Page 63 of Serpent & Saviors

“Not helpful,” she intoned dryly.

“Kind of like your piano story, huh?” I cocked my head to the side, enjoying this side of her.

“That’s not fair. Mine was super emotional, and to be honest, I didn’t know you very well.”

“Well, enough to let me pull off the side of the road and have my way with you.”

“Okay, that is fair. But I thought we were answering each other’s questions.”

“I technically did. But how about you ask me another one and I will try to expand more?”

“Very well.” Her eyes narrowed as they locked onto mine. “Did you rescue Kinsley?”

Marcus shook his head, and a small chuckle drifted back. I grew serious, but didn’t break eye contact with her.

“I’d like to think I played a significant part in her rescue. But I didn’t do it alone. Truth be told, she just needed some assistance, to be pointed in the right direction.”

“Maybe a hand to hold? A cock to suck?” Her eyes flashed angrily.

This time a loud howl came from Marcus.

“You’re cute when you’re jealous,” I said, leaning in.

“I’m not jealous; I’m curious.” Her gaze shifted to my lips, and her breathing hitched.

“If you say so,” I said.

“So the collar. What’s with the charms? They must have significance.”

“See, I knew there was a hint of a brat inside you. The charms hold tremendous significance.”

“Going to tell me what they stand for?”

“Going to tell me why you don’t play piano anymore?”

“Nope.” She huffed as I put the box with Kinsley’s collar in the middle console.

“Brat.”

“Am not,” she exclaimed.

“Don’t worry, we like brats, don’t we, Marcus?”

“Everyone but Sebastian, Boss. He’s still adamant that he can’t stand them. The exception would be Kinsley.”

“She seems like a unicorn,” Victoria mumbled under her breath as she looked out the window.

“How about we call a truce? We’re at Elena’s.”

The rest of the afternoon and evening passed in a blur. Time seemed to go by fast when I was with her. She opened up a bit more about her life and how Cameron treated her. I put my best counselor face on and tried not to let my emotions show. After a quiet dinner in, we made love and were basking in each other’s company when she spoke.

“I wrote a new poem today. It’s how I feel about you. Would you like to hear it?”

She was lying naked in my arms, and my hands were rubbing her back, her voice was soft and vulnerable.

“Absolutely, I would.”

“Okay, but you have to wait here. I didn’t memorize this one yet, well, because I guess I don’t have to do that anymore,” she said with a surprised look on her face, as if she just realized it.