Page 124 of Blades of Obsession

“Oh my God, are you getting hard talking about killing people?”

He chuckles. “Like I was saying earlier, I’ll officially become president next week. John left half of his estate to me, so I can continue to maintain the group. And the other half split between Frankie and Cindy. But the house is the headquarters, property of the group, so that’ll be mine.”

“So, it’ll be like, your house after you graduate?”

“You mean our house.” He stops walking, blocking my path, and kisses me on the forehead. “Anything I have is yours, baby.”

“What about the people who live there? And Frankie?”

“I’m sure you wouldn’t mind living in the same house with Frankie until she graduates, she’s practically never there anyway. The master suite has its own entire level, on the middle floor. That dickhead Rowan that rode with us to the border and most of everyone else has to go live somewhere else. But the maids, the chef, and the guards will probably stay, you can bring Julie if you want.”

“Of course, I have to bring Julie. She’s the only one who knows how to make my favorite meals just right. She’ll probably need a raise for agreeing.”

“Do you think she’ll actually need a raise for agreeing or you just want to give her a raise?”

“What? I like her.”

“Then we’ll give her a raise.” He takes his hand in mind. “I like how you care about other people and look out for them.”

“Really? I always thought the way I cared about other people too much was a bad thing.”

“As long as you don’t neglect yourself in the process and put yourself last, I don’t see why it’d be a bad thing. But you don’t have to worry about that because I’d never let you neglect yourself.”

I remove my hand out of his. “I like the gesture but it’s hot, I’m sweaty, and it feels icky. Here—” I loop my arm into his. “That’s better and it’s like we’re almost holding hands.” I swear he thinks there’s some kind of magnet pulling us together the way he always has to be touching me. “Wait, you said the guards will stay, that means my mom can move in and have protection from my dad?”

“Anyone you want can move in. And just imagine a little us running around, a whole bunch of space in the backyard. They can be the cool friend in their friend group with a hot ass mom and a big house that everyone can hang out at.”

I bite my lip, my heart skipping a beat at the thought. But then reality crashes in, reminding me that I’m not in some fairytale world where everything is roses and sunshine. I’m dating a freaking serial killer. A hot serial killer, but a serial killer nonetheless. “About that,” I begin, hesitating. I take a deep breath, trying to gather my thoughts. “Are you sure this is the ideal situation for kids? I mean, it scares me… What if you get hurt or another Jacob situation happens?”

He stops walking, and as he turns to me, his expression shifts to something serious. “You don’t have to worry about any of those things. As president, I won’t be out in the field anymore. I’ll have other, more low-key, executive duties.”

“What if you get bored? Last time you were talking about killing, you got… hard.”

He chuckles.

“I’m serious!”

He grabs my ass with a firm grip, pulling me closer until our bodies are pressed together. “A certain somebody was on top of me at the time.” His lips brush against mine in a fleeting kiss and he keeps his face close, our breath mingling. “I won’t need the adrenaline-inducing life, I promise. All I’ll need is you, and any kids you decide you want,” he whispers, his eyes filled with a sincerity that melts away my doubts and fears.

“So, it’s my decision?” I ask, glancing in his direction as we continue up the trail.

“Of course. Why wouldn’t it be?”

“Hmm, well, there are some other things you don’t let me decide,” I tease.

“Yeah, like going to a club without me. Not pregnancy. Any kids we have is one hundred percent your choice. And besides, you like when I decide things for you.” He smacks my ass.

“So, if I wanted a surrogate, you wouldn’t mind?”

“Why, do you want one?”

“Well, I do have a banging body,” I joke. “So, just keeping my options open.”

He bites his lip, and his eyes trail over my body with a desire that makes my heart race. “That you do,” he murmurs, his voice thick with passion. “But I’d love your body even if you grew ten kids inside of it. Even if you gained one hundred pounds.Even if you cut your hair all off and died it grey. So don’t think you have to get one to preserve your body for me.”

As his words sink in, I feel a rush of warmth and a fire in my belly. The way he looks at me, with such unwavering love, makes me feel like I’m dreaming. But I don’t want to be pinched to be woken up anytime soon. I can see in his eyes that the love goes beyond the physical, reaching deep into my soul.

He loves me for…me. The concept is so simple yet the feeling is so foreign. He knows every single thing about me and he still loves me. Not for my looks or my personality or how good I am in bed, for me.

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