AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I didn’t know whether to laugh in Antoinette’s face or scowl at Kaden for how he’d implied I was a “this” to be dealt with.
Every line in her body seemed to stiffen as she said, “If you think that’s a good idea.”
Kaden had already moved his attention to Dice and Cookie. “Don’t forget to swing by and get that delivery in the morning if I run late.” He turned around with me in his arms, giving Antoinette a nod. “Sorry about this. I’ll talk to you tomorrow,” he said, and then began walking with me.
I glanced over his shoulder, seeing Cookie and Dice disappear into the outpost door. Antionette watched us walk away, her eyes glued to me. There was pure hatred shining there, as if her single wish at that moment was my death, and not a clean one, either. Maybe something long and drawn out, with plenty of torture before the end.
I giggled again before turning my attention to the people passing us, nodding.
“Should I pretend to be dead again?” I asked, remembering the first time he’d carried me to his place.
“It’s too late after tonight. Everyone already knows who you are.” I could feel the muscles in his shoulders tense.
“Oh.”
He carried me up the steps and then kicked closed the door to his home, a place that was getting to be almost as familiar as the outpost.
“You can’t afford to get like this in public,” he said as he carried me upstairs.
I groaned. Here came the lecture and rules. “I didn’t do it on purpose.”
“You need to be more careful, be more aware of your surroundings here. This isn’t Topside,” he said, and then dropped me onto the bed in the guest room.
“Do you know how bossy you are? It’s very irritating,” I said, pushing up and then wobbling to my feet.
“I have a vague idea.” He dug in a dresser drawer and pulled out one of his t-shirts that I’d used last time I was here, as if he’d known I’d be back.
“Maybe you should try to work on that,” I said.
“Why would I do that? It doesn’t bother me,” he said, dropping the shirt next to me on the bed.
“Well, you’re not the boss of me, just so you know.” I got off the bed.
“Actually, I am, and I’m telling you to watch yourself, especially around Alaric.”
“Why? I like him. I think he’snice.Andcute, too,” I said, just so he knew he wasn’t the only attractive tinker around.
“Billie, you have no idea what you’re doing. Don’t push me on this.”
He wanted to lay down the law? I didn’t think so. I wasn’t here to take his orders. I’d do what I wanted. I smiled and thenliterallypushed him. Or tried. The attempt was there, even if it threw me more off balance than him.
“Time for bed.” He pushed me slightly, and I landed back on the bed.
I went to get up again but was thwarted by a hand on my shoulder. “You’re just mad because you didn’t want me to come to your stinking party.”
“I didn’t want you to come because I didn’t think you were ready to deal with all of them. Clearly you weren’t.” He knelt down and pulled off my shoes before grabbing my legs and swinging them onto the bed.
I leaned up on my forearms, the jacket falling off one shoulder. “You won’t let me have any fun. You were mean to Alaric because he likes me. You just want to keep me locked away, slaving over whatever you want.”
His gaze flickered down to the flesh of my shoulder and the swell of my breast peeking out right above it.
“Maybe you’re right. Maybe I don’t want you to have fun with him.” His attention shifted to my lips and stayed there. My breath froze in my chest, nearly burning. It felt like we were on the edge of something I couldn’t quite put into words. Or something that didn’t need words at all.
“Why is that?” I asked, taunting him.
“It doesn’t matter why,” he said. He knelt on the bed, our gazes fixed on each other as he leaned over me. My lungs ceased to function as he paused like that for a second. Then he pulled the corner of the blanket, wrapping it over me.
He brushed the hair from my face, his gaze dropping to my lips for another second. “Go to sleep, Billie.”
