Page 19 of Choosing Jenny
“Tell him I said to go fuck himself.”
He laughed raucously, as if she’d cracked a joke. “Happy to. Malice, I’ve been here two minutes and have yet to be introduced to your fuck buddies.”
“We’ve already met, Rex,” I growled irritably.
Rex glanced around the table. “Ah, so everyone here knows who I am, then?”
Mal nodded. “Everyone has been informed of your return, yes.”
“Oh, good. Saves time.” He glanced at Jenny and me, a charming smile in place. “Don’t worry, kids, I’m not here to cause trouble. I’m just here for Malice. Hope you don’t mind.”
Rage crackled through me. “I beg your pardon?”
“Oh, I do like when boys beg me,” he said with a wink.
Jenny rolled her eyes and drank her banwine.
Why isn’t she reacting to him?I tried to follow her lead and keep my cool. “What do you mean that you’re here for Malice?”
Rex glanced at Mal, brow raised. “You haven’t told them?”
“There’s nothing to tell, Rex.” Mal sat back in his seat, smiling. “You haven’t conned your way into my bed yet.”
Rex leaned forward, eyes sparkling deviously. “I like that you said, ‘yet.’”
Mal laughed, and even though I knew he was playing a part, this whole conversation was grating on my nerves.
“There are many guarantees in this world,” Mal said smoothly. “For instance, that which is dropped will fall. Water is wet. Rex Terian has a gift for ending up in my bed.”
“You know something, Malice?” Rex all but purred. “This time, I think you’ll end up inmine.”
I drummed my fingers on the table, resisting the urge to shove my fist into his face. “Oh? And why is that?”
He looked down his nose at me. “Because as much fun as humans and savages like yourself can be, he’ll be bored of you both soon enough.”
“Manners, Rex,” Longshot said, his voice quiet, but like sharpened steel. Rhonda’s silver scales were ruffled outward in irritation, her narrowed eyes on Rex. “You are a guest in this home,” he reminded Rex.
Rex laughed disparagingly. “Still pretending to be a proper classed man instead of the scheming sniper I trained?”
“We all have pasts to overcome,” Longshot said evenly. “That does not mean rudeness will be tolerated.”
I glanced at Longshot. “He trained you?”
Longshot shrugged. “As I said, pasts to overcome.” He calmly stroked Rhonda, smoothing her scales back in place.
“I trained Malice Ripper, as well. Inmanythings,” Rex said, his voice filled with innuendo. “That thing he does with his tongue—”
“Aren’t you a little old to be boasting about conquests?” Jenny cut in, looking bored by his antics.
“I will never be too old for anything,” he countered arrogantly. “When I tire of this body, I’ll get a newer, younger one.”
“How?” Surge asked.
Rex grinned. “You’d have to ask Noc, but it was like this.” He poured his whickler onto the floor, then ladled hot soup into his glass.
Surge frowned, trying to make sense of the analogy. “Okay, but what was the ladle?”
“He put my ghost into some kind of orb for transportation. I didn’t ask for details.” He shrugged. “More importantly, anyone Justice deems worthy will also have the chance to get a new body. So all of you might want to start sucking up to me, so you can live forever, too.”
