Page 103 of If You Give an Artist a Killer Muse

“I don’t want to.”

“Please?”

“No.”

“Pretty please?”

He makes an exasperated sigh, running his fingers over his hair. I stare, wanting him to stop so I can do it for him.

Fuck it.

I step toward him, and he freezes, his eyes locked onto mine. We stand toe-to-toe, my chest pressing tightly against his as I lift onto my toes. His hand drops from his head as I run my fingers through his silky waves, gently massaging his scalp. A smile tugs at my lips as he sighs.

Did he notice how he leans his head into my touch?

“You’re going to kill me,” Rurik whispers, watching me.

I kiss his lips.

“Only if it’s death by orgasm,” I bite my bottom lip to stop from giggling like a schoolgirl again. “That wouldn’t be a bad way to go, right?”

His jaw clenches, his brows furrowed as he stares at my lips, and for a moment, I think he's going to kiss me with that intense look on his face. However, he steps back, causing me to drop my hand from his head.

I can feel the disappointment filling me up again, but I try to force a smile on my face anyway. I clear my throat and look down. “Well. Thank you for the crazy make-out session, Rurik. Let’s do it again sometime. Preferably where you cum inside me instead of my clothes, though.”

“For fucks sake, Briar,” Rurik mutters under his breath as he shakes his head. He brushes past me and heads toward the exit door.

This time, I don’t stop him. I can feel my resolve waning. There's only so much rejection a woman can bear. I know, right? Me? Who the fuck doesn’t want me, right? I’m fucking awesome.

Rurik doesn’t think so.

I sigh, pulling my phone out of my pocket to open the ride-share app as I hear Rurik swing the door open.

“Well, are you coming?”

I whirl around to see Rurik with his arm extended, keeping the door open.

Wait…

Is he…

Fuck me. I can not stop the stupid grin appearing on my face even if I wanted to.

I knew he likes me!

Rurik’s lips twitch before he rolls his eyes. He walks away and grumbles, “I need a drink.”

I immediately run after him.

*-*-*-*

“Stop looking at me like that, Briar,” Rurik snaps, adorably embarrassed. “And close your mouth. You look like a drooling fool.”

I close my mouth, not realizing it was open.

“Sorry,” I say, shaking my head. “You’ve never gone stargazing?”

“No,” he mutters, looking away from me.

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