Page 140 of The Code of You

He looked at me. "It’s a promise.”

My heart beat faster. I could picture it: a small house on the beach, just us, forever. Free.

"You know what?” I tilted my head. "I forgive you for almost killing me with the load of that crane.”

He chuckled. A sound that was new, coming from him. "I’m glad.”

"Your emotions just got the better of you. Happens to anyone. Well, not everyone has superhuman powers, but still.”

"About that…” He scratched his neck. The gesture made him seem surprisingly human. "There’s one thing I haven’t told you yet. I might have almost caused World War Three between Russia and the U.S. that one time.”

My mouth fell open. "You did what?”

"I lost control for a second and ended up inside both countries’ nuclear warning systems, so each side thought the other had launched first. When the misunderstanding was resolved, they kept quiet about the whole thing so as not to cause global panic. They’re trying to figure out which hacker group was behind it to this day.”

My eyes widened. "Neo…”

"I was upset because you matched with someone on Tinder that day.”

Tinder? I searched my memory. It took me a second before it clicked. The last guy I’d matched with on the app. That had been in mid-October. The match had disappeared after a few minutes. I just thought he had changed his mind.

"Neo! You can’t end civilization every time you’re upset.”

"Watch me.”

I hit his chest as if I was scolding him for making a bad joke instead of almost causing the apocalypse. I tried to stop myself from laughing, but I couldn’t. A couple of months ago, this news would have scared me to death. Now, I found it… endearing. Oh my god, I was in too deep.

"Come,” he said. "You need to eat.”

My stomach felt strangely light. I nodded. "I want to wash up first.”

As we went inside, his hand rested at the small of my back, burning through the fabric of my shirt. I was full of anticipation for a whole life with him. The two of us on a remote island, where he could fuck me whenever he wanted.

The bathroom was small. An old mirror above the sink showed me my face. The swelling and bruises were still visible. And yet there was a deep peace in my expression. I belonged to him now. Completely. There was no way back. For the first time in my life, something felt right.

A bucket of water stood beside the bathtub. I took a washcloth and dipped it in. Still warm. Neo must have heated it just in case I woke up.

I washed the last few days off my skin. In the mirror, I looked at the fading bruises across my ribs. When I pressed the cloth against them, I winced. On my arm I noticed a tiny cut. Strange. I didn’t remember them hurting me there.

I pulled on the fresh clothes Neo had laid out for me. Jeans and a thin sweater.

He was already waiting at the kitchen table. Bread, butter, and honey were laid out. A cup of tea steaming. I sat and spread honey on a slice of bread. The honey ran sweetly down my throat. With every bite, something in me came back.

"Here.” Neo held out a white pill. "Painkiller. I have plans for you today.”

My mouth fell open. I stared at his hand.

"What?” A dark smile pulled at the corners of his mouth. "Did you think I’d gone tame? I gave you the choice, but you chose to let me destroy you.”

The familiar heat spread between my legs immediately. I didn’t want him tame. I wanted him exactly like this. I took the pill carefully and washed it down with tea. Anticipation burned low in me.

I spread another slice of bread with honey. Then I slowly, thoroughly licked the spoon, watching him the whole time. His pupils dilated. His hands closed into fists. His jaw locked, as if fighting the urge to rip the spoon from my hand and throw me onto the table.

"Little tease,” he growled. His voice had gone rough. "You’re playing with fire.” But he didn’t move. Not yet. He was enjoying watching me provoke him.

I set the spoon down and slipped my finger into my mouth, slowly sucking the honey off, holding his gaze.

"Enough.” He stood. "I know something better you can do with that mouth.”