Page 99 of When Death Whispers

I pull back slowly, breath shallow.

The silence that follows is heavy and beautiful.

Hudson exhales, stunned. Jenna stares, jaw slack. And I?

I finally feel a little better. Because whatever that was… It wasn’t just for her.

It was for me, too.

I claimed him and there’s no taking it back now.

“Parker,” he murmurs, voice lower now. Thicker. Still teasing—but heavier. “Was that jealousy?”

He reaches out, brushing the loose strands of hair escaping my ponytail behind my ear—and I lean into the touch.

Instinct. Weakness. Want.

Annnd we’re at the bakery. And Jenna is still staring.

No. Nope.Abort.

I let go of his apron like it burned me and spin toward the counter. “Nope,” I say, a little too fast. I grab the nearest tray of dough like it might save me. “Just making an observation. You’re free to flirt with whoever you want.”

Behind me, the smug bastard chuckles. “Mm. You sure about that?”

He steps in—waytoo close. His breath brushes the back of my neck, warm and intentional.

I freeze.

I know that tone. That weight. That shift in the air.

He’s not letting this go.

Thankfully, Jenna finally picks up on the very obviousleaveenergy radiating from every inch of this conversation. She mutters something about loading the front counter and disappears.

But Hudson doesn’t move.

He leans in closer, lips nearly grazing the shell of my ear.

“Didn’t think you were the possessive type, Silver,” he murmurs, voice like silk dragged over a blade.

I am going to murder him.

Right here. In the bakery. With a goddamn bread hook.

“I’m not,” I grit out, slamming a bag of flour onto the counter harder than necessary.

“Sure,” he says, utterly unfazed. “Could’ve fooled me.”

I whip around, ready to bite back—but he’s right there. Close. Smirking. Looking at me like I just handed him the win. His eyes flick to my mouth, and my pulse stutters.

I want to shove him.

I want to kiss him again.

I want to?—

“You’re mine.”

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