Tales of Darkness & Sin - Pepper Winters Page 0,96
it into a fist so I wasn’t tempted to try to touch her again. Talia struggled to her feet but let out a soft, pained cry and her knees buckled.
Fuck!
I grabbed her before she face-planted into the ground. My arm curled around her hips and I swung her up in my arms. She gasped, a protest on her lips, but I cut her off with a low growl. “Don’t ever lie to me again, Talia.”
She swallowed and blinked away. “Where are you hurt?” I demanded again.
“My ankle,” she whispered, her voice cracking.
“And?”
“My ribs…”
I carried her out of the alley, leaving the dead man behind.
“You’re covered in blood,” she breathed, her lips so close to my neck.
My arms tightened around her. “I just killed a man to save your life. You’re worried that I’m getting blood on you?”
“Put me down, Killer,” she choked. “I can walk. Please.”
“No.” Fuck that. The only way she was getting home was if I carried her.
She had no other option. But me.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Talia
My heart was a frantic flutter in my chest, terror crippling my limbs. My ribs ached fiercely. I gave up my struggle against Killer and relaxed in his hold, oddly soothed by his presence. He oozed strength and confidence. He had killed a man for me.
My head against his shoulder, I peered up at him. Blood splatters dotted his throat and chin. He’d viciously beaten my attacker to death. Without hesitation or mercy. Brutal efficiency combined with lust for bloodshed. A deadly combination that should have driven me into hysterics.
And yet, I felt almost safe as he carried me. A dark, angry part of me wondered if Pasquale would find the same brutal end if I hired Killer. Would he be beaten to death and drown in his own blood? It was a thrilling thought.
I tensed when Killer stopped in front of my shabby apartment building without me giving him my address. “You know where I live?”
He gave me a brief smirk. “Of course. I scout possible business partners.”
My lips snapped shut. I had refused his offer. His impossibly, rude offer. My virginity for a kill. It was immoral. But wasn’t I being a hypocrite judging Killer when I was the one who wanted to hire him to kill a man?
“Talia, keys. I don’t have all night. Or I’ll kick the door in.”
“No,” I said quickly, fumbling in my coat pocket for my keys before handing them to Killer.
A few minutes later, we entered my tiny studio apartment. It was sparsely furnished. Only a narrow bed on the right, a tiny kitchenette, an old sofa and an ancient TV. Killer barely spared his surroundings a glance, instead he carried me over to the bed.
Tension radiated through my body, realizing we were alone in my apartment and remembering what he wanted from me.
“Don’t get tense,” he said gruffly.
Easy for him to say. “Maybe you just killed the guy so you can finish what he started.” My voice shook. He set me down on the bed and brought his face very close to mine. “I don’t fuck unwilling women, Talia. When I’m balls deep inside your cunt, you’re going to be begging me.”
I flushed at his crude language. His gaze lingered on my flushed cheeks, still so close he could have kissed me.
“Let me check out your injuries.”
He pushed down my coat, revealing my ripped shirt and my flimsy white bra beneath it. I jerked my arms up to cover my modesty. He gripped my wrists and shoved them down. “Let me.” His voice allowed no argument.
I let my arms drop to my sides.
He touched my ribs with his big, blood-covered hand. I winced at how tender the spot felt. A shiver passed my spine when he pushed my tattered shirt aside to get a good look at the blooming bruise. His touch was surprisingly gentle, something I hadn’t expected from a man like him.
“Not broken,” he said. “Your ankle?”
I lifted my hurt foot and he carefully slid off my heels, causing me to flinch. His touch became even softer as he felt my ankle with his fingers then moved it slowly.
It was obvious he tried not to hurt me. “I didn’t think someone like you could be gentle,” I whispered.
His eyes darted up to my face and I bit my lip at the intensity of his expression. “If the situation requires it, I can be careful.”
I had a feeling he wasn’t referring to treating my injuries. Heat shot into my face.