Page 8 of The Heart of Midnight

Fuck, the way that has me practically melting onto my couch. “I know. Now that he’s seen me and I fit his usual type, I’mworried he’ll come after me at work. He might not know my address yet, but he knows my job and my car.”

Scar tugs his long sleeves up to his elbows and leans forward. “So from now on, you’ll ride with me. You don’t enter or leave that office building without me. Do you have any vacation time saved up?”

“A little,” I say with a shrug. “I work from home the rest of the week, but Monday I’d have to go back in unless I used some. What are you thinking?” I ask curiously, because so far it sounds like I’m about to be a huge burden on his life.

“It might be a good idea for you to steer clear of the office for a while,” he says quietly. “Just until Muerte moves on.”

Nodding, I reach over and grab a pillow to hug so I keep my hands to myself. “Yeah, maybe I should. Wonder if some other poor unfortunate soul took my place tonight.”

“That sounds like a them problem. Your business is keeping yourself safe, do you understand?”

That makes me smile again. “Careful, Scar. It sounds like you want me to stick around a little longer. Don’t I annoy you yet?”

“Not at all. In fact, you’re about the only person alive who doesn’t annoy the life out of me,” he laughs. “So yes. Stick around. Let some other poor soul feed Muerte’s fantasies.”

“If you insist.” Talking with him is as easy as it’s always been, and suddenly I’m not as worried about the murderer lurking out in the dark. “I know I was joking before, but I’m going to really ask this time. Would it be weird if I gave you my spare key? I don’t really feel safe with it being under the welcome mat anymore, and It’d be nice knowing you could get in here easily if I needed you.”

He shifts a little, almost nervously. “Of course. I was actually going to ask you something kind of equally weird but didn’t want to sound like a creep.”

“You could never be a creep,” I assure him. “Lay it on me.”

“I want you to let me put cameras in here and outside. Sometimes just knowing a place has security cameras will deter criminals, and this way, you’ll have proof if someone comes sniffing around.”

His eyes look darker than usual, almost wild. It’s so intense that I feel myself squirm and squeeze that pillow into myself. “Um... yeah, okay. That could help. How will it work? Will I be able to check the feed from my cell phone?”

“Yes. Or your laptop, whichever.”

I nod, my eyes dropping to pick at a string. “And would you have access to that feed?”

“Only the exterior cameras,” he assures me. “I won’t invade your privacy.”

It’s crazy that I honestly don’t care either way. It’d be insanely arousing to know he’s watching me in my own home, but it might be a little mortifying if he catches me touching myself or something, so I keep my mouth shut about it. “Cool. Thanks. How much would that be? It sounds expensive, but I have a little in savings that should hopefully cover it.”

“Don’t worry about it. I uh... already have a few that I never bothered to put up at my own place. I’ll just use those.”

And there he is shining all his good light onto me again. It’d be blinding if it wasn’t so addicting. “Thank you. Seriously, thank you for everything. If you weren’t here I’d have to ask Cole across the street for help, and he’s got noodle arms,” I joke, making him scrunch up his nose.

“Ew. Cole? That guy? Please tell me he’s not your type.”

“Not at all,” I chuckle. “Is that your way of asking if you’re my type?”

His eyes flick down to my lips. “What if it is?”

I bite my bottom one, needing to do something — anything — to keep myself from climbing on top of him. “You’ve got the stature of a god and a face to match, and believe it or not you’rethe only person alive who makes me feel safe. If you’re asking, the answer is yes. You’re absolutely my type. I’d imagine you’re probably everyone’s type.”

The tiniest little smirk plays across his lips. “I wouldn’t know, I don’t pay attention to anyone but you.”

Why the hell haven’t we done anything about this palpable tension between us? He sees me, and I see him, yet there’s a distance here I’m struggling to understand. It takes everything not to straddle his lap. “Fuck,” I breathe. “That smirk is sinful, you know that right?”

“Sorry,” he teases. “I can’t seem to turn it off.” Yet his eyes are on the door now like he can’t wait to get away from me, and I don’t know what the hell to do with that.

He wants me, I want him, but apparently it’s not the time yet... and I won’t push him. He’s done enough for me, so I guess I can go a little while longer not knowing how his cock feels. What a shame. “I’ll grab that key for you and let you go. I’m sure you want to go relax after work.” Not babysit me. I get up to go grab it from under the mat, then hand it over to him in the doorway. “Thanks for everything, Scarcello.”

“You know you can call me anytime, right? I’ll come over first thing in the morning to get those cameras hooked up, but I’m only a few feet away if you need me before then.”

“I know,” I say with a smile, reaching out to grip his arm before making my way inside.

I lock the door knowing he won’t leave until he hears it, and then slump against it. I don’t know what the hell is brewing between us, but I’m going to need him to own every inch of my body soon or I might just die. Jeez, that was dramatic. At least no one can hear my crazy thoughts but me.

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