Page 59 of Vicious Heir

Bad feelings fester. They never resolve if they’re never released.

Plants help a little bit. I don’t know why, but having life scattered all over is good for the soul.

There are other boxes open on the counter. Bubble wrap and moving paper are thrown all around, and little porcelain teacups are lined up along the counter.

“You’re going to like it here, Voldemort,” I whisper to a little spider plant. “You and Professor Moriarty are going to get along swimmingly. You’re both terrible humans. Well, I guess you’re not totally human anymore.”

I hum to myself as I spritz my plants with water. When I turn back to the sink, I yelp as I spot Adriano lurking in the doorway, watching me with a strangely intense look on his face. I haven’t seen him since yesterday. The man comes and goes without telling me much of anything, and I’m left guessing about whether my bed will be empty or not.

Maybe it’s better that way. The alternative is lying awake thinking about him rolling over and burying my mouth with his lips.

I smile awkwardly, not sure what he’s doing. My heart rate doubles whenever he’s in the room. My eyes glaze over his full lips and down to his muscular chest, and I think of those hands and all the sinful things they can do to me. A thrill runs up my spine, and I find myself wanting more than I’ve ever wanted before.

“What’s that you’re singing?” he asks quietly.

“Just, uh, some old lullaby. I have no idea what it is, honestly.”

“Where’d it come from?”

“My mother.” I clear my throat, but I can’t seem to move. I’m like a deer under a wolf’s gaze. I’m trapped, prey for a monster. Butin this case, the beast is my husband, and I want to willingly give myself up to the altar for his sacrifice.

“It’s nice. I like it.” Then he looks at my plants. “Are you redecorating?”

I shake my head. “Just putting out my boys.”

“Your boys?”

“This is Voldemort.” I gesture at the spider plant. “That one’s Hannibal Lecter, and over there is Captain Hook. I’ve also got Dracula, Sauron, Grendel, and Darth Vader.”

His eyebrows raise. “They’re all bad guys.”

“My little menagerie of villains.” My nervousness thaws as I talk and start showing him the different kinds of plants. There’s an arrowhead, a Chinese money plant, a cast iron plant, and a bunch of others. “Indoor stuff. Easy to care for. I figured this place could use a little green.”

“There used to be plants in here, but they all died over the years.” He tilts his head, considering, and walks over to the kitchen island. “That tends to happen around me.”

I shiver slightly as he picks up one of my vintage teacups. “Careful with that.”

“Another collection? I didn’t know you were big into tea.”

“I usually drink coffee from them.”

He laughs lightly. “I like these. How many do you have?”

“I’m not sure,” I admit. “I’ll keep most of them in storage, though. Don’t worry. If I can get some space in the basement?—”

“No basement,” he says firmly.

“Right, I forgot. That’s where you do your murders.” I smile at him, but he doesn’t smile back. Well, shit, okay then.

“You can keep them up here. We’ll make room in the cabinets.”

“You don’t have to do that. I’m not trying to take over your space.”

“It’s fine.” He puts the teacup down and moves closer to me. “What other collections are you hiding?”

“I didn’t show you my skulls yet?”

His lips quirk. “Now that I’d enjoy.”

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