Killer Crush - Ella Goode Page 0,31

you to have fun. I don’t want you to worry about anything except the ranks of the candidates.”

“How can I worry about their ranks if they are all zero?” I tease as I put the bag of Cheetos down and walk over toward him. I wrap my arms around his neck to pull him down for a kiss. His mouth meets mine as I kiss him deeply. Before I know what’s happening, he has me sitting on the kitchen counter. His body is positioned between my spread thighs. His hand is currently in my hair, pulling it out of the ponytail I’m wearing.

“It’s going to be hard to have fun without you but you apparently have plans.” I lift one eyebrow at him. He takes a step back but I grab his shirt, pulling him back to me. He comes without fighting. “Did you find more out?”

“Yes.” His answer is simple. He’s not going to tell me more unless I ask for it. It’s how he is. He doesn’t go into details, making me pull most everything from him. The only time he’s open is when it comes to his feelings for me. I know he’s working on it and he’s getting better the more time we spend together.

“Do I want to know?” I’ve been wrestling with this for a few days in my mind. Oddly, it’s not about the fact that Daman once killed people for a living. No, it is the fact that I might be avoiding something that does need to be taken care of. Am I ignoring the fact that a terrible man could be out there doing terrible things because I don’t want to face what should be done? Maybe. But who appointed me to be judge and jury? This is the inner struggle I’ve been dealing with.

“No.” His hand comes up to my face. His thumb brushes along my lips. “But if you ask, I will always tell you.”

“I know that.” I kiss his thumb. Daman might be a killer but he is mine. He’d do anything for me. “If I asked you to stay tonight would you?”

“I would do anything you asked me.” Yet his eyes plead with me not to ask this of him.

“On a scale of one to ten, how bad is what you found? Without telling me any of the details that will keep me up at night.” His jaw hardens before he answers my question. His hands cup my face.

“On a scale of things I’ve seen in my life, an eight. On a scale of what I think you know about the world”—he kisses my forehead—“a twelve.”

“You think I’m naïve.” I look up at him.

“I do not think like your father.” How did he know my mind went there?

“Then what do you think?”

“I think I don’t want the darkness of the world touching you if it doesn't have to. I’ve seen enough of it for the both of us. You’re my light. Your innocence is something I live to protect now. I want to protect everything about you.”

“For a man who doesn't talk much, you sure know how to get me with your words.” I pull him down for another kiss. “I trust you. Do what you need to but know if you don’t come home to me you’ll shatter my world.” He looks surprised at my response.

“Home?” He smiles.

“Yes, home.” I smile back. Not only is most of my stuff here but Daman himself has been turning this place into a home. What were once bare walls and tables are now filled with decorations and life. It actually looks as though two people live here now.

“I will be in our bed tonight and every night after. I promise you this.”

I tilt my head back, offering my mouth for a kiss. He takes it.

“I’m serious, Daman. Don’t do something to get yourself taken from me. That will hurt me more than anything in this world.”

“I would never hurt you,” he vows to me.

“That’s good because I’m in love with you and we’re building a life here together.” I push on his chest. He takes a dazed step back as I hop down from the counter. I fight my smile at how shocked he is at what I said.

A knock sounds at the door. “Open up! It starts in a few minutes.” The always late Trin shouts through the door.

“That’s why we have DVR,” I shout back as I head toward the door, leaving my hitman to stand in the