Page 40 of Heroes & Hitmen
Though it’s a rhetorical question, I nod. She was there in his office last night when he told me to come by this morning at eight sharp so we could ‘go over the details of this arrangement’. Not the two of us; just me. Because her father views her as property, not a person.
It makes me fucking sick, but I have no choice except to show up. Now isn’t the time to defy orders– not when we’re embarking on the world’s most dangerous game of pretend.
“Gonna need you to rub up on me first,” I say, advancing toward Miley.
She stops short, wrinkling her nose. “Excuse me?”
“We said we’d fake it, right?” I ask, holding back a smirk. “If we were fated mates, we wouldn’t be able to keep our hands off each other. There’s no way I’d ever leave this place without your scent all over me.”
“What do you know about fated mates?” she scoffs disbelievingly.
“Plenty,” I reply with a confident lift of my chin. “My parents are fated mates. So are a bunch of my friends. Pretty sure we are too, babe, even if the moon hasn’t confirmed it yet.”
“Yeah, right,” she snorts, rolling her eyes hard.
I guess I can’t blame her for having doubts, considering fated mates are rare here, but they aren’t where I’m from. I’ve suspected it since the first night we met, and it’s about time I let her in on my suspicions. I held back before, thinking it might spook her, but now…
“All the signs are there,” I say. “The sparks when we touch. The way our wolves react to each other. The fact I’m constantly thinking about you even when I know I shouldn’t be.”
Her long lashes flutter as she blinks, a blush rising to her cheeks.
She knows.
Shehasto know.
Still, she shakes her head stubbornly, folding her arms tighter.
“You don’t believe me?” I ask, though it’s not really a question. It’s painfully obvious that she’s not buying what I’m selling.
“I think we’ve already established that you’re a great liar,” she mutters.
I shrug. “So are you.”
“That was out of necessity.”
“Exactly,” I say, stepping closer. “I liedforyou. Nottoyou. There’s a difference. I’d never lietoyou, Miley.”
Her gaze narrows, chin lifting to hold eye contact. “And I’m supposed to just take you at your word?”
“Well, yeah.”
She barks a laugh, shaking her head again.
Guess it’ll take more than a single conversation to convince her.
“I’m gonna be late if I don’t get going, so c’mon,” I mumble, beckoning her with a flick of my head and holding my arms wide.
She looks at me like I’ve lost my damn mind. “You’re serious?”
I nod. “Unless you wanna get caught on day one.”
Miley stares back at me for a long moment, posture stiff and guarded. Then she huffs out an annoyed breath and reluctantly starts forward, her whole body tense as she steps into my waiting arms.
I wrap them around her like it’s the most natural thing in the world. My palms smooth along her back, settling on her slim waistas I breathe her in. She smells like vanilla and freesia– a delicious, intoxicating combination that’s uniquelyher. My wolf surges forward, alert and hungry, wanting more.
Wanting toclaim.
Miley’s eyes ping up to meet mine, her wolf peeking back through silver shimmers in her irises. Her breath hitches, muscles slackening just a fraction.
