Twist My Heart by Brooke Taylor (ebook audio reader .txt) 📕

mine as he drifted through the doorway. Reaching an arm out, he set the clothes he’d brought for me onto the vanity in the bathroom. Behind him, the door slipped shut with a solid, terminating click.

“That’s not exactly what I said,” Nik drawled, standing in the hallway. He might’ve stopped moving forward, but he grew larger as he straightened—his spine rigid and his back flared out. He easily filled the passageway. My only way out.

I distinctly recalled his solid and strong body pressing against me in the bathroom. No way in hell I’d be able to force my way past him.

“I believe what I said was—I’m not a serial killer. I’m very much a killer.” He laughed, assumingly to himself since I was in no humor. “I hunt.”

I may have lost my memories, but thankfully I hadn’t lost my intelligence. “This isn’t a hunting gun.”

“Depends on what you’re hunting, doesn’t it?”

Oh, shit. I swallowed hard and chased it with a measured breath. “Stay back.”

“Put the gun down, Tigger.” Boredom teased in Nik’s voice. As he came closer, I widened my eyes at his courage. To which he explained, “It’s not even loaded.”

“Stay back!” I wagged the useless piece of metal at him.

He smirked. “Or what? You’ll throw it at me? Spoiler alert, Tiggs, I’m a pretty good catch and I have the mag—you know, the bullets.” He produced it from his left front pocket as proof and slid it back in. The twinkle in his eye begged me to try and come get it.

As Nik eased forward another step, Titan curled his twitching lips back. His sharp hackles raised up and an evil snarling growl rumbled from his throat. Nik halted, opening his hands in front of him. At least we both knew Titan was loaded and ready to kill at my slightest indication.

“I’m staying back.” Nik showed me his empty hands again. His body still blocked the hallway leading to the door. “Yes, I’ve killed. People. Although some shouldn’t be called human. I’m a Navy SEAL. Hunting and killing are some of the things we do. They were some pretty evil motherfuckers and I’m glad they’re gone from this world. I apologize if I wasn’t completely up front with you about it. For the record, the gun’s not even mine.”

“Right. Sure. You’re holding it for a friend?”

“You could say that.” This smirk was even more amused than the last. “We are friends now, aren’t we?”

Terrified of the answer I knew was coming, I asked slowly, “Whose gun is it?”

“Yours, Tiggs.”

I tossed it onto the nearest bed, disgusted. Yep. Another bad choice made by her. I was really starting to hate this girl.

“I took it off you when you were unconscious. But in the interest of full disclosure, and since I can tell you don’t like surprises—I have my own guns with me as well and they are loaded. I also have knives. I wouldn’t advise pointing a weapon at me again.”

I narrowed my eyes. I’d already checked his bag, finding only the one gun. Mine.

He hitched an impossibly broad shoulder at my skepticism. His jaw flexed hard, the desire to kill me back in full force. He really didn’t need a weapon. His bare hands could’ve done it easily. But his hand wasn’t bare when it returned from under his shirt. It held a dark gray pistol in its grip. He tapped an index finger to the magazine and winked before slipping it back under his shirt. From inside his front pocket, he produced another object. The knife sprang open as he flashed me a savage smile. The aggressive arc resembled one of Titan’s massive claws. Nik brought the glinting blade to his lips, blowing me a kiss off the cold, wicked steel.

“Now…how about we go get those pancakes, Tigger?”

* * * *

I’d tossed the baggy sweat gear aside, opting for the white dress. It fit surprisingly well. If nothing else, I figured it would help get Nik’s attention back on kissing me. Seeing as how killing me was no longer one of those ‘in theory’ kind of things.

Despite my body stiffening painfully from having the snack aisle of a Shell station fall on it, I managed a little extra swish of my skirt as I walked. Unfortunately, Nik was all business as he escorted me to the lobby. He hadn’t gotten over my pointing a gun at him and I couldn’t say I blamed him.

The handsome reception desk clerk arched his bold brows and made wide eyes at me as we passed.

“Why is he looking at me like that?” I hissed under my breath.

“Who? Dylan?” He gave the blond man a two-finger wave and a smile before turning back to me. “He thinks you’re a hooker.” He waited for my mouth to drop to add, “With a dog. Woof woof.”

Why would a hooker need a dog? Oh… Wait, what? I shot Titan a questioning look, which he returned with a dramatic head tilt.

Nik chuckled at my confusion and subsequent repulsion. His manly rumble curled warmth around me, but even so, I wanted to wipe the smug smile from his sexy face.

“I don’t know why you’re laughing. I’m sure he thinks these bruises on my legs and this split lip were from you.”

Nik stopped cold in his tracks. “I do not hit women.” His gritted-out statement was matter of fact and intended to end further conversation. The “Or children” he tacked on was meant to put me in my place.

It stung. Instead of stomping my foot and insisting I wasn’t a child for crissakes, I made sure he didn’t know his cheap shot had wounded me. “And I am not a hooker with a dog, but here we are…off to get pancakes.” I smiled up at his scowl as I looped my arm through his and gave Dylan a little wave over my shoulder. “Woof woof.”

* * * *

Nik surveyed the restaurant as he approached, noting the cars in the parking lot, the surrounding streets,