Page 107 of Pistols & Peonies

Like this is normal.

“Yeah,” I admit wryly, shoving another bite of noodles in my mouth.

She studies me for half a second longer, then stabs her chopsticks into the carton and sets it down beside her. “Wanna just fuck instead?”

I nearly choke on the bite I’m chewing.

Not the direction I expected this conversation to go, but I’ll never turn down an invitation like that. Not when it comes to her, and especially not when being inside her has rapidly become my favorite pastime.

I drop my carton onto the counter and slide off in one smooth motion, closing the distance between us in two strides.

My arm hooks around her waist, pulling her to the edge of the counter, her legs immediately wrapping around my hips like she’s been waiting for it. My other hand slides into her hair at the nape of her neck, gripping just enough to tilt her head back before I drag her into a kiss.

She crashes into me eagerly, arms looping around my neck as she grinds against me, kissing me back just as hard.

Then she pulls away, breathless, blue eyes locked on mine. “Take me to bed, Commander,” she pants.

I don’t waste another second.

I scoop her up easily, her arms and legs tightening around me as I carry her out of the kitchen, leaving the abandoned takeout boxes sitting open on the counter.

“You’re gonna get it, mate,” I growl, palming her ass as I stride down the hall.

She laughs– a bright, reckless sound that echoes off the walls.

And just like that, every lingering worry from the day disappears.

There’s nothing left in my head but her.

CHAPTER 34

Violet

“Can we just talk about this?” Kane barks, frustration snapping through his words.

I keep moving down the hall ahead of him, boots thudding hard enough to rattle the art on the walls. “Nope,” I shout over my shoulder, not slowing in the slightest.

If I turn around right now, I might actually swing on him, and I’m actively trying not to escalate this situation even further.

He keeps pursuing me nonetheless, his irritated growl echoing off the walls. “Violet–”

“Drop it,” I cut in, flinging open the bedroom door and stomping inside. “We’re not doing this tonight.”

Of course he follows me right in, because the man doesn’t know how to take a fucking hint.

This was supposed to be a chill weekend at the lake. Just the two of us, away from the constant pressure of the Tower, away from prying eyes and pack politics. And for most of the drive up, it actually was. We had the windows down, the radio up, his hand warm on my thigh as the world shrunk down to a horizon of pine trees and the sharp bite of lake air. But the second we pulled into the driveway, he had to open his big mouth and fucking ruin it.

Alpha wants us to ‘play it up’ at the full moon run, he said. Put on a show for the pack, sell the Pairing like it’s some kind of fucking fairytale for mass consumption.

Now, normally, I’d just laugh it off and tell him where to shove his bullshit request, but something about the way he phrased it– like I should be grateful for the opportunity to serve the pack at his side– made my blood run lava-hot.

Before I can even start peeling off my jacket, Kane’s on me, grabbing me by the wrist and spinning me around to face him.

“Stop running away from me,” he huffs, gaze softening. For a second, I almost believe he’s going to apologize for being an ass– but then he doubles down, saying, “It’s just optics, baby. A means to an end.”

I wrench my wrist free of his grip, jaw set tight. “So go play your little puppet show, Kane,” I spit. “If Alpha wants a dog to do tricks, you’re the perfect choice.”

His entire body goes still. For a heartbeat, the room is silent except for the thin, metallic hiss of my jacket zipper as I lower it.