Page 97 of Consume Me

We all nod, but none of us backs down.

“Let them try,” Kaden says. “The Family’s legacy has always come with a battle.”

Blake puts his arm around my shoulder, pulling me to his side, and everything in me calms. He must wield some magic I stand no chance of fighting off.

“I want to show you something,” Blake says, kissing the top of my head.

Giddiness spreads through me as we get into his car, and he drives down a small road through the forest. When he parks and gets out, I follow him, inhaling the fresh scent of moss and pine while the icy air tickles my nostrils.

He grabs my hand, tugging me to him. In his arms, I feel like nothing bad could happen to me.

We keep walking when I ask, “Where are we going?”

“To my place.”

Just then, I spot a wooden and glass house tucked in the middle of a meadow.It has a lodge-like design that seamlessly blends luxury with nature. Floor-to-ceiling windows wrap around the entire house, while rich, polished wood makes up the rest, giving it the appearance of being part of the forest. A tranquil pond nearby adds to the home’s fairy-tale charm, and with a thin layer of snow covering the ground, it appears like a magical realm.

He scratches his neck, watching me intently. “Do you like it?”

“It’s amazing.”

“No one is allowed here. I wanted something just for myself.”

“Why are you sharing it with me, then?” I whisper.

He sits down on the top stair of the porch, elbows on his thighs.

“Who else would I share it with, if not you?”

“That’s a question, not an answer,” I say.

“Come on, let’s go inside.”

As soon as we step through the door, I’m struck by the interior. It’s a spectacular blend of a traditional lodge aesthetic with a modern twist: polished floors, hardwood columns and arches mixed with modern touches like black lighting and a green sofa and rug. The design suits him perfectly. The open-concept layout allows me to see the spacious dark brown kitchen—a dream come true for a culinary enthusiast like me. I love how the windows span the entire area, offering the perfect view of the forest from every angle.

“The glass is double-glazed and bulletproof.”

“Are you kidnapping me? Because I would gladly live here of my own free will.”

“Don’t give me any ideas,” he grins, but that dark undertone simmers just beneath the surface.

“What are you going to do to me now?”

“Fuck, Mia.”

He grabs me by my neck and pulls me onto his lap on the sofa. With his palms on my ass, I grind against him on pure instinct. He’s hard, and I am needy––a combination that will get me fucked.

With his fingers digging into my ass cheeks, I nibble on his earlobe. A shudder rocks through him, and it gives me an incredible surge of power to see him so affected by me.

His arm snakes up the front of my body, and he holds me by my throat, looking me straight in the eyes.

“If we’re doing this, you’re mine. No more fucking dates, no more kissing anyone other than me.”

“That was on you. The only guy I ever wanted to kiss was you.”

“Good.”

“But are you mine, Blake?”

---