Bite Marks & Broken Hearts (The Killigrew Street Case Files, #1)

by T.J. Rose

Five centuries of existence, and this was what my dignity had come to. Being mocked by a wolf over getting kneed in the groin by some human who didn’t even seem to possess the most basic of common sense in his pretty head.

“One bread, please.” The words tumbled out before I could stop them. Flynn’s eyebrows shot up. “One… bread?” “Yes. I mean, one loaf.”

“I guess sometimes when you’re running from everything else, any direction looks like the right one.”

What kind of idiot follows their armed stalker to an unknown location? Oh, right—me.

Actually, I was fantasising about licking your forearms while simultaneously sort of still pondering if I’m going to die, but sure, let’s go with that.

“If you’re asking whether we look anything like those janky CGI wolves from Twilight, I’m gonna have to throw you out of this car.”

This beautiful, fragile human who was looking at me like I could protect him from each and every darkness this cruel world might throw at him. It made me want to be worthy of that look, more than anything.

Without thinking, I reached out and caught his wrist. “Don’t pull away from me,” I whispered, startling myself with my own boldness. A small crease formed between Seb’s eyebrows. “What do you mean?” My heart thundered out a warning I chose to ignore. Because I wanted to tell him how exhausting it was, this constant dance of coming close then retreating, how every time he pulled away it caused tangible pain.

when Flynn Carter set his course, not even a storm could throw him off it. And right now? My compass pointed straight at Sebastián Salazar.

“Sebastián,” I breathed like a prayer. “This is what it feels like,” he murmured against my cheek, between kisses. “What?” “This is what it feels like to be alive.”

“You know, I used to think the ocean at sunset was the most beautiful sight in the world.” My thumb traced his jawline. “Turns out I just hadn’t met you yet.”

Then the words tumbled from my lips, a wavering rush I couldn’t stop: “I think I’m falling in love with you.” He went utterly still above me, those dark eyes searching mine with an intensity that made my heart stutter. “I know I’m falling in love with you.”

“Flynn? Flynn, stay with me.” His voice sounded like it was coming from the end of a long tunnel, fading in and out.

“Seb—” I gasped out his name. My heart jackhammered erratically in my chest, each beat slower than the last. “I… I don’t think…” “No.” The single word was a growl, his arms tightening around me in a grip of iron. “Don’t you dare, Flynn Carter. Don’t you dare leave me.”

“Promise me…” Each word felt like shards of glass in my throat, but I persisted. “Promise you won’t go back to how you were before. Alone. Refusing to let anyone in.” “Flynn, I—” “Promise me,” I rasped again, fighting against the rising tide of darkness. “You’ve suffered enough, Seb. Let yourself find happiness, whatever that means for you. Don’t… Don’t shut yourself away again. Do it for me.”

Bending down, he pressed his forehead to mine, his arms flexing around me in an embrace so tight it drove the breath from my weakened lungs. “I promise,” he whispered, the words containing a torrent of anguish. “Whatever you need of me, I swear it. But stay with me, Flynn. Don’t leave me. I… Flynn, I love you. I’ve existed through five hundred years of darkness, convinced that love was a luxury I didn’t deserve. But you… You’ve brought light into every shadow. I love you with a ferocity that terrifies me, Flynn, and I cannot—will not—imagine continuing this endless existence without you in it.”