Page 35 of Till Death Do Us Part

“I know, I know. You’re the good girl type, aren’t you? Probably waiting until marriage.”

“I-I’ve had sex.”

“With how many people?”

“Er… well, um…” She cleared her throat.

“One?”

“T-two.”

“Aw. Cute.” I mussed her hair. “Good job making it through okay this far. Now, are you coming to bed?”

“Coming to…?”

“There’s only three rooms set up as bedrooms right now,” I said. “Caitlyn needs some time alone, and I don’t recommend sharing a bed with Petra. So… you coming?”

She looked away, blushing harder. “It’s not going to be too… er… distracting for you?”

Of course it was. I felt like I wanted to rip my own skin off, I was so feral, and thinking of Elaine lying right there in bed next to me, I was barely going to sleep in between all the fantasies.

But I’d get myself off in the bathroom and call it a night. Or maybe in bed without her knowing again.

“I can make it one more night,” I said, and I opened the door for her. “Now, come on. Your last night as an unmarried woman.”

And her last night alive.

Chapter 15

elaine

Vera barely moved once we got into bed. I couldn’t stop thinking about her there… about that intense look in her eyes that she only got when she was looking at me.

There was so much under the surface there. I couldn’t stop thinking about it. Like glimpses of the woman she could have been, should have been, if they didn’t snatch it all away from her.

It was so compelling, those flashes of her true self. Like little vignettes of the greatest book I’d ever read, piece of a story so beautiful it made me desperate to read the rest.

And her eyes…

She was so beautiful, that smoldering look in her eyes as she evaluated the situation, always sharp.

And her arms. I hadn’t really seen her in proper lighting before. Back in the safehouse, when she’d taken her shirt off, it had been dim, and I’d been panicked. Now, though, when she came in with that light cotton t-shirt on, I’d found my eyes tracing the lines of her arms…

She was strong. Clearly.

And that was enough said about that.

I couldn’t believe the way my mind was wandering. She was an assassin. The only reason she wasn’t here killing me was because she was with the other family.

But also, she’d saved my life. And she told me things she didn’t tell other people. And she was going to be my wife.

It didn’t help that I knew she wanted it. That I knew she wanted me… that she probably wanted it right now.

This lurid part of me thought about rolling over right now and putting a hand on her. Asking her if she wanted help with her situation. Surely it was the least I could do for her… and for myself.

I pressed my thighs together as I tried to gather my thoughts, and I tried to focus on sleep. It didn’t come easily, though, aware of Vera’s presence just inches away from me in bed.

But I tried. I lay there for a long time, and it was late in the night when she stirred.