Page 127 of Carnal Urges
“He’s not going to kill me.”
She peers at me, unconvinced.
“I’m going to give him a good reason not to.”
“Such as?”
“That Natalie would never forgive him if he murdered the love of your life.”
She closes one eye and wrinkles her nose, trying to work it out. “Why would Natalie think you’re the love of my life?”
“You’re going to tell her I am.”
Her face smooths out. She arches her eyebrows. “I’m sorry. I must’ve heard you incorrectly. Did you just suggest I tell my best friend that you”—she looks me up and down—“are the love of my life?”
“You heard me.”
“So you want me to lie to her.”
I tilt my head and gaze at her through half-lidded eyes.
“Sorry, gangster. Smolder all you want, butshe’sthe love of my life.”
I’m gone for three days, and she forgets who she’s dealing with. “I see. So you’d like Kazimir to cut off my balls and choke me to death with them?”
When she blanches, I smile. “That’s his specialty. Russians are so dramatic.”
“You’re blackmailing me. This is emotional blackmail!”
“It is. I’m not a good person. Whoops.”
She props her hands on her hips and looks at me down her nose, like I’m a peasant with oozing sores. “Well, too bad. I won’t do it. If you can’t survive on your own without my help, you’re not the gangster I thought you were.”
Oh, how I’d like to spank that fine arse of hers until she’s squealing.
She’d love it, though, so I don’t.
I shrug and leave the room.
She follows on my heels. “What does that shrug mean? Where are you going?”
“To bed.”
I head to the bedroom, her anger at my back like a toxic cloud. In the master bathroom, I kick off my boots, strip out of my clothes, and step into the shower.
I stand under the hot spray with my eyes closed for several moments, letting hot water slide over my skin. Sloane stands outside the door, seething at me through the glass.
“I won’t tell her you’re the love of my life.”
“I heard you.”
“And I know you don’t need me to, either. You justwantme to. This is only you trying to get me to say how I feel about you again.”
“If that’s what you think.”
“It is what I think.”
“Right. That’s it, then.”
