Total pages in book: 171
Estimated words: 159050 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 795(@200wpm)___ 636(@250wpm)___ 530(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 159050 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 795(@200wpm)___ 636(@250wpm)___ 530(@300wpm)
“Why is the radiator not on? You’ll freeze!”
Elliot groaned and looked away. “The electricity got cut off. I need to work that out.”
“And what about the car? How did you get here? Laurent doesn’t drive, and you just lost an eye. Do you have a deathwish?”
Knight wanted to wipe the silly smile off Elliot’s face.
“I drove like a grandpa, and the roads weren’t busy anyway. Why are you so angry?”
Knight frowned. “I don’t know. Maybe because you’re running away after we’ve established that you’d be staying. And you said nothing. Nothing. I found out from Beast!”
The smile was gone. “I’m sorry. It kind of came up as I was talking to Laurent. And you were busy by then. I was thinking it might be better if I moved out for a while. A few weeks maybe? It’s… hard to be around you right now.”
Knight swallowed, and at once some of the burning anger was replaced by a heavy, slimy sensation deep in his gut. “But... you said you’d stay. You’d get a better room. And... you can’t stay here. I won’t let you stay here. You need care now, the injury is so fresh...”
Elliot pulled up his massive black scarf over his chin. “I’m afraid I’ll just fall back into you,” he whispered.
Knight watched soft, pale skin tense around Elliot’s eye, and the only thing he dreamed of was to smooth the mimic wrinkles with his thumb. He stepped closer. “Would that have been so bad?”
Elliot curled his shoulders, standing there like a wounded animal. “That’s so unfair, Knight.”
Knight swallowed some air and approached Elliot, stepping through crumpled paper and dirt left on the floor since Elliot had first moved to the clubhouse. Just standing so close to him was making Knight’s blood run faster, his hands aching for touch. “Why? Why the hell not? You know we’re a good fit! Even my friends noticed!”
Elliot moved back until his calves hit the bed. “Because you’ll hurt me in the long run. There will come a night when you see someone that you like, you’ll flirt with them, you’ll fuck them, and I will die. Do you understand?”
Knight swallowed, feeling anger bubble up in him again. “Oh, so you think that I can’t be faithful? Is that it? That I’d just break any promises and get laid with a new pretty thing?”
Elliot spread his arms. “It’s what you do, Knight! Everyone’s told me that. You sleep around with a lot of people, it’s your thing.”
“And why wouldn’t I? People want to fuck me, and there was nothing to keep me from doing that. But I’m a man, and I can stick to my commitments,” he growled and poked at Elliot’s chest through the black winter jacket Knight had bought him before Christmas.
Just like he could commit to being the VP of the Kings of Hell, even if that meant responsibilities and restrictions, he could stay faithful if he pleased.
Elliot’s inquisitive eye met Knight’s gaze. “Are you saying you want a commitment?”
Knight’s breath stuttered, and he stared back at Elliot for several seconds as the air heated from the vapor of their breath. “I’ve already made a commitment when I made a pact with the goddamn devil to keep you safe from Fane. Isn’t that proof enough for you?”
Elliot sucked his lips. “It’s proof that you care for me.”
“Yes. Yes I do, Elliot, and—” He absent-mindedly grabbed one of Elliot’s hands and quickly hid it in his palms when he sensed that it was cold like icicles clad in skin. “I don’t want you to leave me.”
“And I don’t want to force you into a type of relationship you don’t want. I’ve learned I don’t want a serial killer, but I still believe it’s all or nothing. I’m ready to give you everything, but I don’t want to smother you either. Nothing would be worse than you resenting me.” Still, he squeezed Knight’s hand, and it felt so good to create that link between them again Knight exhaled deeply in relief.
“You don’t know me well enough if you think I’d be coming after you to give you ultimatums. I-I am offering you what you’ve wanted all along,” Knight said softly, suddenly embarrassed by his own words.
Elliot watched him as if something had changed on Knight’s face, but he no longer looked like a rabbit about to bolt. Beast was right. Making the commitment felt nothing like getting locked up. The awe and hope in Elliot’s one surviving eye, were everything Knight needed.
“Knight…”
Knight hit his breastbone with his fist several times in an attempt to ease the dull ache he felt there. Elliot was looking at him as if he were a hero. As if there was not a single flaw in him. “I mean... I think there’s freedom in making a choice. I loved all the excellent pussy and ass I was getting. But if I wanted to continue fucking other people, I couldn’t have you. And that wouldn’t work.”