Page 195 of If You Give an Artist a Killer Muse

“Get out, Rurik.” She says, and I don't miss how her hand is shaking.

I grab her wrist and lift it enough until the sharp end of her knife pokes the lump in my throat. Her eyes widen. She tries to pull away, but my grip tightens.

“Stop,” she whispers, shaking her head. “Stop being stupid. Or I'll cut—”

“Do it.” I challenge her.

“You're crazy,” she whispers, her face going white.

“Like calls to like,” I say a mocking grin. “C'mon, baby. You want me to leave then prove it. Cut me—”

“Rurik!”

I lean down, but she forcefully shoves me, causing me to stagger backward.

“Stop it, Rurik,” she snaps, tossing the knife on the kitchen table as she straightens her shoulder and rushes toward the living room.

I can tell she's trying hard to appear cold. I would have believed her if it wasn't for the way her voice shakes and the look of desire in her gaze.

But then she just has to open her foolish mouth and utter something ridiculous again. “We are over. Stop throwing a tantrum like a fucking baby.”

“I never fucking agreed to us being over, Briar,” I growl back, following her. “So, no. We’re not over. Also,” I throw myself at her, making us tumble on the couch. “Last I remember, you’re my fucking baby, baby.”

She tries to slap me, but I push her arms against the couch, careful not to harm her injured wrist.

“I’m sorry,” I blurt out as she struggles. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you immediately. You’re not the second choice, Briar. I’m choosing you. This is me choosing you.”

She stops fighting against me and looks at me with wide eyes that shine with unshed tears. Her lips quiver, and I want to kiss her again and pour out the words I’m still too cowardly to say.

But then she had to open those trembling lips and, once again, say the most stupid thing I’ve ever heard.

“Too late,” She says. “I don’t care anymore.”

“I disrespectfully disagree with that statement.”

“I don’t give a shit.”

“You should. I give a shit about you.”

“Can you get off me? Seriously, get off of me!”

“Wow, this is deja vu. Except reverse. That’s actually—”

“Rurik! Get off of me, you fucking ass—”

“No.”

She screams out of frustration, and I can’t help but laugh.

Holy fuck.

Maybe I’m the crazy one.

I spend so much time with this damn woman that I undoubtedly absorb her craziness.

She fucking broke me.

She releases an angry yell and kicks me off of her. She literally kicked me like a child having a tantrum.

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