Page 59 of Liar & Champion
She laughed and shook her head. “No, tomorrow there’s going to be a fight at the MGM to kick off the season.”
“A fight? Nix and the team does backstage support for fighting? Like boxing?” Why was I disappointed? It’s not like you could choose the shows you had to work at a place.
“Yeah, sometimes Nix does support. Do you want to come and watch?”
I shuddered but before I could turn her down, the manly voice announcer said, “Kitten doesn’t like fights. Abhors violence of all kinds. That’s why she likes Nix so much, because at heart he’s a home health care professional who only wants to teach self-defense, not inflict pain on anyone else.”
Trixie spun around to glare at Horse. “What are you doing?”
Horse was enormous, and his blue silk shirt was open to show off a lot of his chest and dark hair. “I am walking through the lobby on my way to my destiny. Perhaps you’ve seen it? It’s the color of?—”
“Never mind,” she spat and grabbed my arm, hauling me towards the elevator while I held onto my skateboard and tried not to cry from the pressure of her fingers. Girl didn’t know her own strength.
Once we were safely in the elevator she let go of me and gave me a tiny smile. “Sorry about him. I think he’s been hit too many times in the head.”
I just smiled at her and tried not to fall asleep on my feet. Finally, she got off and I was left to go the rest of the way on my own. I was dragging so bad.
When I got to the apartment, for a second, I just leaned my head on the door with my eyes closed.
It swung open and I fell in, but Nix caught me, sweeping me into his arms and shutting the door with his foot while he carried me to his bedroom, his eyes focused on me with so much intensity that I came wide awake.
“Are you okay? Did you get shot?” he asked as he lay me carefully on his big bed and started taking off my shoes.
It was like a dream segment, so perfect, so right. Nix in the flesh, and his flesh was so beautiful, even if he had a shirt on. “Nope. The rules at the shooting range are super strict. No one’s allowed to shoot anybody. Weird, right?”
He frowned at me as he took off my second shoe and placed it carefully next to the bed. “Kitten, have you been avoiding me?”
I blinked at him and suddenly felt like crying. “Nope. We’ve just both been busy.”
“Because I’ve realized that offering you that deal couldn’t have made you feel very good. You deserve the very best, love, romance, forever with some lucky guy. You do. If I could be a different person, I would, just so that I could give you what you deserve.”
He was feeling bad about that? What a sweetheart. I carefully ran my finger down his nose. “Nix, I don’t want what I deserve. I just want to live in the moment with you and not worry about the future. I also want to sleep for five years. We did shooting, tacos, and a club in just a few hours. I think they all have supernatural stamina. I don’t.” I’d love to be in his arms until the end of the world. Was he okay with that? I really needed him, just to hold me, just for tonight.
He sighed. “I’m just glad you didn’t get shot. Kitten, do you mind sleeping in my bed with me? I really liked waking up with you in my arms in the morning.”
I swallowed and stared at him. It’s like he could read my mind. “Really? You want to snuggle with me?”
He nodded soberly. “If you don’t mind. We’re going to be together for six months. Would it be okay if I courted you?”
A wash of electricity went through me as I beamed at him and my whole soul did a happy dance. “Much better than okay. I’ve never been courted before.”
He pulled me into his arms so my head was resting on his shoulder. “First, let’s start with basics. What are all your favorites?”
“Pizza and tacos.”
“Flowers?”
“Tulips. Yellow.”
“Car.”
“Camaro. Yellow.”
“T-shirt. Smiley-face. Yellow. I think I’m sensing a subtle theme. You really have the right name because you are sunshine. So much sweet sunshine that I am grateful I get to soak up, even if it isn’t forever.”
For a second my heart ached. “I need to get in my pajamas and brush my teeth,” I said into his neck. Also take my meds. So many pills. If he was Beastie, I’d ask him to get them for me. Maybe I should tell him.
He rolled off the bed, taking me with him. The movement was so smooth, he didn’t jostle me at all, and soon enough, he had me perched on the bathroom counter like old times. It was a very large bathroom counter.
