Page 52

Gasping, she swung around from the stove, holding the spoon between us like it was a weapon.

“Don’t you dare.” She released that laugh though, promising she was issuing the opposite as she began to back away.

I swiveled to follow, grinning like mad at the expression she wore.

At the giddiness that showed itself even when there was the literal threat of danger that had been left at her door.

My smile probably came off a bit unhinged, but I figured if it fit…

She kept backing away as I encroached.

“I’m warning you, Trevan Niles, I am not to be toyed with.” Mischief fluttered all over her lips. Her eyes bright. The gold flecks glimmered off the glitzy chandelier she’d had installed over the island.

“Toy with you? Never. Only a heathen would do that.” I lunged at her the second I said it.

A shrill squeal hit the air, and she swiveled around on her heel in a bid to escape. Racing around the other end of the island while I was hot on her tail.

Her bare feet slapped against the hardwood floor, and her laughter flooded the space.

It hit me like music. A drumroll of life that surged and rushed and became one with my blood.

Because that sound was my meaning.

Her joy.

Her relief.

Everything I was supposed to be.

I chased her around the island, boots clomping on the floor, her dainty footsteps painted with them.

Laughter ripped from both of us as I kept swiping my arm over the island and reaching for her while she flung herself away.

Always just out of reach.

I darted my hand out to get ahold of a fistful of her dress. She smacked the back of it with the spoon.

I jerked my hand back like I’d been bitten by a viper. “Ow.”

She cracked up. “That’s what you get.”

“Now you’re gonna get it.”

I let her make it around it three more times before I finally hurtled forward and erased the space. It took me all of two steps before I was wrapping my arms around her from behind and lifting her off her feet.

Her legs flailed as she kicked, her back pressed to my chest.

Out-of-control giggles rolled from her, little shrieks emitted into the air.

They might be the one thing in the world that could penetrate my hardened soul.

“Leave me alone,” she demanded.

“Never.” I muttered it at her ear.

Obviously too fucking close and with too much emotion because she suddenly stilled in my hold.

The perfect weight of her fell into my arms as her panted breaths pounded into the room.