It was due to her attitude after an email exchange.

From: Jonathan King

To: Aurora Harper

Subject: Do Not Wear the Red Lipstick for Dinner Tonight.

Refer to subject.

From: Aurora Harper

To: Jonathan King

Subject: Do Not Wear the Red Lipstick for Dinner Tonight.

No.

From: Jonathan King

To: Aurora Harper

Subject: Do Not Wear the Red Lipstick for Dinner Tonight.

Don’t fucking push me, Aurora. That red lipstick is meant for me and me alone. No one else is allowed to see it, not even my son and nephew.

From: Aurora Harper

To: Jonathan King

Subject: Do Not Wear the Red Lipstick for Dinner Tonight.

Oops.

Attached is a picture of herself. She wasn’t only wearing the red lipstick, but she was also biting her lower lip while wearing a revealing dress that showed so much of her cleavage, she nearly flashed me her nipples.

One, I became as hard as a rock.

Two, I planned the murder of every last bastard who could see her like that.

Could, because there was no way in fuck she’d go out like that in front of anyone.

From: Jonathan King

To: Aurora Harper

Subject: Do Not Wear the Red Lipstick for Dinner Tonight.

Change your clothes and remove the lipstick. Now.

From: Aurora Harper

To: Jonathan King

Subject: Do Not Wear the Red Lipstick for Dinner Tonight.

Or what?

From: Jonathan King

To: Aurora Harper

Subject: Do Not Wear the Red Lipstick for Dinner Tonight.

Or that arse will turn red. If you’re in the mood to sit at all tonight, change.

From: Aurora Harper

To: Jonathan King

Subject: Do Not Wear the Red Lipstick for Dinner Tonight.

I guess you have to come home and make me.

I went home and did just that. Then I grabbed her by the throat and fucked her against the wall, smearing the lipstick all over her face until she screamed my name.

I haven’t missed the way she calls my house a home now, either. For someone who never actually belonged anywhere, it’s a huge deal that she’s picking my place as her home.

Maybe she meant what she told me once — the part about not running away anymore. But for some reason, I can’t seem to fully trust that promise.

She’s currently talking to Elsa and Astrid. While their conversation is far enough away to not disrupt the boys’ game, I can almost hear Aurora talk about her next design.

She’s been focused on that lately, working from home until late and even inviting Black Belt over. She said her peculiar behaviour is one of her inspirations. Sometimes, I catch her observing my wrist or measuring my watches as if planning for something.

From the outside looking in, it appears as if she’s moving on from the attack, Maxim’s reappearance, and everything that transpired afterwards.

But it’s too soon. The possibility that she’s bottling something — or everything — inside is what’s keeping me on the edge. That’s never a good sign and will eventually backfire.

“Your obsession is showing, Jonathan.” Aiden focuses on me for a second, smirks, then slides his attention back to the board.

“Can you blame him?” Levi waggles his brows. “What’s up with her knee, though?”

“Why the fuck have you been looking at her knee?” I rip my gaze away from her to glare at my nephew.

“It’s innocent, Uncle.”

“Innocent or not, do not look at her. That applies to you, too, Aiden.”

My son lifts his shoulder. “I don’t take orders, Jonathan.”

“Well, you will now. Is that understood?”

“Does that mean you’ll beat him up? Can I watch? Or maybe participate?” Levi’s gaze sparks.

Aiden flips him off discreetly, but I see it.

“I must admit. I like this side of you, Uncle. It’s more human. You weren’t this way with Alicia.”

“No, he wasn’t.” There’s no maliciousness in Aiden’s voice, as if he merely intends to relay facts. “Is it true that she’s becoming like Alicia? Aurora, I mean.”

I take a sip of my drink, letting the burn settle in before I speak, “How do you know about that?”

“She told me so herself.”

“Since when did you two start to talk?”

“Since I can use her to bring you down.”

My lips twitch. “Maybe in the next life, son.”

“Whatever.” Aiden twirls a knight chess piece between his fingers. “So is she?”

“Perhaps.”

“Well, shit.” Levi’s voice lowers. “Is it genetic?”

“No clue yet, but probably.”

“I’m surprised you haven’t taken her to the doctor.” Aiden kills one of Levi’s pawns with his knight.

“Yeah, Uncle. Doctors are your modus operandi, aren’t they? First Alicia, then Dad, then me.”

“If there’s need for outside help that’s exactly what will happen.” I take another sip of my cognac.

“Why didn’t you do it with her, then?” Aiden motions his head in Aurora’s direction.

“She would throw a tantrum.”

Levi chuckles. “Whoa. Has the great Jonathan King finally met his match?”

“Looks like it.” Aiden gives me an undecipherable glance.

“Don’t you have a game to focus on? Your right is exposed, Aiden. Your queen is in jeopardy, Levi.”

Both their demeanours sharpen as their attention shifts back to the chessboard. Now that they realise the other party is aware of their weakness, they need to give their all to win the game.

The women soon join us. Elsa slides beside Aiden, and her blue eyes sparkle. She’s just like Ethan; they seem demure, but deep down yearn for challenges and wars. Her father is way worse, though.

Astrid sits close to Levi and points at a chess piece. Even though he’s concentrating, he answers each of her questions.

There’s a moment of hesitation before Aurora stands beside my chair. She’s far enough away that her apple scent is barely noticeable. That scent, which I’ve never paid attention to before, has become a fucking addiction. Smelling it means she’s there, close, and all mine for the taking. Having it all over my bed means she’s beside me, holding on to me with her dainty hands as if she needs me.

I grab her by the waist and pull her close. She gasps as she falls at the edge of my chair. She attempts to wiggle away, because in her politically correct mind, she doesn’t like the kids to see us close. She feels like she’s taking a role that’s not hers.

If they have an issue with her, that’s their problem, not mine. Aurora is here to stay. I don’t fucking care what anyone says or thinks.

My fingers dig into the flesh of her waist, and she must realise that there’s no escaping me, because she releases a long sigh and remains still.

Soon, she’ll stop fighting or trying to run away from me.

Soon, she’ll be safe from both the world and herself.

But to make that happen, I might have to take a measure that she won’t like.