Page 3 of House of Malice
“Fucking asshole,” Alecto said, but despite the harshness of her words, she was smiling at him.
Blaze couldn’t keep his hands to himself, so he placed one on her thigh, right below the hem of her skirt.
“So let’s circle back to thatfunyou mentioned,” Blaze said, his voice low.
“I don’t remember mentioning anything fun.”
Blaze squeezed her thigh, and Alecto bit her lip. He said, “Don’t play me, Black. Playwithme.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Alecto narrowed her eyes.
Blaze licked his bottom lip, feeling his whole body turning hot at only the thought of all the fun they’d already had and all the fun they were about to have.
But first, they had to discuss something more important.
“We were enemies once. Then we were housemates with benefits,” Blaze said, and to his surprise, his heart was racing. It wasn’t often that he felt…nervous. “And now… What are we now?”
Seemingly surprised at the turn their conversation had taken, Alecto blinked rapidly.
“I—I don’t know,” she admitted after a moment.
“I meant it when I said that I want all of you,” Blaze said. “I want you to be mine, and I want to be yours. Just me and you, baby.”
Alecto’s lips parted, and she released a surprised huff. “Are you saying you want to be exclusive? Like, in a relationship?”
Blaze nodded.
“And how about witches’ inability to commit to one lover?” Alecto asked. “How about Galliermo? Has he suddenly had a change of heart you haven’t told me about yet?”
Blaze rolled his eyes. “I don’t know about that whole witches and love thing, what’s true and what’s not. But I know how I feel about you right now, and there is nobody else for me—just you.”
Alecto’s gaze softened, and her cheeks turned pink. With his thumb, he gently caressed her cheek, which was warm against his skin.
“And about Galliermo…” Blaze stopped because he didn’t know what to say.
There wasn’t anything he could say, really. His father would be furious if he found out about him and Alecto. But Blaze wasn’t going to let Galliermo rule his life. Not when it came to this.
“Galliermo won’t approve,” Alecto said, and there was sadness in her voice. “He’d rather kill you than let you be with a half-breed, right?”
“I don’t care,” Blaze said. He squeezed her thigh again, willing her to understand how much he meant it. “I don’t care if he approves or disapproves. I won’t let him interfere with us. I’ll deal with him.”
Alecto smiled, but it wasn’t a happy smile. “And how do I know it won’t be like the last time, hm? When he punished you for a mere rumor that we were a couple, and you lashed out at me, pushing me away?”
Blaze ground his teeth hard. It was like a punch in the gut to be reminded of the past. And it was even worse seeing the pain still present in Alecto’s eyes when she recounted it.
“The only thing I can do is give you my promise that I will never hurt you again,” Blaze said. He took her hand and placed it against his chest where his heart lay. “I trust you with my heart. Can you trust me with yours?”
“I want nothing more. But that’s a lot to ask knowing our past.” Alecto’s words were a whisper.
“I know, baby. And I wish things were different, that the past we share were different. Let me ask you something—are we worth it? The trouble?”
Alecto looked at him for a long while. Finally, she nodded. “We are worth it. And because of that, I’ll trust you with my heart the way you trust me with yours. But it won’t be easy, Blaze. And some things will take more time than others.”
“I know,” he said, nodding. “I’m ready to be patient with us.”
Alecto nodded. A moment later she added, “Also, I think it’s best to keep it a secret from your father for now.”
“I’m fine with that,” Blaze said slowly. “But I don’t want to keep it a secret at Venefica.”
