The Puppet Assassin [TTR sequel]

The Puppet Assassin - Ch 28 [imagine that]

“Luke, let’s go. Liam will be waiting at your place.”

As Garth reached the door, he turned, raised his brows, before giving me a small smile and glancing pointedly at Larkin. I didn’t pretend not to understand. Somehow, like usual, Garth knew what I was feeling. When they left, the room was silent. It struck me as odd. Lark usually knew the right thing to say.

“I’m okay,” I said firmly. “If I allowed those few seconds of pointless talk get to me…”

“Dizelde, stop lying.” He looked up at me with a serious expression. “And, you know, it might be me who needs a little comforting right now.”

I looked at him, taking in the tense muscles and furrowed brow. He was shaking but I wasn’t fooled into thinking he was scared. Not my wolf. He was furious. And he needed me.

I got up from my seat and walked over to him slowly. I sat next to him, near enough that if he shifted his leg outwards, our thighs would touch. I placed my hands in my lap and looked at them, unable to bring myself to give Larkin eye contact.

“I’m not going anywhere,” I said quietly. “No matter what he says or believes, Larkin.”

Larkin’s hand slid smoothly behind me, brushing against the small of my back until his hand came around to rest lightly on my hip. It felt warm wherever he touched and yet there were layers of clothing between his skin and mine. The contact seemed so intimate and yet he wasn’t touching anywhere that was indecent. If Luke had touched me the same way, I would see it as casual. But Larkin’s touch was… hot.

“I know you’re not going anywhere,” he said, slight amusement lacing his tone. “Even if you were determined to get away.”

My hard beating organ skipped and skittered in my chest, feeling so strange. I glanced up at him, at his eyes that pretended to be open and revealing and yet held so many secrets.

He smiled down at me. “I’m not worried, puppet. I just don’t like the idea that someone wants to hurt you. I have an intense need to put him in his place.”

A warm sensation flooded through me, a swirling flood of emotion that had me close to trembling.

“And I want you closer right now,” he added, tugging my waist gently in his direction.

I wriggled on the chair until my right leg was pressed against his left one. My eyes stayed on his as I moved and I could still see the flicker of anger in his expression, he wasn’t his usual calm self. Maybe I should be wary, but I couldn’t bring myself to be.

“Closer,” he said in a softer voice. His free hand reached down and took a grip of my left knee. While I was still a little confused, he pulled my leg over his lap so that I ended up straddling his legs, facing him. I grabbed his shoulders for balance and found that my eye level was just above his. This should’ve made me feel more confident, seeing as he couldn’t be intimidating from a lower height, but nerves were making me rigid and tense. My brain was turning to goo.

His hands crossed over and rested loosely over my back. “Even closer,” he murmured, very serious. I couldn’t look him in the eye.

I held myself where I was with my arms on his shoulders. “I can’t, I’d go right through you.”

He ducked his head forward and I felt his breath against my neck. “Dizelde…”

“Mm-hmm?” I could feel my face flush and I was sure that he would be seeing my pulse beat like crazy at my neck.

It felt like all the blood in my body ran to my chest and thighs when he shifted upwards and I felt him catch my earlobe between his cushiony lips. I couldn’t stop myself from gasping. He released it quickly but I still felt his touch there, I was limp with it.