Page 34 of XO Karma

I reach out, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, and she freezes. “That pretty mind of yours is swirling with questions.” She nibbles on her lower lip, and I swipe my thumb across, releasing it. Her warm breath hits my hand in a way that has my dick jumping. “Ask me anything.”

“Anything?” Her brow cocks, stare intense.

I nod as a beat of silence passes between us, and then her eyes lock with mine. “Why do you do it?”

“Do what?”

“Kill.” If only she knew what a loaded question that was.

“I only kill people who deserve it,” I say, releasing my touch on her, and walk across the room to take a seat on the edge of the bed.

“And Violet deserved it?” she presses, anguish flooding her features.

“Violet?”

“You killed her.” Her body trembles. Who the actual hell is Violet?

“I know the name of every person I’ve killed. There’s never been a Violet.”

Her jaw ticks. “You’re lying,” she grits out, and I shake my head. “She’s dead. And you killed her.”

My brows furrow. “I’m not lying.”

But I am intrigued. Is this why she’s been following me? Do we have a case of mistaken murderer?

“Why should I believe you?” She narrows her eyes, face flushed. Her grip on the dagger is so incredibly tight that her knuckles turn white. My gaze wanders back to her beautifully furious expression.

“You’re hot when you’re mad,” slips out of my mouth, and I can’t deny the rush I get from the look of surprise on her face as she rapidly blinks away the compliment.

“Excuse me?” Her reddened cheeks and tight jaw only heighten her hotness.

“I said…” My knees split in invitation. Half teasing. Half hoping. Half wondering if she might be as unhinged as I am. “You’re hot when you’re mad.”

“Are you… hitting on me?” Her words drip in disbelief, voice rising on octave. “I’m sitting here accusing you of murder, and you’re hitting on me?”

“I’m sorry.” I’m not. “It’s just, I’ve been watching you for weeks and wondering what you smell like.” My eyes fall to her lips. “What you taste like.” She narrows her eyes again, nose scrunching. “Oh my god, I am not a cannibal.”

“Then you should probably stop using words like ‘eat’ and ‘taste.’” She takes a step closer, and given she has a weapon and mine’s across the room, I should feel worried. But I’m not. Not even a little bit. “It’s a bit misleading.” Maybe I’m coming on strong, but she’s cute when she’s flustered. And it’s torture sitting here and pretending I don’t know exactly what she sounds like when she falls apart with her fingers between her thighs. “Well?!”

Shoving away the inappropriate thoughts, I stand to my full height, towering over her. “You want to know why I killed that guy?” I ask, and she nods. “He’s been arrested for assault and rape of a minor in fourteen states. Not one conviction.”

Her head rears back. “How is that possible?”

“Money. Power. Connections.”

“Who was he?” Her voice is almost a whisper.

“Low-level politician, but valuable enough to be worth more out of prison than in… You don’t have to believe me, but you’ll read all about it in the morning paper.”

“Is the reporting really unbiased if you write about your own kills?” she snarks, and my brows pull together.

“I always write the truth.”

She steps towards me, and I retreat, falling to sit on the edge of the bed once more. “Is that so?”

“Yes.”

Lily’s blue eyes sweep my body, and if I didn’t know better, I’d say she was checking me out. Her gaze finally returns to mine, and my breathing halts. She’s so close I could just… She freezes as I tuck hair behind her ear once more.