Where's Molly(39)

However, I’m too hungry to turn it down.

“Sure. That’d be nice. Thank you.”

“What toppings do you like on your pizza?”

I flush hotter and avoid eye contact, deciding to settle my gaze on my chipped nails. “I’ve never had pizza before, so I don’t really know. I guess just cheese is fine.”

When I do find the courage to flick a glance in his direction, I’m almost impressed by how easily he schools his expression. He doesn’t gape at me like I’d expected. Instead, a sly grin curls his lips .

“Then let me be the one to introduce you to the best thing you'll ever eat in your life. I’ll get a supreme, maybe a Hawaiian if you’re the type to like pineapple on your pizza—huge debate in the world, by the way—and of course, a plain cheese and a pepperoni just in case.”

My eyes nearly pop out of my skull as he goes on. “Oh my God, no. That is so much food! You really don’t have to do th—”

He leans heavily on the counter across from me, cutting off whatever the hell I was going to say. He peers up at me with a challenging expression, but what has me tongue-tied is the raw animalistic energy that radiates from him. I don’t know if he’s even aware of it, yet it sets me on fucking fire anyway.

“I know I don’t have to. But I like to eat,” he drawls lazily.

My chest tightens, and a swarm of butterflies flutter in the pit of my stomach. It doesn’t sound like he’s declaring his affection for consuming food at this moment.

It feels as if a sharp, pointed claw is poised against the inside of my throat, and it slowly drags down my chest, into my stomach, and between my thighs, leaving a hot trail in its wake.

I’m tempted to make some corny joke about being out of practice with eating, though I know how to swallow. Except I don’t have the confidence to say something like that. Nor am I sure if I’d even want to.

Sex isn’t something I’m interested in. Not after going through everything that I have. In fact, I’m perfectly content if I never have to see another penis for the rest of my life.

Yet, the way Cage stares up at me now—I wonder if that’s really true .

I hadn’t considered what sex would be like if I chose it, and if it’s something that would feel good.

“Goddamn it!” Silas shouts, startling me damn near out of my skin. Cage cranes his head over his shoulder, glaring at his employee.

“Sorry,” he mutters. “I’ve called every fucking hotel nearby, and all of them are booked. How is that even possible?”

My heart drops, and immediately, my thoughts begin to spiral. I have Legion’s car and could probably sleep in it for the night. It’s not safe, but if I find a parking lot with other cars, maybe no one will notice.

“Th-that’s okay. I can find somewhere else to st—”

“Absolutely not,” Cage interrupts, straightening his spine. “I have a spare bedroom. You can stay with me tonight.”

My mouth flops for a few moments before I raise my hands, finally scrounging up the voice to protest. “N-no. That’s so not necessary. I’ll find—”

“If you’re even considering sleeping somewhere outside, I’m going to have to stop you there. That’s too dangerous.”

A crease forms between my brows. “And staying with a complete stranger isn’t?”

His features relax slightly, and he offers a soft grin.

“Call Legion. He’ll put guards outside my house. The second you scream for help, they’ll come running, and I’ll have a bullet through my brain before I can blink.”

“A bullet? That… that also seems unnecessary.”

He cocks a brow. “Is it?”

An image of my father being ripped apart by pigs flashes through my brain, and I relent, “I guess not. ”

“For what it’s worth, I would never hurt you. I promise not to lay a finger on you.” There’s a pause, and I hear the unspoken words he won’t give voice to.

Unless you ask me to.

A large part of me is glad he didn’t say it. But another part of me is a little disappointed. Maybe because I don’t know that I’ll ever gather the courage to say that I do want him to.

He nods toward me. “Call Legion.”

The black flip phone burns in my back pocket, and I’m tempted to pull it out and do just that. But what if Legion is no better of a man than Cage? If he led me to someone willing to hurt me, then I doubt he’s an upstanding guy, either.

And I’d rather fight one man in a place where I have access to a knife than a man when I'm alone in a car.

Do I feel safe with Cage? No. But not because I think he’ll hurt me.

Only that it’ll hurt when I need to leave.

I don't know why I feel safe with him, just that I do. And if there's one thing I've gotten really good at over the years, it's trusting my gut.

“It’s fine,” I force out. “I’ll take your word for it.”



“How old are you?” I ask, though my voice is breathless with awe as my stare bounces around his home.

“Twenty-seven,” he answers instantly .

I’ve never seen a twenty-seven-year-old own a house like this. It’s beautiful.

The interior is a combination of black stone, veneer wooden panels, and cream walls. Plant life is scattered throughout the open floor plan, complementing the earthy-toned furniture.