Page 31 of Reaper & Ruin
“Good girl.” He cocked his head, dark eyes staring down at me with far too much love for how hard I was still debating his death. “Do you think the Adderall is working? I know it’s only been a few weeks, but I want to see how you feel and make sure nothing is wrong.”
“Sometimes I feel like a god that the entire world is obsessed with. And other times I feel like I could die right now, and the world would be a better place, and nobody would care.” I moved closer and mumbled into his stomach. “If you want to know how I feel right this second, then I feel ready for some dinner and reading.”
He kissed the top of my head, then pulled back, letting me get to my feet. “What are you reading today?”
I blushed scarlet as I snatched my e-reader he’d bought me from the kitchen counter. “Oh, you know, a good classic book. A classy bitch sort of read with feminist ideologies and lots of deep and meaningful prose. I think it won a Pulitzer Prize or something.”
He tilted the screen to check it out. “This page says the word cock multiple times.”
“They’re on a farm right now.”
He pulled the screen down more, reading further along the page as his lips pulled in a smirk.
“This looks more like a smutty romance about a girl screwing a vampire.” He read more. “Ah, and a minotaur? How delightful.”
“She fucks her adopted brother, too.” I sniggered. “And he turns into a giant lion bitch with claws. I’d totally fuck a lion shifter. Would you? I reckon they’re apackload of fun.”
He ignored my question and kept reading. “Three men? That sounds like a lot of dick. I bet she’s tired, poor girl.”
“Actually, there’s four. But she’s not banged him yet. He’s a virgin.” I drawled. “And I do love a good virgin. I think in a past life I was a cherry whore, and in my next life I’m going to be a regular whore. But the rich kind that does old dudes who die fast and give her money.”
The e-reader went straight down onto the side as he smirked harder. “I’ll give you money if you do me. And I’m not even old yet.”
He was so easy to wind up that I couldn’t help myself from pouting further, pretending to be offended. “Are you calling me a whore?”
He almost paled, his hands tightening their grip on me. “What? No, I-”
“I’m telling Atlas.” My voice was almost a song as I ran into the lounge again so I could get comfortable. “In fact, I’m telling Atlas that you didn’t die when I killed you.”
Gio followed in a few long strides, yanking me up so he could take my spot. “Whywereyou killing me?”
“You ate my cupcake at breakfast.” The anger came back instantly, and I growled at him.
“No, I didn’t. I atemycupcake.” He pulled me onto his lap, my face an inch from his. It was nice and all to be so close, but I swore I could taste the frosting on his breath, and it made me violent.
I poked him hard in the ribs. “Are you calling me a liar? If anything, I’m a truther. I tell too much of the truth.”
He kissed me on the cheek and snorted.
“You said you didn’t want the cupcake. You insisted that you were fat and going on a diet, and that you really didn’t want it. Atlas spanked you for calling yourself fat, and we made you promise to speak about yourself in a nicer way. Because you’re not fat, and even if you were, it isn’t something to be ashamed about. It’s just a thing and doesn’t make you unworthy of kind words and happiness.”
“I remember.” I huffed as I traced patterns on his body with my fingertips. “You told me I was the prettiest girl in the world and a bunch of other stuff that was obviously true.”
“And do you remember you still insisting you didn’t want the cupcake and that I could eat it, so it didn’t go to waste?”
“No,” I lied and averted my gaze, picking a spot on the couch that was far more interesting than his face. “You’re just a thief.”
“You look away from me when you lie.” He traced his fingers over my cheekbone. “If you want to convince someone you’re telling the truth, you need to maintain eye contact.”
“Like this?” I glared right into his soul for a solid minute.
“That’s better. But remember to blink. Otherwise, you just look a bit strange.”
“Iamstrange. I live in the woods like a hermit with a cute serial killer and a hot Italian dude I kidnapped. The last time I was allowed in polite society, I got involved in two gang fights, almost ran over a gang leader, and had a threesome in a church. None of that is normal.”
He cocked his head, grinning. “You think I’m hot? Thanks,bella.”
“I’m still debating killing you.” Sighing, I leaned back, trusting him to stop me from falling. “I could easily bury you out back. No one would even know.”
