Page 40 of His Daggered Heart

She kisses me. “I know, handsome. You’re right but either way, that’s why.”

“I understand and I’m not mad.” I kiss her nose, then her lips. “Just tell me the truth. We need to build more trust, not break it even more, especially since you’re going to be my wife.” I wink and she smiles sheepishly.

“You are crazy, Kohen Ventura.” She rises on her tiptoes to place a kiss on my lips.

Her head rests on my chest and I pull her hair, forcing her stare. “Crazy for you, Alex Monroe.” I spank her bubble butt. “Now let’s go before Levi sends a search party.”

She giggles while swatting my arm. “He isn’t that bad.” I lift an eyebrow and we both laugh now. “Okay, maybe he is, but that’s not a bad thing.”

I reach for the knob, my hand resting on her hip.

“Oh, and before we go, I knew X was staying here. I didn’t care because I trust you but you really should know better by now, I know you, angel.” I brush my thumb on her cheek. “Our souls are connected, mine communicates with yours, and I could feel everything you felt when you saw him and gripped my hand. Anxiety, fear, anger, and sadness.”

Her eyes water and a tear escapes, so I wipe it away. I stare at the wetness on my finger before bringing it to my lips. She gasps as my tongue darts from my mouth for a taste. It’s salty.

“Mine,” I say matter-of-factly and then pull the door open, joining the rest of the party. Only one thought on my mind, she said yes.

Alex

My mind is reeling. I feel dizzy as we descend the twisted staircase. Everything is a blur around me as the music blares. I can’t even make out the song. Kohen fucking asked me to marry him, and my crazy ass said yes. What the actual fuck? I don’t regret my yes but he did have two fingers deep in my pussy as he pushed his come back inside me. Am I really going to plan a wedding while I’m in college? People wait, right? We can wait until we graduate. What’s the rush?

As if sensing I’m having this whole conversation in my head, Kohen’s warm hand presses on my back, pulling me from my thoughts. I look up at him and he’s smiling. He leans in to kiss me and then we pause a moment, his soft words filling my ears, “We don’t have to get married tomorrow, angel. We have our whole lives.”

Goddamn, I fucking love this man. “How did you know?” I ask, continuing our trek to the main floor. Levi and Cora spot us, a smirk on his face. He knows me so well.

We get to the bottom of the stairs and they meet us. Cora is oblivious to what we just did or maybe she just has the decency to act like it. Levi holds his hand out, and I grab it. He escorts me off the step as if I need him and Kohen to help me down the fucking stairs.

Normally, this would make me want to let go of them both and make it known, just for the sake of being petty, that I’m a badass bitch and can get down a fucking stair by myself. But these days, I’m letting them love me.

“You filthy, dirty girl,” Levi says where only I can hear him. I look up at him, his icy blue eyes meeting my warm gaze.

“For Kohen, yes,” I wink and he laughs. I love the relationship we have, and the one he now has with Kohen. It’s more than I could ever ask for. I really thought we were going to meet more resistance there but that talk with Kohen a few weeks back has really helped.

His eyes move from mine to Cora’s. The way he looks at her takes my breath away. It’s magical and my tummy turns. I have butterflies for them. I love my best friends so fucking much, it hurts.

“Let’s get a drink,” Kohen says, then pauses and scrunches his nose, facepalming. “Well, not you Cora. You know, since you’re a baby-making machine right now.”

She giggles, hands on her hips. “Thank you, Kohen, for reminding me. I forgot.”

His gaze is questioning as he looks at her. “Cora, how could you forget something so, so precious?” he says as he cradles her flat tummy.

“Kohen, stop,” she laughs, swatting at him. “I’m not even showing yet.”

Then I hear the most atrocious condescending voice, a voice I never thought I would hear again. “What do we have here?”

Erica.

I turn, facing her with disgust. “What the fuck do you want, bitch?” I ask, pushing Kohen’s hands off me to face her. I’m ready for whatever when it comes to her.

Her Cruella De Vil laugh rings through my ears, and this has to be what dogs feel like when they hear that silent whistle. Because I want to rip her vocal cords from her goddamn throat.

“Calm down, little chihuahua, no need for the unpleasantries.”

I scoff. “I’ll show you a fucking chihuahua, you dumb slut.”

With pouted lips full of injections, she teases, “Oh. What’s the matter, doll? Still upset that I am Kohen’s chosen one, his end game?” she tsks. “Don’t be, he still has time to get his dick wet, but I assure you, it is me.”

She doesn’t stop there, she is on a mission to hurt people tonight, and her gaze hones in on Cora. It’s the worst idea she could ever have, she just doesn’t know it yet.

---