Page 11 of Bulletproof Love

I cross the room and slip out the door, not caring that I haven’t showered or changed.

It’s fine. I’ve got this. It’s a simple task—find a pet store, buy some shit, and come back. I don’t need to find a plug.

The cold air hits my face and I release a long breath. I can do this.

I make it a few blocks before I realize she’s behind me. I’ve memorized the way her Doc Martens sound on pavement, learned the subtle hints of her perfume. She smells like roses, but not the cheap kind vendors sell on street corners—darker, richer, like they bloomed in a night garden behind iron gates, their stems wrapped in the sharpest thorns. So fitting for her personality.

I veer to the right, passing a couple hand in hand, and turn at the next corner. Should I bring her on a little adventure? That would be fun, but I don’t want to leave the kittens too long without food and litter. Instead, I duck into an alcove, some restaurant back entrance, and wait.

Her body comes into view seconds later. That perfect hourglass, making my mouth water. I swear she wears those tiny crop tops just to fuck with me. This one is decorated with metal studs and black hearts. My palms itch as she steps closer, glancing around. She turns in a full circle, missing out on what’s right in front of her.Can’t forget the shadows. That’s where us monsters hide.

With her back turned, I step forward and wrap my arms around her waist, lifting her until her back presses flush against my chest. My palms spread across her bare midriff as she kicks her feet in the air, thrashing in my hold.

I lean in and brush my lips against her ear. “Where’s your jacket? You’ll freeze out here in this tiny shirt.”

“Jasper, what the fuck? Put me down.” The fire in her voice has me fighting back a smile.

“Why are you following me, sweetheart? Miss me too much?” I linger against the shell of her ear for a second, loving the way her body squirms against mine.

“I swear to God, I’m going to slice your balls off in your sleep if you don’t let go right fucking now.”

“Okay, okay, no need to bring the baby juice storage into it.” I slowly place her feet back on the ground, crossing my arms and leaning against the brick building. She stands motionless, only her shoulders rising with one quick breath. The movement is so fast I almost miss it—her body pivoting, closing the space between us. Suddenly she’s pressed against my chest, holding the sharp edge of her switchblade against my throat. Her eyes pin me, hard and deadly. I don’t know whether to moan or piss myself. “Quit flirting with me, or I just might fall in love with you,” I say in a playful tone.

“I don’t make empty threats, Jasper. You ever grab me like that again and this blade will look like a butter knife compared to what I’ll use.” She presses the blade closer and I feel the sharp sting of my skin splitting. We stay like that for a few long moments, heartbeats thundering against each other’s chest, eyes locked in a silent battle. She’s waiting for me to relent. To tuck my tail between my legs and tell her “Yes, Falin,” like an obedient puppy. And I will, but not before I’ve memorized every spark of fire dancing in her smokey eyes.

I reach for her hand and pull it away from my throat. “I believe you.” She blinks and steps back, glancing down at the blade in her fist, dotted with my blood. I cup my neck, wiping at the crimson beads that made their way to the surface.

Falin digs through her purse and pulls out a tissue. “Here.” Clearing my throat, I take it and attempt to wipe away the blood. I notice a few pedestrians staring at us from across the street. “We should go,” she says, probably noticing the same people I do.

“Yeah, one sec.” I take off my hoodie and pull it over her head. “Don’t fight me on this. It’s cold.” A cute scowl lines her lips, but she slides the hoodie down the rest of the way. It stops at her knees, and I’m momentarily bummed that I don’t get to ogle her anymore. But then again, neither does the rest of Manhattan.

We walk side by side, toward the independently owned pet supply shop I found on Google. Falin seems to be deep in thought as she toys with the ribbed wrist cuff. “I didn’t need a babysitter. I wasn’t going to buy pills.”

“I’m too tired to deal with this argument,” she says, not missing a beat.

The pet shop is a few feet away, just past a pedestrian tunnel where a group of workers crowd around brick siding, making repairs.

“What’s the argument? All I’m saying is, you can trust me. I’m not going to make that mistake again.” I hope I sound more sure than I feel.

She sighs and turns her head in my direction. “I know more about this than you think, okay? I don’t want to get into it right now, but trust me on this. You’re nowhere near ready to be left to your own devices.”

As my brain wraps around a response, she quickens her pace, stepping around the crew of workers, and heads into the pet store.

Thirty minutes, three hundred dollars and two arguments later, we leave the sweltering pet store, arms full of bags, a pre-assembled hot pink cat tower, and a self-scooping litter box.

“We should buy one of those cart things people use to lug their groceries around,” I say, adjusting the cat tower against my shoulder.

“Or order online like normal people,” she says. I notice she’s shoved my hoodie in the bag, after taking it off in the store.

“You’re not cold?” I ask.

She rolls her eyes. “Are you kidding? Their heat had to be broken. It was like a sauna in there.”

“True, but it’s cold out here.” I shrug, leaving it alone. Don’t need to piss her off yet again.

“What’s with your obsession over my body temperature? I don’t need a big, strong man telling me to cover up. I’m not going to catch the plague from a little cool air.” She tosses her hair over her shoulder in an extra show of sass.

Yeah, but I won’t have to kill every person in the tri-state area for looking at you.Exhibit A: the creepy contractor who’s eye fucking her right this very moment.Stay calm. You know how most men are.Disgusting animals who can’t keep their eyes or hands to themselves.My jaw clenches and fist balls around the base of the cat tower hard enough to crush metal.

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