Page 236 of Kiss the Villain

Both—and I meanboth—Kayden’s and Kill’s eyes zero in on her hand on my arm.

I can’t help the smile that creeps up my mouth.

Kayden has been generally unruffled by all of the questioning, taking a few bites of food and complimenting my mom and Glyn, but just her hand on my arm is darkening his gray eyes, the black flecks turning sharper.

He catches me smiling at him, and he squints the slightest bit. Which is his silent, “Watch it.” Or, “Behave.” Or, “Don’t be a brat.”

God, I love how alive he looks right now.

The color has slowly returned to his gorgeous face, a warm flush that softens the harshness from when he was shot. The cut lines of his stubbled jaw are even more prominent now, sharper and alive.

The smooth lines of his tailored shirt are so tight around his biceps and chest, it feels like if he takes a bigger breath, he might burst out of it.

My gaze shifts unwillingly to his hands gripping the fork and knife, the veins along his fingers stretching and flexing with each movement. They look so strong, an urge fills me to reach out, to touch them, to feel that pulse beneath my fingertips.

I think I’m a lost addict at this point. I spent a few minutes not touching him, and I feel as if something is missing.

He only slides his gaze to Kill when Glyn removes her hand and goes back to eating, completely unaware of the small moment of camaraderie Kill and Kayden just shared.

“He’s neither young nor a boy, he’s your older brother,” Kayden says with a firm but confident edge. “And no, I couldn’t just go for someone else, so while I respect all your objections and your roles in his life, I’m here to stay, and none of you can change that.”

His words burn the fire he’s been igniting in my chest. I think it’s the light he’s bringing into my life, but, anyway, no matter what it is, I can’t have the flames go out.

Ever.

“Not if you end up in a little freak accident,” Kill muses while stabbing his steak, making a show of gliding the piece of meat through the blood, because, of course, his steak is rare.

“That won’t stop me.” Kayden’s lips curve in a small smile. “I assure you.”

Not sure if they believe him, but I do, wholeheartedly. I won’t say I’m a saint or that I’ve stopped being a petulant jealous fool, but over these past few months, I’ve become categorically sure of the feelings he has for me.

Like, no kidding. Kayden’s entire confident and untouchable demeanor cracks when he sees the smallest injury on my body. The other day, I accidentally cut myself with a knife while I was cooking, and he had this frightened look in his eyes while he sucked the blood.

I was more hard than anything, really. The feeling of my fingers in his wet, hot mouth kind of made it impossible to concentrate. But I could see that he was apprehensive about my being hurt in any shape or form. He said he couldn’t get the sight of my blood out of his mind, and that he never wanted to see it again.

And I relate to that.

I still have nightmares about all the blood that escaped him when he was shot.

Kill opens his mouth, to threaten him again, no doubt, while Grandpa and Dad seem content with him doing so, but I pointedly glare at him. “Don’t you dare play that game. Cut it out.”

“I’m just laying some ground rules. Like no one will find his body if he ever makes you bleed again.”

I smile at Glyn. “He shouldn’t threaten others at a family dinner, don’t you think, Glyn?”

“Absolutely.” She gives him a look. “Stop it.”

He merely releases a grumble, and I flash him a grin. He knows Glyn and I are friends, and she always puts a leash on that side of him, and he despises that.

Good thing he’ll never be friends with Kayden and can’t pull it off. Kayden is not able to be charmed, and Kill kind of dislikes him.

Win-win for me.

“He’s not my family,” Grandpa says with a glare. “I still don’t approve.”

“Alex, please.” Mom speaks in a gentle tone. “I love and respect you and I’m glad my sons have you in their lives, but with all due respect, your approval or the lack thereof doesn’t matter. This applies to you, too, Ash and Kill.” She gives them a pointed look. “Gareth chose Kayden, and I know it seems odd from the outside looking in due to the age gap and whatnot, but you’ve seen them together throughout the night. I didn’t notice any age difference or genders, I just saw two people in love. I saw my son smile genuinely and often for the first time in a long time. I’d rather my son be happy than focus on what irrelevant society or others think. So I’ll be taking real offense to anyone threatening my son’s man. Are we clear?”

Dad and Kill go quiet at that. Of course they would. Dad kind of worships her, and Kill is a mama’s boy. Grandpa grumbles under his breath, but he doesn’t say anything out loud.

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