Page 13 of The Monster I Am
“You could just go commando,” he suggests, smirking. “No complaints here.”
I raise an eyebrow. “That sounds like corporate espionage… or sabotage. Don’t you want me to succeed in my panty selling business so I can buy concert tickets?”
“I’ll buy the panties. But only if I’m allowed to be the one to rip them off. Tai can be the warehouse bitch and package them.”
Laughing, I roll onto my side, facing him. “So, we’re business partners now? I’m not sure I want to share my profits with you, Astor.”
Rylan shrugs. “Silent partner then. Consider it a quid pro quo. There’s still benefits for me, even if they aren’t monetary.”
“Oh, of course. How could I forget the all-important pussy benefits? It’s up there with health benefits and insurance.”
“I think so, yes. It’s very good for my health. And yours, actually. You’re less likely to murder us if you’re too exhausted from endless orgasms.”
I grin. “Have you considered fire since Lannister’s kidnapping attempt failed? It’s pretty effective at exhausting me.”
Rylan’s expression drops in an instant. “Bexley,” he growls.
“Rylan,” I mimic.
“That’s not funny. You nearly died. Youdiddie.”
I wave him off, unbothered. “Only for a minute. Evil doesn’t die that easy. Give me a little credit.”
I wonder what Abby would say about my dark humor as an Aquarian. Clearly, whatever star sign Rylan is, he doesn’t feelthe same. Maybe he’s a Cancerian. Apparently they are meant to be moody—or something to do with being in touch with their emotions.
I suppose I should cut him a little slack. Sure—therewasa brief moment where I was technicallyclinicallydead. From what I’ve been told, I didn’t have a pulse and was not breathing when I was pulled out of the building. Thankfully, the paramedics were able to revive me in the ambulance, and I was intubated until my lungs were strong enough to breathe on their own again.
It must have been scary for him. For all of them.
Part of me is terrified as well. I vividly remember the peaceful feeling washing over me, the pain fading away. But there was no white light, no flashbacks of my life up until that point. And worse still, Mom wasn’t waiting at pearly gates for me. I guess it’s the unknown that frightens the shit out of me—knowing my life was nearly over for good. Still, I had made my peace with the situation, ready to accept death. But somehow, I survived, destined to live another day.
Even if that means illegal panty selling business practices to fund my non-existent social life.
I grab Rylan’s hand, giving it a little reassuring squeeze. “I’m fine, really. I promise to keep tormenting you for a little longer.”
He lifts my hand, placing a gentle kiss on my knuckles while dodging the cannula stuck in my wrist. “I nearly lost you, Bex. I’m not prepared to do that.”
Ugh. Every time I start to feel normal, he says things like that and it makes my stomach do that weird flippy thing. It’s a very uncharacteristic trait that I’m blaming entirely on the painkillers and certainly not from any potential feelings I may have for the man who’s meant to be some sworn enemy by birthright. Nope.
“I know,” I say softly. “But even if you did, you would be okay. You were good before I came along, so I know you’d be able to move on just fine.”
Move on?
What the fuck am I even rambling on about?
Rylan scowls at my words. “I think you underestimate just how much you affect me, Spencer.”
“I’m too drugged up and euphoric for this,” I murmur, cheeks suddenly feeling really warm. “Can we just pretend to hate each other? You can give me your credit card again.”
“No. And the key word there wasstole.”
“You’re an insufferable psycho.”
“And you’re the pain in the ass whogets me. The real me. I’m not letting that go.”
I flop onto my back, but our hands stay entwined. Staring at the ceiling, I swallow the lump in my throat, desperately clawing for some witty remark or change of topic. Finally, I latch on to the only thing that springs to mind—the elephant still in the room. “We should start that team investigation you begged for. Especially while it’s fresh and there’s potential evidence still around.”
“Change of topic. Real smooth, Bexley.”
