Page 108 of The Bonds of Indigo

She better get the fuck over it, because this is the tame version of me.

“Kayn… please stop looking at me.”

“Nah.” I shift the truck into drive. “You’ll have to gouge my eyes out, and I don’t think you want to do that while I’m driving.”

The tires splash as I get us onto the rain-slicked road.

I lean back and rest my right arm across the bench seat. My fingertips hover inches from her thigh. So close my hand practically buzzes with restraint.

It’s ridiculous how hard it is not to touch her.

A soft vibration thrums through the bond, and when I glance over, she’s staring at my hand.

“Cold?” The heater’s cranked as high as it’ll go, but the goosebumps peppering her arms say otherwise.

“Shut… up.”

“You could’ve told me to grab the bags. I would’ve gotten wet for you.”

Her legs clamp together, and she makes a little strangled sound. “Do you have no filter?”

“Not particularly. But seriously, Amarah. Are you cold?”

“I’ll warm up quickly. Don’t worry about it.”

“Alright.”

I lean over, wrap my hand around her thigh—over the shirt—and yank her.

“KAYN!”

The bench seat is slick from the rain she dragged in, so she slides easily into the middle. I let go, redirect every vent to blast heat straight at her, then loop my arm around her shoulders.

“I’m pretty hot⁠—”

“Ugh, you’re so full of yourself!”

I have to bite back a laugh. Crashing the truck because I’m too entertained by her would be stupid right now.

She shifts, but doesn’t pull away. Instead she tucks her shoulder beneath my arm, small and tense, as her hands stay glued together in her lap. She doesn’t lean on me, but I can feel the tiniest drift—her head inching closer, like gravity’s doing the persuading.

“Better?” I ask.

“Wouldn’t be in this situation if you were a gentleman who got the bags before it rained.”

I’m not going to apologize.

Because this—her beside me, under my arm, breathing my air—is the best possible outcome.

My heart, slow and useless at one beat a minute, stutters, then picks up to one every couple of seconds.

And I don’t even bother to hide how good that feels.

“But yes…” I glance down. Her head is pointed straight ahead, stiff, pretending my arm isn’t around her. “I’m better.”

Now that I’ve got her tucked against my side, time to begin my master plan: getting to know this little slayer.

“So—”