Page 147 of Bake the Town Red

“She did more than just look.” My eyebrows lower when I remember a conversation Tyler obviously doesn’t. I should be happy except I see it playing out like a movie. And now I’m furious. “I stalked you over some of my lunch breaks and after work. You went grocery shopping a couple of times and she was right outside the building. Talking to you. Arching her back to push her tits up. Fucking giggling. She hit on you when you were mine. You are mine.”

“Swear to G—” Tyler’s fingers dig into my flesh. “—Satan. I don’t remember any of that. Nothing.”

“Doesn’t matter. I’m not letting her go,” I grit out.

“I’d never ask you to do that. You want this, and that means I want this too. Always.” His fury has wetness pooling between my thighs. “We’re in this together. I trust you.”

“We,” I repeat, my voice dreamy.

“Yes,we. Always fucking we.” A deep breath and, “Also, no more touching other men’s dicks. No flirting. Even if it’s for baiting them.”

“Okay.” Agreeing comes easily to me. I have a hundred other methods to lure and kill people. Dozens of them.

My gaze darts to the woman on the chair. Rita’s hair hangs down her back. Her gorgeous breasts stretch the fabric of her copper-colored sweatshirt. She’s beautiful. Smart, as well. A lawyer. She probably has her shit together.

“She would’ve been a good partner.” It’s a bastard move, to test Tyler. Except the jealousy inside me demands I make sure this woman isn’t what he wishes for. “A great wife.”

“Maybe. To anyone else.” Tyler places a finger below my chin, tipping it up. “I need your crazy. Your fire. Everything that you are, I need it like air. I’ll die without it. There’s no one else.”

“You aced it.” I rise on my toes and bite his chin.

Tyler chuckles. He understands me.

“W-where am I?” A confused mumble reaches from behind me. “Tyler? What’s going on?”

He cuts his gaze to her, glowering at the other woman. “You upset my girlfriend.”

Girlfriend.My cheeks hurt from smiling so wide.

“She decided you deserve a punishment for flirting with me.” Tyler looks at me when he says those things. “So that’s what you’re getting.”

“Are you serious?” The same familiar rattling sound. Everyone, without fail, always tests how tight I tie them. Spoiler alert—very tight. “Is this a joke? Some sick trick or treat shit?”

“Afraid not.” The tarp swishes when I swirl to face Rita. Tyler’s hand slips to my neck, his fingers curling in a possessive grip. “I don’t like you. You’re going to die.”

The color disappears from her cheeks. Rita turns quiet, her eyes bouncing between Ty and me. I catch the moment realization strikes. The instant she understands this isn’t some cruel joke. This is the real thing.

Her mouth gapes. Chest expands.

Normally, I’d have marveled at her screams. Would’ve stood by, soaking in the terror bleeding from her.

As it stands, I can’t allow that. There’s a hole in the wall. Someone might hear her. Come for her help.

Not gonna happen.

Before a singleAhh!leaves her lips, I round the chair, standing behind her. My hand clamps on her mouth, muffling her scream.

“Oh, hush now.” I clench my fingers on her cheeks. Tyler watches, a grin spreading across his beautiful face. “You’re going to die here. Resisting us won’t help. Screaming won’t either. The only screams Tyler gets off on are mine.”

She screams anyway.

Tyler narrows his eyes.What’s next?

“I don’t want you to touch her,” I repeat. My fangs peek out when I snarl. “So you’re in charge of the duct tape. Go get it.”

Tyler circles Rita until he stands at my side. He doesn’t have to tip my chin up for me to look at him. His presence commands that I do it. “Go get it…?”

My lips relax, my snarl is gone. His authority softens the harsh parts of me. I have someone to carry the weight of it.

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