Page 73 of My Hunger, Your Soul

“Okay. And just so you know, he doesn’t know Noah was there.”

“Great. Now I’ll have to listen to him bitching.”

I laugh as it’s true. Dima does love to complain.

“Thank god it’s done. I need a vacation from all this stress,” Lev says, just as Seb places two shots in front of us.

“Cheers to that,” I say to Lev, and he smiles. We knock back the shots of tequila and hiss at the burn.

“The only issue we may have is Kai’s mom,” I say, turning to lean against the bar so I can watch Tyler talk to the guys. He’s so fucking sexy.

“Jules said Kai spoke to her before we came out tonight. She’s a little worried about Tim, but also annoyed. Apparently they had an epic fight before he left to come spy on us. She thinks he’s punishing her.”

“That's a stroke of luck. Happy days. Maybe we can go back to just interrogating wannabe gangsters.”

“Don’t jinx it, Ivan.”

I laugh and walk back over to the table and sit myself next to Tyler. He moves close into my side and I lift my arm around his shoulder so he can snuggle up. He loves to snuggle me and I’m getting used to it.

“I really love this bar,” Tyler says to me, and I look down at him as he stares up at me like I’m everything he has dreamed of. I love that he looks at me like I’m his King.

“Fucking hell, another loved up couple,” Lev says as he pulls up a chair to the side of the booth.

“You’re loved up too,” Kai says, and Lev stares daggers at him.

“He’s right though, Tyler looks at you like a loved up puppy,” Jules teases, and Ty moves to sit upright.

“Of course he loves me,” I say as I take a sip of my whiskey.

“Do I?” Tyler asks, crossing his arms over his chest.

“Are you saying you don’t love me, sweetheart?” I grin and pinch his chin, which he slaps away.

“Do you love me?” he asks, reversing the question.

I think about that for a second. Do I?

“How would I know? I’ve never been in love before. I don’t think,” I say, searching in my mind to see if I ever have.

“Are you fucking serious right now?” Tyler snaps.

“I’m outta here,” Lev says as he walks away, and Jules and Kai quickly follow.

“What?” I ask.

“You don’t know if you love me?”

“Don’t be sassy, Ty. You just said you didn’t love me.”

“I did not say that.”

“But you didn’t say that you did.”

“You’re the most infuriating man I’ve ever met, do you know that?” he says, his upper lip curling in a sneer. Feisty Ty is the best.

“But you love me,” I say, and he groans in annoyance and rests his head on my shoulder.

“Yes I do. I shouldn't, but I do. Very much. Happy now?”

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