Page 75 of Liar & Champion
“I really don’t want my last months to be spent in a box getting pieces of me chopped off.”
“But what do you want? That’s all just avoidance. There are definitely other methods to deal with your stalker, and you are adept at disappearing.”
I probably owed him as much truth as I could admit to myself, but this would be awkward. “I wanted to try it, the whole relationship thing. Beastie tried to set me up with all of his friends, but it never worked out.”
“Because they didn’t let you suffer in silence?”
“Because when they touched me, it hurt. You’ve never hurt me. I can’t tell you how rare that is. I like not hurting. Actually, I like the way you touch me quite a lot more than I thought was possible. So, I thought I’d see how far we could go, and experience as much pleasure as I could.” Was I blushing? I took a big bite and didn’t look at Nix for a long time.
“Nix, you always were good at moderating your force depending on your target. He’s really good at knowing just how much pressure to apply,” Trix said, pointing her fork at Nix and nodding approvingly.
I took a deep breath and nodded. “I guess the fighting had a positive side-effect after all.”
“My cousin, Daniel, he’s hurt you?” Nix asked with a casual smile that I didn’t quite trust.
“Not intentionally, of course. He doesn’t touch me, so that helps.”
“Oh, did I hurt you?” Trix asked, frowning in concern for the first time. “Sorry about that. I’m just a big brute of a dragon sometimes.”
“No, it’s fine,” I said waving my hands to shoo away her concern.
“Of course she’s fine. She’s suffering in silence. Okay, Sugar, do you mind if I call you Sugar?”
“I don’t mind Kitten. I thought I might, but I don’t. Kittens are cute, and I’m adorable.”
“Fact,” Nix said soberly. “Now then, Kitten, what do you want to do during your last days? No one wants to spend their final moments in Las Vegas.”
“But you can’t quit.”
“Obviously,” he said, glancing at Trix. “But taking a break, that’s good for everyone now and then. I’m not a quitter. So, where do you want to go?”
“I don’t. I like my kitchen, and my art studio. And I like your bed. I especially like the pools on the roof.”
“Pools?”
“Sure. I’ve only tried one, but it was really nice, quiet, like a spa.”
“And there is a very good spa in the hotel.”
“And a hospital bed.”
“What?” Nix asked, frowning.
“Eventually I might need a hospital bed.” Ahem. I wasn’t going into the Horse thing.
“And your aunt. We should move her into the hotel with us, in her own apartment, of course.”
I hesitated. “I don’t know. I kind of like not having a doctor hovering over me all the time, reminding me to take my meds, and to not overdo it at the skate park. She’s a worrier.”
“What about Switzerland?”
“I’m not really a skier. Also, I’ve spent a lot of time there, you know, for treatment.”
“So, you want to stay in Las Vegas.”
“Yes, and I want you to keep brutalizing your opposition.”
“No, you don’t.”
