Page 36 of Grumpy Puck

Not dignifying that with a response, I open the door and channel my frustration at the fuckers outside.

Unfortunately for my itching fists, they make way for us, so I takeptichkaby her elbow and lead her through the parking lot—ready to punch anyone who asks us some stupid question.Here again, I don’t get the chance.

Speaking of people I’d punch… “Have you seen any other signs of your stalker?”

She shakes her head.“We don’t know that it was a stalker, but no.”Yet she looks a little unsure.

“There’s something else, isn’t there?”

She hesitates.“Now that I think about it, when I got to my place on my first day, something seemed off.There were some smudges on the walls, and a few floorboards looked like they’d been pulled up and then placed back.”

“Fucking stalker,” I growl.

“Or it was my imagination,” she says.“Also, I’m not sure the video was even viral yet at that time.”

I clench and unclench my fist.“Do you have a security system?”

“No.”

“I’m going to make some calls.One is getting installed tonight.”

She rolls her eyes.“That sounds like overkill.”

“It’s better to have a security system and never need it.”

“Whatever.”Her classically shaped nose wrinkles.“Now… can you tell me what your secret project is?”

I lean in.“Can you keep a secret?”

She nods eagerly and gets so close I can almost taste her lips.

“So can I,” I say and watch as the disappointment spreads over her face.

“Fine,” she says.“I’m going.”Yet she doesn’t move even an inch.A flap of a butterfly’s wing is all it would take to have our lips meet.

My heart pounds heavily, and my voice is a touch too husky as I say, “Don’t we have some pretending to do?”

Her shoulders dip fetchingly.“Not everyone kisses their girlfriend goodbye every day.”

“If you were really mine, I would.”

Fuck, what am I saying?Why am I saying it?It’s like a demon has taken hold of my tongue.Or my dick.

She moistens her lips.“Seems like we don’t have much of a choice.”

The demon pushes me from behind, making me dip my head, and my lips clash against hers.

Her breathy gasp of surprise tells me that she didn’t expect it—but she doesn’t push me away.No, she returns the kiss with a passion that could win her an Oscar.

I pull her closer and she melts into me, her soft parts driving my hard ones insane.

The sound of cameras clicking brings me back to reality, and I pull away from her.

Eyes wild, she touches her lips.“I bet that was pretty convincing.”

I nod.“See you tomorrow,ptichka.”

With that, I drag myself away and drive home in a haze.When I get there, two journalists are waiting for me, and one asks about Calliope.

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