Page 53 of Solemn Vow

It’s not.

At least not yet, but there’s always something lurking around the corner.

“Marlena.” Viktor is back. “Let’s get you home.”

Izzy hugs me and gets back to her studying on the couch as we leave.

“To be clear, which home?” I ask him as he helps me up into the passenger seat of his SUV.

He shoots me a look.

“That’s what I thought,” I mumble.

Marlena’sshort black hair is spiked up around her head when she wanders into the kitchen. The silk pajama shorts ride low on her hips, exposing her middle when she raises her right hand to wipe the sleep from her eyes.

“How long have you been awake?” she questions, shuffling to the coffeemaker. I keep my eyes on her ass as she walks. Beneath the smooth material I can make out every move her body makes.

It’s too intoxicating for so early in the morning.

“An hour.” I leave my empty cup of coffee on the table to help her with the machine. It’s a single use contraption that Mrs. Ivankova suggested, only with more bells and whistles than the model she requested.

“You could have woken me.” She drops the coffee pod into my palm and slides over. Catching her reflection in the refrigerator, she gasps and combs her fingers through her hair.

“You don’t work until this afternoon, and you need rest.”

She quickly tames the unruly tresses and tucks her hair behind her ears. “It’s easy to do in that bed. It’s like sleepingon clouds.” She folds her arms over her chest and leans her hip against the counter.

Leaning down, I kiss her. A quick brush of my lips across hers.

She touches her mouth. “What was that for?”

“I wanted to.” I hand her the freshly brewed coffee. “The sugar bowl is on the table with the cream.”

She lowers her eyes and takes her coffee to the table.

“How is your head?” I grab a plate from the cupboard, fill it with scrambled eggs and sausage from the pots on the warmers, and place it in front of her.

She looks down at the food and grins. “She used chives.”

“You liked them the other day. I asked her to use them from now on when you’re here,” I say, taking the seat across from her.

“You don’t have to do that.” She digs in. “Don’t change stuff around here for me.”

I fold my arms over my chest, leaning back in the chair, enjoying her smile as she eats her breakfast. If it will bring such brightness to her, I’d turn my world upside down.

Never in my thirty-one years have I worried so much about making one person happy as I do this woman.

I’m not talking about fucking. No woman has ever left my bed unsatisfied. This goes beyond the physical.

In my line of work, I’m not exactly spreading around happiness and cheer. No one’s looking to me for anything more than a way to make big money or for me to end their miserable existence faster.

Marlena wants nothing from me, but I’d give her everything in a heartbeat.

When she smiles, the dark shadows following me fade away.

I want to be the reason for those moments of joy.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” she asks after gulping down the last of her coffee. She’s already polished off her breakfast.

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