Page 227 of If You Give an Artist a Killer Muse

Rurik drops his hands to his side, staring at me.

His lips tremble, and his breathing becomes ragged. “We have to stop.”

“Stop what?”

"This," he gestures between us, his eyes wild and wide. "We have to stop this. Whatever this is between us. It wasn't meant to last long."

He takes a deep breath, closes his eyes for a few seconds, then reopens them, his mask firmly back in place.

Fucking great. My patience is wearing thin.

He forces me to let him go as he moves past me. I follow him out as he goes to the kitchen and opens the cabinet where we keep his pills.

“Why not?” I ask, trying hard not to sound annoyed and impatient.

“Boundaries, Briar,” Rurik warns, his back still turned to me. “You're crossing them.”

“I think we crossed that line ages ago, don't you?” I retort.

“Which is why we're done,” He slams the cabinet shut and whirls around, only to collide with me as I stand against him. “Get the fuck out of my way.”

“No.”

“Move!”

“Make me.” Next thing I know, I’m pushed against the kitchen counter, my back digging the edge. “Holy fucking shit, I love when you get all aggressive on me, Rurik.”

“What the fuck is wrong with you!” His whole body is wound tight as he stares at me.

“Honestly? You not being inside me already.”

Rurik's eyes widen as he releases a choked sound.

He reaches for a plate I had set out, then whirls around to hurl it across the kitchen with a frustrated shout. “You’re not listening to me, Briar! I’m serious. I can’t fucking be with you anymore!”

I stare at the plate for a second before narrowing my eyes, glaring at him.

I jab my finger against his chest, poking him hard with each word I say, “First of all, you better clean up that mess when we’re done talking, asshole. Second, I’m also serious. You’ll never get rid of me.”

Rurik releases a sob, shaking his head as he trembles. The mask he tried so hard to wear has cracked again, and he stares at me with anguish and fear.

I close the space between us, our noses barely touching as I stare at him. “Look me in the eyes and tell me you don’t want me anymore. Really look at me, and tell me you want us to stop.”

He stares at me with those bright, blue, wide eyes. So full of pain and regret. His gaze dances across my face, pausing on my lips. I exhale softly, and his attention shifts to my gaze as he swallows hard.

“Tell me.” I snap.

“Briar,” Rurik whimpers.

And fuck, I really hate that we’ve had to reach here. But something tells me that if I don’t push Rurik if I don’t force him to tell me what the fuck is happening inside that head of his, he will just explode. One more push.

“Tell me you’re done with me, and I’ll find someone else to be my angel.”

The transformation is instantaneous.

Rurik's brow shoots up, and his face curls into a different type of anger. His palms slam against the counter, his chest pressing firmly against mine as he cages me in, his breath coming out in heavy, uneven gasps.

“Like hell, you will, Briar.”

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