Page 35 of If You Give an Artist a Killer Muse

“Cousin?” I wrinkle my nose. “Liar, they’re not your cousins. Long-distance relationships exist.”

Rurik stares at me, blinking repeatedly as if trying to make me vanish with each blink. Jokes on him, though. I’ll always be there for him.

He inhales deeply and closes his eyes as he exhales. He shakes his head before opening his eyes to glare at me.

“You’re ridiculous.” He groans.

“Ridiculously into you.”

“Get lost and stay out of my fucking face, Briar.”

“I can't do that, angel.”

“You're a fucking monster.”

“I’m your fucking monster.”

“Oh, piss off before I show you who the real monster is.”

“Show me. I’d love to meet the monster who soothes mine.”

“Fuck. Off.”

“No. Who’s the girl?”

He growls impatiently and throws his hands up. "It's none of your business if I’m with someone, Briar! As I told you earlier, I want nothing to do with you.”

“And as I told you earlier,” I close the distance between us, my voice a whisper. “I want everything to do with you. Everything. So lose your side chick because I'm taking over your thoughts, heart, and essence from this moment on.”

His throat bobs and my gaze quickly jumps to his Adam’s apple.

Would he freak out if I bit it? I really want to.

No.

But I’m hungry.

Chill the fuck out, girl.

Just a lick, then.

You already weird him out.

I loudly huff at that thought, causing him to jerk. I flash my adorable smile, and he replies by stepping away. And then another.

Then another.

My eyes narrow as he hesitates for a second before turning around and sprinting away.

What a dick. Probably a gorgeous dick, but still a dick.

I stare at him. He'd better run home and call his girl to break up with her or something. If he didn’t, I may have to gather my stalkerish skills again and visit her.

*-*-*-*

“I don’t think he has a girlfriend,” Oscar says as he backs away from fixing one of Mr. Rogers’s problems.

The problem in question? Nat’s former bodyguard, Luke. Former, because he fucked up. Oscar quickly removed his blindfold.

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