Page 10 of Hot Chocolate & Hitmen

She keeps chattering to Teddy about what she cooked, and he follows her like a devoted puppy, leaving Key and me to clean up the mess here and case the joint. Jealousy simmers in my chest as I glare down at the asshole at my feet, and then at the one still writhing around in a sack by Key’s.

I know where I’d much rather be right now, and it’s not taking care of dickhead one and two, or doing a tour of the house. Teddy’s one lucky bastard.

Glancing around, something in the corner of the room catches Key’s eye, causing a grin to break out across his face. “Hey, Sugar? Do you happen to have any rope around here?”

There’s a pause before Grace answers, not at all fazed by the nickname he used. “Erm, not that I know of. But there’s Christmas lights in the bins by the tree!”

We both look at the stack of bins in the corner and Key chuckles.

“Well…’tis the season after all!”

Chapter Five

My heart pounds as I lead the blonde stranger with the piercing blue eyes to the kitchen island. He moves with a lethal grace that hints at danger simmering right under the surface. Yet, his eyes are warm, crinkling at the corners when he smiles at me.

"Take a seat!" I gesture to the breakfast bar, busying myself grabbing plates. “I’ve got a little bit of everything.” I turn to see him perched on a stool, forearms flexed on the counter as he watches me. There's an intensity to his gaze that makes my skin heat.

There’s a sudden bump from the other room, and I gaze in that direction, my eyes widening in concern. Blondie merely chuckles.

“Don’t worry about that,” he comments, his voice a deep rumble that sends shivers down my spine. "This looks amazing."

Shaking my head and getting back to business, I wave a hand, loading up a plate for him. "Thank you! I love cooking. I was worried it was all going to go to waste."

“Why’s that?” His piercing eyes take me in from head to toe as I place an overflowing plate in front of him. I feel myselfflushing, somehow worried that he’s not just taking in my appearance, but something deeper.

“Eh. Well, Jason…” I trail off, my cheeks heating from both anger and humiliation.

“Your husband?” He probes, and I turn away from him to avoid his heavy perusal, wiping down the furthest section of the counter to keep myself busy.

“Ah, no. Boyfriend. Erm…well…he was.”

“Was? Why are you here with an ex-boyfriend? It all seems a bit too…romantic for that.”

I clear my throat, trying to breathe past the thickness that seems to have gathered there. I don’t want to tell him that I literally just got dumped right before they busted in here, on top of finding out that he was sleeping with my best friend. That’s just not an introductory conversation.

I don’t even know his name!

“Hey,” his deep, naturally seductive voice is suddenly right behind me. The heat of his body seeping through my clothes. I squeak, spinning around out of instinct.

Bad idea, because now we’re face to face with my back pressed against the counter behind me, with his magnetizing blue eyes refusing to let my own slip away. Narrowing as if he’s trying to figure out a puzzle, his eyes still hold a softness to them that draws me in.

His hand moves up slowly, as if giving me an opportunity to stop him, before he tucks a lock of my wavy hair behind my ear. Holding my breath, not even daring to blink, I stay perfectly still. My heart is hammering a mile a minute, and I’m pretty sure my entire body is buzzing from that one movement alone.

“Come eat,” his words come out soft, yet resolute, and I find myself obeying without realizing it.

Moments later, I blink and find myself sitting next to him at the island, a plate of my own in front of me. Heat radiates offof him, his thigh nearly brushing mine on the neighboring stool, and I'm suddenly very aware of my thin pajamas as I peek at him out of the corner of my eye.

“Tell me.”

And I do. What else is a girl supposed to do with an order like that?

I tell him everything. From the years wasted on the unconscious man in the other room, to what brought us here, and how it all unraveled this morning. I even find myself recounting last night before bed. It’s a little terrifying, especially as his expression turns to stone, every edge sharpened with a dangerous intensity.

I don’t know why, but for the first time in a long while…I don’t feel so alone. It feels like I don’t have to filter my words or bury my emotions just to keep someone else happy. Don’t get me wrong–I’m generally a happy, caring person. But sometimes, I have needs too.

By the halfway point, I'm sobbing uncontrollably as he rubs gentle circles on my back, responding with quiet grunts as I pour everything out.

But by the end, I feel lighter, like I can finally breathe again. Maybe I just needed someone to listen. This one conversation made me realize how long it's been since I've had someone to confide in.

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