I guide her down the stairs with one hand on the small of her back.
She hesitates at the curb and looks around. “It wasn’t much, but I really liked it here.”
“I think you’ll like my place, too.” I squeeze her hand. “Maybe a little bit more.”
“Thank you.” She crushes herself into my chest.
“No need to thank me. I’m your husband.” I see Blade waving to me from an SUV across the street. “That’s our chariot home.” I point to the Denali.
She scoffs a laugh and lets me steer her to the SUV.
I open the rear passenger door, and she gets in. When I join her on the bench, she’s looking at me like I might actually be the hero she needs.
But we both know better. I’m not her salvation. I’m theother monster she chose.
Blade throws the car in gear and asks me for my address. I give it to him, and we peel away from the curb.
“And now?” Scarlett asks.
“Now,” I say, “I take you home.”
Chapter 31
Scarlett
Istand just inside the doorway of Cormac’s apartment. Our apartment now. And I try not to gape.
It’s a luxury condo with current amenities, but the designers added old-world charm and classic details like decorative molding, arched room dividers, and coffered ceilings.
Holy crap.This place is beautiful. Wide-plank floors, a stainless-steel kitchen, and a living room in charcoal and cream. The far wall is floor-to-ceiling windows framing Manhattan, the glow of the city’s breathtaking skyline bleeding through thick glass.
I step that way, breath hitching.
Cormac shrugs out of his jacket by the hallway closet, slow like he’s bracing himself. “Ground rules,” he says, voice gravel. “Before anything else.”
I nod, even though my pulse is too loud to hear much of anything.
He gestures toward the far hallway past the living room. I see three doors, but only one is open.
“That one.” He points to the middle door. “You don’t go in. Ever.”
My throat works around a swallow. “Okay.”
He moves on, bringing me with him. “This is my office. It will have class details. Do I need to keep it locked?”
A strange ache tugs at my ribs. “No.”
“Good. Then let me show you where you’ll be sleeping.”
He turns and pushes open what looks like the apartment’s primary bedroom. It’s gorgeous with navy accents, dark furniture, andall clean lines.
“You’ll sleep here,” he says, pointing to a king bed. “With me.”
My heartbeat kicks painfully behind my ribs. “Wait…”
“There’s no other available bedroom.” He opens a door to an empty walk-in closet. “This closet will be yours.”
I blink. “That thing is bigger than the apartment I just got kicked out of.” I gawk at the vacant shelves and racks. “Maybe I should just sleep in here. Got an air mattress?”