Page 22 of If You Give an Artist a Killer Muse

“What. The. Fuck.” I growl so low. I drop my paintbrush and turn my whole body to face her.

She blinks once and flashes me a grin. She cocks her head again in that way of hers that makes her look so damn innocent, and it’s just messing with me on the inside.

“What the fuck?” I say louder, standing up and taking a threatening step to her.

Her eyes flash, but she remains standing in her spot. With a snarl, I grab the brush from her grip and throw myself back into the chair.

“Get lost.” I bark, staring at the canvas and trying to see how I can fix the shit Briar ruined.

If I mix the yellow in, it might work. It has to work. I release an angry huff and use a clean brush to start brushing the yellow back and forth to blend in with the colors.

The paintbrush is plucked from my fingers.

“Seriously, what the hell?” I turn to her and bare my teeth, “Leave, damn it!”

“But I just got here.” Briar’s face drops. “I’ve been looking all over for you, angel.”

“Stop calling me that, and quit looking for me,” I snarl. This woman is crazy. I don’t know her problem with me, but I need to get rid of her. She’s ruining my flow. “You can’t just come up and distract me out of nowhere.”

“Wait,” She blinks. “I’m distracting you? Is it because I’m so beautiful, and you can’t stop thinking about me?”

This little shit.

“Get over yourself.”

“Because ever since I sat on your lap, my mind won’t stop playing images of you beneath me. Question. Do you often get hard fast like that whenever a woman is on top of you, or is it just me?”

God. Fucking. Damn it.

I exhale heavily and shake my head. “You can’t say stuff like that and expect people to think you’re a level-headed, contributing member of society, Briar.”

She barked an incredulous laugh, “I don’t give a shit what society thinks, Rurik. I’m surprised you do.”

Crazy, psychotic woman.

“Can you just leave me alone, please? I’m not comfortable with people watching me work over my shoulder.”

Briar nods. “Oh! Of course, I'm so sorry.”

For a second, I think she will finally leave me the hell alone. Instead of doing what I wish, she steps closer until she's right beside me and grins.

“There, now I'm standing next to you. Not behind you.”

“Is something wrong with you?”

“Yes.”

I pause. “Yes?”

She shrugs. “Yes. It's wrong that I tasted heaven after meeting you, but you refuse to let me fully into your paradise. Why are you so afraid to spread your wings for me, angel?”

I stare at her, unable to come up with a reply that would make her turn around and leave for good.

So, instead of coming up with a civil response like a grown-ass adult, I scoff loudly and roll my eyes. “Seriously. Read the room and leave me alone.”

“The more you keep pushing me away, the more I’ll come right back.”

A growl rumbles in my throat. “Enough already, get out of my face! If you don’t back off, you’ll see what happens.”

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