Tears gather in the corners of her eyes. “But these people…they’re dangerous. And they’ll be back. I heard my dad before. I can’t live without you, Nico. I just can’t. Even when I hated you, I couldn’t. And now?”
“Wait, when did you hate me?”
A snort of laughter escapes her mouth and a single tear rolls down her cheek. “Don’t try to change the subject.”
I grin. “It made you smile, though.”
“It won’t erase the panic, Nico.” Her smile fades, and fear is etched into her expression.
“You have to trust me. Do you really think I’m going to let anyone get to me? I have too much at stake now.” I tap her nose with my index finger. “And yes, that means you.”
“I just love you so much. I can’t bear the thought—"
“Then don’t.” My forehead touches hers, the warmth of her breath tickling my skin. I breathe in the sweet scent of her body lotion. It smells like vanilla frosting. And God, do I want to coat every inch of her body in frosting and lick it off before diving deep inside of her, over and over again.
I should be thinking about so many other things right now — strategizing, plotting, conspiring.
But I choose sex and frosting because it’s my only chance for a temporary escape from my reality.
And also because it can’t kill me.
Unless, of course, it’s manufactured in a facility that may contain peanuts.