The Puppet Assassin [TTR sequel]

The Puppet Assassin - Ch 31 [on your knees]

He looked so earnest but seriously?

“So I’m just supposed to accept it?” I asked, twisting some noodles around my fork. “Just because it’s your instinctual reaction?”

He gave me a hopeful expression, looking boyishly charming and exasperating me at the same time.

“Well, I grew up learning to kill people so that one day I could fulfil my father’s dream to have me be his perfect little murderer. My instinct is to fight so you should just accept that. Because I. Can’t. Help. It,” I said in monotone, repeating his words.

His smile disappeared as he frowned for a moment but then he brightened again, looking triumphant. “So then it’s the matter of who is the one strong enough to go through with their ‘instinct’ first.”

I gritted my teeth. “Strong enough, or fast enough, or smart enough. You might beat me with strength but I know of other ways to get around you.”

He laughed. Loudly. “Okay, puppet,” he said like he was granting me a small favour.

I smirked in an attempt to show that he wasn’t getting to me. He couldn’t always keep me back…

He scooted his chair back and stood suddenly. His hand stretched forward and took my plate. I looked at it, stunned to see that I’d finished the meal. Oh. Ha. Hmm. He didn’t exactly skip to the bin but he definitely had a lighter, bouncier step.  He was happy so I should be happy also, right? Huh? Could the nervous butterflies in my stomach be carnivorous? Because it felt like they were eating my insides up.

I had to distract him. “Where are the guys that I knocked unconscious?”

He didn’t falter in his approach towards me. “Garth shucked them in the basement,” he said happily.

“You have a basement?”

He tilted his head. “You believed me? Huh. No, some of Liam’s friends took them away.”

I was a smidge confused.

“Now’s not the time to be worrying about them, puppet,” he grinned, ultra wide. “You should be worrying about me!”

I squeezed my eyes shut and decided to be honest. “I am.”

His hands cradled my face and I felt his lips press against my forehead, once, twice. I opened my eyes and saw his expression was very serious.

“I am not going to eat you. I’m not going to do anything until you express you want it. I promise. Besides the kissing, I can’t stop myself there. I might get very, very tempted to eat you up but I can control myself.” His eyes twinkled. “I swear.”

He brushed my hair away from my face casually, his eyes on mine. “I will not hurt you.” He straightened and headed towards the door. “Come on, we’ll go watch a movie and neck.”