Page 109 of Barbi and the Villain

“What are you asking, Barbi?”

“You always tell PomPom good girl this, good girl that, but what about me?” I push my chin up. “I am also a good girl. I do my chores. I learned how to cook. I even put in more work to make up for the clothes I lost at the river. How come I never get a praise?”

“They are dogs, Barbi,” he says, straightening his back. “There are different expectations with dogs.”

“How so? I have worked my ass off and deserve some praise, too. Is it so hard to call me good girl every now and then too?”

My cheeks heat up in mortification as it dawns on me I’m begging at this point.

“And will you get on your knees in front of me to receive it as well?”

My eyes widen.

He doesn’t blink, watching me and awaiting my reaction.

“Is that what you want?” I speak slowly. “For me to get on my knees in front of you?”

“Will you?” He smirks.

“Well.” I clear my throat, suddenly out of my depth. “I am not sure what exactly you want me to do.”

“I think you know exactly what I want you to do,” he drawls.

The dogs have already wandered off, playing around. They are oblivious to the thick tension simmering between us.

“You are a cad, Nykander. Has anyone told you that before?” I throw the words at him when I realize he is messing with me.

“Maybe not in so many words.”

“Then take this! You are an insufferable cad and I am sick of your games! You are an asshole and a player. A villainous fuckboy!”

“When have I played any games?”

Pure rage grips me at seeing him so nonchalant about this.

“You’re always hot and cold. One moment you behave as if you care about me, the next you ignore me as if I’m not even there. Like today. You were so nice to me, but then you had to ruin everything by being an ass just now.”

A bored expression appears on his face.

“So?”

“What do you mean so? Don’t you see that you’re sending me mixed signals? Like what happened at the river a few weeks ago. We never talked about that because you always disappear when I bring it up.”

His expression hardens.

“Nothing happened, Barbi.”

“See? That’s exactly what I’m talking about! Something did happen. We almost kissed, Nykander. Perhaps even more than that. I am not dumb, no matter what you may think of me. I saw the way you looked at me. I saw that you were…hard.” I swallow hard, fighting the flush that envelops my entire face.

He takes a step forward. His eyes flash dangerously.

“Nothing. Happened. Barbi.”

“Ugh, you insufferable man!” I stomp my feet. “Is it so hard to admit that you’re attracted to me? That you wanted to kiss me?”

Before I know what’s happening, my back hits a hard surface—the wall of the cabin behind us. The impact is enough to rattle me, but not enough to hurt. He’s in front of me, caging me in as he leans forward.

His silver eyes shift under my gaze, a mix of light and dark as if both essences were fighting for supremacy inside him.

---