God of Pain (Legacy of Gods #2) by Rina Kent

“And what are those?”

She wrenches herself from my hold and stands in front of me, then starts counting on her fingers. “I’ll plan all the dates and make sure there aren’t a lot of people around. I’ll plan birthday parties and invite our friends, but when I feel you’re annoyed, I’ll kindly kick them out. I’ll also talk to all the people on your behalf since you don’t like them. I’ll take care of decorations and pretty aesthetics. Oh, I’ll also dance for you, like a swan, though you’ll probably shred my beautiful dresses afterward because you can be savage. But anyway, that’s a breakdown of what I’ll do.”

I raise a brow. “What will I do then?”

“You can punch people if they annoy you. Though I prefer you don’t, but you said you need to purge energy, so I guess it’s fine once in a while or at the fight club. And oh, you can totally kidnap me out of any social situation if you feel I’m uncomfortable and have resorted to faking it. No one will mind if it’s you, because everyone is used to your blunt personality.”

I can’t help the smile that lifts the corners of my lips. An occurrence that happens more often than not around Annika.

“More importantly, we should talk about stuff.”

“What type of stuff?”

“Everything. I know you’re used to keeping your emotions in a vault, and I respect that. But since we’re in a relationship, you should tell me how you feel sometimes, so I can understand you better. Mom once told me that communication is the key that can make or break a couple and I don’t want to break us, okay?”

“Okay.”

“Really?”

“It doesn’t come naturally, but I will try.”

“Trying is a good start.” She grins then lifts an index finger. “Oh, and I forgot something very important. I will do all the cooking since you don’t know how.”

I internally wince. “We should probably outsource that.”

“But why? You like my food.”

Because you put effort into it, not because it tastes good.

“Is there something wrong with my cooking? Ava calls it horrendous and Papa flat-out ordered me not to cook anymore back home and Jeremy barely touches the dishes I make for him. And now, you said we should outsource it.”

I stroke her hair. “You can cook if you like. I just don’t want you to exert yourself.”

“Aw, really? I knew you were my favorite.”

“Don’t.” My tone hardens.

“W-what? What have I done?”

“Don’t say I’m your favorite when you tell everyone else that exact sentence.”

Her lips part, then clamp shut before she clears her throat. “You’re at the top of my favorite list, so don’t be jealous.”

“I’m not jealous. I’m territorial.”

Her eyes widen and then she smiles a little. “Wow. That was intense.”

I open the car door. “Let’s go to my place and I’ll show you what intense actually looks like.”

“Uh, I’m supposed to spend the night with the girls at the apartment.”

“No.”

“But, Creigh…”

“Either you come amicably or I throw you over my shoulder.”

“Territorial and a caveman. Don’t you think that’s a little over the top?”

“No.”

“It was a rhetorical question.” She releases a breath, then pauses when her phone beeps. Upon checking it, she scrunches her nose.

I step beside her to see what she received. It’s a selfie Harry took with me earlier today at the shelter as I was about to wash up.

Harry: I’m stealing him from you, Anni. Muahaha.

“I’m going to mess up his pretty hair next time I see him and he’s totally not getting any more skincare tips from me,” she mutters, then basically punches the screen of her phone.

Annika: He’s mine. Stay away from him.

“I thought being territorial was over the top,” I whisper near her ear and she jumps, then hides her phone.

“Uh, Harry is an antagonistic little shit and I just had to make a statement. He’s the admin of your fan club that keeps growing tremendously, and he kicked me out because of a ‘conflict of interest.’ It’s not that I’m jealous or anything. Okay, maybe a little.”

“Of a man?”

“He’s gay.”

“And I’m not.” I slide my fingers into her hair. “You’re the only one I want. Everyone else is just white noise.”

“Oh.” She blushes, then grins. “You’re really saying all the right things today. Be easy on my heart, okay?”

“Not unless you come home with me.”

She spreads her palms on my chest, touching, exploring, sinking her nails into a part a lot deeper than my skin. “And what do you have in mind for me?”

I grab her by the arse and slam her against my front, relishing the sound of her gasp. “I’m going to strip you until you’re only wearing this skirt and then I’ll shred it to play with your every hole. No, not play. Fuck. You’ll be taking my cock like a good little girl, won’t you?”

She nods frantically. “But are you going to hurt me?”

“Oh, I will.” I kiss the top of her head. “But I promise you’ll enjoy every second of it.”