Page 92 of Heroes & Hitmen
I’m getting way too used to this. Waking up wrapped around her, breathing in her freesia and vanilla scent, pretending for a few quiet hours each morning that the world isn’t a flaming shitstorm and we’re not living on a clock that’s about to run out. In this bed, she lets her armor slip. No snapping, no power plays. Just her. Just us. And if I could bottle that peace up and drink it straight, I would.
But I can’t. Because last night I came home and found her shaken to her core, reminding me exactly why she can’t stay here. Why I have to get her out, and why I can’t go with her.
We’re living on borrowed time, and every second ticks louder than the last.
I slide my hand up beneath the hem of her silk cami, cupping one of her perfect tits as I nuzzle into the curve of her neck. Her scent curls around me like smoke and my wolf stirs, hungry and possessive.
Miley hums sweetly, pushing her ass back against my cock andmaking it twitch with interest. I flick my thumb over her nipple and press a lazy kiss to her shoulder, pulsing my hips.
My phone buzzes again, loud and persistent.
“Don’t you need to get that?” she rasps, voice thick with sleep.
“Nah,” I murmur, still shamelessly grinding against her. “It can wait.”
I give her nipple a light pinch, coaxing a gasp from her lips. She arches into me, then promptly ruins the moment when she asks, “But what if it’s Alpha?”
I freeze.
Yep, the thought of her father is definitely a boner killer.
“We don’t need to give him any more reasons to keep us under a microscope,” she mumbles, rolling over to face me. Her fingertips brush over the sharp edge of my jaw with surprising tenderness, violet-grey eyes locking with mine. “Just check it.”
I groan dramatically, flopping onto my back and reaching over to paw for my phone on the nightstand. I swipe it up and the screen illuminates like the wrath of god, momentarily blinding me. I squint at it, blinking through the assault on my eyeballs.
All caps. Flagged urgent.
Fucking fantastic.
I open the message, skimming the job assignment. It’s nothing out of the ordinary– just another bullshit task meant to remind me who’s got their boot on my neck.
I keep scrolling through the details, and when I hit the final line, my blood pressure spikes.
PROTECTION DETAIL – ELIAS BURKE
You’vegotto be fucking kidding me.
Detroit’s finest, in town right before the full moon. This can’t be a coincidence. Alpha’s been jerking my chain nonstop, but dragging Burke back into the picture? That’s next-level petty. The kind of chess move that tells me he’s not just playing the game– he’s gunning for checkmate.
I thumb off the screen and toss my phone back onto the nightstand, half tempted to smash it into oblivion. My wolf’s already pacing, hackles up. But I’ve got to stay sharp, clean, obedient– at least for another couple weeks. Long enough to pull of Miley’s escape plan.
Which means today, I get to play bodyguard for the asshole who was supposed to claim her.
“What is it?” she asks quietly, her warm palm landing on my arm.
I drag myself upright, running a hand through my hair. “Protection detail. I’ve gotta be in the lobby in ten.”
I don’t tell her who I’m babysitting. No point in ruining both our mornings.
Her brows pinch, lips drawing into a frown. “He’s doing this on purpose.”
I reach over and smooth the crease between her eyes, forcing a smile. “I know. But it’ll take more than a shitty assignment to break me.” Leaning in, I plant a kiss on the corner of her mouth. “Go back to sleep, sweetheart. I’ll see you later.”
“Don’t kill anyone,” she mumbles.
“No promises,” I grin.
Because there’s a certain someone I’d really, really like to kill today.
