Page 28 of Guardians for the Vamp
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” he says, still giving me that heart-stopping grin—good thing I’m already dead.
“You’re not going to gaslight me, buddy. Tell me or I’ll… I’ll…”
“You’ll what, Layla?”
He raises a brow, challenging me.
I wish I still had my knife to stab him. When I was Millie’s advisor, I’d keep it holstered to my hip. It’s infusedwith a witch’s spell that can incapacitate most supernatural beings. Sadly, it’s frowned upon for a queen to carry weapons.
“Fine. I have nothing to threaten you with, but Ineedto know, Thorne. Pleeeaaassse.”
I know I’m being childish, I even pout and give him puppy dog eyes, but I can’t help it. The gargoyle iskillingme!
He narrows his eyes but relents.
“Your laughter is cute. Contagious.”
“No!”
I punch him in the shoulder; he even pretends it hurts. He tilts his head and smirks.
“What do you mean, no?”
I shake my head and ball up my fists. This brat is messing with me!
“That’s not what you were going to say!”
“How do you know? Can you read my thoughts?”
I open my mouth, then clamp it shut. He chuckles, the jerk.
“Tell me,” I say, crossing my arms.
Thorne runs his palm over his face.
“It was a thought that I had no right to say out loud.”
“Why?”
“Because it was an intense thought. It was… a promising thought. One I shouldn’t have as your head of security.”
“I swear to all the gods of the world you better tell me, Thorne Bartholomew DuPont.”
I’ve lost the conviction in my words, especially using Thorne’s middle name, which he’d reluctantly told me when I got bored during the ride to one of my meetings and wanted to know more about his life. I barely got the name out of him before he shut down sharing time when Millie called me.
Thorne shakes his head, amused. I think he enjoys me being bossy. Or maybe he likes disobeying orders and being a brat.
Would Thorne let me tie him up and spank that bubble butt of his—
“Layla,” Thorne groans.
Right. I’ve turned myself on and by the look at the tent in his pants, he can smell just how wet I am right now.
“Please.”
I don’t know why I’m getting so emotional over this or why I need his validation so badly. He must have heard the desperation in my voice because his teasing demeanor falls, and he sighs.
“When you laugh, it’s as if the sun rises without turning me to stone. It’s warm, beautiful, and I want to bask in it.”
