Page 81 of Taming Seraphine

He smirks. “You make a great little prep chef.”

A smile tugs at the corners of my lips, and I shuffle on my feet. No one apart from Bianca has ever acknowledged my knife skills before, even though I took years of cooking classes at that preppy private school.

“Come.” Leroi steps into the balcony. “I’ve made enough for both of us.”

He sets the skillet on the table and heaps a large portion of frittata and steak on my plate, while I pour the juice. With the delicious aromas floating around us and the sun warming my skin, it feels like I’m part of a family. A twisted family of killers, but it’s still a hundred times better than what I had before.

“I thought about what you asked for last night,” he says.

My mind dials back to our conversation. “About Gabriel?”

He shakes his head. “Miko is still searching. He’s ruled out Beaumont Central and Simon’s Memorial Hospital and is casting his search wider.”

“Oh.”

I take a bite of steak and find it seasoned to perfection. Maybe Leroi’s about to let me sleep in his room?

“You said you wanted more freedom.”

My shoulders sag. “I’m not moving to the apartment next door.”

“Not that,” he says. “Now that you’ve changed your appearance, there’s nothing stopping you from going out and exploring the city on your own.”

I choke on my mouthful of steak and grab a glass of juice to wash it down. Leroi gives me a gentle pat on the back.

“Really? I can leave anytime I want?” I ask.

His eyes soften. “Just be careful not to carry out any revenge missions. You may still be a target.”

I give him an eager nod, not quite believing he’ll let me explore the outside world. As soon as I finish eating, I rush to the bedroom, jump in the shower, and sift through my new clothes. I settle for a pair of leggings and a pink t-shirt that no longer suit my new coloring. After putting on the contact lenses the way Farfalla taught me, I slip on a pair of sneakers and step out.

Leroi is already waiting for me by the door.

My steps falter. “Are you coming with me?”

He raises a shoulder. “You’re going to need money. I thought I’d tag along until you get your own card.”

I give him a shy smile and a nod. This almost feels like a date. I try to push that thought away, but the prospect of walking around town with Leroi still makes my heart race.

He holds open the front door and gestures for me to step out.

“Um...” I clear my throat and smooth back a lock of hair. “Will there be a reward if I don’t kill anyone?”

He quirks a brow, the corners of his lips lifting. “What would you like?”

“A kiss,” I rasp.

“Why?”

Butterflies flutter in my stomach, and my gaze lingers on his lips. Kissing was part of my training. It was a way to distract a man before injecting him with poison, but it always turned my stomach. A kiss with Leroi would be different. Leroi would take his time and make sure I enjoyed it.

“There weren’t any boys at my prep school and Dad wouldn’t let me date.” I shrug. “I just want to know what it would be like to be kissed by someone I liked.”

His face falls. “That’s not on the table, Seraphine.”

My cheeks flush, and I duck my head, my insides squirming. What was I thinking? Of course he doesn’t want to kiss a girl like me. I’m just an assassin who had to seduce men to stay alive. He’s probably still freaked out by that bastard I castrated.

“Sorry,” I mumble, my gaze fixed on my feet.

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