’s wedding,” I teased. “You didn’t want to wear a dress.”

“You got me,” she agreed, stifling a yawn. “I’m gonna go take a shower. If you could lock up on your way out, that’d be great,” she said as I dried off a plate.

I was going to do just that, not wanting to push when things were going… if not well, at least not badly. She wasn’t icing me out. That was a step in the right direction. But as she was making her way to the bathroom with her change of clothes in hand, I caught her giving me a long, longing glance before she closed herself behind the door.

I battled with myself for all of a minute after the water turned on.

Then I was striding across her apartment, reaching for the knob, finding it unlocked, and letting myself inside.

She had a solid shower curtain, so I managed to strip down and pull back the curtain before she even knew I was there.

She let out a surprised little gasp, but her gaze immediately heated and moved over me as I stepped inside.

I pulled the curtain closed, then stalked toward her, backing her up against the wall, grabbing the back of her neck and letting my lips crash onto hers, swallowing the little moan she let out as our bodies touched.

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