Page 99 of My Revenant
“Bullshit.”
Jonah groaned. “I was hit twice before Henrik stepped in. That’s it. Nothing serious.”
After I’d murdered Henrik, I’d thank him for presumably taking on three men and attempting to protect Jonah from serious harm. “How did you get there?”
“Does it matter?”
“Damn right it fucking matters. You tell me everything, Rabbit.”
If Jonah really was okay, and it seemed like he’d returned to me from wherever he’d been in the shower, then I fully intended to punish him for putting himself in danger on my behalf. Even if I was eternally grateful for what he’d done for me.
“I called him. He picked me up. We went to the warehouse. I got back your stuff, and Henrik killed three people. Will you fuck me now?”
I knew that was a way too oversimplified version of the story, but it was enough for now. I might not know all the shady business Henrik got himself involved with, but I knew those certainly weren’t the first bodies he’d dropped and they wouldn’t be the last. He’d sort them out, and I’d be sure to get all the details from him the moment I stepped away from Jonah next. But for now, there was something far more urgent demanding my attention.
“I love you, Jonah, more than I can put into words. What you did for me is more valuable than any gift. That lighter is irreplaceable. But so are you. And I treasure you far more than anything I own, including the lighter. Do you understand? You put yourself in danger, and I could have lost you as well.”
“But you didn’t.”
“No. But I could have. And it would have destroyed me. I need you to promise me you won’t ever do anything like that again. Don’t put yourself in danger, especially not for me.”
Jonah crossed his arms over his chest, clearly annoyed that I was dragging this out and not just giving him what he wanted, but this was far too important to put off. Because the world I was involved with was cruel. It was dangerous, and it was cold, and I couldn’t have him stepping into it. I had to protect him from it, but that wouldn’t be possible if he ran headfirst into danger any moment my back was turned.
“Promise me,” I demanded.
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because it’d be a lie, and I don’t want to lie to you. I’ll never stop protecting you, and you’ll never stop protecting me, and that’s just our life now, Devil, so get used to it.”
“I don’t need you to protect me,” I told him.
“No. But I’m going to do it anyway,” he replied, as stubborn as always.
“Jonah.”
“Dex.”
“Fuck, you’re so frustrating sometimes. I just want to keep you safe.”
“Yeah, well, same.”
My eyes, fierce like the ocean, locked with his, a blazing inferno. Two immovable extremes, clashing while longing to coexist. I groaned, sensing that anything else I said to him now would just take us in circles. If I couldn’t get him to agree not to put himself in danger because of me, then I’d just have to get better at protecting him, as well as myself. So there’d be no need.
“Will you fuck me now?” Jonah asked impatiently.
“No,” I answered, and he pouted. “I’m going to punish you first for being reckless.”
I watched his expression shift between intrigue and indignation before settling on the former. “Punish me how?” he asked, trying very hard not to smile, but I could still see it in his eyes.
“Turn around.”
Jonah eyed me with cautious curiosity, no doubt internally debating himself over whether he wanted to listen or continue to be a brat, before he did as I asked and rolled onto his stomach. I switched on the lamp, using the light to give his back a careful check for any injuries I might have missed while we were in the bathroom, but he was as perfect as ever.
“Hurry up,” he demanded when long moments passed with me just standing there taking him in, admiring the toned muscle in his back, the firm curve of his ass. Mine. Forever. Always. I let my hand come down on the perfect milky surface, the slap making him jump.
“If you keep mouthing off, I’ll gag you,” I warned, and he groaned, rutting against the bedding to get some friction on his hard cock.
