Page 30 of Loathe Thy Neighbor

But he can’t fight it.

Slowly, his eyes drift down my body, and just like earlier, I can feel his gaze stroking all over me.

Except this time, it’smore.

It’s almost like I’m wearing nothing.

Like he can seeallof me.

Even the parts I hide.

I regret tossing the blanket aside for only a moment.

Then power washes through me, and for once during the little game of back-and-forth we’ve been playing over the last year, I’m the one in control.

Dean is always the one to get the last word in. He’s always the one to walk away, leaving me feeling flustered and annoyed.

Not today.

No, I won’t give him the satisfaction

I lift my chin, not backing down. “Looks like that might not be the case after all, Dean.”

I spin on my heel, leaving him standing there staring after me.

And I know he is.

Because his stare is just as hot as the fire he set.

6

Dean

I’ve been livingwith River for all of five minutes and I already want to move out.

Not just because she’s the reincarnation of Lucifer, of which I’m ninety-nine percent certain, especially after that stunt she pulled outside.

Or because I’m her sworn enemy for some reason unknown to me.

It’s none of those things.

It’s the damn cat.

The one who’s been sitting perched on the couch, hissing at me for the last few minutes. The same one who’s snuck out of River’s apartment no less than ten times over the past year and found his way inside of mine, trying to get to Leo.

When I attempt to pick him up and take him home, he goes on the defense likeI’mthe one invadinghisspace.

“Morris, be nice.” River sets one of my suitcases near the couch, reaching over and scratching between his ears. “Once he gets to know you, he’ll mellow out.” She pauses, shooting a glance my way. “Well, maybe not. It isyou, after all.”

“Is that any way to treat a guest?” I roll my other suitcase next to the first.

The firefighter was right about the fire damage: it was mostly contained to the kitchen, only a small spot in the living area burned.

The biggest killer was the smoke damage. It’s evident throughout the entire apartment. I’m not a big fan of keeping doors closed—makes me feel all boxed in—so it spread fast and far.

I’m certain I’m going to have to wash all the clothes I tossed into suitcases at least twice just to get the stench out.

A fire. A damn grease fire at that.

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