Page 22 of Code Violation

I jump to grab it and fail miserably. Sometimes, I hate being petite.

“I already endured a whole evening with you this week. I’m only using you for free pizza and delivery.”

When I conclude that I’m not going to be successful in swiping it from his hands, I step to one side, and Silas enters, kicking off his sneakers and heading straight for the kitchen.

He sets the pizza box down in the center of the island, and it’s then I get a chance to take him in properly.

Holy wow.

I shake my head to rid the invasive thoughts I totally shouldn’t be having. Silas looks especially hot today in gray sweatpants, a black T-shirt, and a backward baseball cap. Still, that doesn’t give me a free pass to toss out all sense of integrity, along with my moral compass.

“Did you remember to get extra jalapeños?” I ask.

He eyes me closely. “I did and even asked them to put them all on your side.”

He opens the box, and I immediately snag a piece, so damn hungry after skipping lunch at work.

Open-mouthed, he watches me nail the slice in ten seconds flat. “Is there any end to your talents?”

I shrug and take another piece. “Listen, I may be small, but I can devour food with the best of them.” I motion to the pizza and climb onto a barstool. “I’ve been thinking about this baby right here since the moment I woke up this morning. Every single slice has been living rent-free in my head.”

Silas doesn’t take his eyes from mine as he sits opposite me and picks up his own slice.

“Holy shit,” I gasp, watching him scarf the whole slice down in one bite. “I’m actually disgusted at that.”

He barks out a laugh and picks up one of my slices, hovering it midair. “So, when you nail a slice, it’s impressive, but when I do it, then it’s disgusting?”

I narrow my eyes on him. “It’s disgusting because you’re eating my food.” I point at the slice he’s holding. “Don’t you dare eat my pizza. I’ll never forgive you.”

Slowly, he brings it to his mouth and smirks. “Say, Thank you, Silas, for ordering me this delicious pizza.”

“No.”

He takes a single bite and chews carefully, eyes watering when he swallows a jalapeño.

“Is that nice?” I goad. “Stealing my food when you know I’ve been looking forward to it all day. After a seven-hour shift at the bar this afternoon, all I wanted was to be lazy in bed with junk food and a movie. And here you are, denying me, slice by slice.”

Silas doesn’t say a word as he climbs off the stool, closes the pizza box, and holds out his hand for me to take.

I stare back at his outstretched arm. “Where are you taking me?”

“To bed.”

My cheeks flame, but not before Silas’s turn red too.

“I mean …” Silas closes his eyes like he’s pained. “I mean, you said you wanted to slouch in bed and eat pizza, so that was where I was taking you.” He quirks a brow at me when my jaw pops open. “It’s only pizza, Vesper. I’m not asking you to marry me or anything.”

I slide my hand into his, my voice more of a whisper when I say, “I get that, but I also didn’t think you’d take me seriously when I said I wanted to eat pizza in bed.”

Silas glides the rough pad of his thumb over the top of my hand. “But it would make you happy, no?”

I gaze down the hallway, wanting to follow his lead so badly. “I know it means crumbs in the sheets, but bed eating is one of my favorite things. Shutting out the world, ignoring all my responsibilities, and just … being, you know?”

His eyes soften with understanding. Maybe Silas does the same thing when he’s home alone?

“Did you do that with Kane?”

I want to laugh out loud at the thought of us doing anything that I wanted to do. Everything was always about Kane and to his schedule.