Page 12 of Dark Obsession
“I’ll deal with your brother.”
“If you hurt him…” she pauses, “… again. I will never talk to you again, Salem. I mean it. He’s not perfect, but he’s the only family I have left. He’s my pack.”
“I’m your pack now,” I vow, reaching out and touching her hand. “Have you finished yelling at me? Because I’m going to get us something to eat, and then I thought we could shift and go for a run together.”
I don’t know how to cook many things. I pretty much live off steak, so I can make her one of those with a salad. I have a vegetable garden in the backyard, one that Saylor planted and has grown wild.
“I’m done for now,” she replies curtly, tapping her foot. “And I am hungry. What are we having?”
“Steak?”
She grins. “Yeah, that sounds good. And then we can go for a run.”
“Don’t think about trying to run away when we shift. My wolf will like it,” I warn with a grin. “Now sit back here and relax while I get everything ready.”
I head into the kitchen. “Salem, don’t you leave me here.”
Technically, I could let her go. I don’t think she could break through my wards. But right now, I only need a few minutes of silence to think while I prepare food to feed my woman.
“The food is delicious,” she praises, chewing thoughtfully. Her plate is almost empty, and I gave her the same-size serving as mine. I swell with pride at providing for her and seeing her eat food I made with my own hands.
“Good,” I rasp, watching her every move.
Once we’re both done, I clean up and then carry her back to my room, snapping the chains back on her. She doesn’t even fight this time. Instead, she studies me so intensely, her brow furrows.
“I can’t do this with you, Salem. I’m sorry,” she says, running her fingers through her long red hair. “I’m not like you. I’ve never hurt a person in my life. I don’t even kill bugs. And you? You’re an assassin.”
“I was,” I admit, stretching my legs out in front of me. “They kicked me out of the academy…” I pause. “I was a little too good for my job.”
She stops her pacing and turns to face me. “You were too good at killing?”
I nod. There’s no point in lying to her. I am who I am, and I’m not going to change. I don’t expect her to change, either.
“You’re a killer,” she mutters.
“Opposites attract,” I fire back. “You’re gentle, and I can protect that. Nothing will touch you, Peach. Ever.”
“I don’t need protection,” she replies, but her eyes have softened. They are the prettiest shade of green I’ve ever seen, and I could look at them all day. They’re just like the stone in the ring I gave her.
“Everyone needs protection, especially the innocent.”
“My brother was innocent,” she fires back, scowling at me. Her hands go on her hips, and it’s fucking cute.
“Your brother is a pain in the ass who hangs out at a strip club.”
Her mouth opens and closes. “He says he likes the chicken wings there.”
My lip twitches. “I’m far from perfect, Peach, but I’m yours.”
She puffs out a sigh and lies back on the bed.
I wonder how she’s going to react when she finds out I’ll be sleeping next to her.
Chapter 6
Peach
“What do you think you’re doing?” I ask Salem as he comes out of the bathroom in nothing but a towel.
